President Yoweri Museveni has reiterated his commitment to gender equality, saying that both boys and girls should enjoy equal opportunities in Uganda’s social and economic development.
Speaking to young people at the Unstoppable Movement engagement, the President responded to a question on why government programmes seemed to focus more on the girl child than the boy child.
Museveni explained that the focus on girls was meant to correct old cultural distortions that had historically left women behind.
“Some people are saying, why are you only talking about the girl child and not the boy child? This was just to deal with the cultural distortion where girls were really forgotten in inheritance,” he said.
He reminded the youths that many Ugandan communities are traditionally patrilineal and exogamous, meaning inheritance passed through the male line, and marriage outside the clan was strictly enforced. These systems, he noted, had historical reasons — from clan protection to preventing intermarriage — but no longer fit modern society.
“In the past there were wars between clans. That is why they didn’t want the girl to take cows to a clan they may fight tomorrow. But those things are finished now,” Museveni explained.
The President emphasized that the NRM government stands firmly for equal rights for all children, regardless of gender.
He gave a personal example:
“My girls here have equal rights with Muhoozi. Although they are married, their share in my wealth remains secured. There is no way you can say my girls have no share.”
On the ongoing skilling programmes, Museveni clarified that training hubs exist across the country, not only in Kampala, and can be expanded further.
“Soroti, Katakwi and many other areas have skilling hubs. If you want them in Jinja and other places, we can do it. Skilling is for everyone,” he said.
As the session ended, the President thanked the youth for their questions and encouraged them to stay focused on development.
