The Director of Women\u2019s Affairs, Uganda Peoples\u2019 Defence Forces (UPDF), Brig Gen Charity Bainababo has reflected on the global origins of the International Women\u2019s Day, tracing it as far back to the early 20th-Century movements, when women advocated for justice, equality, and fair working conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said this during an exclusive interview at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds while overseeing intensive band and parade rehearsals in preparation for the International Women\u2019s Day celebrations on Sunday, 8th March, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the contemporary norm, the parade will be an all-female showcase, featuring women from UPDF, Uganda Police Force (UPF), Uganda Prisons Service, and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are rehearsing as ladies because this year\u2019s parade is all ladies, only ladies. I have been watching their rehearsals, overseeing and they are ready. We will give you a marvelous show,\u201d she promised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s celebrations will be held under the theme: \u201cScaling up Investment to Accelerate Access to Justice for all Women and Girls in Uganda.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brig Gen Bainababo noted that as the armed forces, UPDF\u2019s core mandate remains the protection and security of all Ugandans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs the armed forces, our role here is to secure all the people of Uganda, including the women, to be able to take part in this acceleration of investment. It is our duty as the armed forces to secure you, all Ugandans, so that you can go about your business without any threat,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Director traced the historical significance of International Women\u2019s Day back to 1905, when women marched demanding better pay and justice in society. She emphasized that current celebrations honour the achievements of women and recognize their ongoing struggle for equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.updf.go.ug\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0211.JPG.jpeg\")
Drawing parallels to Uganda\u2019s liberation struggle, Brig Gen Bainababo highlighted the UPDF\u2019s commitment to gender inclusivity, rooted in NRA\u2019s Bush War 10-point program and the vision of leaders who understood that \u201cliberation would not be complete without the emancipation of all groups, especially women.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She paid tribute to pioneering female officers, including retired Lt Gen Proscovia Nalweyiso among others, who participated in the 1986 bush war that liberated Uganda and paved the way for current generations of women in uniform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She addressed the strides made in women\u2019s participation within UPDF, acknowledging significant progress, while noting areas for continued growth through quotas at recruitment and committing to embark on, and ensure effective utilization of women in uniform in all units and formations of UPDF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.updf.go.ug\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Parade-Participants-partake-in-rehearsals-at-Kololo-Ceremonial-Grounds-on-Tuesday.JPG.jpeg\")
\u201cWe are not yet at the 30 percent, but it\u2019s a work in progress. We have ladies rising to levels of general and senior officers, Colonel, lieutenant Colonel and Major, through the ranks to Private. Training does not discriminate us. We are given quotas and we do all the line courses that allow us to progress in our careers. So, thumbs up to the UPDF fraternity because we have been given a chance to prove our worth,\u201d she appreciated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also called on Ugandans to focus on wealth creation following the completion of elections, encouraging young people to embrace technology and position themselves in production lines, while urging others to utilize the Presidential Skilling Centres and to also take advantage of government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of the Women\u2019s Day Celebrations, the Directorate of Women\u2019s Affairs in the UPDF will conduct a medical camp on 5th March, 2026, at Kikete, Kamwokya, Kampala district to demonstrate the force\u2019s commitment to giving back to the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Director of Women\u2019s Affairs, Uganda Peoples\u2019 Defence Forces (UPDF), Brig Gen Charity Bainababo has reflected on the global origins<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16618,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Brig-Gen-Charity-Bainababo-Director-Women-Affairs-UPDF-interacts-with-UWA-parade-participants-during-rehearsals-at-Kololo-Ceremonial-Grounds-on-Tuesday.JPG-1600x800-1.jpeg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16975,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/women-boost-updf-effectiveness-says-brig-gen-bainababo\/","url_meta":{"origin":16617,"position":0},"title":"Women Boost UPDF Effectiveness, Says Brig Gen Bainababo","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Brig Gen Charity Bainababo, the Director Women Affairs delivered a lecture on \u201cGender Inclusivity in Security Forces\u201d to students undertaking the Joint Basic Cadre Development Course and Advanced Psychosocial Course at the Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership and Pan African Centre of Excellence (ORTSL-PACEX) in Kaweweta. 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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n