Kampala, Uganda, July 24, 2025 – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in partnership with the Climate Change Department (CCD) at the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Makerere University Business School (MUBS), and the National Renewable Energy Platform (NREP) successfully held the 4th Annual Women in Climate Change Conference (WiCC) 2025 at Makerere University Business School. MUBS. 

Organized under the theme “Women Leading Climate Action: From Local Solutions to Global Policy and Innovation“, this hybrid event brought together over 400 participants including government representatives, academia, civil society actors, development partners, non-governmental organizations, private sector, academia, women and youth groups to spotlight and strengthen gender-responsive climate action across Uganda and beyond. 

The conference aimed to give women and youth a platform to raise their voices on climate change-related issues and engage in discussions on climate finance, green innovations, and technology, among others. Outcomes from the event are expected to strengthen women’s participation in decision-making and green entrepreneurship.  

Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Christine Kaaya, Woman MP for Kiboga District, called for systemic change in climate leadership: “At the local level, women’s leadership in climate remains low. We must prioritize their voices in climate justice and ensure their leadership is not symbolic, but systemic.” 

“WiCC Conference continues to be a critical catalyst for women’s visibility in the climate space. It connects community-based innovation with national policy dialogue & fosters Intergenerational mentorship”, Mrs. Margaret Athieno Mwebesa, Commissioner, Climate Change Department (CCD), further added. 

WiCC 2025 goes beyond a conference; it is a platform for learning, connection, and transformation, Dr. Pablo Martinez, GGGI Country Representative for Uganda, Zambia, and Angola, emphasized.  

During one of the presentations on stories of change, one of the speakers Juliet Namujju, also founder of Kimuli Collections, shared how grassroots initiatives are transforming lives and this included her work in training women with disabilities on how to turn plastic into sustainable fashion. 

The conference aligns with GGGI’s broader support to Uganda’s inclusive green growth journey, aligned with the Uganda Green Growth Development Strategy (UGGDS), the National Climate Change Act (2021), and the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Through the WiCC platform, GGGI and its partners continue to promote gender-responsive policies, foster green entrepreneurship, and support climate resilience at both local and national levels. 

In addition to the main conference, a series of impactful side events were also organized to spotlight community voices, share knowledge, and set the stage for inclusive climate dialogue. These include: 

1. WiCC Walk on 12th July 2025, a 10-kilometer walk in Entebbe that raised awareness on environmental degradation and showcased women-led community sustainable livelihoods.  

1. Two (2) pre-conference webinars held 21st and 22nd July 21, 2025, which explored gender-responsive approaches to climate innovations and financing.  

1. Research Symposium held 23rd July 2025 at MUBS, where researchers, youth leaders, and grassroots women presented academic insights and real-life stories respectively on climate resilience, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. 

1. WiCC Mentorship program: A six-month program designed to support women and youth in climate spaces. 

Moving forward, the WiCC initiative and its partners, hope to continue empowering women and youth in the climate change space. “As GGGI, we’re committed to inclusive gender-responsive climate action and green growth. We will continue to support youth & women-led enterprises in renewable energy, agriculture, climate, adaptation, agroforestry, and all those different sectors that contribute to a green economy.” Ms. Katerina Syngellakis, GGGI’s Regional Director for Africa, reaffirmed GGGI’s commitment in her closing remarks. 

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© Photo Credit: GGGI

Key presenters from the Stories of Change segment pose for a group photo alongside GGGI Africa Regional Director, Ms. Katerina Syngellakis, during the conference.

Participants engage in a live demonstration on clean cooking solutions during the WiCC Conference 2025.

An exhibitor explains her eco-friendly product innovations to Eng. Dr. Pablo Martinez, Country Representative, GGGI Uganda, Angola & Zambia, during the exhibition.

A participant shares her perspective during the interactive World Café session.

Panel discussion on ‘Local to Global Climate Leadership’

Ms. Katerina Syngellakis, GGGI Africa Regional Director giving her closing remarks at the conference