MUHANGA – Religious leaders, drawn from different denominations in the Southern Province, have agreed to encourage women to take up leadership roles in order to promote development.

The clerics made the resolutions during an inter denominational conference held at St. Andre training Center–Kabgayi, on Tuesday.

The meeting was aimed at reaching a common position on the role of women in leadership and development.

"It has been recommended and acknowledged that women need to be encouraged to be part of the development strategies. Women are the centre of development and each denomination has agreed to change their attitude towards women,” Pastor Desire Rutaganda, the programme coordinator said.

Earlier, while opening the four-day conference, the Bishop of Kabgayi, Smargade Mbonyintege, remarked that the Catholic Church has already given women a vital role in the development of the community.

While father Ildebrande Karangwa, stated that there is need to sensitise more women within the  communities to take up at least 30% of leadership roles in the church.

In a separate interview, Pastor Esther Mukambuguje, one of the female religious leaders at the meeting said: "Women can make it in all aspects of life. Women only need to recognise their potentials and become ambitious in order to become successful.” 

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