KAMPALA, Uganda — Dr. Lakisa Mercy Faith, Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development in charge of Youth and Children Affairs, on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, challenged leaders of the National Women’s Council to champion women’s economic empowerment and promote financial independence across the country.
Dr. Lakisa made the call during an orientation session held at Imperial Royal Hotel, where she engaged the council leaders as they prepared to begin their leadership tenure. She described the engagement as a privilege and emphasised the importance of equipping women leaders with the knowledge and commitment needed to serve their communities effectively.
The minister underscored that leadership must go beyond occupying positions of responsibility to delivering meaningful and lasting change. She urged the council leaders to work collectively towards structural transformation, noting that a united national movement was essential to advancing women’s interests and improving their economic wellbeing.
Dr. Lakisa further challenged the leaders to take the lead in advocating for women’s financial autonomy. She emphasised the need for coordinated efforts at all levels of leadership to ensure that women were empowered to participate meaningfully in economic activities and contribute to the country’s development.
Particular attention was drawn to the 30 per cent affirmative parish funding allocation for women. Dr. Lakisa urged the council leaders to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the funding reached its intended beneficiaries and translated into tangible economic opportunities for women in communities across Uganda.
She also called on the leaders to reflect on the knowledge and insights gained during the orientation and translate them into practical interventions. According to the minister, effective leadership should be measured by its ability to address community challenges, strengthen existing systems and deliver sustainable results.
The engagement highlighted the importance of collaboration, accountability and purposeful leadership in advancing women’s participation in national development. Dr. Lakisa encouraged the council leaders to strengthen cooperation across different levels of governance and ensure that women’s concerns remained central to decision-making and development initiatives.
She concluded by urging the leaders to use their positions to drive progress within their communities and contribute to Uganda’s broader transformation agenda. She emphasised that their tenure should be defined by measurable achievements, stronger economic opportunities for women and a collective commitment to ensuring that no woman was left behind.
