Church of Uganda Empowering Women to Achieve Gender Equality
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CHURCH OF UGANDA EMPOWERING EUROPEAN UNION WOMEN TO ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY organise music competitions help women realise their full especially using media. ship with DanChurchAid and and sports, and this time, we potential and meaningfully Rural Action Community base. have organised a football benefit from their toil? We have done a lot of advoca- match for women. cy and personally, it has been a We have also mentored girls in The Church is giving equal key message during the skills development for the 19 girls Men will also be part of the training opportunities to both lockdown, advocating for in mid-central Uganda trained celebrations. We shall have women and men. We have peace, and also trying to by our partner Rural Action bible readings, prayers, music, been able to empower grass- challenge the legislators, and Community Based organization. and cooking competitions. It will root women to uptake skills and security organs to protect also be about promoting love, development through dioceses women. The Church also has an estab- kindness, and care because and Church of Uganda institu- lished an interfaith community women have that God-given tions and affiliates to increase This has also been very key structures as activists and male heart. their chances in the competi- through our teaching and gender champions providing tive market. preaching. I have made many counseling, referral and creat- Women are making inroads in sermons calling for family ing awareness on gender breaking the glass ceiling in We have also been able to planning, protecting the girls justice. We know the govern- different areas of society, yet empower women and girls during such a difficult time. I call ment has other avenues to help patriarchy continues to income-generating activities, upon the responsible persons these girls but I don’t think they constrain women’s access to especially through Village and the government to ensure can do it better than the employment and professional Savings and Loan Associations justice is given to women. Church. mobility. What is the Church (VSLAs) engagements to doing about it? empower them economically. Even after Covid-19, we need to What’s your last word? The Church also encourages continue advocating for wom- I want to appreciate Dan The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba, Archbishop of Uganda The Church has broken the families to make joint decisions en’s rights because they need Church Aid, Actual Alliance barrier to ordination and regarding utilization of resourc- to be protected. We need to and other stakeholders for their deployment of women in its es. continue fighting for them, and continued support. he Church of Uganda has made leadership. We also provide we shouldn’t stop. an immense contribution in opportunities in recruitment When Uganda declared a I would also like to invite men to elevating women in leadership and processes and appointments countrywide lockdown in The Church of Uganda has a respect women and women empowering them socially and which is also determined by March 2020, as part of the well-established system of should also respect the men in economically. Daily Monitor’s Paul experience and capabilities. All measures to combat the developing children into reciprocation. Women should Murungi, spoke to the Archbishop Church this has been mainstreamed in spread of the deadly coronavi- responsible adults. How is the take care of the boy child of Uganda The Most Rev. Samuel Stephen our human resource policy. rus, there was an alarming rise Church supplementing because if you give more atten- Kaziimba Mugalu. Below are excerpts. in violence against women, government efforts to deal with tion to the girls, they will end especially domestic violence. the scourge of teenage with spoilt men who will destroy What does Women’s Day mean to the We have strong women in the What role has the Church pregnancy which has soared their careers! Church of Uganda? Church such as Rev. Dr Olivia played in promoting under lockdown? International Women’s Day aims at Nassaka Banja who has been a violence-free families in As a church, we are focusing on celebrating the social, economic, and major contributor at Bishop Uganda? This is a challenge for all of us, ‘Life in its fullness’ which is a sub political achievements of women. This Tucker School of Divinity and and we need to continue theme for the theme that our day is very important to us the Church of Theology at Uganda Christianity I’m glad that we have had working as a team. The Church Ministry launched early this year. Uganda because the church values the University, Dr Rose Mutumba programmes to do advocacy is helping to supplement the It’s based on; “Conversion of ministry of Women. who is the medical director at from the women’s desk from the government efforts. We the head, heart, and the Mengo Hospital and The very Church of Uganda secretariat, promote these efforts through hands.” We celebrate women as mothers, but Rev. Canon Dr. Rebecca and some of these programmes Mother’s and Father’s Union also, as fellow ministers because, in our Margret Nyegenye at All Saints have been geared towards who teach them in mid-Central God bless you! teachings from the Bible, Jesus worked Cathedral in Kampala among fighting Gender Based Violence part of Uganda CoU in partner- with women in his ministry. Even during his others. crucifixion, he was with women. We don’t see any man who went with Jesus. The Women’s participation in one who tried to be with him was called meaningful leadership and Simon Peter who eventually betrayed decision-making continues to him. be limited yet it remains a priority and a critical element Women were also present when Jesus for achieving gender equality. was resurrecting, at least when you read What is the Church doing to the Gospel according to St Mathew; 28, and Mark; 16. DEVELOPING SKILLS The Church of Uganda also values the The Church is doing some ministry of a woman, and we not only commendable work, for celebrate this day, but we also value their example, St John’s Church contribution. Our vivid example is the of Uganda Kamwokya has installation of the Provost at All Saints supported 12 girls who Cathedral in Kampala, The very Rev. were impregnated during Canon Dr. Rebbeca Nyegengye, the the lockdown in skills Provost of all Saints Cathedral Kampala. development in tailoring. We also have other How does the Church of Uganda partners such as Wakisa celebrate this momentous day? Ministries who do We organise prayers as part of the counseling and encourage celebrations, and this time it will be mostly these girls not to lose hope. Mother’s Union leading a community sensitization group virtual because of Covid-19. We also .