Address by H.E. Dr. Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe,
Vice President, Republic of Uganda

On the occasion of the Africa Prize for Leadership, October 9, 1999

Madam President, Mr. Chairperson of the Africa Prize Jury, Mr. Chairperson of the Global Board, Your Excellencies, Sisters and Brothers in The Hunger Project from around the world.

I am delighted to be with you this evening, and to have the opportunity to attend my first-ever Africa Prize award ceremony.

I must begin by bringing you warmest greetings from your 1998 Africa Prize laureate, President Yoweri Museveni. All of us in Uganda were filled with pride when you honored us Ugandans by making this award.

Madam President - What a privilege – what a joy - it is to be part of launching the African Woman Food Farmer Initiative tonight.

The Hunger Project is entirely correct in declaring that the highest priority for Africa must be the economic empowerment of our women food farmers.

African governments must make this their top priority. The international community must join us in this priority. And we, as committed human beings, must make this our priority.

African women, African mothers, possess the intelligence, wisdom and creativity that can transform our continent – if we can but liberate her from the horrendous and wasteful drudgery of her current existence.

African men have an even great job in front of them. They possess most of the power in society and control of the purse strings. They must re-examine the society they primarily created, and transform it to one of greater equity - and by this, to greater productivity.

The nutrition of our people and the food security of our continent depend on women food farmers. They must be empowered socially, politically and economically to fulfill this enormous responsibility.

Economic empowerment means ensuring women farmers gain the simple improvements that reduce the drudgery of her life, and translate each hour of her day into more economic value. For this, women farmers must gain access to better tools, better seeds, better storage and better marketing.

Let us take as a first step - secure land tenure. If women are to invest in their land and improve it, they must have the security that they can stay on that land. Too many women farmers lose their land when they become widows or when they are divorced by their husbands. In Uganda, we have overcome this hurdle. Our Land Act provides for the joint ownership of a matrimonial home and the land from which spouses get daily sustenance.

A second step must be to expand the availability of credit to women farmers. Again – this is direct empowerment. The women know where this money can be most efficiently used. With very little money, they can take enormous strides towards bringing food security and a better life to their entire families, to their nation and to Africa as a whole. However, "little" should not be taken literally. Women have used "more" than "little money" in industry, trade, tourism and other businesses. They are proprietors of clinics and schools. Through these enterprising ventures, they do not only ensure food security for their own families, but that of many others. They do not only employ themselves, but many others. Credit to women must therefore move on from micro to macro levels, otherwise, inequity between the two genders will continue.

A third critical step is the dramatic overhaul of farm extension services and farm research. For too long, these professionals have focused on export crops, which are menís crops, rather than food crops. With use of improved technologies, food crops become cash crops because of the improved yields. We must also look at the livestock and fisheries sector. The advantages of integrating the crop and livestock sectors are well documented and must be promoted.

There are outstanding agricultural research centers in Africa. If our scientists devote their energy to these issues, they can be solved. Scientists and extension workers must become committed partners with women farmers.

Research and extension must begin with the experience and knowledge of the women food farmers themselves.

A fourth step is to encourage womenís organizations. African women farmers have a great tradition of collective action – of helping each other – of pooling their resources. When womenís organizations are strong, they can speak up for themselves and get what they need.

I feel extremely fortunate to live in a country, and serve in a government, that has come a long way in recognizing these priorities. You honoured my President here last year precisely because of his leadership on these issues.

But we know we have a long way to go. For women food farmers to get what they need, policies must change and budgets must increase. We, as African leaders must take responsibility for making these changes. I call on my fellow leaders in Africa to commit themselves to this cause.

Changing these policies will require also require courageous leadership and determined action by officials in the private sector, UN agencies, NGOs, the World Bank and bilateral aid agencies.

Organizations like The Hunger Project, that are not beholden to any government or other entrenched interests, must use their freedom to awaken policy makers to this issue. All of us must speak the truth in new and creative ways – to put light on issues where there is currently darkness.

We will know we have succeeded only when there are results: when all women farmers are well-organized, obtain credit, have secure tenure and are empowered by extension services.

As Joan has said, this will not be easy. Africa has made her own mistakes, and has also experienced decades of bad advice. It will take years of persistent and skillful efforts at every level of society to turn this situation around.

But in the end, if we keep heart, I believe that we shall prevail. The dignity, strength and intelligence of over 100 million African women food farmers is too powerful an energy to suppress forever. Like a mighty river, the creativity of these women will find every crack in the rock, every tiny crevice, and transform it into a broad new channel. And then their tremendous energy - this life-giving torrent - will transform the face of Africa forever.

As an African woman leader, you can count on me to make every effort to unleash this greater river of women ís creativity. With your partnership and by the grace of God, Africa shall succeed.

I thank you all for your declared commitment to the emancipation of Africa through its women.