Minister Nabakoba Calls for Women’s Economic Empowerment to Combat Gender Inequality

Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, has urged women to engage in wealth creation activities, emphasizing that poverty contributes to gender inequality.

She made these remarks during belated Women’s Day celebrations at St. Paul Nyabweya Seed School playground in Kasenda Sub-County, Kabarole District.

Nabakooba encouraged women to participate in empowerment and economic transformation programs to foster development and enhance their livelihoods. Referring to this year’s Women’s Day theme, “Gender Equality through Women’s Economic Empowerment,” she highlighted that when everyone is economically active, gender inequality diminishes.

Observing the earnest involvement of women in government programs in Kabarole, Nabakooba urged those who hadn’t joined to avail themselves of opportunities such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, or GROW programs by contacting district development officers.

Furthermore, she discouraged land fragmentation within families, advocating for fair shareholding agreements. Nabakooba also emphasized the importance of a saving culture among women, advising them to invest in long-term projects.

Echoing President Museveni’s call for commercial agriculture, she reiterated the importance of planting high-return crops, known as Ekibalo. Nabakooba assured support for bibanja holders to attain full land ownership, promising expedited processes for land boundary demarcation.

She commended district officials for proposing bylaws concerning land administration and encouraged the enactment of additional bylaws to safeguard women’s land rights.

Victoria Businge Rusoke, State Minister for Local Government and Kabalore District Woman Member of Parliament, affirmed her efforts in mobilizing women to actively participate in government development programs. She urged those with financial means to utilize them effectively and repay loans within the stipulated time frame to enable others to benefit, assuring the release of additional government funds