Forum for Women in Democracy Uganda

In consideration of the electoral processes towards the 2016 national elections in Uganda, Forum for Women in Democracy trained 50 civic action mentors in Voter education. Representative of 7 districts of Uganda including; Gulu, Kibuku, Luweero, Kibaale, Rukungiri, Kabale and Napak, the mentors acquired knowledge in voter education; explored and understanding of the road map to the national 2016 elections; with specificity on citizens’ engagement in the electoral processes. David, Byakutaga, the facilitator urged the mentors to engage in Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) as a tool to reinforce public confidence in the election process, foster election integrity and contribute to election peace. “We need to address the issue of vote rigging squarely, if it is at the ballot box during vote counties that the votes are stolen, I don’t then see why citizens themselves do not engage in Parallel Vote Tallying.” Rukiga S/C. Elaborations on integration of gender in voter

The Village Governance Group from Rukungiri visited Kibuku district to learn best practices of how the Grassroots Gender and Local Accountability project is impacting the communities of Kibuku district. The Village Budget Clubs (VBCs) work in Tirinyi Sub County on local accountability created impact, shriving vigilance of the communities in ensuring that social services that are due to them are provided for, and address the needs of the poor. The duty bearers appreciate our intervention in the district. During the Rukungiri VGCs visit to Kibuku demonstrated that the leaders at the district freely share budget information with the citizen’s. ‘An issue that continues to strengthen the partnership and enhances budget advocacy for strategic engagement, the level of collaboration and partnership with the duty bearers to co-opt community concerns in district development agenda continue to make us achieve the results FOWODE is realizing in Kibuku district. Also at

Forum for Women in Democracy in partnership with GIZ Uganda held a very interactive dialogue at hotel Africana in Kampala. This dialogue was meant to celebrate the gains Uganda women have made so far in empowerment of women and girls. The Ugandan and German governments continue to show government in achievement of MDG 3 Gender equality. In her key note speech, Celebrating gains for Women and girls in 30 years- in Uganda’s Health, education and agriculture sectors; Dr. Maggie Kigozi she noted that Uganda and much of the world has much to celebrate ; in politics- there are women Presidents, Vice Presidents, In Uganda we have a female speaker in the August house, Ministers, and 35% of Uganda’s MP’s are female. Strides have been taken in the academia , technocrats, Civil Servants, district leaders , in the Civil Society Organisations , business, justice and media “Women now have role models that they can look up to Kazibwe, Kadaga, Jennifer, Alaso, Clinton, Elle

With support from Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) under the project title “ Public Financing for Reproductive Health (PFRH) ,” FOWODE Busia in collaboration with Lumino sub county local leaders mobilized and conducted sensitization meeting of the community members from the three parishes (Lumino. Budimo and Hasyule) of Lumino sub county on the new FOWODE interventions in the sub county. It was from this gathering that the 3VBCs were formed. The objective was introducing PFRH Project to the community and to provide a platform to the community members to select people of their interests   will constitute the three Village Budget Clubs. This meeting attracted 101 people of which 62 female and 39 males attended and they actively participated in selection process of VBC members. The Sub County Chairperson who welcomed the community members to the meeting and specifically thanked the district and FOWODE for considering Lumino. He urged the communit

“My name is Grace Amony. I am 42 years old and living in the village of Wianono in Lamogi Sub County. I am married with two children. I used to grow crops with my husband while in the camp but he would sell all of it and leave me in the house without enough food and he would then drink all the money. Whenever I would ask him where the money was he would beat me up and threaten to send me away from home. This continued even after we returned back to our home from the IDP refugee camp. I eventually confided in my neighbor and she told me about the savings group they were setting up. Her husband was also a member and by luck he talked to my husband and convinced him that it was a good idea that we both joined the Oaa Saving group in 2014. On many occasions the chairperson of the group during meetings talked about family relations   and importance of working together and slowly I noticed a change in my husband’s attitude; he started returning home early and he consu