OUR THOUGHTS

The Feminist Internet We Deserve: Reimagining Digital Spaces for Women and Girls

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 19:41:06 GMT

For many women and girls, the internet is a place of promise and contradiction. It offers avenues for visibility and power, yet still echoes the same inequalities and harms they navigate offline. It is a site of resistance, and of repetition.

As we mark the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, the question, "What would a truly feminist internet look like?" becomes increasingly urgent.

The Challenge: Digital Inequality and Online Violence

Instead of expanding opportunity, the digital sphere has become another site where women are routinely targeted; through harassment, stalking, data exploitation, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images (UN Women, 2020). This violence isn't merely "virtual". It has profound, lasting consequences on confidence, employment, and wellbeing, highlighting that gender-based violence in digital spaces is a continuation of systemic inequality, not an isolated issue.

The Legal Ground: Digital Rights Are Women’s Rights Too

Women and girls have the right to participate online without fear. Digital safety and privacy are not privileges; they are legal rights protected under both national and international law.

In Uganda, the Data Protection and Privacy Act (2019) affirms every individual’s right to: privacy of personal information, consent before data collection and sharing, access and correction of their personal data, and protection from unauthorized data disclosure. This means that women have the legal right to control how their images, phone numbers, messages, and biometric information are used and shared online. Non-consensual sharing of personal or intimate data violates dignity and constitutes a breach of the law.

Globally, frameworks such as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) reinforce similar principles of consent, transparency, and data control (EU, 2016). On the African continent, the African Union Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention, 2014) emphasizes digital rights and state responsibility to prevent cyber violence and exploitation.

A feminist internet, therefore, is rooted not only in social justice, but also in law.

Systemic Failure and Lack of Representation

Legal protections alone are not enough because technology platforms are designed within patriarchal, profit-driven systems. Algorithms, content moderation tools, and platform policies often embed gender biases, prioritizing engagement and speed over user safety. Features that amplify virality can unintentionally promote harassment, while reporting tools frequently fail to address gendered abuse effectively.

Women, particularly those from marginalized communities, are also underrepresented in tech leadership and digital policymaking (APC, 2022). This combination of exclusion and systemic bias means platforms rarely center care, equity, or inclusion. Paired with harassment and surveillance, these gaps turn potential digital empowerment into risk, leaving women and girls vulnerable and reinforcing barriers to participation and freedom online. reinforcing barriers to participation and freedom online.

A Way Forward: Building the Feminist Internet We Deserve

To build the feminist internet we deserve, we must articulate what we are striving toward, not only what we are resisting.

A feminist internet is one where safety isn’t a privilege, where content moderation centres survivors rather than trolls. It is an internet where data belongs to the people who generate it, where access is equitable, and where girls can learn, create, and lead without fear of surveillance, shame, or harm.

The fight for a feminist internet is fundamentally the fight for freedom itself. It calls us to reclaim digital spaces that have too long been shaped without us, and often against us. A feminist digital future must be built on openness, safety, and justice, not surveillance, profit, or fear. This requires more than just access; it demands agency.

Women and girls must not only log in; they must be given the chance to lead, to design, code, legislate, and imagine technology that protects rather than polices them.

By prioritizing the voices of diverse groups in the development of digital policies and frameworks, we can move toward a more just and inclusive digital future. Emphasizing critical digital literacy will empower women to navigate online spaces safely and effectively, enhancing their ability to participate fully in both digital and civic life.

Conclusion

A feminist internet thus demands intention; from the code we write, to the policies we lobby for, to the care we extend toward one another online. Building a just and fearless digital future will not emerge by default. It begins with the choice to centre safety, consent, and justice in every digital space we design, govern, and inhabit.

The time for passive connection is over. The time to build the feminist internet we deserve is now.

Article by Esther Awor

Leadership Transition at Femme Forte Uganda

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:02:34 GMT

Press Release

Warm greetings from Femme Forte Uganda.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Mackenzie Adams as the new Chief Steward of Femme Forte Uganda, effective immediately. This follows a rigorous seven-month recruitment and transition process, undertaken to secure a leader whose values and vision align with Femme Forte’s spirit of feminist leadership, creativity, and commitment to justice.

Ms. Adams brings to Femme Forte more than 25 years of leadership experience across diverse sectors, combined with a long-standing passion for feminist organising and social justice. She has also volunteered with Femme Forte, giving her direct insight into our values and work. Her track record of nurturing collaborations, strengthening institutions, and championing gender equity positions her well to guide Femme Forte into its next chapter.

