The State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs in Uganda, Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, has expressed concern about cultural norms and stereotypes that deny girls their right to own property. She points out that these norms have resulted in girls and women being excluded from participating in decisions related to land policy development and land rights. This exclusion goes against Article 271(1) of Uganda’s Constitution, which grants the right to own land to all Ugandan citizens. Additionally, Article 21 of the Constitution prohibits discrimination based on gender when it comes to land ownership.
Mateke emphasizes the government’s commitment to engage and educate cultural leaders on the importance of girls and women having property rights, including land ownership. She believes that denying them these rights hinders their ability to achieve their full potential. Social norms have also restricted girls’ access to quality education, economic independence, and leadership roles. This issue has persisted over time, limiting women’s economic opportunities, security, and productivity.
On the occasion of the International Day of the Girl, celebrated annually on October 11, Mateke highlighted the deep-rooted cultural beliefs that deny girls their property rights. This year’s theme, “Invest in Girls Rights: Our leadership and well-being,” focuses on empowering girls to realize their full potential and become leaders in society.
Ugandan women and girls play a crucial role in the agricultural labor force, contributing significantly to the country’s economic development. However, their contributions often go unrecognized. Mateke also addressed the social and cultural problems affecting girls, such as rape, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), defilement, and early marriages, which can lead to unwanted pregnancies and hinder progress toward gender equality.
The Minister highlighted the government’s achievements in promoting the health and well-being of girls and women. She cited statistics from the Ministry of Health, showing a reduction in neonatal mortality from 27 to 22 per 1,000 live births and a decline in pregnancy-related mortality from 368 to 228 per 100,000 live births. The stunting rate among children has also decreased from 27% to 24.4%. Additionally, access to bed nets for malaria control has increased to 72%, with 97% of malaria cases confirmed through diagnostic tests.
Mateke mentioned the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE), which has led to a significant rise in primary school enrollment, with 92% of all parishes now having public primary schools. The government has made substantial investments in education, focusing on infrastructure and access. The country has seen an improvement in national literacy rates, climbing from 73.2% in 2010 to 76.5% in 2020, with gender parity achieved in primary education enrollment, favoring girls.
