Ugandan gender and development expert Dr. Rebecca Kukundakwe has been awarded a national medal in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the empowerment of women and girls during the International Women’s Day celebrations held yesterday, March 8th, at Kololo Independence Grounds.
Dr. Kukundakwe, a gender and development practitioner with over 17 years of experience, has dedicated her career to advancing gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and social inclusion in Uganda.
Currently serving as a Gender Specialist GROW Project, under Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), she has played a key role in supporting women entrepreneurs through initiatives under the GROW Project, helping more than 60,000 women strengthen their businesses while addressing challenges such as gender-based violence, social norms, and limited access to information.
Throughout her career, she has worked with government, development partners, and private sector institutions to design programs that expand economic opportunities for women and youth.
Her work has supported thousands of young women and men to access decent work, influenced gender-inclusive policies in the private sector, and promoted male engagement in women’s empowerment initiatives.
Dr. Kukundakwe has also led advocacy and community initiatives addressing issues such as child protection, women’s land rights, youth participation in governance, and the fight against harmful practices like female genital mutilation.
Her efforts have contributed to stronger institutions, improved community awareness, and more inclusive development programs across Uganda.
The recognition highlights her long-standing commitment to building systems and programs that enable women and girls to participate fully in economic and social development.
