Written By | BK Mugizi
PHOTOS: State Minister of Public service Ms Grace Mary Mugasa during the belated women's day celebrations in Bushenyi
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BUSHENYI
The Minister of State for Public Service, Grace Mary Mugasa, has cautioned women against allowing financial independence to erode respect within marriage, saying such situations often trigger domestic conflict and family breakdown.
Speaking as chief guest during the belated International Women’s Day celebrations for Bushenyi District on Saturday, Mugasa said financial progress should never replace mutual respect between spouses.
The celebrations were held at Kakanju Playground in Igara West County under the theme: “Scaling Up Investment to Accelerate Access to Justice for All Women and Girls in Uganda.”
Mugasa noted that some families develop tension when one partner becomes financially stronger than the other, warning against attitudes that destabilise homes.
“If God has given you money, respect your husband even if you are richer than him. A man remains a man. Don’t make him feel he has to prove his worth,” she said.
Minister urges teamwork in marriage
Mugasa called on couples to embrace cooperation instead of rivalry in marriage, saying lack of respect often leads to separation. “When you get more money and start despising your husband, he will respond in kind. The same applies to men who become financially strong and begin undermining their wives. In the end, the marriage may not survive,” she said.
Mugasa condemns sale of government jobs
The minister also condemned the alleged sale of government jobs, describing it as a serious threat to effective public service delivery.
She was responding to recent corruption allegations in Bushenyi that have drawn the attention of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.
“There is no supermarket for government jobs. Recruitment should be based on merit so that we get competent workers,” Mugasa said.
She added that some district officials, technical staff and political leaders had been implicated in schemes to extort money from job seekers.
Leaders call for balanced youth empowerment
Bushenyi District Woman MP Annet Katusiime Mugisha called for a balanced approach to youth empowerment, saying while girls have benefited from several interventions, the boy child is increasingly being left behind.
“Bushenyi is well known for empowering women, but we now need to pay attention to the boy child as well so that no one is left out,” she said.
Local leaders decry inadequate funding
District leaders also raised concern over inadequate funding for women’s council activities.
Bushenyi District Women’s Council chairperson Yudaya Nakanwagi Mwesigye and district chairperson Jafari Basajabalaba appealed for increased government support to facilitate annual celebrations.
Basajabalaba said the Shs3 million allocated for the event was insufficient.
“This is a once-a-year event and women deserve full facilitation to express themselves,” he said.
Medical supplies, water project commissioned
During the celebrations, Mugasa handed over medical equipment worth Shs59.1 million to Kakanju Health Centre III.
She also commissioned a water distribution network under the Shs11.8 billion National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Warugo Water Project, aimed at improving access to clean and safe water across the district.
The infrastructure is expected to ease water shortages in the sub-counties of Kakanju, Bitooma, Ruhumuro, Kyamuhunga, and Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality.
Torch Media Africa
