They Are Speaking Up!

Happy International Women’s Day!

They say the future is female, solely because, as we go forward, it’s women’s ideas that will transform the world. In the spirit of Women’s Day, we shine a spotlight on four young women who are unapologetically female, but aren’t letting that keep them in the back seat. They are speaking up! 

Kentie Olivia – Content creator

What’s one thing that has happened to you that made you stronger?

I’ve battled with a court case for 3 years and at one point I almost gave up, on 4th March I won it and this made me stronger and more determined to win at every challenge that comes my way.

Three women who have had a huge influence to your life?

A. My mum, I’ve seen all her struggles to give us the best life, she has had to go through tough times to make ends meet and risked her life for us, this is incomparable.

B. Winnie Byanyima, this lady has influenced me on so many levels. I look up to her, her work and her recent recognition by Forbes magazine, appearing on the list of the 50 most powerful women. This made me realize that there’s no limitation to what a woman can achieve in life, and that there’s nothing impossible to achieve.

C. Rihanna (Fenty): This lady has been of so much influence to so many young people in the fashion and entertainment industry. Being the lover of fashion that I am, I look up to her. She has built her Fenty brand from scratch to a multimillion firm, to me this is a big achievement. If ever I got chance to choose to meet an international celebrity, Rihanna would be my No.1 selection xx

If you had the power to become the first female president in Uganda, what would you fix first?

I would make women participation in leadership a priority because women have the power to lead especially by example, but we have been made to believe we’re weak and inferior which is wrong. So, if we have a woman for a president then why wouldn’t we be anything that makes us powerful, proud and strong in the country?

I would also support young entrepreneurs, with finance and training to help end unemployment and poverty. This would help reduce the crime rate, saving young people from indulging in gambling and being idle.

What’s the most fearless decision you have made so far?

I made an investment with almost less than 1/4 of the money I needed, but I still went ahead to do it. I almost lost my head in the process because I had limited sources of finance, thank goodness it went through after long struggles. This made me realize nothing is impossible if you set targets and work hard.

Debie Kagisha – Businesswoman

What’s one thing that has happened to you that made you stronger?

Rejection; with a life of a hustler like mine, rejection tends to be inevitable. It’s actually been one of my worst nightmares growing up, but with time, I’ve learned to cope. You see, I didn’t grow stronger because everything was working out for me, no, I was forced to cope with the unexpected and the undesirable. In this way, rejection has helped to teach me just how strong, resourceful, and capable I am when the chips are down.

One woman who have had a huge influence on your life?

Oprah Winfrey. She overcame poverty, neglect from parents and sexual abuse to become one of the richest and most powerful women entrepreneurs in the entertainment and media by simply staying true to herself. But again, every successful powerful woman out there has influenced me in one way or the other.

If you had the power to become the first female president in Uganda, what would you fix first?

The first thing I would fix as female president is the sexual harassment or assault of women of any kind, something that’s done by men simply because they see women as powerless because they won’t fight back.

Sexual harassment is not acceptable, and women and girls should not be expected to endure it. It should matter to us that women and girls are respected, not be compelled to change their lifestyle to avoid sexual harassment and abuse. Therefore enforcing serious punitive measures for offenders and legalizing paper spray if need be (No jokes!).

What’s the most fearless decision you have made so far?

The most fearless decision I have ever made was leaving my father’s house to be totally independent, something I had always admired. Moving out put both my emotional strength and real life skills to the test. It presented enormous challenges that required a lot of resourcefulness and resolution to overcome. When I successfully dealt with all the struggles I began to realise my potential. My self-confidence and self-esteem greatly increased a great deal. I have gained plenty of life experiences and practical knowledge along the way. It has helped me to be able to manage whatever life throws at me, because you have little choice but to become a responsible person, capable of making informed decisions. I have also learnt to better organize my time and priorities. Plus it gave me the chance to prove to myself, my father and everyone else that I can take good care of my own life something everyone doubted.

Natalie Rukundo – Model

What’s one thing that has happened to you that made you stronger?

When someone evil leaked nude photos of me goshhhh! Worst thing that has ever happened to me. At first I was so scared. How was I going to go about it?  My parent’s reaction towards it? I was in school and you know what it means when you have fellow students, lecturers and the society to deal with.  However, I went through it all, look where I am. Stronger than ever!

One woman who have had a huge influence on your life?

First one is my mother; she is literally the best thing that has happened to me. She has taught me to be strong and gentle, the value of relationships, courage, determination as well as love. She taught me the essence of humility as well as pride and nobility. The list is endless.

Secondly my sisters, I can’t be specific, because they are all amazing. They are daring ambitious women who know what they want. They have taught me that there’s nothing as beautiful as having a sister to confide in. They help me mould the person I am becoming each day. I can confidently say that my sisters are my hype masters 😊 I love them.

Third woman: For this lets go with all woman that are fighting for rights of the girl child. Why do they influence me?  Millions of girls around the world are denied an education, life-saving health services, and opportunities for a brighter future. I believe a girl child can change the world; take a look at Michelle Obama , Oprah Winfrey, Mama Janet Museveni, Winnie Mandela , Winnie Byanyima, Halima Namakula and Naomi Campbell, who is doing an amazing job for African fashion. The list is endless. All these ladies have made an impact on the girl child. They have taught me how to love myself as a woman, that I can be just about anything I wish to be.

I’ll conclude with this quote, “All girls know that they can be anything now. That transformation is to me one of the most satisfying things” – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

If you had the power to become the first female president in Uganda, what would you fix first?

If I had the power to become the first female president in Uganda, Oh my God this question is quite tricky but I think I would eliminate the bureaucracy in government which stifles growth. People need to be ethical and the “nfuniramu waa” mentality 🙈.

What’s the most fearless decision you have made so far?

The most fearless decision I have made was choosing to join the fashion industry as a model. OMG you know how some African parents don’t understand these things. It was crazy for me in the beginning but because I was driven by passion I didn’t quit. This has built my confidence, self-esteem, my personality, I have met so many amazing people who have had a positive impact on my life.

Photographed by Mark Bwiire  of Soul Image Art

Styling by Abbas Kaijuka of Kai’s Divo Collection

Makeup by Adrian Kamara of Makeup by Kamara

Hair by Sina of Natna Natural Hair

Creative Direction by Sam Isingoma

This story is part of ‘Woman of the Month’, a series celebrating women who are brave in their stance, a collaboration between Kai’s Divo Collection, Sam Isingoma,Makeup by Kamara, Natna Natural Hair, Satisfashion UG and Soul Image Art.