Building a Solid Foundation for the JAS Programme Technical Working Group on Women and Gender
Akina Mama wa Afrika on 6th August, 2020, convened the first Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting on Gender under the Joint Advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Uganda (JAS) Programme. The purpose of the TWG meeting was to create a safe space for stakeholders to share information, strategize, coordinate efforts and develop […]
Activating a bold, progressive, cross-border feminist movement on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
25 years after the unanimous adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) by 189 countries, there have been enormous improvements in the lives of women and girls but also many unfulfilled promises especially in the area of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Despite the wins, women are still faced with […]
Illicit Financial Flows: Plugging the outflow of resources for gender justice
In a groundbreaking report released in 2015, the Mbeki High Level Panel revealed that Africa loses about US$50 billion annually in Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), an amount less than the Official Development Assistance Africa collectively receives as a continent. The 2018 United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) study on the global governance architecture for […]
In the shadow of the pandemic: The dark underbelly of private debt
People borrow money for a myriad of reasons; to get an education, manage medical or financial emergencies, travel, pay existing loans, start a business or expand it. Debt is one of the ways people cope but more so now, during the Covid-19 pandemic which has ushered in a major ongoing global economic crisis and caused […]
The Informal Economy in the grip of the pandemic: Sharing experiences and strategies for a resilient recovery
Over 50% of Uganda’s GDP is attributed to the informal sector and more than 80% of the labor force work is in the informal sector according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS,2014). A report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) stated that women-owned businesses by 2014 had outpaced male-owned businesses by 1.5 times (236% […]
Tusikize! Listen to Us!
When the #MeToo movement dominated global discourse on sexual assault and harassment, it resonated with women worldwide because it opened up a space for them to say, “Me too. I have also suffered sexual violence”. Sexual harassment is pervasive and has infested all workplaces without exception. Many people were silent about their experiences, but as […]
We stand in solidarity with Racheal Njoroge in protesting the outrageously flimsy penalty against her abuser, Edward Kisuze
On September 29th, 2020, Edward Kisuze, a senior Administrative Assistant at Makerere University was convicted of the offence of indecent assault against Racheal Njoroge, a former student at the university. Outrageously, while the offence committed by Kisuze attracts a maximum sentence of 14 years, he was sentenced to only two years imprisonment or a fine […]
The state of social protection in Uganda in response to Covid-19
Uganda’s National Social Protection Policy (NSPP) provides that regardless of status, every citizen can be faced with various risks and vulnerabilities which could render them unable to meet their basic needs. One of the guiding principles of the NSPP is universalism and inclusiveness; promoting appropriate measures to protect every Ugandan from risks and shocks. This […]
The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women Labour Related Rights
Uganda has a progressive employment legal regime, a reflection of the international standards of the International Labour Organization. However, enforcement of these laws has always posed a challenge because the dictates of demand and supply outweigh the aspirations of the laws and policies. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on businesses and employment exposed the […]
Gendered Dimensions of the Economic Impact of Covid-19 in Uganda
Covid-19 is by far the biggest pandemic the world has faced in decades. In March 2020, Uganda joined the rest of the world to announce a nationwide lockdown, amongst other measures to contain the pandemic. This came shortly after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Coronavirus a pandemic. This decision as in many other […]
Agnes Nasirumbi – Aspiring Woman Member of Parliament for Persons with Disabilities
Tell us about yourself and what you do. I am a Ugandan professional accountant who practiced for 16 years before founding the Nasirumbi Foundation, a non-profit organization seeking to transform the lives of people with disabilities in Uganda. I do this work through promoting initiatives that improve the quality of life […]
The AWLI gave me a space to learn and understand Feminism.
In the past, every time I heard about feminism, I would imagine a rude woman who went about ridiculing men and setting things on fire. However, I have come to learn that being a feminist means being the kind of person who cares that women are treated right and given equal opportunities with men in […]
Reflecting on 25 Years of the Beijing Platform for Action
25th September 1995 was historic in the women’s movement in Africa and the world at large. Representatives of 189 governments, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, feminists, activists and organizations from all over the world convened at the Fourth World Conference on Women to recognize women’s rights as human rights; an event that laid the foundation for […]
“We need more feminist minded women in politics,” Rebecca Achom Adile
A lot of changes happened in Uganda’s political scene due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Electoral Commission announced that elections and campaigns would be held virtually; a very challenging situation for new entrants in the political scene. We also witnessed cases of violence across the country especially during the National Resistance Movement primaries; as well […]
The African Women’s Leadership Institute has shaped me into a resilient woman
Before the African Women’s Leadership Institute, I thought I had figured out who I was, where I was going, and what I wanted to be; I was wrong. I have since discovered a lot about myself. I recognized my values, strengths, goals and aspirations, as well as worked out my ambitions and what I look […]
Akina Mama wa Afrika joins a Bold and Progressive Movement on SRHR through the JAS Programme
On 13th July 2020, Akina Mama wa Afrika officially joined the Joint Advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (SRHR) in Uganda (JAS) programme. JAS is a multi-organization Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) advocacy programme steered by the Centre for Health Human Rights and Development-CEHURD and supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency – SIDA. […]
The African Women’s Leadership Institute has awakened the power within me.
Earlier this year, I went through some tough moments that partly led me to a place of deep self-doubt. I became very vulnerable and dependent on a friend for my sustenance. So on a very hot afternoon, as I sipped on a glass of pot water that tasted like heaven, my mind was buzzing with […]
Tackling the “Shadow Pandemic” of Domestic Violence During COVID-19
“In the shadow of this tragic global pandemic lurks another pandemic- Violence against Women and Girls. Less reported and hardly headlines news but claiming lives nonetheless.” On January, 3 2020, BBC WORLD Media reported a “mysterious viral pneumonia” in China. It was an outbreak with 44 cases of people affected, 11 of which were “severe”. […]
COVID-19 Chronicles: Life in the clutches of a global pandemic
We are featuring human centered stories, poems and critical analyses on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected alumnae of our African Women’s Leadership Institute. We encourage you to explore a diversity of topics including but not limited to; the economy, sexual and reproductive health and rights, mental health, violence in the private and public sphere, […]
Struggling With Anxiety and Finding Purpose During COVID-19
“…asking for help is strength, courage, and stoic determination to rise above our fears and weaknesses and bounce back better and tougher.” The Nightmare It is a few months into the raging global pandemic and we all seem to be more accepting of this new situation we find ourselves in and the impact it has […]