Forum for Women in Democracy Uganda

  Patricia Munabi Babiiha, Executive Director of FOWODE , was one of the Civil society leaders that gathered for the leaders quarterly reflection meeting on 11 February 2014. The CSO leaders fora are convened by the Uganda National NGO forum and provide a space for leaders to discuss the pertaining challenges to CSO work, ruminate on ways in which their work can be enhanced and lay strategies for improved delivery that can translate into transformation for the citizens. This meeting being the first in the year provided an opportunity for the leaders to discuss the CSO new year message themed “Citizen Action for a Peaceful, Secure and Prosperous Uganda – with Happy People” . The CSO message was delivered on 6 January 2014 and prioritizes 3 key priority actions that civil society organizations will focus on including: Promoting Citizen Organising for a Better Uganda ; Wealth Creation for a Prosperous Uganda in which citizens live in dignity; and Peace and Stability for a Secure U

Shiela Atukei showcase her business idea as FOWODE Executive Director Ms Patricia Munabi Listens FOWODE Young Leaders Alumni Association (FYLAA) together with Digital opportunity Trust (DOT) a Canadian Enterprise with operations in 14 countries around the globe, including Uganda in January trained youth in technology, business, life skills, and micro-enterprise development. Over 42 young people from universities in and around Kampala, High school leavers, and other youth were trained. The training equipped them with the tools and skills to help them advance their economic status and build successful, sustainable livelihoods. According to recent studies, the youth total population is estimated to be at 27 million and majority of them are unemployed and engage in drug abuse and other related crime activities. In Ugandan youth constitute to over 70% of the total population and they form 47.7% of the total labor force and are disproportionately affected by high unemployment ra

THE CALL FOR  FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS NOW Once again Ugandans are being summoned to prepare for general elections, in 2016. This would be the fifth such elections organized by the Museveni regime, in five yearly intervals, since it came to power in 1986. All have been defined by wholesale fraud and rigging , orchestrated terror and intimidation , and the massive diversion of tax-payers’ money and international development assistance to fund NRM campaigns and vote-buying . All this is well-established and well-documented. After this series of sham elections , it now is absolutely clear that the Museveni / Kiggundu electoral management system , that is designed and entirely controlled and orchestrated by the Museveni regime , will inevitably produce more of the same . That system is inherently incapable of delivering free and fair elections. Any general elections conducted under current auspices and arrangements will therefore be a fraud. Discussion about 2016 shou

Forum for Women in Democracy has embarked on a process that will sharpen the mode of delivering on its Civic Education Program. This will lay emphasis on Civic Education as a component of civic empowerment of the ordinary people to take action.  FOWODE held an orientation meeting that brought together some board members, members of staff, the FOWODE Young Leaders Alumni Association (FYLAA) Executive Committee and Civic Education Resource persons from the 15 FOWODE districts of operation; Amuru, Amuria, Napak, Rukungiri, Kabale, Kibaale, Masindi, Kibuku, Busia, Mityana, Wakiso, Lyantonde, Abim, Gulu and Luweero. . The meeting intended to refocus the team’s thinking on FOWODE’s Civic Education program, homogenize the civic education materials to be used and prepare the team for the delivery of the program.   The aim of this enhanced civic education program at FOWODE is to respond to key specific women’s concerns while emphasising the critical role citizens have to play i

Once again the appointing authority changed guards at the Local Government level. The recent reshuffle of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) is a welcome move especially for those appointed to the new districts. Whereas the youth gained in terms of numbers given that there were many new young ‘faces’, the numbers of women RDCs both substantive and the deputies are perturbing. Out of the 378 RDCs and Deputy RDCs appointed only 26 (almost 20%) were women. This does not facilitate the attainment of the 50:50 gender parity, and the misconstrues the ongoing efforts of increasing the number of women participating in both appointive and elective decision making positions in the country. It is thought that the fewer the women occupying decision making positions in the public sphere, the lesser public services will appropriately address women’s strategic and social needs. This is mainly because when there is inadequate representation of women, then the power of the few available women

Entebbe-As Uganda’s 9th Parliament edges towards their midterm, Forum for women in Democracy on 2nd-4thFebruary2014 brought together sixteen women members of parliament at Laico, Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe to acquire more skills and knowledge in dialogue about effective legislative engagement in parliament in a bid to boost their representation of women in parliament. The engagement prudently discussed the selected topics; Taking Stock of Women MPs achievements, challenges and success stories for the period 2012-2013 by Dr Peace Musiimenta, effective representation within a multiparty political dispensation by Dr. Miria Matembe, Communication and Media Engagement as a tool for effective legislative advocacy by Hon. Victoria Sekitoleko and Policy Research Analysis and Advocacy for effective legislators by Mr. Godbar Tumushabe the former ACODE Executive Director. Dr. Peace Musimenta pointed out a number of achievements, notably; the fact that the first woman speaker i