Josephine Namulambe

Ugandan women's rights advocate who revolutionized rural economic empowerment through agricultural cooperatives.

Josephine Namulambe (born 1950) is a trailblazing Ugandan social entrepreneur whose work with women's agricultural cooperatives transformed rural livelihoods. In the 1980s, she founded the Luwero Women's Development Committee, organizing women to collectively market agricultural products after the devastation of Idi Amin's regime. This innovative approach increased incomes by 400% for participating households within five years.

Her cooperative model emphasized:

• Gender-sensitive agricultural training
• Access to microfinance for women
• Market linkages for crops like coffee and maize

By 1995, her initiatives had expanded to 12 districts, creating over 200 cooperatives. Namulambe's advocacy led to Uganda's 1995 Land Act recognizing women's property rights, a direct outcome of her grassroots lobbying. She later co-founded the National Association of Women's Organizations (NAWOU), influencing national policy frameworks.

Despite her impact, her story remains underreported internationally. Her work is documented in 《African Women's Development: Case Studies》, a compilation of grassroots initiatives. She continues mentoring young activists through the Josephine Namulambe Foundation, established in 2002.