Faridah Kibowa Re-elected Unopposed at Village Level, Eyes Women’s SACCO for Grassroots Empowerment

By Denis Mukisa

Hajjat Faridah Kibowa, National Chairperson of the Uganda National Women’s Council, has been re-elected unopposed as village-level women’s council chairperson in her home area of Sseenda Village, Nazigo Town Council, Kayunga District.

Kibowa and her entire committee sailed through without any contesting candidates, reflecting the smooth conduct of the ongoing women’s council elections across more than 400 villages in Kayunga District and many other parts of the country. The polls are a precursor to elections at parish, sub-county, district, and national levels.

The Uganda National Women’s Council, established under the National Women’s Council Act of 1993, serves as a platform to organise and unify Ugandan women for sustainable community and national development, regardless of religion, tribe, or political affiliation. Its mandate includes advocating for women’s rights, capacity building, promoting peace and accountability, and facilitating access to economic opportunities.

Speaking to voters at her polling station on Thursday morning, Kibowa reaffirmed her commitment to grassroots women. “My target now is on the grassroots woman leader in Uganda, to know their roles and responsibilities, which is very key to support and educate our women in all the villages in Uganda,” she said.

She emphasised the need to educate women on family stability, prevention of domestic violence, and understanding government programmes designed for their benefit. Kibowa also highlighted economic empowerment as a key priority for her next term. She pledged to establish a national Women’s SACCO, building on existing Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) and women’s groups to uplift the economy of women at the grassroots.

Kibowa further called on international women’s organisations and NGOs to partner with the National Women’s Council secretariat, a formal government structure with nationwide reach, to effectively channel support to women at the village level.

“I have asked the voters to give me another chance to represent them,” she said, adding that she would continue delivering results for women across the country, amplifying their voices, and fighting poverty through government programmes.

With her village-level victory secured, Kibowa now advances to the subsequent electoral stages. Local residents in Kayunga have expressed strong support for her bid to retain the national chairperson position, citing her track record in championing women’s issues and linking communities to development initiatives.

The women’s council elections, supervised by the Electoral Commission, form part of the broader local governance electoral process and are viewed as critical for enhancing women’s participation in decision-making and economic transformation.