UNGA: Uganda reaffirms commitment to legal equality for women and girls by 2030
Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo (left) listens to interventions at UN Women event on access to equal justice by 2030. (Courtesy photo)
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Uganda reaffirmed its dedication to achieving full legal equality for women and girls by 2030 during a high-level side event hosted by UN Women at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Bringing together: government representatives, UN agencies, civil society, and advocates united against discriminatory laws, the event took place on September 23, 2026, alongside the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Uganda's delegates at the meeting revealed that the discussion focused on persistent legal barriers affecting women’s rights in areas such as citizenship, nationality, inheritance, property ownership, participation in governance, and access to justice.
In different submissions, delegates stressed that legislative reforms must be accompanied by strong implementation, public education, sufficient funding, accountability, and leadership from those directly impacted.
A release from her office states that Otengo, who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, emphasised the critical need to translate these legal advances into practical benefits for women through accessible institutions, effective enforcement, and survivor-centered justice.
Uganda outlined three key priorities to accelerate global progress namely:
• Reforming discriminatory laws and closing the gap between law and practice by strengthening institutions, financing, and accountability mechanisms.
• Extending legal equality to marginalized groups, including women affected by conflict, women with disabilities, and those living in rural areas.
Participants emphasised that legal equality is fundamental to equal citizenship and sustainable development.
Ambassador Otengo stressed that achieving this goal depends on women’s leadership, strong institutional action, accountable political will, and ongoing coalition efforts worldwide.
The release from Otengo's office states that the delegates resolved on a collective mission.
The collective mission is clear: turn legal commitments into enforceable rights and tangible improvements in the lives of all women and girls by 2030.