Uganda joins the rest of the World to celebrate the Annual International Women’s Day under the theme “Equal Opportunities in Education, Science and Technology for Innovation and a Gender Equal Future.”
According to Amongi Betty Ongom, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, this year’s national celebrations with emphasize on promotion of innovation in the digital age through equality in education, Science and technology for women and girls for a gender equal future.
The event is to be held at Sanga Town Council, Kiruhura District at Kaaro High School Playground, and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is the expected Chief Guest for the celebrations.
Amongi on Tuesday 7th while addressing press at the Media center stated that this year’s theme emphasizes the promotion of innovation in the digital age through equality in education, science and technology for women and girls for a gender equal future.
“Bringing women and girls and other disadvantaged groups into science, technology, engineering and innovations results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for solutions and innovations that meet their needs and interests and therefore promoting gender equality,” Amongi said.
She revealed that the Uganda Vision 2040 identifies ICT as a fundamental aspect to foster Uganda’s transformation into a modern and prosperous country.
“This is evidenced in the National Development Plan (NDPIII 2020/21-2024/25) under (innovation, Technology Development, adoption, and Transfer),” she revealed.
Adding that the program is to increase development, adoption, transfer and commercialization of Technologies and Innovations through the development of a well-coordinated Science Technology andInnovation (STI) eco-system.
Studies have established that 78.2% of men compared to 63.4% of females own mobile phones.
She further revealed that Women’s Rights Online Survey shows that out of 1,013 women and men surveyed in selected poor residential areas, only 21% of respondents had accessed the internet in the six months prior to the survey.
“Significantly, 44% of the male participants had access to a computer, as compared to only 18% of their female counterparts,” she revealed.
Over the years, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has been supporting and empowering women through entrusting them with high offices in the government for example the Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, the Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among among others.
The government has also has put in place counter strategies and mechanisms for cyber harassment of women; cyber stalking, online sexual harassment, blackmail through the use of private and often sexualized information, photographs and videos that promote, perpetuate and normalize violence against women.
The concept of International Women’s Day first emerged in the early 1900s, and first celebrated on 28th February 1909, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay, and voting rights.
The United Nations (UN) started celebrating International Women’s Day in 1977 and agreed that the day will be widely observed on March 8 every year.
