'Over 7 million Ugandan women can’t read or write'

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As Uganda joins the world to mark International Literacy Day on September 8, the Government has raised serious concerns over the gender disparity in literacy, revealing that more than 7.3 million Ugandan women are still unable to read and write—nearly double the number of illiterate men.

The figures, released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS 2024), show that while Uganda’s national literacy rate stands at 76%, approximately 11.9 million people remain illiterate — 7.3 million of them women, and 3.9 million men.

Addressing journalists at the Kampala city-based Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, gender state minister Dr Peace Regis Mutuuzo described the gender gap as both “deeply troubling and unacceptable.”

“It is disturbing that in 2025, we still have more than seven million women in Uganda who cannot read or write,” Mutuuzo said. “This is not just a statistic — it’s a national emergency that we must urgently address.”

Mutuuzo emphasised that women’s illiteracy is not just a barrier to individual empowerment, but a significant obstacle to national development, family wellbeing, and gender equality.

“When a woman is literate, she is more likely to support her children’s education, manage her health, start a business, or participate in leadership. When she is not, the whole community suffers.”

This year’s International Literacy Day is being observed under the global theme: Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era, highlighting the growing need for both basic and digital literacy skills in a rapidly digitising world.

Targeted interventions needed

Mutuuzo called for targeted interventions to close the gender literacy gap, especially in rural communities where cultural norms, poverty, and early marriages often hinder girls and women from accessing education.

“This is not just a matter for the education sector—it’s a social justice issue. We must work together to remove the barriers that keep women and girls from learning,” she said.

Uganda has implemented several programmes aimed at improving literacy among adults, including the Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) programme and the Integrated Community Learning for Wealth Creation (ICOLEW), which combines literacy with vocational and life skills training.

Through ICOLEW, community learning centres have been established at the parish level, aligning with the government’s Parish Development Model (PDM) to promote inclusive and grassroots development.

“These centres are not just classrooms—they are spaces for transformation, where women acquire the skills they need to improve their livelihoods and support their families,” Mutuuzo said.

Shillings 83 billion earmarked

The minister also announced that the Government has approved shillings 83 billion to roll out the SUICOLEW programme nationwide over the next five years, expanding access to adult and digital literacy, especially for marginalised groups.

“We are putting resources where they are needed most—to empower the seven million women who have been left behind for too long,” she added.

Mutuuzo urged stronger collaboration between the Government, civil society, faith-based organisations, and local communities to tackle illiteracy among women.

“We cannot achieve true gender equality if women continue to be excluded from education. The power of literacy must reach every home, every village, and every woman,” she said.

Activities to commemorate International Literacy Day 2025 will include reading and writing competitions, adult learner graduations, literacy boot camps, and a national symposium, all aimed at raising awareness and celebrating progress.

“Let this Literacy Day be a turning point — not just a celebration, but a call to action. Seven million women are counting on us,” Dr. Mutuuzo concluded.