The unseen architects: Weaving a stronger Uganda

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OPINION

By Joshua Owiny

In the heart of Uganda, from the vibrant trading lanes of Kikuubo to the quiet, determined work in the fields, a powerful change is taking root. And at the centre of it all are women.

They are building a more sustainable, resilient future not with corporate slogans, but with their hands, their wisdom, and a deep commitment to their communities. It’s a story best told through the principles of ESG—Environment, Social, and Governance, not as jargon, but as the daily reality of their lives.

To see this, we only need to look at the roles they have always held. In stories like Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s Kintu, we see women as the quiet pillars, the ones who hold families and communities together through hardship.

This isn’t just a literary theme; it’s a statistical truth. Women are the backbone of Ugandan agriculture, making up over 77% of its workforce.

They are the primary caretakers of the land. And when they earn, they reinvest almost all of it up to 90% back into their families and communities, fueling a cycle of care and growth that benefits everyone.

Ugandan women are on the front lines of environmental change. As the ones who work the land day in and day out, they are naturally turning to climate-smart agriculture. They gather in cooperatives, sharing seeds that can weather droughts and techniques to protect the soil for their children.

They are embracing clean cookstoves, protecting their families' health from indoor smoke and giving the forests a chance to recover. When a woman farmer has the same tools as a man, studies show she can dramatically increase her harvest. This isn't just about data, it’s about fuller bowls, healthier children, and a living earned in harmony with the earth.

Look closer at any community, and you’ll find women as its pulse. They are the teachers, the health caregivers, and the peacemakers. They are the ones pooling their savings in village groups, turning small change into life-changing loans for a new business and school fees for their children. In Doreen Baingana’s Tropical Fish, we see the quiet struggle against limiting expectations, a struggle women are turning into advocacy for better health and more opportunity.

When women lead these savings groups, the entire community’s financial strength grows, leading to healthier mothers, brighter futures for girls, and a stronger social fabric for all.

You might not always see them in parliament, but Ugandan women are powerful leaders of governance. They are the trusted managers of community resources, ensuring funds like Parish Development Model (PDM) funds and Emyooga for farming and development are used fairly and transparently.

They are the mediators families turn to in settling land disputes, much like the matriarch in Julius Ocwinyo’s Footprints of the Outsider, who guides with wisdom and justice. Where women have a seat at the local council table, studies find that more resources flow to health and education. Their leadership naturally builds a culture of accountability, ensuring that help reaches the people who need it most.

The truth is clear. Ugandan women are not just participating in building a better future; they are its chief architects. Supporting them isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s the smartest investment we can make. By ensuring they have access to land, capital, technology, and education, we aren’t just checking boxes on a development list.

We are tapping into a profound and powerful force that has always held Uganda together. The future is being woven by their hands, and it is a future of resilience, fairness, and profound prosperity.

The writer is a Masters of Business Administration student at Makerere University Business School.