The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) chief has hailed Uganda for being the first African country to pilot the Gender Equality Seal – a programme that seeks to equalize opportunities in the workplace.

Elsie Attafuah, UNDP’s resident representative said, “Uganda is a pioneer in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016, Uganda was the first country that we supported as UNDP to advance the gender equality seal (GES) and Uganda made fantastic progress and today we are celebrating 40 companies that got bronze, silver and gold.”

Attafuah made these remarks at Kampala Serena Hotel on Friday during a Gender Equality Seal Award Ceremony for private sector companies.

This year’s theme was; Celebrating Corporate Excellence in Gender Equality.

She noted that 50 other additional companies were recognized in terms of advancing the development cause through the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

“What we have seen as a result of the work that we have done in the past one-year, private sector companies in partnership with Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) have changed their policies as a result of the GES process - a certification process that they have gone through,” she affirmed.

Attafuah stated that other companies have also improved their work-life balance by having spaces for lactation for example, more women are also being promoted into decision-making roles.

“We have seen excitement in the companies, we have them here and a number of them spoke today about their experiences so it’s been a great journey and we also do hope that we will take this forward in the context of public institutions as well. Makerere University is the first to go through and is currently undergoing the GES certification process.

Presiding over the awards ceremony, the minister of Gender Betty Amongi congratulated UN, European Union (EU) and private sector for initiating a programme that assesses and audits performance of private companies in ensuring that there are gender equality policies in the workplace that targets issues of promotion of women.

Varghese Thambi Managing Director UTD bank (center) receiving a recognition award from Betty Among Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development (third right) during the Gender Equality Seal Award Ceremony for private Sector companies at Serena Hotel on December 8, 2023. Photo by Ivan Kabuye.

“I take note that this is a voluntary private sector driven activity that companies enrol voluntarily and today we have seen what they have done. We recognize that the overall commitment should be with the government and as the ministry of gender, labour and social development (MGLSD) that coordinates programmes for gender equality.

We already have the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) mandated to ensure that there is equality in opportunities for both men and women and other marginalized areas and groups,” she said.

According to Amongi, this would address issues such as hiring of women, financing and supporting women in leadership within the structure of their organizations and ensuring that maternity and paternity leave are entrenched as well as having a policy on sexual harassment and others are considered within their corporate policies.

The Gender Equality Seal starts with the process of review, where a company assesses itself, in terms of remuneration around equal pay and issues like whether they have a sexual harassment policy as well as equalizing their corporate recruitment processes.

Sarah Kagingo, PSFU’s vice chairperson said they created a baby care facility, where young mothers are encouraged to go to work with their babies. She said their C-suite is 75% women. “We just want to make sure that PSFU and the entire business community and all companies are future-fit.”

40 companies awarded for gender parity

A total of 40 corporate entities were awarded on Friday. These were in various categories such as real estate, manufacturing, medicine, hospitality and financial services. All had to undergo vetting through an audit by a third party and excel beyond a stipulated pass mark.

The Gold Seal category required a pass mark of at least 80%, while the Silver Seal required a postmark of 70% the Bronze Seal winners had to score at least 60% to impress the judges.

Kiira Motors Limited, Stanbic Bank, NFT Consult Ltd, Centenary Bank, Fireworks Advertising, Nina Interiors and Uganda Breweries, Hima Cement, National Housing and Construction Company were among those that earned the Gold Seal.

The two entities that stood out were Housing Finance Bank and Guide Leisure Farm Ltd which excelled exceptionally having scored the highest marks for the Gold Seal.

Silver Seal had the following corporate winners; Bageine & Company Ltd, Finance trust bank, Steel & Tube Ltd, Fairway Hotel, Federation of Ugandan Employers and Reco Industries among others.

Bronze Seal winners included; Rwenzori International Hotel, Margarita Technical Institute, Bella Wines Ltd among others.