KAMPALA, UGANDA – Female legislators and parliamentary staff have conducted a special breakfast meeting in preparation for International Women’s Day 2026, which is scheduled for Sunday this week.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The event, which drew the highest leadership of the Legislature and a number of other dignitaries, was held on Friday, March 6th, 2026, ahead of the official national celebrations slated for Sunday at Kololo Independence Grounds.
The commemoration will be held under the global theme for 2026. In Uganda, the day will be celebrated with a local focus on: “Scaling up investment to accelerate access to justice for all women and girls.”
Delivering the keynote address, Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire of the Supreme Court urged a fundamental shift in the national mindset to recognize women’s contributions beyond the domestic sphere.
She asserted the need for a standard where merit is the sole currency, emphasizing that every Ugandan woman deserves an empowering environment where her character serves as her strongest credential.
“We must demand a standard where merit is the only currency. Every Ugandan woman deserves to be in an environment that empowers her, where her character is her strongest credential,” Justice Bamugemereire stated.
Director of Public Prosecutions, Lady Justice Jane Frances Abodo, challenged the conventional understanding of access to justice, cautioning against reducing it to the presence of courts alone.
She emphasized that justice truly begins with a victim’s voice, drawing attention to the immense struggle and time it takes for women to speak out after experiencing sexual violence.
“Access to justice should not be reduced to the mere existence of courts. True justice begins not in a courtroom, but in the courage to break the silence. When a girl or a woman is raped, do we truly understand how long it takes, the days, months, or years, before they find the voice to speak?” remarked Justice Abodo.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among, expressed her gratitude for the strong turnout, recognizing all sitting and incoming Women MPs and appreciating the women present for their inspiring presence.
She also offered comforting words to outgoing colleagues who lost their seats, drawing on scripture to remind them that there are many rooms in her father’s house and that God’s timing remains perfect.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa commended the government for its policy of empowering women, thanking President Museveni and the NRM for entrusting women with critical decision-making positions.
Drawing from personal experience, he praised the dedication and patriotism of Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, and Speaker Anita Among.
Tayebwa, however, urged the nation not to forget the plight of the boy child, warning that neglecting them risks losing generations of responsible men.
The breakfast meeting served as a prelude to the national celebrations and a stark reminder that with women comprising 51.6% of Uganda’s population, their empowerment remains central to the country’s development agenda.
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