Women, youth should access loans - Kadaga

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has urged the elected female legislators to the 11th Parliament to continue pushing government to consider a 30 per cent loan access to the youth and women.
“We have resolved that 30 per cent of loans government gets are to be used by women and youth. Many times, these groups are left out and yet they are also citizens of Uganda,” she said.
Kadaga made these remarks at the Uganda Law Society Women’s Day celebration under the theme “Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world”. The event which also celebrated female lawyers and legislators in the 11th Parliament was held at Femme Forte Offices in Ntinda, Monday, 08 March 2021.
The Speaker added that Parliament makes policies but usually they have not been followed to the detail. She cited the Kampala Capital City Authority which was supposed to ensure that all markets have good sanitation facilities and day care centres.  
“During Covid-19, we were told that the women agreed to stay in the markets for a month without going home, but the sanitization facilities in some of the markets are in a sorry state, while other markets do not have it all,” she said.
The Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions in charge of inspection and Quality Assurance, Winfred Ahimbisibwe said that Covid-19 has affected the women in prisons more than anything.
“Some prisons do not have female facilities and due to this, the female prisoners are taken to other prisons in Kyenjojo and the men remain in Bwera prison. The court has been forced to move to the prisons. Bwera Prison is easily accessed as compared to the prisons in Kyenjojo,” Ahimbisibwe said.

The CEO of CivSource Africa, Jacqueline Asiimwe urged the legislators to see to it the Marriage and Divorce Bill is passed.
“It has been my dream to see that at one time we shall see an institution that is equal in marriage and equal in divorce. We shall not bequeath this fight to our children. It should end with us; go fight and let’s see it end,” Asiimwe added.
The President of the Uganda Law Society, Pheona Wall said she was excited that in the 11th Parliament, the number legislators have increased showing that achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world is possible.
“The women lawyers need to move out of their comfortable spaces and get into the uncomfortable places that actually impact the welfare of women and children in this country. If you are not happy with the policies being made, squeeze yourselves in the policy making positions like these politicians have taken,” Wall said.
The legislators who were celebrated are; Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of Parliament; Hon. Robina Rwakoojo,; Hon. Anne Adeke Ebaju  and Woman MP-Elect for Kampala District, Hon. Shamim Malende.