Kabale women break job barriers in push for gender equality

KABALE - As Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8, several women in Kabale Municipality spoke out about how engaging in jobs traditionally dominated by men has helped them sustain their families and break long-standing gender barriers.

International Women’s Day is celebrated globally to recognise the achievements and contributions of women in social, economic and political development.  

The day also serves as a platform to highlight the challenges women continue to face, including discrimination, poverty and gender-based violence, while encouraging society to support gender equality in all sectors.

In Kabale municipality, some women have chosen to challenge societal norms by venturing into occupations that have long been perceived as men’s work. Among them is senior municipality enforcement officer Precious Musimenta, who also rides a bodaboda and operates a tuk-tuk to supplement her income.

Musimenta says after finishing her official duties at the municipal council, she sometimes engages in the bodaboda riding within Kabale town to earn extra income.

According to her, the work has greatly helped her meet family responsibilities, including paying school fees for her children and covering other household expenses.

She explained that the additional income has improved her financial independence and enabled her to contribute significantly to the welfare of her family.

Musimenta added that working in the boda boda sector, which is largely dominated by men, initially seemed challenging. However, with time, she gained confidence and built a good working relationship with her male colleagues.

She noted that the support and cooperation from fellow bodaboda riders have made it easier for her to operate in the industry.

Musimenta encouraged women to overcome fear and societal stereotypes by engaging in income-generating activities that can uplift their families and improve their livelihoods.

“Women should not limit themselves to jobs traditionally assigned to them. Any job that can help improve our families is worth doing,” she said.

Another woman challenging gender stereotypes in Kabale is Birungi Grace, a carpenter who has been working in the trade for several years.

Grace said manual and technical jobs should not be categorised as male or female work, emphasising that determination and skills are what matter most.

She revealed that she decided to pursue carpentry after realising that she had limited academic qualifications and lacked financial support to continue with further studies.

Faced with those challenges, she opted to learn carpentry as a way of earning a living and supporting herself.

Despite her determination, Grace admitted that the job is not without challenges. She said some customers doubt her abilities simply because she is a woman, with some questioning whether she can handle certain carpentry tasks.

However, she said such attitudes have not discouraged her, noting that she continues to work hard to prove that women can perform technical jobs just as effectively as men.

Grace added that her decision to join carpentry was also influenced by the difficulty she faced in finding employment in occupations commonly associated with women.

Meanwhile, Evelyn Ninsiima Kikafunda, the President of Green Environment Project (GEP), emphasised the growing role women are playing in promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development.

Kikafunda said many women are actively involved in initiatives that promote clean energy, including the use of solar power, which helps protect the environment while improving household livelihoods.

She noted that women’s participation in environmental protection initiatives demonstrates their crucial contribution to national development.

Every year, Uganda celebrates International Women’s Day in different districts where government leaders, civil society organisations, women's rights activists and community members gather to discuss issues affecting women and explore strategies aimed at improving their social and economic empowerment.