The Vice President Major Jessica Rose Alupo Epel has said that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has championed women’s empowerment in Uganda through increased representation in leadership, affirmative action in education and targeted financial support.
While speaking at the International Women in Finance Forum in Russia on the sidelines of the 3rd Russia–Africa Summit which on October 29th, Vice President Alupo highlighted women’s participation in senior positions in Uganda achieving significant milestones in political representation with women making up 51% of the population.
She noted that these include the position of the Vice Presidency, which she has occupied since 2021, the Office of the Prime Minister, judiciary, cabinet and many more in public service.
She also pointed to government programmes that have provided financial empowerment opportunities for women, girls and persons with disabilities.
The Vice President expressed hope that the BRICS New Development Bank would expand access to financing for women entrepreneurs and said Uganda was willing to host a regional hub for the BRICS Women Business Alliance.
Vice President Alupo Epel has been in Moscow, Russia, to represent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the Third Russia–Africa Summit which is a high-level diplomatic and economic meeting and it brings together Russian and African Heads of State, government officials, and business leaders to deepen political, security and economic cooperation.
This year Summit is being held under the theme, “For Peace, Security and Development” and places a strong emphasis on economic partnerships, including trade, investment, peaceful nuclear energy, digitalization, food security, logistics and advanced technologies.
The Forum serves as a platform for practical business and scientific discussions and it is expected to adopt a final declaration, a new Russia–Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan for 2027–2029 and cooperation agreements on civilian artificial intelligence applications.
Vice President Alupo offered to host a regional hub for the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance and emphasized Uganda’s dedication to boosting financing opportunities and economic networks for women entrepreneurs.
She stated that the Government of Uganda will keep its doors open to host the regional hub for the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance to help local and regional women entrepreneurs scale their businesses.
Major Alupo expressed strong confidence that the New Development Bank which is a financial institution established by the BRICS and the movement will serve as a vital tool for friendly corporate financing that women business leaders can fully leverage.
She highlighted the urgent need to mirror this progress in corporate leadership and business ownership and pointed out the need to target financial enhancement programs and affirmative action in education that will result in University’s graduation rates favoring women.
