Government commends CSOs on gender budget advocacy

Mar 28, 2018

Kasaija made the remarks during the launch of Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE)’s book on gender responsive budgeting in Uganda at Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala on Wednesday.

Government has commended Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on spearheading the gender and equity responsive budgeting in the country.

Finance and economic planning minister, Matia Kasaija revealed that they have aggressively and consistently lobbied government to influence legislation to ensure gender budgeting in the national budget.

"Since 2013, we have worked closely to have the certificate of gender and equity passed; having noted that government recognizes the negative impact of gender inequality in development," he said.

Kasaija made the remarks during the launch of Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE)'s book on gender responsive budgeting in Uganda at Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala on Wednesday.

He noted that government has demonstrated its commitment to achieving gender equality through adopting and implementing several national and international policies and legal instruments.

"To those who may not be aware of the certificate of gender and equity; it is a qualification given to sectors testifying to the level of compliance to the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) on gender mainstreaming," he said.

inister of inance atia asaija right interacting with xecutive irector  atricia anabi left as  argrete akanderamanzan adanba nna tavati and  representing eople with disability aphira amale look on during the  launch of orum for omen in emocracy s book on gender responsive budgeting in ganda at olden ulip otel on arch 28 2018 hotos by ndrew senyongaMinister of Finance, Matia Kasaija (right) interacting with Executive Director FOWODE Patricia Manabi (left) as Margrete Kakande,Aramanzan Madanba, Anna Mtavati and MP representing People with disability Saphira Namale look on during the launch of Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE)'s book on gender responsive budgeting in Uganda at Golden Tulip Hotel on March 28, 2018. Photos by Andrew Ssenyonga

 
Kasaija explained that it provides responsibilities and time frame on what gender issues will be addressed and offers an enforcement mechanism to address gender equality in planning and budgeting.
"The act makes government accountable to gender in a more concrete manner and it now makes gender visible in the national planning and budgeting process," he added.

He however warned that government will reprimand the stubborn actors. He said government enacted PFMA in 2015 to make it compulsory for all ministries, department, agencies and local governments to address gender and equity issues in their annual budgets.

"The PFMA also mandated the equal opportunities commission to conduct compliance assessments in all the sectors," he said.

Anna Mutavati, the Deputy Country Representative of UN Women complimented government on becoming a country to learn from regarding gender responsive budgeting in the region.

"Responding to the needs of all Ugandans when making sector plans and budgets will not only demonstrate the pride you have for the people but also enhance more trust from the people you serve," she added.

She stressed that gender and equity responsive planning and budgeting is a strategy and tool to achieve the goal of gender equality and leaving no one behind.

Patricia Munabi-Babiha the executive director FOWODE said they realized that it was important to address the demand side for services by citizens including women and men, boys and girls in communities.

"This influenced the expansion of FOWODE work into the Village Budget Clubs (VBCs)," she said.

She added that VBCs are a model and structure through which government planning and budgeting can be reformed through grassroots activism and advocacy.

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