We extend our gratitude to staff, alumni leaders, partners and the Board for their trust and patience throughout this transition process.

Over the coming weeks, we will host both internal onboarding sessions and external stakeholder engagements to formally welcome Ms. Adams and to share Femme Forte’s strategic direction for 2025–2030. We invite you to walk this new path with us and to join us in warmly welcoming Mackenzie to the Femme Forte family.

In solidarity,
Femme Forte Uganda
August 25, 2025

Will Uganda’s Young People Reclaim the Democratic Promise?

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 10:05:53 GMT

I was privileged to be selected as one of the participants of the 3rd National Youth Symposium 2025, hosted by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). The gathering could not have come at a more revealing time for Uganda’s political journey. Under the theme “Reflection on 20 Years of Multiparty Politics: The Role of Young People in Building a Democratic, United, and Prosperous Uganda,” the symposium brought together young voices across political, social, and regional lines to reflect on how far we’ve come, and who gets to shape where we go next.

As the country prepares for the 2026 general elections, this political season offers more than campaign posters and nomination rallies. It offers an opportunity to pause and ask: What does genuine participation look like when so many young people still feel unheard? What happens when voter registers raise credibility concerns, or when civic education rarely reaches the grassroots in meaningful ways? At Femme Forte, we also ask what these gaps mean for whose voices are left out; especially young women and girls, who continue to face layered barriers even in spaces meant to include them.

The Price of Competing, and the Cost of Exclusion

Securing a political party’s flag has always come with hidden costs, but this year, the stakes have become clearer than ever. For many young Ugandans who dream of contesting in 2026, the rising nomination fees have turned a party flag into an expensive hurdle rather than a gateway.

According to (The Daily Monitor, 2025), a presidential ticket under the ruling NRM now costs 20 million UGX, while an MP slot costs 3 million, and even a local councilor position can demand up to 1 million. While the NRM defends these fees as a way to “screen serious candidates,” the reality is that the price of entry often screens out those with the most at stake: young people, who make up the largest share of Uganda’s population but hold the smallest share of its wealth.

In stark contrast, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) charges 5 million for president, 100,000 for MPs, and nothing for councilors. Meanwhile, the National Unity Platform (NUP) currently asks for no nomination fees at any level, positioning itself as more accessible to young and less resourced aspirants.

While these differences shape options for all youth, the financial burden falls heaviest on those who have the least, and young women often stand at that intersection. Persistent gender-pay gaps, limited access to networks and campaign donors, and cultural expectations that undervalue women’s leadership mean many aspiring young women are locked out before they can even begin. When nomination fees run into the millions but deeper inequalities go unaddressed, the promise of participation stays on paper. If Uganda truly wants fresh, diverse leadership for the next generation, then the cost of entry must not be yet another gate that pushes bold young people to the margins.

When Elections Leave Young People Behind

The recently concluded youth elections at the grassroots level, intended to promote inclusive participation, instead revealed deep cracks in Uganda’s electoral foundations. Many young opposition aspirants were sidelined, raising serious concerns about transparency and fairness. Even more troubling, numerous young voters expressed frustration with the voters’ register, alleging inconsistencies that led to widespread disenfranchisement (The Daily Monitor, 2025).

If we cannot guarantee credibility and meaningful participation in youth-led electoral processes, what hope is there for the integrity of the 2026 general elections? These local-level failures risk eroding public trust in our broader democratic institutions.

Adding to these anxieties is the Kawempe by-election, recently annulled by the courts due to rampant irregularities and electoral violence, even after the declared winner had been sworn into Parliament (UBC, 2025). This reversal is not merely a legal technicality; it is a stark political warning. It raises urgent questions about institutional accountability, the independence of the Electoral Commission, and the alarming normalization of violence during elections.

Beyond Quotas: Real Representation or Symbolic Seats?

One theme that came through strongly at the Symposium was the need to move beyond mere numbers. Many speakers highlighted that affirmative action and youth quotas can only go so far if they do not lead to actual decision-making power. The same goes for gender representation: a seat without a voice is not representation. It is a placeholder.

If we want youth participation to matter, we must ask the harder questions: Are young people, young women equally trusted with leadership? Do they have the resources and networks to influence policy? Are our civic education spaces speaking to the youth in ways that make them feel politics belongs to them too? These are questions we must keep asking until answers become action.

