By Betty Ninsiima

On March 8^th, 2025, National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) organized a radio talk show at Community Green Radio in Kiboga for women in radio listeners’ groups to represent the bigger and majority of women to celebrate International Women’s Day. The event brought together women from the community listeners’ clubs to discuss indicators of social economic transformation, challenges and the way forward on how to mitigate them.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Accelerate Action”, emphasizes the need for collective action to accelerate progress towards gender equality. NAPE’s radio talk show aligned with this theme by highlighting the importance of collective action in promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality.

The talk show highlighted the challenges women face in their quest for social economic transformation which included; financial constraints, domestic violence and limited access to economic opportunities, lack of collateral, lack of land among others. Women also shared their experiences on husbands abandoning their responsibilities, taking money from them after selling their food produce and at times selling what they didn’t produce, to spend on leisure activities and that at times they become jealous upon knowing that they have gotten some money.

Despite these challenges, the women expressed appreciation for NAPE’s empowerment efforts and requested for more training and financial help to boost their businesses. Betty Ninsiima, the Officer in Charge of Movement Strengthening, Gender and Community Support at NAPE, emphasized NAPE’s commitment to supporting women and encouraged them to continue speaking out and defending their rights.

“NAPE is committed to empowering women and promoting gender equity and equality,” said Betty Ninsiima. NAPE believes that women’s economic empowerment is key to achieving social economic transformation and promoting sustainable development.

Betty Ninsiima, (2^nd from the right) the Officer in Charge of Movement Strengthening, Gender and Community Support standing in solidarity with Women in the fight against Gender inequalities.

The radio talk show was supported by Womankind Worldwide under the Movement Strengthening Fund. NAPE is grateful for the support, which enabled the organization to amplify the voices of women and promote their rights.

NAPE’s celebration of International Women’s Day is part of its ongoing efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. The organization works to address the social, economic and environmental challenges faced by women and girls in Uganda. Together we can empower a woman for an empowered nation.