She helped introduce something new to the Ugandan entertainment industry by being one of the pioneer presenters of professional entertainment news bulletin in Uganda alongside her co-host Zahara Totto. The effortless confidence and professionalism she exudes while executing her work is to die for but it only gets better. She is a passionate advocate of all things women and girls whose efforts and commitment have had far reaching results. Through her foundation ‘Women4Her’, formerly ‘Annatalia4Her’, she has successfully carried out a number of projects including equipping single mothers with skills like hairdressing so they can economically sustain themselves, carried out a number of community outreaches in places like Entebbe to motivate, empower and make donations to the vulnerable, carried out health camps to mention but a few.
She is currently the project coordinator of the #365savingschallenge, an initiative of ‘Women 4 Her’ that was launched in March 2019 at Old Kampala SS with an aim of promoting the financial inclusion and economic empowerment of young girls.
Experts believe that women’s economic empowerment is the key to achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and several goals in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that includes Goal 1, ending poverty; Goal 2, achieving food security; Goal 3, ensuring good health; Goal 5, achieving gender equality; Goal 8, promoting full and productive employment and decent work for all; and Goal 10, reducing inequalities.
According to a recent research, since 2010 sub-Saharan African economies, Uganda inclusive, have lost about $95 billion yearly because of the gender gap in the labor market. These statistics highlight the urgent need to address the economic empowerment of women, something she seeks to achieve through this latest initiative.
Please tell us about yourself
My name is Annet Nambooze aka Anna Talia Oze. I’m a media personality, business woman, activist and a mother.
What drives you? How did you find yourself being such a passionate advocate for girl-child?
Just to correct you, I don’t only advocate for the girl child but all vulnerable women and men although I tend to focus more on the young people because they are the future. Being raised by a number of people, my grandfather inclusive in a very humble setting and the fame I have pushes me to do what I do.
How did you come to work with Women4Her and what sort of work are you doing?
Women4Her is a consortium of women from different sectors of life like media where I belong, business, finance, politics etc. Initially the organization was called Annatalia4Her but as time went on people started expressing interest in joining the team hence we were influenced to rename it so as to reach greater heights.
Tell us more about the new initiative ‘Women4Her’ is carrying out to help girls financial literacy in the country and why it is important.
Well, Uganda being a 3rd world country, poverty is one of the biggest problem we face. However much the government has tried to create skills education, among others, Ugandans still lack knowledge on financial management. This propelled me to introduce the idea to a number of people with whom we held meetings and designed the financial inclusion project ‘365 saving challenge’.
What activities have you carried out under the initiative?
We have been to a number of schools and good enough students are taking it positively, some have gone an extra mile of opening up bank accounts. The project has managed to attract a number of partners including Centenary bank the leading banking institution in Uganda, Private Sector Foundation Uganda, and NBS Television which hopes to air all the content we collect during its implementation so that information can be passed on to its indirect beneficiaries like corporates, university students and parents so that they can as well learn something.
What do you think are the central challenges regarding girl child empowerment in Uganda? How might such challenges be overcome?
They are quite a number of challenges, with women rights being the leading factor for example some societies still don’t allow girls to inherit their parents property, there’s the persistent issue of culture norms and beliefs in some regions where girls are still exchanged for bride price, among others. I can’t really mention all of them here but I believe that if women stand up and fight together, more so those on top, most of these practices can be put to a stop.
What are some of the achievements you’ve registered in your line of work empowering girls?
Change. I’m enjoying seeing women and girls reaching to me on social media via my inbox sharing their stories on how my articles and projects have helped them achieve their goals. I should say I’m also humbled and proud of the number of girls and women who are opening up bank accounts and bought diaries to monitor the little money they have because of the effects of the 365 saving challenge. To me that’s a very big achievement.
You are undoubtedly one of the most effective female celebrity leaders in Uganda. Why is it important for you to use your platform for advocacy?
I think advocacy is a calling I believe it’s the reason God gave me the platforms so I can reach numbers.
What is your advice to young women considering to join activism?
We need as many women activists as possible please come out let’s join hands and do it.
Quick Five:
The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning
My daughter is an early bird, she’s the first person I talk to because she always wakes me up, we pray and get ready for the day.
The name of the autobiography of my life would be
Silent voices
If I was president for one day, I would
(Laughs) I have not thought about being a president
My current read is
Unstoppable women by Dr Sarah Wamala
If I could be any person alive or dead for a day
I would be me – Anna Talia Oze
