Over the past 25 years of CEEWA-U’s existence there have been several developments and many new actors in the arena of women’s rights and women’s economic empowerment. Partners are also sensitive to the duplication of effort within the civil society space. Uganda has made considerable progress in advancing gender equality and women empowerment in political, economic and social domains over the last 3 decades.  CEEWA- U contributed significantly to the enactment of gender responsive legal and policy framework, and to building gender analytical and advocacy competences among its members who then went on to occupy influential positions in governmental bodies, the Academia and the Banking Sectors. CEEWA Uganda has also achieved milestones in capacity building of women for leadership governance and accountability, business development for owners and groups, modernization of practices for women farmers.

Despite all the progress made in poverty alleviation so many challenges for women’s economic empowerment remain. The increased participation of women decision making position is significant however it has not translated into considerable influence over financial resource allocation.  Very few women have ownership and control over productive resources such as land. This limits their access to credit further limiting the growth of their business.

Women are more likely than men to be unemployed, self -employed or to work in the informal employment sector. Statistics show that in Uganda the productive potential in women and youth of 18- 64 years is underutilized. The majority of women work force have remained in low paying stereotyped vocations and are not exploring opportunity in the fast growing sectors of development. Productivity and returns from women owned enterprises continues to be erratic.  Many women have limited access to skilling programmes and there is a general lack of statistics about the development of gender responsive indicators that can address emerging occupational hazards for women and youth engaged in select economic sectors. In addition socio cultural issues still limit women’s empowerment as well as their contribution.

In view of all this CEEWA-U recognizes that there is still a need to continue addressing gender inequality in Uganda. This process should involve a paradigm shift that will change mind sets. This is somethings that can only be achieved in the long term as opposed to the short term.