Have purpose for joining leadership, Matembe tells women

While speaking during the closure of a leadership training camp, former parliamentarian and activist, Miria Matembe has advised young women who had been part of the one week training to have clear reasons why they would want to be leaders.

This, Matembe said, would help have the right people as leaders in Uganda.
“There is a problem in most African countries, leaders think leadership is about acquiring wealth. This is wrong. You people who have taken part in this training are now challenged to stop this kind of mind-set in our country. As young women leaders, have the right reasons for joining leadership. Is it fame that you want? Is it stewardship or wealth?” she asked.
Additionally, Matembe also encouraged women to take on leadership roles in society. This, she said, would help have both sexes taking part in the decision making process in the country.
“Our aim for championing affirmative action was to make sure that most women have access to education so they can take part in the country’s leadership process. Growing up, most leadership positions were taken up by men. These are people who didn’t know the kind of challenges women go through yet were tasked to make decisions on behalf of us. This was wrong. Today some women have taken up leadership positions, but it’s not enough," she said adding: "I therefore challenge you to take on different leadership roles in all aspects of our society and at all levels”.
The leadership training which took place between 11th to 17th of November was organized by Forum for women in Democracy [FOWODE] with an aim of training young women who are passionate about leadership under the theme “Mentoring for Alternative and Transformative Leadership.”