Africa-Press – Uganda. The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU), in partnership with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Guzakuza an organisation dedicated to empowering women in agribusiness throughout Africa, has officially launched the Women in Agribusiness Week, aimed at recognising and empowering women involved in agriculture across Uganda.
This in a function held at the mayor’s parlour at Kampala Capital City Authority in Kampala.
Florence Nassanga Musoke, Chairperson of the Inter-Faith Women of Uganda, opened the event with a passionate acknowledgment of the power and impact of women in agribusiness.
“We are no longer just feeding our families, but our nation and the world,” she stated. Musoke emphasised the pressing challenges women face in the sector and highlighted the importance of learning, sharing, and amplifying the voices of rural women.
She called on government, religious institutions, and civil society to invest in, train, and trust women in agribusiness, adding that empowering women in this space means empowering generations.
Sheikh Waiswa Muhammad Ali, representing the IRCU President, described the initiative as a bold and affirmative action that celebrates women as entrepreneurs and drivers of sustainable growth. He reiterated IRCU’s commitment to protecting women’s dignity, promoting land rights, and reaching women beyond the urban centers.
“Let’s build a future where every woman in agribusiness is supported,” he urged.
Representing KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki, Deputy Director Marketing and Production David Musunga stated that the week-long event provides a platform to advocate for women’s empowerment in agriculture, aligning with Uganda’s National Development Plan (NDP4) goals particularly around value addition, access to finance, and policy support for women.
Sarah Opendi, Minister of State for Mineral Development, highlighted that agriculture contributes 24% to Uganda’s GDP and employs a significant portion of the population, with 72% of women involved in the sector.
She stressed the need for women to transition from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. Among the key challenges she noted were lack of land ownership, storage facilities, equipment, and access to affordable credit.
She emphasised the importance of passing the Certificate of Customary Ownership to enable land access and proposed the establishment of a bank tailored to the needs of women in agriculture.
Opendi also encouraged water harvesting in drought-prone areas and called on the government to invest more in irrigation and storage infrastructure to support women farmers.
The President and founder of Guzakuza Nana Adjoa Sifa concluded by calling for an enabling environment to help women in agribusiness thrive.
She announced that the African Women in Agribusiness Week will be held this November in Kampala, bringing together women from across the continent to celebrate, network, and seek solutions.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
