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 […]
Survivors of Sexual Violence are Human Beings Before They Are Headlines
When it comes to reporting about sexual violence, the media in Uganda is misleading at best and a catalyst for further violence at worst. Global women’s movements have accused the media of using language that trivializes the experiences of the survivors and publishing unverified/untrue information about survivors. In addition, reporters have been known to ask […]
How To Cover Stories of Sexual Violence With Humanity
Akina Mama wa Afrika in partnership with Hivos hosted the #MediaandMeToo webinar from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM EAT on 28 March, 2020. The dialogue was held to assess the prevalence of Sexual Harassment in the media sector and to interrogate media’s documentation and reporting of cases of sexual harassment. The dialogue was also an opportunity to compel […]
The AWLI Equipped Me With Leadership Skills – Susan Aciro
In high school, Susan always wished for girls to participate in leadership processes and influence decision making but the boys would not give them a chance, and male teachers did not make it any easier. She wanted to make sure that the girls had equal space and influence so she joined the high school top […]
Where do the billions that could fund our health systems go?
The 2015 report of the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) from Africa (Mbeki report) estimates the continent to be losing about 50 billion dollars annually in illicit financial flows. IFFs can be defined as the movement, from one country to another, of money or capital that is illegally earned, used or transferred. […]
The Institutionalization Of Sexual Violence In Uganda
The Uganda Police released the 2019 annual crime report in March this year. The rate of crime, at least that which is reported, has decreased by 9.8% with the cases declining from 238,746 cases reported in 2018 to 215,224 cases reported in 2019. The figures for crimes of a sexual nature which include but are not […]
Counting the Cost of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Workers in Uganda
International Workers’ Day usually has a whiff of celebration around it as workers around the globe are applauded for their different exploits and achievements in the world of work. However, this year, the annual workers’ day came amidstCOVID-19 epidemic. May 1st found some workers receiving their last paycheck while others logged into their emails to […]
Celebrating Women At Work
On this International Labor Day, we celebrate the gains of having more women in the public and are making great strides in the world of work. We also recognise the women who work in the private sphere and often whose work goes unrecognised and undervalued. You are our unsung sheroes. But huge challenges abound. The […]
#RatifyILO190 Twitter Chat: Tackling Violence and Harassment in the world of work.
On the 31st of March, 2020, Akina Mama wa Afrika organized a tweet chat under the theme, “Ending sexual harassment at the workplace.” The chat was part of the online campaign urging governments to ratify, domesticate and implement the ILO Convention 190 which is the first international standard that aims to put an end to […]
The Gendered Implications of COVID-19
Akina Mama wa Afrika is deeply concerned about the gendered implications of the Corona virus pandemic. The human rights situation of women all over the world which was already precarious has been exacerbated by this world wide pandemic. The rights of women and other marginalized groups have been put aside yet in fact, it […]
Making Tax A Women’s Issue
Making Tax A Women’s Issue
A Clarion Call To #RatifyILO190 at AMwA’s Exhibition on Women’s Experiences in the Workplace
What comes to mind when you think about a day in the life of the woman who nurtures and picks the flowers decorating your living space? Do you ever stop and think about the women who work in the security forces? Rita is among many women who were featured at Akina Mama wa Afrika’s women@work […]
Cultivating a Culture of Discourse; Inclusivity and Equality as a Generational Mandate
It has been said that young people are the future. However, a number of initiatives that have been put in place to prepare young people for this future exclude young women. This is fueled by patriarchal perceptions and sexism that hinder them from effectively participating in leadership and decision making spaces. Mindful of this, Akina […]
Unearthing Women’s Foils and Triumphs in the Workplace in Uganda
Kampala, Uganda – Women have been working people since time immemorial whether their work was limited to domestic duties and occupations such as teaching, nursing and housekeeping or they pursued a startling range of careers and vocations. For most, their stories remain untold even when they keep at difficult jobs exposed to unfavourable working conditions […]
Breaking the Culture of Silence around Sexual Harassment at dfcu Bank Uganda
The number of women joining the formal labour workforce in Uganda has steadily increased in recent times. With the right to work comes the right to work free from sexual harassment yet more than ever before, women working in the formal sector continually stand at crossroads, uncertain about whether to endure sexual violence on the […]
The impact of PPPs on gender equality and women’s rights
As public-private partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly promoted, concerns about their impact are rising. This briefing developed in partnership with the Gender and Development Network (GADN) explores the effect of PPPs on gender equality and women’s rights – highlighting concerns over increasing costs to governments alongside threats to the provision of universal, gender-transformative public services. It […]
Art Meets Activism at the Premiere of Prickly Roses, a Short Film about the Experiences of Women on Flower Farms
Valentine’s came early at Akina Mama wa Afrika as people from different walks of life clad in shades of pink, blue and black, as if on cue to be as colorful as flowers, filled the auditorium at Century Cinemax Acacia in Kampala on 13th February to attend the premiere of Prickly Roses, a film that […]