By Ceasar Ivan Okello 12th May 2026
Kampala: The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi Akena, has said that the new government for the 2026–2031 term will place greater emphasis on mobilizing funds to economically empower women across the country.
Amongi made the remarks during the swearing-in ceremony of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his seventh term in office at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
She said her attendance at the ceremony was to congratulate President Museveni for the achievements registered during the 11th Parliament, which she noted have transformed Uganda in various sectors.
Among most notable achievements, she highlighted wealth creation programs, as well as peace and security stability across the country.
According to Amongi, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development remains one of the key ministries responsible for addressing issues affecting the youth, women, and the elderly, adding that several achievements have been registered during her tenure.
On labour export, Amongi said the ministry will continue coordinating with the Immigration Office to ensure proper procedures are followed when sending Ugandan workers abroad.
She also noted that the ministry is working to strengthen online systems at departure points to improve efficiency and accountability.
Speaking on women’s empowerment, Amongi said the ministry has made significant progress in combating gender-based violence within families. She emphasized that empowering women economically is one of the most effective ways of reducing GBV, as it enables women to become financially independent.
To achieve this, the minister pointed to government initiatives such as the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) and the GROW Project, encouraging women involved in business to take advantage of the programs to improve their livelihoods and overcome poverty.
She added that the next government will prioritize ensuring women have greater access to financial support because of the important role they play in family and national development.
She expressed optimism that empowering cultural leaders will strengthen efforts to fight GBV, with support from the police and Community Development Officers (CDOs) at sub-county and district levels.
Minister Betty Amongi is credited for reforms that increased NSSF remittances, helping the fund grow its savings to over UGX 21 trillion