Kampala, Uganda – April 30, 2025
The 5th African Conference on Debt and Development (AfCoDD V), held at Hotel Africana in Kampala, witnessed the official launch of the Maputo Manifesto 2024 a bold and transformative declaration calling for a feminist and justice driven approach to Africa’s worsening debt crisis. The launch was led by the Uganda Debt Network (UDN) and the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD).
This groundbreaking moment follows deliberations from AfCoDD IV, held in Maputo, Mozambique, from 28–30 August 2024, where civil society actors, feminist economists, policy experts, and advocates convened to confront the continent’s deepening debt burden. With Africa’s debt crisis tightening its grip on economies and widening socio-economic gaps, especially for women and girls, the conference culminated in a call for systemic overhaul embodied in the Maputo Manifesto 2024.
The Manifesto challenges conventional macroeconomic frameworks by promoting a feminist economic model rooted in equity, care, and social justice. It acknowledges that debt is not just a financial issue but a gendered crisis that disproportionately affects women, particularly in their access to health, education, and economic opportunities.
“The fight against debt is intrinsically linked to the fight for gender equality and social justice,” the Manifesto declares.
Investing in women’s leadership and creating space for their voices and lived experiences in shaping policy.
Increasing women’s representation in political and economic decision-making.
Reforming tax and fiscal systems to reflect equity and sustainability.
Promoting economies of care and ensuring inclusive access to resources and benefits.
Establishing inclusive electoral systems that break patriarchal political frameworks.
During the launch event, Mr. Tumwebaze Patrick, CEO of Uganda Debt Network, sounded the alarm on Uganda’s rising public debt, which now stands at UGX 106 trillion (approximately USD 29 billion), marking a staggering UGX 12 trillion increase in just six months. He warned that Uganda’s growing reliance on domestic borrowing may soon push the country from moderate to high-risk debt distress, making restructuring more difficult and painful.
This financial pressure has already triggered budget cuts in critical sectors like health and education sectors where women and girls bear the heaviest brunt. With nearly 90% of women in Uganda working in the informal sector, debt mismanagement further marginalizes this already vulnerable demographic.
Dr. Fred Muhumuza, a senior economist, warned that as of December 2024, Uganda’s debt-to-GDP ratio had reached 51%, a level he described as dangerously unsustainable.
“To grow sustainably, we must prioritize financing key growth indicators education, health, infrastructure not just borrowing to repay debt,” Dr. Muhumuza emphasized, advocating for responsible borrowing and long-term planning.
In closing remarks, Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu, Member of Parliament for Soroti West, brought attention to another critical dimension regional inequality. He cited a report by the Equal Opportunities Commission, revealing that 47% of top-level jobs in Uganda are concentrated in a single region, leaving other regions, including North East and Central, to share the remaining 53%.
“Teso was once a food basket. Families had resources. Today, many suffer in silence. You cannot speak of national unity without addressing regional imbalance,” Ebwalu stated passionately, urging the government to ensure equitable development.
The Manifesto outlines five core commitments to guide Africa’s response to the debt and development crisis:
○Identity and Afro-Feminism: Elevating African feminist narratives rooted in resistance to patriarchy and imperialism.
○ Decolonization: Dismantling colonial economic, political, and cultural systems that continue to undermine Africa’s autonomy.
○ Memory and History: Preserving Africa’s legacy of resistance and ensuring future generations learn from past struggles.
○Resistance and Reconstruction: Rejecting exploitative neoliberal models and building caring economies that prioritize life over profit.
○ Reclaiming Values: Upholding dignity, autonomy, and interconnectedness, and honoring the sacredness of our ecosystems.
The Maputo Manifesto 2024 ends with a powerful call to all African citizens, leaders, civil society, and international partners to rally behind this vision and take deliberate steps toward debt justice, economic sovereignty, and gender equality.
It invites stakeholders across the continent to endorse and sign the Manifesto within three months, affirming a shared commitment to transforming Africa from a rule-taker to a rule-maker in global financial systems.
