‘Uganda’s oil sector is on the right track’

How do you intend to further the gains realised out of that programme?

Norway continues to support various programmes which are aimed at combating gender based violence. I just invited the United Nations and some other colleagues for a meeting on how to go forward with this programme. We agreed to continue to cooperate closely; continue to inform each other about what we do; continue to look at the many aspects of gender based violence. One is certainly in homes but we also had this terrible experience from the infrastructure project where the World Bank had to suspend the project (the Fort Portal-Kamwenge road). So I think that was a necessary and important eye opener. The World Bank is a new and committed partner and is coming in to support the government from the international partners’ side.We have to look beyond what we have done before. We need to make sure that interventions the international community supports do not have a negative impact on women and children and even men. What we have learnt from the joint UN based programme is that it is possible to reduce gender based violence if Ugandan central and local authorities, civil society organizations and international partners work together.

How do you think gender based violence impacts society?

First, you will have a large section of society—those who are victims and survivors of this violence— who will have very difficult lives. The societal impact is that they will not be as active and creative. The UNFPA has tried to calculate this and they say the economic impact of gender-based violence is significant. We read almost weekly in the newspapers about defilement and maltreatment of school children, in particular girls. They may stop attending school, and even if they stay on,they are traumatized and find it hard to concentrate. And then you will have young girls who grow up without an education, you will have future mothers without basic educational skills. That of course affects society when you have a population that can hardly read and write, mothers and fathers who cannot guide their children. Education is one of the priorities of the Norwegian government and that includes assisting in terms of keeping young girls in school.

Your last word?

The issue that has been close to my heart throughout my career is the role of women (in society) and gender equality. There are many women here in Uganda in key positions in society, in politics, administration and business. However, I think there are still opportunities for women, at all levels, to be heard and to be seen participating even more. Women should be treated as equal citizens as men, in all aspects of life. The United Nations Convention on women’s rights (CEDAW) sets out the international legal obligations to protect and promote women. It is a key priority for my government to ensure that there are more women around the decision making tables, making sure that the protection of women happens in the construction of infrastructure projects, making sure that women have the right and access to land, making sure that girls go to school and are accessing sanitary facilities, and making sure that women get justice when they are violated. Impunity for gender based violence must end – in all countries. Women’s rights are about human dignity and human rights, and it is ultimately about what kind of society we want to have – a just and fair society for all.