Many celebrate mothers, few truly see them — Kagina

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As Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate Mother’s Day today, Sunday, May 10, former Uganda Revenue Authority commissioner general Allen Kagina urged society to pay closer attention to the emotional, mental and physical well-being of mothers.

Speaking at the fifth edition of the Moms Gather Conference held on May 9, 2026, at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kagina said mothers are often celebrated for their strength while their silent struggles go unnoticed.

“Many people celebrate mothers, but few truly see them,” Kagina told hundreds of women attending the conference ahead of Mother’s Day.

Held under the theme “To Nurture and Be Nurtured,” the conference brought together more than 250 mothers, expectant women and parenting advocates to discuss maternal wellness, parenting, emotional health and work-life balance.

She described motherhood as one of society’s most powerful yet least understood responsibilities, saying women often carry invisible emotional burdens while balancing careers, marriage, leadership and parenting.

“People often see the functioning, smiley, strong and professional woman. But they do not always see the tired, praying, and worried or emotionally stressed one.”

Her remarks drew applause from attendees, many of whom nodded in agreement as she described the often unseen realities of motherhood, including supporting families and carrying emotional burdens while trying to appear composed.

The former tax boss, who is also a mother of three adult children, described motherhood as one of the most demanding responsibilities a woman can hold.

“You can be in an important meeting, speaking confidently and appearing organised, while internally wondering whether your child is okay and your mind is never fully off duty," she said.

The conference, held ahead of Mother’s Day celebrations, brought together women from different professions and backgrounds to discuss parenting, maternal wellness, work-life balance and mental health.

The event was organised by Moms Gather, a support initiative founded in 2022 by Daisy Sunshine and Lisa Kusiima after the pair experienced the challenges of postpartum motherhood together.

Kusiima said the initiative was created to provide mothers with safe spaces to connect, learn and support one another.

“We realised there are many mothers doing life alone,” she said.

“What started as a small gathering has now become a community where mothers encourage and nurture each other.”

This year’s forum featured counselling sessions, wellness activities, health check-ups, nutrition guidance, massages and parenting discussions aimed at reminding mothers that they also deserve care and support.

Kagina used her speech to address the pressure many women face in trying to balance professional success with family responsibilities.

“Women are expected to succeed professionally, manage homes, nurture children, support spouses and somehow still appear calm and graceful while doing it,” she said.

She warned that many mothers slowly lose themselves while trying to care for everyone else.

“Sometimes women become so consumed by responsibility that they stop being human beings and only become problem solvers. Every day becomes survival, and slowly joy disappears.”

Several mothers attending the event said Kagina’s message reflected their daily experiences.

Irene Omara from Kira said one of the biggest challenges modern mothers face is finding meaningful time for their children amid growing work demands.

“By the time you want to spend time with your children and nurture them, you are on no battery,” she said.

“If you are not parenting them and spending time with them, someone else is stepping into that space and hence moral degeneration.”

Digital entrepreneur Daisy Sunshine, who is expecting her fourth child, said many working mothers struggle to compete equally in professional spaces while dealing with pregnancy, childbirth and childcare responsibilities.

“You are sleepy, fatigued, throwing up, but you still have to show up and hit your goals and KPIs,” she said.

“Sometimes your male counterparts move far ahead while you have to pause and concentrate on being a mother.”

Kagina also urged mothers to prioritise their own well-being and stop feeling guilty about resting or asking for support.

“A depleted mother cannot sustainably nurture others well, and you cannot continuously pour from an empty place.”

She encouraged women to pay attention to their emotional health, physical wellbeing, friendships and personal joy, saying motherhood should not come at the cost of losing oneself completely.

The conference comes at a time when conversations around maternal mental health, parenting pressures and work-life balance are increasingly gaining attention in Uganda.