Minister Nankabirwa Commends Summit for bringing Together Women in Energy Sector

The minister of energy and Mineral Development Dr Ruth Nankabirwa has commended Africa Women in energy International for bringing together women in the energy sector on the continent to share insights and create partnership.

Nankabirwa said this at the Africa Women in Energy International Summit 2023 in Texas USA.

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The conference was organized under the theme; Promoting diversity and partnership for growth.

Nankabirwa who was one of the keynote speakers explained that the low participation of women has been attributed to a number of factors including the historical bias that the energy sector is meant for men.

 “Few women have studied science,Technology,Engineering and Mathematics subjects which qualifications are key to participation in the sector and the fact is that energy sector is capital intensive which has been identified as an exclusion factor when it comes to women due to the hindrances they face is accessing funding” Nankabirwa who has transformed the energy sector informed the conference that Uganda Cabinet under the leadership of president Museveni approved the energy policy which among other important policy objectives lays out the government’s approach in ensuring the optimal inclusion of women in energy sector.

 ” The policy identifies the promotion of gender mainstreaming and youth inclusiveness in all energy planning, programming and projects as a critical objective for achieving the policy goal of achieving universal access to sustainable, affordable and quality energy services for all Ugandans by 2030″ she confirmed Nankabirwa further stressed that the role of women in leadership in the energy sector has been growing steadily progressing. “For stance in Uganda, the current setup, we have the political leadership of the energy sector entrusted to a woman, permanent secretary, the chief Executive Officer of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, the Board chairperson of the national Oil Company, among others are all women,” she noted.

She however encouraged women who have been privileged to participate in the Africa women in energy international conference to take the responsibilities of ensuring the policies and interventions that have been put in place are implemented to promote the inclusion of more women in the energy sector.