Forum for Women in Democracy Uganda

                                                                                               RECLAIMING SPACE, WHY THE IMARA WOMEN’S CENTRE SHOULD INTEREST YOU. For centuries, the Feminist Movement has been a powerful force in the fight for women's rights and gender equality. Even though the movement has come a long way, it is still growing and facing new obstacles. The acknowledgment and amplification of women's voices within the movement itself is a critical component of this progression. This article examines the value of women's voices in the feminist movement, the challenges they have faced, and the role that feminist convenings can play in advancing voice to grow the movement. Throughout the course of history, women have had to struggle ...

                                                                                               Actors in gender equality generally do a great job. Imagine if there was more collaboration, prioritizing communities in these partnerships, and an evidence-based approach. Forum for Women in Democracy ( FOWODE) recognizes that fostering sisterhood and solidarity necessitates the inclusion of women and girls and commits to harnessing their collective potential. This is one of the highest forms of women’s empowerment and yet more still needs to be done. It is important that gender-sensitive laws and policies are enacted and in particular those addressing sexual and gender-based violence. However, beyond the enactment of these laws and policies, all stake...

                             In recent years, the global community has witnessed a significant shift in recognizing the invaluable contributions of women to society. Empowering women and ensuring their rights and opportunities are upheld has become a global priority. Against this backdrop, the Women Deliver 2023 Conference serves as a platform to convene leaders, advocates, and change-makers from around the world, sharing ideas and strategies to promote gender equality. The Women Deliver Conference is a renowned gathering that advocates for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The event brings together activists, policymakers, and influencers to discuss pressing issues, share best practices, and develop innovative solutions. The conference acts as a catalyst for change, propelling the women's rights movement forward. Though we derive our work from grassroots levels, Forum for Women in Demo...

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 un...

 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 g...

“You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.” – Rosalynn Carter We always seem to have great ideas but never the courage to follow through on making them reality. Push yourself hard enough to find within yourself the courage to bring about that change you have been dreaming up. 

“One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” – Simone de Beauvoir It is very easy for people to assume that some human beings are born women because they think being born female with all female parts simply makes you one. A great deal of work goes into becoming a woman whoever. It takes a lot of growing up, maturing, appreciation, getting over one's insecurities and breaking through society boundaries.  It is not easy to be a woman in our Ugandan society but you are, and so we say, may you be all woman as the women's month comes to an end.

We would like to wish you a blessed International Women's Day this year. As we celebrate, let us find realistic ways we can make this year's theme #PledgeForParity a reality in our societies. For the men and women of this country, what will you do different starting from this Women's Day moving forward to make the parity problem in our society an issue of the past? With this in mind, here is our quote our QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” – Melinda Gates

Our QUOTE of the WEEk “Women are never stronger than when they arm themselves with their weaknesses.” – Madame Marie du Deffand

“Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use.” – Ruth Gordon

“Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.” – Charlotte Whitton

“The best protection any woman can have … is courage.” – Elizabeth Cady Stanton

HON Tezira Jamwa tells her story at FOWODE Head Offices  HON TEZIRA JAMWA Tezira Jamwa, besides being a Board Member of FOWODE, was recently elected National Vice Chairperson NRM Women’s League Representing Eastern Region. A big accomplishment and a great platform for the women of Uganda. How did she get here though? That question will lead us to who is Hon Jamwa really? She is a daughter, a sister, a friend, a mother, a teacher, an activist and, a leader. Tezira is from the district of Tororo and was born in a polygamous family. First child of this family, her mother was a muganda who later separated with her father, leaving her children to be raised by husband’s second wife. Growing up, you can say her birthright manifested in her. Because of her natural leadership skills but also the ever-present desire to lead, she found herself pulled by this gravity to make a difference. She knew that a good education was the key to all her leadership dream...

“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.” – Diane Mariechild

Following the tabling of the Public Finance and Management Amendment Bill, 2015 a spirited fight was put up by FOWODE, other Civil society actors notably CSBAG, the Equal Opportunities Commission & a section of Members of Parliament to reject the proposed amendments. The fight was a call to MPs to reject the proposed amendments. Key of the amendments to the bill was “to repeal the provision on the requirement to present a certificate certifying that the policy statements of the Votes are gender and equity responsive”.   This would have been a “tragic” move by government that would have undermined all its efforts in promoting the gender, equity and equal opportunities principles that it boasts of. The proposed amendments in the Public Finance and Management Act 2015 read; Section 13 of the Principal Act, is amended-(a) by substituting for section 13 the following: “the Minister or any other person responsible for the vote as the case may be shall base...

“It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union…. Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less.” – Susan B. Anthony

“We ask justice, we ask equality, we ask that all the civil and political rights that belong to citizens of the United States, be guaranteed to us and our daughters forever.”   – Susan B. Anthony

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” – Anais Nin

 “When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.” – Helen Keller There are threats and judging by this weekend's event, many of you might feel discouraged or scared to stand up for the right thing. Do not be. It is only in our relentless fight for what is Humanly deserved that fruits can grow.

The Ford Foundation has been going through a review of its strategy over the past one year and is now ready to launch its new programmatic framework. The Foundation while reflecting on global trends so as to better understand the state of human dignity   found that indeed there is growing inequality in all its forms. To address and respond to inequality, the Foundation will be working in six program areas: Civic Engagement and Government; Creativity and Free Expression; Gender, Ethnic, and Racial Justice; Inclusive Economies; Internet Freedom and Youth Opportunity and Learning. This month, FOWODE was privileged to be one of the co hosts of the Women’s Expert Dialogue on Identity Justice that was graced with the presence of the Ford Foundation Vice President for Education, Creativity and Free Expression, Hilary Pennington, the Representative for Eastern Africa, Maurice Makoloo and all the Program Officers from the Eastern Africa office. The dialogue was at...