Why our country won't grow without the growth of the woman

Agriculture is the back bone of Uganda, so they say, and employs about 70%-75% of the population with almost 80% of these being women. The ratio of men to women is 1:2 meaning we have twice as many women as we have men in this country. Women make up the bigger size of our population and this trickles down into the country's social, political and economic structures too like the labour force. This means they hold a large stake in the growth and development of this country socially,politically and economically. The country could actually transform by transforming the woman that's the magic bullet.

I usually love having debates especially with the cooperates,elites of this country that's to say doctors,engineers,business Consultants among others and our main area of debate usually is around how they have used their knowledge (that's is if they have) and skills to transform the Ugandan woman. The rural woman to be specific. I remember telling a doctor friend of mine that if  he or any of his colleagues can find a way that say makes child birth less risky for the rural woman then I would be the first among non medical people to strike for their pay rise haha. A local solution  for a local problem from our medical people, that would be great. Imagine if our engineers could come up with a simple affordable machine that helps say women in the stone quarries smash stones eliminating the hand  hammer. A simple tool that would replace the had hoe and make the farming woman's life easier.

Last time I posted on one of my social media timelines that we have more women than men in business of late and many men came out to challenge my view and I understand why, they were just being men who feel by virtue of their sex they should be on top of everything. Male ego can some times get in the way of reality, am a guy I know better haha. Truth be told we have seen sharp increase in female owned businesses in the last 15 or so years with the rise being estimated at a staggering 72%. Again some people (men) will ironically ask what type of businesses are these!? The types of business aside, women are in business, just like they are in agriculture and now slowly embracing politics. At YOUNG TREPS, I can reliably tell you 80% of our clientele are women (yeah, women are more likely to seek help over issues they don't have proper understanding of unlike their male counterparts who always assume they know until they hit a hard wall) owning all types of businesses from fish farms,restaurants,supermarkets,consultancy firms, small credit institutions to NGOs to mention but a few.

With this reality staring us right in the face it's only prudent we invest in our women as I don't see growth as country without the growth of the woman. This country will grow as much us our women grow, I don't see any short cuts for now.

Jaluum Herberts Luwizza is a writer, speaker and business consultant with YOUNG TREP - East Africa's No. 1 Business Management and Consultancy firm that helps people start and grow profitable businesses.

twitter:@jaluwizza