Uganda’s ambassador to the United States, Oliver Wonekha, has a special appreciation for farmers. She grew up in a rural farming household, and was a farmer for 30 years — experiences that gave her important insights into the challenges faced by farmers. So, as chair of the agriculture committee in Uganda’s parliament, Ambassador Wonekha set to work to ensure that the country’s national development plans and policies addressed those challenges and prioritized agriculture and nutrition.
Now, even as she rubs elbows with the diplomatic and political elite in Washington, DC, Ambassador Wonekha continues to champion the cause of smallholder farmers in Uganda. Watch her take the pledge for parity and deliver a special message for Ugandan women farmers: