First Lady Janet Museveni on Thursday launched the All Women for Museveni campaign at Kololo Independence Grounds, calling on women across the country to use their influence to promote peace and stability ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
Addressing thousands of women drawn from different regions, Janet Museveni urged Ugandans to reject election-related violence, warning that instability would reverse the gains the country has made over the years.
“We must say no to violence in this election,” she said.
“Peace is the foundation of development, and women have a critical role to play in safeguarding it.”
She traced the progress of women’s empowerment to the National Resistance Movement’s rise to power in 1986, noting that women then faced limited access to education, healthcare and leadership opportunities.
She contrasted that with today’s Uganda, where women occupy some of the country’s most powerful positions, including prime minister, vice-president and speaker of parliament, as well as senior roles in the private sector and public service.
Janet Museveni, who is also the Minister of Education and Sports, argued that women have strong reasons to support the NRM government, citing economic empowerment programmes that she said have helped many households escape poverty.
Among those she mentioned were Emyooga and the Parish Development Model, which provide access to credit and capital for small-scale entrepreneurs, many of them women.
She further urged women to strengthen their collective economic power by exploring the creation of a women-led bank, similar to models in other countries, saying this would improve their welfare and financial independence.
“Working together is key in life,” she said.
The event attracted several high-profile women leaders, politicians and faith figures. Pastor Jessica Kayanja praised Janet Museveni for what she described as her consistent efforts to champion women’s empowerment, both economically and spiritually, calling her “a true mother of the nation”.
Vice-president Jessica Alupo, state minister for Gender and Culture Peace Mutuuzo, women leaders from the private sector and civil society, and senior government officials also commended the first lady for her role in advancing women’s participation in leadership, education and economic activity.
