Uganda Revenue Authority was on Thursday recognized at the Empower Her Awards organized by Nation Media Group alongside other sponsors and partners.

The prestigious Woman of the Future Award was bestowed upon URA as the top organization that has deliberately and consistently provided avenues for women in work spaces to not only build their careers but also take on leadership and decision-making roles.

Speaking at the engagement, the Guest of Honour and Inspector General of Government, Betty Kamya, said, “The power to change the world lies in raising a woman, right? This is because God created a woman to be the first influence on a child.” She also noted that technology, information, and education are vital in bringing opportunities closer to women and girls and encouraged women to use them.

As a testament to the recognition of the award, URA has 178 women in leadership roles, starting with supervisors, managers, and top management. This is coupled with a robust recruitment system that involves non-discriminatory recruitment at all levels based on merit, recruitment based on merit for all leaders, and female representation on the recruitment boards.

“As women, let us open doors for each other; if you see a woman making a mistake in her career, correct her; we all have a chance to mentor each other,” said Susan Nsibirwa, the Managing Director of Nation Media Group.

Onapito Ekomoloit, the Nile Breweries Board Chairman, shared his insights, saying, “We need a rules-based environment unlike the role-based systems in place; this is because it’s easier to have people follow rules compared to roles that sometimes, become hurdles for women and men.” He also echoed that rules should be the most empowering tool for women.

In a bid to further empower women, URA instituted the Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Office Policy (SHAO), the Special Committee Against Sexual Harassment (CASH), and the URA Ladies Club.

These initiatives are meant to uplift and amplify women’s voices, thus making them feel comfortable growing and thriving in the workplace. Additionally, URA has put in place Integrity Champion support activities and clear disciplinary mechanisms to propel the support structures and systems in place.

The well-deserved award saw URA beat eight other organizations, including CEHURD, A RIGHT TO PLAY, TARA Advocates, FOWODE, and Housing Finance Bank, among others. URA remains committed to supporting women in building and growing their careers.

By Elizabeth Nakiru