Forum for Women in Democracy Uganda

They want the gender budget increased and gender legislations improved. MPs and civil society organisations have recommended that the government brings to Parliament a statutory instrument introducing an independent gender monitoring unit to check gender inequalities. During a two-day study tour of Rwanda yesterday, the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) and the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), also called on the government to increase the budget for the key gender-sensitive ministries of agriculture, education and health to ensure that the planning process is engendered. Independent unit “In Uganda we have good policies that have remained on paper for long. Government must put in place an independent gender monitoring unit like is the case in Rwanda, to fight gender inequalities,” Agago Woman MP Judith Franca said. The State Minister for Finance (General Duties), Mr Fred Omach, supported Ms Franca and promised to put the matter before Cabinet. The mi

Rwandan legislators have advised their counterparts in Uganda to put national interests before those of their political parties if they are to stamp out the rampant corruption in the country.  Addressing a delegation of Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) and the Forum for Women in Democracy, (FOWODE), at Parliament yesterday, the legislators also suggested that Uganda should adopt a strict doctrine of separation of powers by leaving Parliament to function independent of the executive. ‘’For us here we do not put our parties first before the people’s interests because we are answerable to them. It is Rwanda first before self. If ministers make mistakes, we take immediate collective action and we do not compromise on this. “In whatever we do we make sure there is value for money and when it comes to action, both the ruling party MPs and opposition MPs move in unison,” said the deputy chairperson for the Rwanda Budget and Patrimony committee, Mr Mukama Abbas. He e

A taste of some of the sessions in the 2011 UFF: 'Women, Money, Power and Politics' – facilitated by Marren Akatsa Bukachi Christine Mugerwa shared her experiences running for a parliamentary position in the 2011 elections. She spoke about running a clean campaign and the impact of money on elections in Uganda  Patricia Munabi Babiiha shared her journey embarking on business ventures after being inspired during the last Feminist Forum and shared her vision to contribute to a fund supporting Feminist political candidates during elections Self care and renewal session: Introduction to Afrikan Yoga – Ife:     Piankhi: Ife introduced the concept of Afrikan Yoga, stating that yoga, which many think of as foreign, actually originated in the Nile Basin. She spoke of processes of self care and renewal to counter burn-out, despair and feminist exhaustion. Women need to learn how to relax; to nurture ourselves. Ife promised to deliver more during the longer

UGANDA FEMINIST FORUM  Theme: “A New Definition of Power and Leadership”   Date: 8th -11th November 2011 Uganda women activists will hold the 4th Uganda Feminist Forum (UFF), on 8th -11th November 2011. This is an annual forum that brings together African feminist activists in Uganda to deliberate on key concerns of the women’s movement, reflect and develop collective strategies for strengthening feminist engagement, as well as mobilization and constituency building. This year, Forum for Women in Democracy ( FOWODE ) is the hosting secretariat of the Ugandan Feminist Forum. The Uganda Feminist Forum is part of the framework of the continental African Feminist Forum and an outcome of the 2005 Women Leaders and Activists meeting which identified a number of challenges obstructing progress within the Women’s movement in Uganda; and resolved to set into motion feminist organizing as a key strategy for revitalizing the Women’s Movement and for the advancement of wome

Over 50 residents in Luweero district have petitioned the chief administrative officer, Christopher Kyomya asking him to investigate alleged embezzlement of over 7.2 million meant for restocking drugs at Kyevunze health center two under public-private partnership.  The residents in Kasaala parish in Luweero sub county claim that the government is allocating funds per year under private-public partnership with Kyevunze, a private owned health center to buy drugs for the patients but every day the center says there are no drugs.  Residents accuse the health center director, Margaret Kirinda and the in charge only identified as Mrs. Nalongo Kasule of embezzling the funds and leaving patients in agony.  Edward Nsubuga , the lead petitioner says that the residents have spent two years with no drugs yet the government sends 7,254,828 shillings per financial year to buy the drugs. Nsubuga questions how the 7 million shillings is usually spent without drugs being bought. 

