Uganda

Uganda has made gains in its socio-economic transformation, maintained peace and stability for over 3-decades, and is on course to become an upper-middle-income country by 2040. The Government of Uganda (GoU) is committed to the SDG 2030 Agenda as exemplified by the gross domestic product which doubled over the last 10-years, from $17.2 billion in 2010 to $34.4 billion in 2019. Literacy rates improved from 70% between 2012-2013 to 74% between 2016-2017, yet still, literacy levels were higher for males than females. Uganda’s National Development Plan (NDP) III focuses on inclusive growth, human wellbeing, and resilience, and transformational and inclusive governance positions. The NDP III is a convergence framework for the entire UN System to coherently contribute to the advancement of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) in Uganda with UN Women as a strategic partner on the path to transformation.

Our programmes

Inclusive and accountable governance and women’s access to justice

UN Women Uganda focuses its contribution on six key areas including enhancing the visibility and capacity of women and girls to participate in democratic processes and inclusive governance of Uganda, increasing the availability and use of quality data and statistics to track progress on Gender Equality And Women’s Empowerment for policy and decision making, strengthening justice institutions to enforce women’s and girls’ rights, reinforce accountability mechanisms on the implementation of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment laws and policies, and strengthening capacities for institutions and networks of women in their diversity to fully participate, lead and engage in corporate governance, public service, and political processes.

Women’s rights, gender-responsive peace and security

UN Women Uganda will support programmes that commit to ensuring that women, peace, and security are implemented by the government and the UN system, enable women´s meaningful participation, leadership, and protection in peace and security and strengthen gender-responsive institutional capacity in peacebuilding, peacemaking, rule of law, transitional justice, security sector reform, and prevention of conflict and violent extremism. 

Women have increased productivity, income, and access to resources

UN Women will focus on programmes that will provide technical, financial and opportunities for business development targeting women emerging entrepreneurs to own, manage and benefit from small medium and large enterprises in a profitable and sustainable manner.

Vulnerable women have the capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change and disaster reductions

UN Women will support programmes that strengthen the capacity of government institutions and non-state actors to promote climate-smart agricultural interventions with better support women and girls, enable more women to have access to and use modern, renewable and affordable energy sources, technology and services, and champion women’s increased participation and leadership in climate action at all levels, including in gender-responsive green and blue economies and climate-resilient agriculture.

Women & girls enjoy quality basic social and protection services

UN Women will contribute to programmes that will support state actors to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of global normative standards on Ending Violence Against Women And Girls and lead system-wide processes in prevention and response, extend evidence-based guidance and programming, strengthen multisectoral coordination of essential services.

Gender equality and women's rights fulfilled in a culturally responsive environment

UN Women will build knowledge and confidence of women, girls, men, and boys at the community and individual level to advocate for rights, reduce the prevalence of harmful traditional practices through engaging traditional leaders, increase actions to Leave No One Behind, promote equal participation of women and girls as agents of change in economic, social, and political processes.