Since women play a big role in developing the agricultural sector, there must be a method that focuses on addressing gender specific barriers, the president of the Uganda Ireland Alumni Association (UIAA), Rebecca Ssanyu, has said.
She said that Agriculture is the backbone of our country, and more technologies to improve it must be put in place, which include strengthening women’s land rights, because women do the donkey work in the agricultural sector which is done on land and if they don’t have land rights like agreements or titles written in their names, a big percentage of them end up losing every thing they have invested on that land.
“As a woman and someone who is passionate about agriculture, I am appealing to the government to ensure equal access to education and healthcare for women, promote women’s economic self-sufficiency, and strengthen legal systems to protect women from discrimination and violence. Increasing women’s political participation and developing a supportive environment for work-life balance are critical phases. Although I studied public policy at master’s level in Ireland, I can educate women about how to use modern technology in the agricultural field so that they achieve excellent yields at the end of the season’’ Ssanyu said.
In this line, she asked the Government to support women in receiving the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds on time so that they can develop their households and the country at large through agriculture.
She said this during the Uganda Ireland Alumni Association annual general meeting( UIAA) on July 24 at Hotel Africana.
The former Ambassador of Ireland to Uganda, Kevin Colgan, said the tracer study of the Ireland Fellows programme in Uganda reflects the journeys of over 300 fellows who have transformed opportunity into impact, and it charts a way forward for deepening that impact through mentorship, digital innovation, and inclusive engagement.
He said that when talent meets opportunity and vision is matched with accountability, transformation is inevitable. From governance and education to health and civil society, our alumni are shaping Uganda’s future.
The Uganda Ireland Alumni Association (UIAA) is a group of Ugandans who have studied in Ireland, primarily through the Irish Aid fellowship program.
The association aims to foster networking among its members and encourage them to use their skills and training they achieved from their studies in Ireland to create positive change in their communities.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Former Ireland Ambassador to Uganda Kevin Colgan receiving a gift from the president of the UIAA, Rebecca Ssanyu, as members look on. (Photos by Jovita Mirembe)
