Women to Watch out for in 2016: Profiling Women Leaders.

Forum for women in Democracy has embarked on profiling women leaders that are vying for leadership positions in 2016. FOWODE acknowledges that there is need to profile women leaders that are championing women’s issues for a stronger voice on issues concerning women in decision-making processes. We strongly believe that movement building and profiling women leaders is critical to building a strong voice for women and to holding the state and non-state actors accountable to critical women’s issues.

The Uganda Women’s movement despite tremendous efforts to keep women’s issues alive on the National agenda has faced a number of challenges in ensuring the adoption of gender sensitive policy formulation and gender sensitive initiatives. This could be attributed to the insufficient articulation of critical gender and women’s issues in policy debates and dialogues, un-coordinated voices on women’s issues and lack of political will on the part of government to fulfill its gender promises among others.

We would like to tell the stories of the women that have chosen to stand out of the crowd to take positions of leadership

So far, FOWODE has profiled five women leaders each holds various issues but share same enthusiasm and charisma to change the world that they live in.

Watch out for Lina Zedriga who is contesting for the mainstream seat in Vura constituent Arua district.  “I always say I am a hand made of FOWODE. My mother is called in 1961 the perception of girls was mostly about marriage aspiration.” But she defied those odds to become a lawyer, the very first in Vura district, she holds the peace and security flag high she was one of the women that participated in the Juba peace process.  Having a woman like Lina in Parliament will make a significant difference.

In 2016, Molly Lanyero is taking on the men for Lamwo district. she feeds of the inspiration the great women that came before her; Hon: Winnie Byanyima, Hon: Miria Matembe and Hon: Janat Mukwaya . Her resilience was first tasted in 2011 when she stood and manage to finish the race against all odds- she was mud-slang, she remained standing even when money was all-over the place during the race. She says that it was a David goliath battle. She is armed to the teeth and ready to be the difference in her community.

Grace Amek is vying for a mainstream seat in Apac district. She is a first timer, full of life, zeal and confidence. She is a lawyer and alumni of FOWODE’s young leadership training camp. During this Mentoring Camp, where she discovered the subject of Gender Budgeting and yet looking at the allocations women are given, was appalling. She has grappled with this ever since she cannot seat ahd fold her hands, now she is ready for 2016.

Women at an early stage mentored this other young woman but yet she also saw the injustices that women were exposed to. Female Genital Mutilation was a reality where she came from. So these have shaped her to be the woman that she is today. She is geared up for 2016. Her name is Jackie Cherotich.

Busiro County should brace itself for this young dynamic woman- Sarah Namugga in her position as a district councillor she has a lot to show for her time in office. She belongs to the NRM party; her works backs her passion. When she makes it to Parliament, rest assuredly she will turn tables around.

Many more women are rising up to the challenge- FOWODE with renewed zeal will continue to champion Gender equality in all areas of decision making in this way a fair an just society will be achieved.