The Role of Cultural Leaders in Achieving Gender Equality

Sept. 6, 2005—Queen Sylvia Nagginda Luswata of Buganda, the largest kingdom in Uganda, addressed international development organizations at a September 6 meeting at CEDPA’s headquarters in Washington, DC.

She visited CEDPA to stress the importance of partnerships with cultural leaders to improve the lives of women and girls around the world.

Queen Luswata emphasized that cultural leaders play an important role in the development of nations like Uganda. She noted that the first girls’ school in Uganda was built by Buganda chiefs in 1905, who felt their daughters should be educated. Other girls’ schools followed.

“Cultural leaders as custodians of culture have a very important role to play in the development of our countries,” Queen Luswata said. “[In Uganda] existing legal and policy frameworks provide cultural leaders the unique opportunity to influence gender equality.”

Buganda is a centuries-old kingdom on the north shore of Lake Victoria. The kingdom is home to one-quarter of all Ugandans, more than 6 million people. The ruling king and queen, called the “Kabaka” and “Nnabagereka,” are cultural leaders who have a role in promoting cultural, social and economic issues of the region.

Queen Luswata has been active in public health and development activities in the Buganda Kingdom and across Uganda.

Uganda faces serious social and health challenges. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among Ugandan adults despite recent decreases in infection rates, according to UNAIDS, with more than half of these infections among women. The country has more than two million orphans, nearly half as a result of HIV/AIDS.

Queen Luswata founded the Nnabagereka Development Trust in 2000 to promote the health, education and well-being of women and children in Uganda. The Trust focuses on HIV/AIDS education, educating girls, prevention of childhood diseases and vocational training.

She is also a goodwill ambassador for UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.

Queen Luswata noted that “as a cultural leader I have the responsibility to contribute to the promotion of human dignity.” She focuses on women and girls because of the “direct benefits…of having a society that supports and promotes gender equality.”

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