Uulaanbaatar, Mongolia | NEWS CORRESPONDENT | Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has presented Uganda’s significant milestones in advancing women’s representation in leadership, highlighting the country’s growing number of women in both Parliament and the Cabinet.
Speaking at the prestigious World Women Parliamentarians Forum in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Tayebwa, who is leading the Ugandan delegation, detailed the deliberate structural steps Uganda has taken to boost women’s participation in national governance since 1986. He emphasized that these progressive measures, spearheaded by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, are firmly anchored in affirmative action policies enshrined within the national Constitution.
During his presentation, Tayebwa shared key statistics illustrating Uganda’s progress in bridging the gender gap in top-tier governance.
These included Parliamentary Inclusion that has seen Women now account for 35 per cent of Uganda’s Parliament, occupying 187 out of the 529 legislative seats.
Cabinet equality, in which women make up 49 per cent of the country’s Cabinet,.
Top executive roles, with key senior leadership positions—including the vice president, prime minister, and two deputy prime ministers—are currently held by women.
Tayebwa also pointed to institutional mechanisms like gender and equality assessments in the budgeting process. Supported by the Equal Opportunities Commission, these assessments ensure that women and other marginalized groups are explicitly prioritized in government programmes and budget allocations.
Despite the celebrated statistical gains, the Deputy Speaker challenged global leaders to look beyond mere numerical presence, calling for deeper structural reforms that allow women to exert actual influence over policy outcomes.
“Representation is only the beginning,” Tayebwa stated. “Having women in Parliament is important, but the most important measure of progress is whether women are able to influence the laws, the policies, the budgets and decisions that shape the lives of our people.”
The two-day international forum, running from October 12–13, is held under the theme “From Representation to Influence in the Decision-Making Process.” The event has brought together women parliamentarians and global leaders from across the world to share legislative experiences, network, and devise strategies to strengthen women’s roles in global governance.
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