Despite the hurdles, Uganda’s young people remain a source of hope. Across social media, community gatherings, and civic initiatives, they continue to mobilize, educate, and hold leaders accountable. Many young women are refusing to be invisible, they are organizing voter education drives, challenging harmful narratives, and pushing for safer, fairer spaces for all genders to participate.

But the burden of building credible systems cannot be theirs alone. Political parties must invest in nurturing young leadership, not just using young people as campaign mascots. Civic education must be more than a campaign promise; it must be sustained, non-partisan, and gender-responsive. Institutions must commit to credibility at every step, because when trust breaks at the grassroots, it is hard to rebuild it at the national level.

A More Inclusive Future: Access, Agency, Accountability

Two decades since the return of multiparty politics, Uganda stands at a threshold. Our democratic future will not be determined by the number of parties alone, but by how deeply our systems honor participation in practice, not just for the loudest or the wealthiest, but for every young person who dares to imagine a different country.

At Femme Forte, we know that building a just democracy means looking at who is missing from the conversation and why. If we want a democratic, united, and prosperous Uganda, then the ideas, ambitions, and leadership of young people especially young women cannot remain an afterthought. The next 20 years will test how seriously we treat access, agency, and accountability for all. Uganda’s youth are ready. The real question is whether our systems are ready for all of them.

Article by Sakisa Hellena

References

The Daily Monitor. (2025, April 15). News: National. Retrieved from The Daily Monitor: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/list-nrm-hikes-nomination-fees-ahead-of-2026--5004134

The Daily Monitor. (2025, June 19). News: National. Retrieved from The Daily Monitor: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/village-elections-leave-bitter-taste-in-opposition-mouth-ahead-of-2026-elections-5087044

UBC. (2025, May 27). News: Politics. Retrieved from UBC: https://ubc.go.ug/2025/05/27/court-nullifies-kawempe-north-mp-election-orders-fresh-poll/

Uganda’s Silence is Violence: A Feminist Call for Revolutionary Sexuality Education

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 10:11:16 GMT

Uganda’s approach to sexuality education is trapped in silence; a silence fueled by cultural taboos, conservative backlash, and the persistent myth that knowledge equals moral decay. But the cost is devastatingly clear: each year, thousands of girls endure teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortion, sexual violence, and preventable school dropouts: all deeply gendered harms. Keeping girls uninformed is not culture. It is control. Patriarchal systems thrive on girls’ subjugation. Religious gatekeepers conflate morality with ignorance. Politicians barter girls’ futures for votes. A truly feminist approach must name this for what it is: a deliberate barrier to girls’ power over their own bodies and futures.

The State of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Uganda: A Crisis Engineered by Silence

The statistics are not accidents. They are the direct result of systemic neglect.

25% of Ugandan girls aged 15–19 are already mothers or pregnant (UNFPA, 2024). When COVID-19 hit, school closures and lockdowns pushed a thousand more girls out of classrooms and into risk (Forum for African Women Educationalists Uganda Chapter, 2021). Between March and June 2020 alone, pregnancies among girls aged 10–24 seeking first antenatal care rose by 22.5% from 80,655 to 98,810 cases. The youngest girls paid the heaviest price: pregnancies among girls aged 10–14 skyrocketed by a staggering 366.5%, from 290 in March to 1,353 by September 2020 compared to an increase of 25.5% among girls aged 15–19 and 21.1% among young women aged 20–24.

Although the incidence of early marriage was lower, 2.8% of girls and young women surveyed, reported being pressured, sometimes by their own parents to get married during the lockdown.

Child sexual abuse is also pervasive. According to Male, Faiaz, Rao, and Raj (2023) 59% of women reported sexual abuse in childhood, and national data showed that 1 in 3 girls under 15 were forced at first sex. The silence around consent and bodily autonomy leaves girls defenseless against such violence.

This is not merely a “cultural issue.” It is a political choice. This neglect disproportionately harms rural girls, girls with disabilities, and those living in poverty, deepening their marginalization and denying them access to even the most basic information about their bodies and rights. While a National Sexuality Education Framework exists in principle, it remains limited, inconsistently implemented, and culturally contentious. It fails to meet the realities of adolescents across Uganda.

