UN Women Encourages Ugandan Girls to Break Stereotypes in Tech

UN Women has issued a strong call to action for young women in Uganda, encouraging them to shatter societal stereotypes and embrace leadership roles within the technology sector. The organization stressed that digital literacy is not merely an academic pursuit but a crucial gateway to economic empowerment in the modern world.

This encouragement was a central theme at the conclusion of the fourth phase of the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) coding camp. Held at Kyebambe Girls’ Secondary School in Fort Portal City, the 10-day intensive program gathered 60 female students from 16 secondary schools in the Tooro sub-region.

Representing the UN Women Country Representative, Dr. Paulina Chiwangu, Operations Manager Mr. Benson Oketch remarked on the persistent systemic biases many girls face. “In Uganda, many girls still face barriers to digital education, ranging from limited access and restrictive social norms to a lack of exposure to opportunities in ICT,” he stated, quoting Dr. Chiwangu. He urged the participants to actively “disrupt the status quo” and “destroy the stereotype that girls are only meant to stay at home, cook food, or wait for marriage.”

The camp provided practical, hands-on training in areas such as web development, robotics, and animation. Students applied their coding and digital design skills to develop innovative solutions addressing local community issues, demonstrating the real-world applicability of their learning.

The AGCCI, a collaborative effort between UN Women, the African Union Commission, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with financial support from the German government, aims to empower adolescent girls across Africa. In Uganda, previous AGCCI phases have already provided advanced tech skills to over 244 girls across various regions.

Officials from Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports affirmed that the initiative aligns with national educational goals. Mr. Katende Elaijah from the ministry highlighted plans to integrate ICT and coding clubs in all schools to ensure the program’s sustainability and bolster Uganda’s digital agenda.

Through scaling up such digital safe spaces, stakeholders hope to dismantle long-standing barriers that have historically excluded Ugandan women from vital innovation industries. This initiative seeks to foster a future where technological advancement and female participation go hand in hand.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)