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

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 global advocate
Read more

Catalyzing modern technology to empower the Feminist Movement and advance Gender Equality

By -
Image
As we prepare to dissect intersection approaches to women’s rights at the Women Deliver 2023 conference in Rwanda, chasing the Wada Dream Documentary has been selected to film during the conference. Africa is always last in the queue for not only technological advancement but also development, investment and promotion of fundamental human rights, among others. A key priority for Women Deliver and partners is to ensure that WD2023 is symbiotic and beneficial to other key policy windows that advance Gender Equality, like technology advancement in the contemporary world.   In the Documentary film, Mercy , the coordination lead at Wada says they are going to give access to people on the continent and in the Diaspora to actively be part of this revolution. What is this revolution? Chasing the Wada Dream is the story of Mercy and Josh, Afia and Daniel and many other people bringing opportunity and education to Africa with the use of modern technology.   Africa is a beehive of underprivil
Read more