Budget cuts threaten women’s empowerment — National Council boss

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The chairperson of the National Women’s Council, Faridah Kibowa, has urged the government to reverse what she described as drastic budget cuts jeopardizing women’s programs across the country.

While addressing thousands of people who gathered at Bukwiri Church of Uganda Primary School in Kyankwanzi district, for International Women’s day celebration, Kibowa on Saturday warned that the country’s progress in empowering women is at risk due to severe budget cuts.

‘’The government should address critical issues affecting women’s empowerment in the country and without it, Uganda risks falling back into old patterns of neglect and inequality,’’ she explained.

The theme for this year’s celebrations is ’’Accelerate Action for Gender. The chief guest at the Bukwiri celebrations was President Yoweri Museveni accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Museveni.

The chairperson urged policymakers to take immediate steps to ensure that gender equality remains a priority despite the financial setbacks.

"In 2024-2025, our budget was slashed by 80%. This means the $3m allocated for Women’s Day celebrations across districts will no longer be available," she explained. "This funding is critical for districts to assess their achievements in women’s programs, and without it, we risk losing momentum."

Kibowa argued that the budget cuts also affect the Institutional Support Fund, a crucial mechanism for supporting women’s council leaders at the district level.

She cautioned that without this support, recovery rates from programs like the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) would drop, depriving women of opportunities to improve their lives.

“Women borrow, repay, and others benefit. But without institutional support, the revolving fund system is in jeopardy,” she noted.

Women continue facing challenges

Kibowa expressed deep gratitude for the progress made so far but highlighted that serious concerns remain.

"We thank you, Mr President, for instilling hope in the young people, especially the girls, many of whom are school dropouts or single mothers," she said. "These women, abandoned by men who refuse to take responsibility, are facing an uphill battle in our society."

She further highlighted persistent challenges that women continue to face, such as gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies, and child marriages, which undermine the progress made in gender equality.

“These issues are holding back women and girls in Uganda, and we cannot afford to ignore them any longer,” she urged.

Looking to the future, she called for stronger leadership and greater representation of women in Uganda’s political landscape.

“As we prepare for the 2026 elections, it was resolved by the women that the next election will be our choice. We must ensure that our voices are heard and that women are represented in positions of power,” she asserted.