Opposition party Forum for Democratic Change ‘FDC’ women’s league has applauded the National Resistance Movement ‘NRM’ government under the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for uplifting the lives of women hence Championing their emancipation.
While visiting Butabika Hospital and ST. Andrews dispensary, a group of FDC women led by secretary for women affairs Faridah Nangonzi revealed that right from the beginning after NRM\A captured power in 1986, the government’s position has been at looking at women’s affairs to transform them.
She said that in Uganda, the government emphasized economic and political emancipation for women by ensuring affirmative action which has seen many women politicians come up to get jobs and do business unlike before.
“The women of Uganda are the heartbeat and the pulse of the Nation. They constitute more than half of our Nation’s population. They are the managers of the bulk of households. For the most part, they look after our Nation’s children and therefore, shape the character of the Nation. Women are the backbone of our economy with a bigger percentage engaged in agriculture, literally producing all the food that feeds the country,” she said.
She added “This is unfinished business. The FDC believes that this “unfinished business” cannot be finished by doing the same old things, the same old way and by applying the same policies, we need to continue with the struggle to fully open more opportunities for women”
As FDC women celebrated belated international women’s week, They believed this government has t done something to elevate the social, and economic welfare of the common woman.
To accelerate women’s economic empowerment and social protection, the FDC believes a government that cares should among others:-
Adopt and implement policies and actions to deliver gender-sensitive financial services, and gender-sensitive business development services, and increase the representation of women entrepreneurs in public policy-making.
Ensure that 15 per cent of all Sectorial budgets and local government budgets are committed to development and spending on programmes that address the specific needs of women.
Dedicate 15 per cent of all government-supported loan programmes towards women and women-owned businesses, with a special funding window for women engaged in artisan and value additional enterprises.
Give priority to women under the land registration programme to increase the percentage of women controlling the land they cultivate.
“On behalf of the Women League and the FDC institution, I thank the team of medical officers for the great services and sacrifice you have rendered to this country Uganda”, she stressed
FDC women called upon the government to increase the wages of health workers and to equip the hospitals to help health workers perform better and put in place rehabilitation Centers with medical counsellors at least at every parish.
The women also mobilized some relief items to support and celebrate women in March like pads, Soap, Sugar, Liquid soap, Milk for babies, Pampers, and Maama kits for expectant mothers.
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