Single mothers in Uganda are increasingly asserting their role as a driving force in the country's economic future, rejecting long-standing narratives that frame them as dependents of charity.
In a press statement issued on March 25, 2026, Winifred Nassanga, National Chairperson of the International Network for Single Mothers (INSM) Uganda Chapter, called for a shift from aid-based approaches to what she described as "structural inclusion."
"For too long, single mothers have been defined by vulnerability, charity, and pity," Nassanga said. "Today, we are here to dismantle that outdated thinking."
She argued that single mothers should be recognized as an "untapped economic engine," pointing to their central role in managing households and raising the next generation as a critical foundation for national development.
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The organisation says it has built a nationwide grassroots network of more than 17,000 women. In 2025, it mobilized over 10,000 participants at a rally in Kampala and Makindye, while establishing leadership structures at parish level across the country.
Nassanga said the network is already contributing to economic activity by supporting women to move beyond subsistence work into value addition, particularly in sectors such as agriculture and tourism.
The initiative aims to help women produce market-ready goods and retain more value from their labor by reducing reliance on intermediaries.
She added that investment in single mothers has a multiplier effect, noting that women tend to reinvest a large share of their income into their families, improving access to health care, nutrition, and education for children within their households.
"When you invest in a single mother, you are securing the future of the nation," she said.
The statement also called on government and development partners to engage with the movement in more concrete ways, emphasizing readiness for collaboration.
"We have the model, the reach, and the energy," Nassanga said. "Let us move together from Aid to Action."
The International Network for Single Mothers has in recent months expanded its public visibility through media engagements, where it has advocated for skills development, digital inclusion, and a shift in how single motherhood is perceived.
The latest statement reflects a growing confidence within the movement, positioning single mothers not as a social burden but as a strategic national resource.
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Observers say the focus will now turn to whether this momentum translates into policy support and partnerships aimed at integrating single mothers more fully into Uganda's economic framework.
