With Uganda's historic first oil production slated for 2025, a crucial focus for the industry lies in achieving gender equality.

Today, on International Women's Day (IWD), it's fitting to celebrate the strides taken to ensure women are not left behind in this exciting economic chapter.

The Ugandan government and oil companies have implemented initiatives to empower women.

Commitment to Gender equality

In 2023, the energy ministry launched the Energy and Mineral Sector Gender Strategy and Action Plan to address gender inequalities.

In addition, Uganda’s Mining and Minerals Act 2022 underscores the commitment by addressing gender equity, human rights, and child labour.

“The future of the energy sector is inclusive, the minister of energy, Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, emphasised,  adding, “By empowering women and girls with access to modern technologies and digital platforms, we unleash their potential and drive innovation that benefits all of society.”

An army camera lady taking pictures of the parade

According to  Nankabirwa, women geologists, engineers and environmental scientists are playing a vital role in the petroleum and mining sectors.

She noted that vital partnerships have also been undertaken with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) in Uganda and the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum to advance inclusivity in the country’s energy and minerals sectors.

According to her, the ministry’s commitment to gender and investments in girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and digital literacy will further pave the way for the next generation of female leaders.

Achievements

• First, since 2021, a cumulative number of 450 women have been trained in financial literacy, business development, vocational skills, and crop development in the Kingfisher project.
  
  Additionally, there are 137 small and medium-term enterprises led by women and youth trained in identifying and participating in business opportunities in the oil and gas sector since 2021.
  
  Since 2022, the energy ministry underlines that a cumulative number of 2,464 have received agriculture support, vocational skills, skin, and food supplies under the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project (EACOP).
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• Women at the forefront
  
  Women are no longer just figureheads in the sector. They have now become leaders, such as Ruth Nankabirwa, the minister for the energy ministry, Proscovia Nabbanja who is driving competitiveness and sustainability in the Uganda National Oil Company as the chief executive officer (CEO) and Pauline Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary at the energy ministry, among others.
  
  Women take up about 84 top leadership roles in 13 entities in the energy, petroleum, and minerals sector, including, PAU, UNOC, Energy Council, ERA, among others.
  

  President Museveni being received by VP and other cabinet ministers in Katakwi

  
  IWD history
  
  International Women's Day (IWD) has a rich and dynamic history, evolving alongside the fight for women's rights. Here's a quick breakdown:
  
  Early seeds (1909): The Socialist Party of America established the first National Women's Day in February.
  
  International movement (1910): Clara Zetkin, a prominent activist, proposes an international day for women's rights at a socialist conference.
  
  Shifting dates (1911-1917): The first international celebrations occurred on different dates in March, with some influenced by historical protests like the Bread and Roses strike in the US.
  
  A solidified date (1917): Women striking in Petrograd (present-day St. Petersburg) on March 8th, 1917 (during World War I) becomes a pivotal moment. This date is later adopted as the official International Women's Day.
  
  UN recognition (1975): The United Nations begins celebrating IWD during International Women's Year.
  
  Official UN Day (1977): The UN General Assembly designates a UN Day for Women's Rights and International Peace, observed on March 8th.
  
  Thematic focus (present): Since then, IWD has had a specific theme each year, highlighting critical issues like gender equality, violence against women, and women's role in peacebuilding.