Dr.Miria Matembe has urged women’s movements in Uganda to include the boy-child in their empowerment programs as away of dealing with gender based violence(GBV) since empowered girls will be married to empowered boys.
“We have empowered the girls so much that the boys have been left behind. The boy-child has been discriminated against. We have a new challenge, and I’m throwing this challenge to all the people of Uganda and to the women’s movement. We need boys, we need girls. Our empowered girls need husbands who are empowered, not just lousy boys,” Matembe said.
She was speaking during the launch of 16 days of activism by FIDA Uganda leading up to their 50th anniversary celebrations scheduled for December, 7.
Dr. Matembe emphasized the importance of including boys in empowerment programs, stating that it is dangerous to overlook them as they are the men of tomorrow who will marry the empowered girls that are being raised today.
She advocated for the inclusion of boys in empowerment programs, emphasizing that this approach will help shape a better future for both boys and girls.
“My call to the population, to the parents and the young women is that let us devise a strategy of how we can include the boy-child. Empower them because they have fallen into shock. They have grown to know that they are men, they are boys think they know everything and for us, we are only empowering girls.. And after the girls being empowered, they are facing these boys who are empowered in their head, theoretically, not knowing what a man or boy means. They are shocked since they are not prepared to cooperate and work with these girls.”
She, however, urged men to understand and support women movements in their efforts to empower women, emphasizing that men ultimately benefit the most from these initiatives.
“Please men, embrace the work that women’s organizations are doing, because, in totality, it is for the benefit of you men and the whole nation,”Matembe said.
She called on men to embrace and join organizations like FIDA in promoting the empowerment of women and girls, stating that when women thrive, men benefit as well.
Matembe praised FIDA for its significant contribution in ensuring justice for vulnerable Ugandans, particularly women, over the past 50 years.
“All these years, FIDA has contributed immensely to the whole cause or principle of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Women are there according to God’s word to help the men. And so when women are helpless suffering with all these challenges which FIDA has been addressing, men become helpless because we are their helper.”
Matembe emphasized that the fight for gender equality and women’s empowerment not only benefits women but also contributes to the development of peaceful families and a prosperous nation.
“Everybody should know that if they fight for gender equality and women’s empowerment , it is a fight for the empowerment and development of Uganda as a nation. The more women are empowered and they stand up to embrace and use their potential, their God given talents wisdom to realize their potential, the better the families become and the better the nation becomes.”