Who Blocks Progress? Naming the Gatekeepers

Conservative leaders weaponize culture to suppress girls’ autonomy while ignoring the abuse that silence enables.
Underfunded systems leave teachers untrained or too fearful to address sexuality beyond basic biology, perpetuating dangerous myths like menstruation being unclean.
Corporate exploiters profit from unsafe abortions and watered-down health programs that depoliticize girls’ rights and silence feminist resistance.

A Feminist Way Forward: Truth as Resistance

We reject the lie that knowledge corrupts. Comprehensive sexuality education does not corrupt culture; it disrupts the systems that profit from girls’ ignorance and silence. At Femme Forte, we demand:

A rewritten National Framework that boldly names power and rights. Teach contraception, consent, and bodily autonomy, without apology and without compromise.
Policies shaped with girls, not for them. Girls must lead these conversations, set the agenda, and hold leaders to account.
Funding that bites. Redirect budgets from vague awareness campaigns to grassroots feminist educators who break stigma every day and meet girls where they are.

To parents: Fear will not protect your daughters, but knowledge will.

To leaders: Stop hiding behind tradition. Your inaction fuels rape, poverty, and preventable deaths.

To girls: Your body is yours. Own it. Defend it. Define your future.

The Revolution Will Not Be Whispered

Uganda’s girls are not victims waiting to be rescued they are fighters, denied tools by those who fear their power. We owe them more than pity: we owe them the mic, the curriculum, and the future that is rightfully theirs.

Silence is not safety. Shame is not protection. Knowledge is power and we will not settle for less.

References

Forum for African Women Educationalists Uganda Chapter. (2021). Research Findings on the Situation of, and Impact of Covid-19 on School Going Girls and Young Women in Uganda.
Male, S. S., Faiaz, M. M., Rao, N., & Raj, A. (2023, January 22). Home: Publications. Retrieved from AfroBarometer: https://www.afrobarometer.org/publication/ad593-majority-of-ugandans-see-domestic-violence-as-a-private-not-criminal-matter/
Ministry of Education and Sports. (2018). National Sexuality Education Framework.
UNFPA. (2024, April 19). Home: Latest News. Retrieved from UNFPA: https://uganda.unfpa.org/en/news/young-innovators-create-solutions-ending-teenage-pregnancy

Article by Jacqueline Nampijja

Analysis of the "Crack the Whip on Abortion Merchants" Editorial from the Daily Monitor, Through the Lens of Femme Forte Uganda's Feminist Vision

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:30:51 GMT

Summary of the Editorial Stance

The editorial strongly criticizes so‑called “abortion merchants,” calling for strict enforcement of Uganda’s abortion laws. It frames abortion as criminal and morally reprehensible, pressing police to “crack the whip” on providers. It makes little allowance for nuance, even in cases vulnerable to unsafe abortion, such as rape, extreme poverty, or health risks.

Femme Forte champions bodily autonomy, reproductive justice, and movement‑building rooted in African feminist leadership.

Our key principles include:

Centering women's lived experiences: women and girls must be recognized as autonomous agents, not simply passive subjects.
Addressing structural inequality: legal restrictions intersect with poverty, limited access to contraception, gender-based violence, and stigma.
Upholding dignity and safe care: we insist unsafe abortion deaths are preventable consequences of legal and social neglect .

Critical response to the editorial

Ignoring nuance and real harm

By lumping all abortion providers as “merchants,” the editorial erases the difference between profiteers and compassionate health workers operating in a restrictive, ambiguous legal environment. This ambiguity fuels unsafe abortions, estimated to cause 8–15% of maternal deaths.

Criminalization deepens inequity

When services are criminalized, only those with means can access clandestine care from health workers. Poor and rural women are left to resort to unsafe methods often self‑induced or via untrained healers, leading to serious complications.

Stigma undermines health

The editorial’s tone amplifies stigma. Even post‑abortion care, allowed under law, is compromised by moral condemnation. Health workers face ostracism or legal threat when providing such care.

So how do we practice Feminist Reimagining together?

Prioritize access to safe, legal care

Femme Forte advocates for clarity in law. Official guidelines (e.g., expanded grounds including rape, incest, HIV) exist but are hidden or withdrawn, leaving providers uncertain. We urge reinstating and publicizing these guidelines.

Support reproductive autonomy

Ugandans largely support women's autonomy over reproductive choices, even while opposing abortion in certain situations. Femme Forte sees this as a bridge: let us expand contraception access, comprehensive sex education, and de-stigmatize open conversation.