Civil Society held a press conference through which its position on those implicated in the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) was communicated. In a statement read by the Anti Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU) this morning at Hotel Africana, Civil Society including the Uganda National NGO Forum, Advocates for Coalition in Development (ACODE), Uganda Debt Network and Forum for Women in Democracy ( FOWODE ) requested the judiciary to avoid selective prosecution and expeditiously handle all corruption related cases including CHOGM, GAVI, Junk helicopters, Oil, Nsimbe and Temangalo sagas among many others.  Although they commended the holding of the former vice president and the issuing of court summons to three other top government officials, there was concern on why so many others including Amama Mbabazi, Serapio Rukundo, Hope Mwesigye and Isaac Musumba have been left out. The Civil Society also added their voice to that of legislators demanding for immediate cens

“Although progress has been made by Governments across Africa towards the improvement of gender equality planning and programming, there continues to be critical challenges to fulfilling commitments and obligations to gender equality and women’s empowerment within the region”, Hon. Boya Gariba , Deputy Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs in Ghana observed. This was during the opening of the 3 day UN Women Symposium on Women held in Ghana that was attended by Ministers of Gender and Finance from the West African Sub Region, civil society organisations, academicians the private sector and development partners from different parts of Africa. The Symposium held under the theme” Sustaining responses on gender equality”, was in line with the African Women’s Decade launched in 2010, it enabled the different countries to debate and recommend concrete steps for redressing gender inequality and to renew institutional commitments to raising the gender equality agenda in the overall aid

Mbaziira Musa is the elected party representative  having defeated bigwigs in the party primaries for the  NRM Candidate to stand as Councilor for Rubaga  Municipality in the 2011 elections. He had no money  for campaigns but he attributes his election success  to people and to the support acquired from Forum for  Women in Democracy (FOWODE). 2011  During the elections, the support I received from FOWODE really made me an exceptional man among the fellow youths in my region and the country as whole. I underwent training and I received support to print posters, and handbills, which I distributed in Rubaga. The posters made me popular among the people who did not know me. Furthermore, the trainings offered to me cultivated in me the spirit of boldness, strength, enthusiasm, and confidence that made me indeed a charismatic man with a devoted heart and emotions to stand and contest without accepting any form of intimidations from the opponents.  I started mobilizin

Arthur Larok, [NGO Forum] and Busingye [Action aid] during a press conference for the return  our money campaign At the climax of the 2011 general election campaigns, Ugandans woke up to yet another scheme of blatant abuse of tax payer’s money, when UGX 20m was given to each Member of the 8th Parliament purportedly to monitor government programmes such as NAADS , just three weeks to the end of their tenure. In an effort to put a moratorium on such Government excesses. NGOs responded with a multifaceted campaign dubbed “Respect Your Honor and Return our Money” , with a vision of compelling the Members of Parliament to return this money to the treasury. Letters were written to citizens coupled with a robust media strategy that raised public awareness on the matter and generated momentum for action. A constitutional petition was also filed calling upon the judiciary to rule against the act as unconstitutional. Being in the midst of a heated campaigns period, the campaign wa

John Rwangombwa, Rwanda's Minister of Finance and Joanne Sandler, Senior Advisor for Policy and Programmes, UN Women in a group photo with participants The principle of gender equality has found more space in several societies over the last two decades and, has begun to underpin all aspects of national development. For this reason, governments, international organizations and the civil society met this week on July 26 to 28, 2011 at the ‘High Level Global Meeting’ on Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting, at Kigali Serena Hotel, Rwanda. Among the key issues of discussion was the need for governments to ensure that that the collection and allocation of public resources, is done in ways that contribute effectively to the advancing of gender equality and women empowerment. Besides Rwanda’s Government, several partners including UN Women, European Union, DfID, UNFPA, the civil society, academia and several Non-Governmental Organisations participated as a show of support toward