The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces has reaffirmed its commitment to gender inclusivity, with Brig Gen Charity Bainababo delivering a lecture on the subject to officers and cadres undergoing training in Kaweweta.

Addressing participants at the Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership and Pan African Centre of Excellence, Brig Gen Bainababo provided a historical perspective on gender roles in military service, noting that women were traditionally excluded from combat and leadership positions due to long-standing societal beliefs.

She explained that this trend began to shift during the National Resistance Army bush war of 1981 to 1986, where women actively contributed as combatants, medics, mobilisers and intelligence operatives. Their participation laid the foundation for greater inclusion following the transition of the NRA into the UPDF.

Over time, the UPDF formalised women’s roles and expanded their participation across multiple military fields. Today, women serve in areas such as artillery, armoured warfare, aviation, engineering, special forces and command positions. Female personnel have also taken part in regional and international missions, including deployments under African Union Mission in Somalia, operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and peacekeeping duties in South Sudan.

The UPDF has produced female general officers, pilots, engineers, medics and commanders, reflecting a steady shift toward broader representation and operational integration within the force.

Brig Gen Bainababo highlighted key policies that have supported this progress, including the Gender and Equity Policy and the implementation of a 30 percent affirmative action framework aimed at increasing female participation during recruitment and deployment at both tactical and strategic levels.

Despite these gains, she acknowledged ongoing challenges such as cultural stereotypes, sexism and sexual harassment, which continue to affect women in the security forces.

She emphasized that the inclusion of women has strengthened the UPDF by making it more representative and improving its effectiveness, particularly in complex environments like peacekeeping operations. She also noted the importance of female role models in inspiring future generations.

The Brigadier General concluded by urging personnel to uphold discipline, integrity, self-awareness and good health in their service.

The training brought together officers and militants from the UPDF, the Uganda Prisons Service, the Uganda Police Force, as well as cadres from the Internal Security Organisation and the External Security Organisation.