Tackle structural roots

Unsafe abortion is not merely a legal issue; it's tied to gender-based violence, lack of access to healthcare, and gendered power imbalances . A holistic feminist model requires addressing these systemic factors.

Build movement coalitions

Similar to IPPF, VODA, and AUNT KAKI helpline efforts, Femme Forte believes in collective action, creating safe referral networks, peer support, legal advice, and public education.

Moving from punishment to prevention.

Femme Forte’s feminist approach deliberately shifts the conversation from punishment to prevention. Instead of criminalizing providers, we advocate for de-stigmatizing and legalizing safe services. We replace scare tactics in public discourse with clear, evidence-based public health education and policy. And rather than reactive enforcement after the fact, we push for proactive access to contraception and comprehensive support systems.

The Monitor editorial’s call to "crack the whip" offers a simplistic solution: blunt enforcement. We are offering a far more nuanced, justice-centered alternative, one that prioritizes women's lives, dignity, and autonomy over moral panic. Our feminist perspective isn't anti-life, it affirms life, through safe care, legal clarity, structural support, and movement-based solidarity. In our vision, no one dies for lack of choice. Bodies are not criminal. Women are not vessels, they are subjects of their own rights.

Femme Forte Uganda is urging the media, policymakers, and civil society to shift from punitive rhetoric to pro-woman frameworks. Let’s stop fearing "abortion merchants" and start empowering women with rights, resources, and respect.

While this editorial demands punishment, Femme Forte is demanding transformation, of laws, systems, and society toward a Uganda where reproductive justice isn't distant hope, but lived reality.

References

Monitor (Ed.). (2025, July 8). Crack the whip on abortion merchants. Monitor. https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/editorial/crack-the-whip-on-abortion-merchants-5109958
The cost of Donor-Controlled SRHR in Uganda. (2025, May 13). https://www.femmeforteug.org/stop-begging-for-our-lives-the-cost-of-donor-controlled-srhr-in-uganda-and-the-feminist-path-to-autonomy
IPPF (Ed.). (n.d.). Safe Abortion Action Fund in Uganda. IPPF. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.ippf.org/safe-abortion-uganda
AD839: Ugandans support women’s autonomy in marriage and reproduction decisions, but strongly oppose abortion. (n.d.). https://www.afrobarometer.org/publication/ad839-ugandans-support-womens-autonomy-in-marriage-and-reproduction-decisions-but-strongly-oppose-abortion/
Neiman, S. (2024, September 28). ‘It’s needless death’: Ugandan activists decry restrictive abortion laws. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/9/28/its-needless-death-ugandan-activists-decry-restrictive-abortion-laws
Hussain, R. (2023, August 13). Unintended pregnancy and abortion in Uganda. Guttmacher Institute. https://www.guttmacher.org/report/unintended-pregnancy-and-abortion-uganda
Abortion and postabortion care in Uganda. (2022, August 24). Guttmacher Institute. https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/abortion-and-postabortion-care-uganda
Africa: Abortion rights in three African countries after a major setback in the US. (2022, August 22). African Peace Magazine. https://africanpeace.org/africa-abortion-rights-in-three-african-countries-after-a-major-setback-in-the-us/

When It First Came: Five Voices on Period Beginnings

Mon, 26 May 2025 12:53:01 GMT

Periods are not shameful. They are not dirty, impure, or something to hide.

And yet, for generations, we’ve been told otherwise. We’ve been taught to whisper, to conceal pads like contraband, to carry the weight of stigma in silence. That silence is not accidental, but a product of systems that have ignored, controlled, and shamed the bodies of women, girls, and people who menstruate at the cost of our dignity, health, education, and sense of self.

At Femme Forte, we believe in breaking that silence. We believe that storytelling is a form of resistance. That saying this happened to me is both personal and political. That speaking openly about our first bleeds; the confusion, the fear, the pride, and the pain is a radical act.

Every time we share our period stories without shame, we reclaim power. We tear down the walls of taboo. We remind the world that our bodies are not problems to fix, but lives to honor.

Story 1: A Quiet Warning, A Loud Awakening

I was 15 years old when I got my first period. It came suddenly, without warning, and turned an ordinary day into one I will never forget. I remember sitting in class, feeling a strange discomfort. When I went to the toilet and saw the blood, my heart dropped. Panic washed over me. I was scared, confused, and overwhelmed. I knew this day would come, but I was not prepared for that moment.

