Forum for Women in Democracy Uganda

They want the gender budget increased and gender legislations improved. MPs and civil society organisations have recommended that the government brings to Parliament a statutory instrument introducing an independent gender monitoring unit to check gender inequalities. During a two-day study tour of Rwanda yesterday, the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) and the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), also called on the government to increase the budget for the key gender-sensitive ministries of agriculture, education and health to ensure that the planning process is engendered. Independent unit “In Uganda we have good policies that have remained on paper for long. Government must put in place an independent gender monitoring unit like is the case in Rwanda, to fight gender inequalities,” Agago Woman MP Judith Franca said. The State Minister for Finance (General Duties), Mr Fred Omach, supported Ms Franca and promised to put the matter before Cabinet. The mi...

Rwandan legislators have advised their counterparts in Uganda to put national interests before those of their political parties if they are to stamp out the rampant corruption in the country.  Addressing a delegation of Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) and the Forum for Women in Democracy, (FOWODE), at Parliament yesterday, the legislators also suggested that Uganda should adopt a strict doctrine of separation of powers by leaving Parliament to function independent of the executive. ‘’For us here we do not put our parties first before the people’s interests because we are answerable to them. It is Rwanda first before self. If ministers make mistakes, we take immediate collective action and we do not compromise on this. “In whatever we do we make sure there is value for money and when it comes to action, both the ruling party MPs and opposition MPs move in unison,” said the deputy chairperson for the Rwanda Budget and Patrimony committee, Mr Mukama Abbas. ...