It has been 30 odd years since Uganda took bold steps to protect and enshrine strong provisions for the advancement of women in the Constitution. Since then, Uganda has witnessed a mix of remarkable advances in women's rights notwithstanding some niggling setbacks. The Constitution itself was groundbreaking: it embedded equality and non-discrimination, affirmed women's equality and rights, prohibited traditions that undermine women's status and mandated affirmative action to address historical imbalances. This framework has driven significant progress in political representation, protection from violence and some economic rights. Yet, deep-rooted challenges, such as customary practices, limited implementation, societal norms and recent judicial conservatism, have led to notable losses, especially in reproductive autonomy, divorce and full economic empowerment.
