Kyaka Central Member of Parliament Tom Bright Amooti has sparked debate after publicly praising a woman he encountered selling chicken, using the moment to highlight women’s economic resilience and challenge unemployed men to take initiative.
In a statement shared on social media, Amooti said he was “amazed” by the woman’s effort to earn a living through small-scale trade, describing her as an example of the untapped potential among Ugandan women when given opportunity and support.
“It shows the potential that women have if empowered,” he said, attributing such progress to policies under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Amooti used the encounter to deliver a pointed message to men, particularly those unemployed, urging them to abandon passivity and pursue available opportunities, however small.
“If a woman can hustle to make ends meet, what about men?” he posed, adding that it was “high time” for men to wake up and engage in productive work instead of waiting for formal employment.
The legislator also expressed interest in supporting the woman directly, calling on members of the public to help trace her. “Anyone with the contact of this lady should forward it to me for some support,” he said.
His remarks have drawn mixed reactions online, with some praising the message as a practical call for self-reliance, while others questioned the broader economic context, including job scarcity and structural barriers affecting youth employment.
Uganda, like many countries in the region, continues to grapple with high youth unemployment rates, pushing many into informal sector activities such as street vending and small-scale trade.
Amooti’s comments add to ongoing national discourse on economic empowerment, gender roles, and the role of government in addressing unemployment challenges.