Feminists strategize for greater political impact in Uganda

By -

In November 2011, the Feminist Movement in Uganda conducted its fourth annual forum under the theme “Whose power, whose politics”, the forum sought to develop feminist strategies for political accountability to women in Uganda and specifically to provide space for collective reflection, visioning and strategizing on how to position and strengthen the feminist and women’s movement for greater political impact in Uganda. This annual forum that brings together African feminist activists in Uganda was hosted by Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE). 


The sisters gathered from far and wide to talk about issues of concern to their existence, their femininity, their power and their rights as women. Among them, Ruth, a grandmother to a one week old baby; Jacque, the brave , resilient and courageous young woman; Magdalene, a Gender Based Violent survivor who fights for the rights of sexual minorities; and Sanyu, the young woman who fights for the rights of sex workers. There was also Harriet, the confident woman who believes all women are stars in their own right; Kasha, the sister who believes in freedom for all. 

The sisters collectively reflected and developed feminist strategies on how to achieve their vision by 2025. They resolved to pursue a range of strategies like capturing power in government, Civil Society and private sector and at various levels. Supporting women in leadership with a feminist background who can be potential politicians to preach the feminist messages and promote the rights of women. They made individual commitments to build the Uganda feminist fund through a monthly contribution which would be used to support the work of the feminist forum. They challenged themselves to be accountable as individuals to the larger women’s movement and its vision. 

This four-day meeting also reflected on the current state of feminist organizing so as to bring about lasting empowerment for the women of Uganda. “The feminist forum is something we always look forward to because it re-energizes us, it helps us to rekindle the fires within us, and also to lay strategies on how we move forward,” said UFF’s Patricia Munabi-Babiiha. 

The days the sisters spent by with each other were fruitful and memorable; full of learning experiences, strategizing and power building.

By Carol Namagembe, FOWODE Program Officer-Communications 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When midwives turned to mobile phone light to save mothers

By -
A mother at Lapainat Health Centre III lies on the floor as she waits to be attended to. Midwives now use mobile phone light to help mothers deliver. In Summary Finding options. With most of the health facilities lacking adequate personnel and the required medical equipment, most affected people -- the peasants -- decided to take control of their development affairs. The experience she goes through is beyond her imagination. Just in her early 20s, Vistine Kemigisha is already dealing with situations that even an experienced midwife would not wish to face. “I remember a day when I assisted a woman to deliver in a facility that didn’t have any equipment. Not even light. Yet it was late in the night,” Kemigisha, a young midwife in Kabale District, told the Saturday Monitor. “This woman was brought to the health centre by a group of six young men, who had each carried her in turns on their shoulders.”In her attempt to help th...
Read more

TIMELY CALL TO CHAMPION SPACES, SOLIDARITY AND SOLUTIONS IN THE WOMEN DELIVER 2023 CONFERENCE

By -
Image
 As one of the largest multi-sectoral convening to advance gender equality, convening 6,000 advocates onsite, and over 200,000 advocates online from diverse fields, the Women Deliver 2023 Conference has been co-created by grassroots advocates, youth, civil society, governments, multilateral organizations, and the private sector, including from and representing communities facing systemic discrimination around the world.   Rwanda continues to make great effort in leading gender equality in the world. By 61.3%, it is the country in the world with first female majority in Parliament not forgetting that it has also promoted women’s health, made policies to advance equal pay and established laws criminalizing violence against women among others. This makes Kigali the perfect venue for Women Deliver 2023 because of its strong commitment to gender equality and girls and women’s health, according to Kathleen Sherwin, the outgoing CEO Women Deliver.   Women Deliver is a leading g...
Read more