In my home, periods were not openly talked about. My mum had once sat me down and said, “When you see your period, it means your body is ready. If you have sex now, you will get pregnant.” That sentence stayed with me. It felt like both a warning and a weight.

When my period came, it didn’t feel like just a physical change. It felt like something deeper. I didn’t feel like a child anymore. I didn’t tell anyone at first. I was embarrassed and unsure. Was this normal? Was it too early? Too late? I didn’t know what to think.

Eventually, I told my mum. She nodded and reminded me again to be careful. Her words were filled with love, but also a quiet fear. It was the kind of fear passed down from mother to daughter, generation to generation. It was about protection, but also about the unknowns of growing up as a girl.

Looking back now, I wish I had prepared more. I wish we had talked more openly. My period was not something to fear. It meant I was healthy, human, and growing into a new stage of life. That day at 15 was the beginning of a journey. It started in fear, but over time, I replaced that fear with pride and strength.

Story 2: A Rumor That Stung Deeper Than Cramps

I got my first period when I was in Senior Two. It was a deeply traumatizing experience. I noticed blood while cleaning myself in the morning. Scared and confused, I couldn’t tell anyone. I had no access to sanitary pads, so I used toilet paper. I stayed out of class for three days, hiding in the toilet, trying to manage heavy bleeding and painful cramps.

Eventually, I went to the school nurse. She treated me and told me it was a normal part of growing up. I started to feel a little safer. But then, everything changed again.

Rumors spread around school that I had an abortion. I didn’t even understand what that meant. I had never been sexually active. The shame and confusion were unbearable. I felt exposed and judged. I hated that school so much that I asked my parents to transfer me. And they did.

All I needed was information, support, and privacy. Instead, I got silence, shame, and false rumors. That first period left a scar that stayed with me for years.

Story 3: A Piece of Cloth and a Lesson in Silence

I was raised by a single mother. She worked long hours and was often gone early in the morning and back late at night. I got my first period at 11 years old, in Primary Five. My mother wasn’t home. I was with my sister, who was just a bit older than me.

When I started bleeding, my sister gave me a piece of cloth. We didn’t have any pads. I was scared, but also lucky to have seen her use sanitary products before. She had explained a few things to me. School had also taught us a little about body changes. So, I understood what was happening, but I didn’t expect it to feel so painful or so emotional.

When my mum came back, I told her. She didn’t say much. She sent my sister to buy pads and told me to stay clean and not stain my dress. She didn’t ask me how I felt. She didn’t hug me. I was left with so many questions. What were those clots? Why was the flow heavy some days and light on others? No one told me.

Over time, I learned more from my sister and friends. She was the one who taught me to use painkillers. I became so afraid of staining that I started using layers of pads, cloth, and toilet paper, even though I later learned that wasn’t the best idea.

It wasn’t until recently, in my current workplace, that I finally shared my first period story. After reading “What We’re Told Not to Talk About” by Nimko Ali and listening to heartbreaking stories from colleagues, I realized something important; periods should not feel painful, lonely, or shameful. But for too many of us, they still are.

Story 4: Blood, Whispers, and Becoming

I was in Primary Seven, in boarding school, when I got my first period. It was a normal morning, until I saw blood on my bed. I froze. I knew what it was, thanks to science class, but I still panicked. I didn’t know what to do.

I pretended to be sick and stayed in bed. I wasn’t ready to face anyone. When the dorm emptied out, I told the matron. She helped me, but then she told some of the older girls. Maybe she thought they would support me. But instead, the whispers started.

They told others. I saw the glances, the giggles, the quiet talk behind my back. What should have been a private moment became a public trial. I felt humiliated. I withdrew from everyone.

That experience marked me. It wasn’t just about blood. It was about shame, silence, and being made to feel small during one of the biggest changes of my life.

Now I know better. I know that periods are natural. What isn’t natural is the way we are made to feel about them. If my story makes one person feel less alone, then it’s worth telling.

Story 5: Love, Confidence, and Valentine’s Day

I got my first period on Valentine’s Day while I was at school. I was sitting in class when I felt something warm. My pants were wet. I asked to go to the washroom. When I checked, I saw the blood. I had started my period.

Thanks to what I had learned about menstrual hygiene, I stayed calm. I went to the dormitory, cleaned up, and managed everything on my own.

