The National Women’s Manifesto (2026–2030), titled “Her Voice,” is a comprehensive policy framework developed by the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in Uganda. Aligned with national and global agendas like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the manifesto outlines urgent priorities for political parties, government, and stakeholders to address systemic barriers facing women and girls over the next five years.

Key Focus Areas

1. Human Capital Development

   • Health: Reduce maternal mortality (currently 207/100,000 live births) by increasing health sector funding to 15% of the national budget, improving access to quality maternal care, and integrating mental health services. Demands include tax waivers for menstrual products and universal health insurance.

   • Education: Close gender gaps in STEM fields, enforce policies to retain girls in school (e.g., menstrual hygiene facilities, re-admission for pregnant teens), and allocate 15–20% of public spending to education.

2. Livelihood & Climate Justice

   • Economic Empowerment: Promote women’s access to credit, land ownership, and agricultural resources (e.g., through the GROW Project). Address unpaid care work via subsidized childcare and gender-responsive tax reforms.

   • Climate Action: Strengthen women’s participation in climate decision-making, invest in climate-smart agriculture, and allocate funds for gender-responsive disaster resilience programs.

3. Social Norms & Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

   • Combat harmful practices like child marriage and FGM through community-led norm-change initiatives. Strengthen GBV prevention, legal protections, and survivor support systems.

4. Women in ICT

   • Bridge the digital divide by improving rural women’s access to affordable internet, promoting digital literacy, and addressing online gender-based violence through stronger legal frameworks.

5. Cross-Cutting Issues

   • Leadership: Achieve 50/50 gender parity in political representation, regulate campaign financing to reduce barriers for women, and combat violence against women in politics.

   • Corruption: Implement anti-corruption measures (e.g., whistleblower protections) to ensure equitable service delivery for women.

   • Peace & Security: Integrate women into conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes, aligning with Uganda’s National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325.

Implementation & Accountability

The manifesto emphasizes collaboration between government, civil society, and development partners. UWONET commits to tracking progress through monitoring frameworks and advocating for policy reforms. Key strategies include grassroots mobilization, gender-responsive budgeting, and leveraging partnerships to amplify women’s voices in governance.

The “Her Voice” manifesto is a bold call to dismantle structural inequalities and build a Uganda where women and girls thrive. By prioritizing health, education, economic justice, and inclusive leadership, it seeks to catalyze transformative change, ensuring women’s rights are central to national development.