#Gender Identity Week: Women activist lauds Ugandan constitution, says feminists issues tremendously addressed

By Najib Mulema

Ms Jane Mpagi, the Director for Gender and Community Development has said there has been tremendous progress in legal and policy reforms to address women issues in Uganda over the years.

While speaking at Gender Identity Week at Makerere University on Monday, Ms Mpagi said that the 1995 Constitution is gender sensitive in that it accords women full and equal dignity of a person with men.

She noted in her presentation about women’s achievements, opportunities and challenges that the current Constitution protects the role of women in society including maternal functions, equal treatment with men as well as granting women and girls a right to affirmative action.

“While the 1962 Republic of Uganda Constitution was largely gender neutral, the 1995 Constitution is gender sensitive, accords women full and equal dignity of the person with men, protects the role of women in society including maternal functions, equal treatment with men and accords women to right to affirmative action,” said Ms Mpagi.

“Major legal reforms in favour of women have been evident since 2000 up to date. These include laws relating to property rights, elimination of violation against women and girls, and elimination of discrimination,” she added.

On the flipside

On the other hand, Ms Mpagi decried the inappropriate and inadequate infrastructure which has hindered women’s progress and development thus arguing government to improve in that field for a major transformation.

Organised by Makerere University School of Women and Gender Studies in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden, the Gender Identity Week is one of the way of commemorating the International Women’s Day.

The week is running from 5th March 2018 to 10 March 2018 under the theme “Transformations for empowerment of rural women and girls: Opportunities and challenges”.