Later that day, I called my mother to wish her a Happy Valentine’s Day. I also told her about my period. She was so excited. She sent me one hundred thousand Ugandan shillings. That money felt like more than a gift. It felt like love. It felt like a celebration.

My first period became a moment of joy, support, and confidence. And I will always remember it that way.

Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28)

Menstrual Hygiene Day is observed every year on May 28 to raise awareness about the importance of good menstrual health and hygiene. The theme this year, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” calls for collective action to ensure that menstruation does not limit access to education, health, or opportunity.

This message is especially urgent in Uganda, where over 1.2 million girls aged 12-18 face challenges related to menstrual hygiene management, according to the Ministry of Education and Sports. UNESCO also reports that menstruation is a leading cause of absenteeism among school-aged girls, with many missing up to 5 days of school each month due to inadequate facilities and resources.

These statistics represent real lives and stories. Stories where a lack of support, supplies, or even basic knowledge can lead to shame, isolation, and missed opportunities. For many, especially young girls, access to information and education isn’t just helpful, it’s a lifeline.

We want to hear from you. If you remember when your period first came, where you were, how it felt, and what it meant — tell us. Whether it was awkward, terrifying, empowering, or beautiful, your story matters. Send it to info@femmeforteug.org .

Stop Begging for Our Lives: The Cost of Donor-Controlled SRHR in Uganda and the Feminist Path to Autonomy

Tue, 13 May 2025 16:13:45 GMT

The recent announcement that the United States government intends to cut future funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), invoking the Kemp-Kasten Amendment, highlights an all-too-familiar and troubling reality: that our very lives and health in Uganda remain precariously balanced on the whim of donor politics. For the countless women, girls, and frontline healthcare providers who rely on UNFPA-supported services, particularly in humanitarian crises, these cuts are not merely budgetary figures, they are personal, painful, and political affronts.

While global attention often centers on the controversial Global Gag Rule, the Kemp-Kasten Amendment is another policy lever wielded to similar effect. Enacted in 1985, this amendment denies U.S. funds to organizations accused by the U.S. administration of supporting coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization, accusations repeatedly disproven by independent reviews, yet persistently weaponized against UNFPA. This distinction, though bureaucratic, matters deeply because it underscores how political ideology, not evidence or need, dictates the survival of essential health services in Uganda and across Africa.

In Uganda, the stark reality of donor dependency plays out vividly. Our 2024/2025 national budget allocated only 4.1% (UGX 2.946 trillion) to the health sector, an amount woefully insufficient to address the myriad health challenges faced by women and girls. Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), despite their fundamental role in human dignity and wellbeing, remain almost entirely reliant on external donor funds.

When policies like the Kemp-Kasten Amendment or the Global Gag Rule take effect, the consequences are immediate and harsh. For instance, consider the rural communities in Eastern Uganda, where midwives at government-supported health centers report shortages of contraceptives and essential medical supplies each time international funding falters. In such contexts, teenage pregnancy rates spike, maternal mortality rises, and lives are lost due to preventable causes.

A recent report from Uganda’s Office of the Prime Minister starkly highlights these lived realities, one in every four teenage girls (25%) is either pregnant or has already had a child. In districts like Kamuli and Mayuge, school dropout rates have surged due to teenage pregnancies exacerbated by limited access to contraception and comprehensive sexual education, services directly impacted by international funding cuts.

Moreover, the young people of Uganda, who constitute nearly 78% of the national population under the age of 30, bear the heaviest burden. They account for 34% of new HIV infections annually. With every funding cut, access to lifesaving information and youth-friendly services dwindles, leaving a generation vulnerable and underserved.

To shift from dependency toward self-sufficiency, Uganda must embrace feminist-driven solutions centered on autonomy, accountability, and sustainability. Investing domestically in SRHR is not merely ethically sound, it is economically prudent. According to the Guttmacher Institute (2019), every dollar invested in contraceptive services reduces the cost of maternal and newborn care by approximately three dollars. Such evidence compels us to ask why our national policy has yet to fully embrace SRHR investment, recognizing its potential as both a health and economic accelerator.

But beyond the economic argument lies a deeper feminist imperative: the dignity, safety, and autonomy of women and girls should never be negotiable or subject to international politics. Uganda must reclaim responsibility for the health of its people through concrete actions:

Prioritize significant increases in domestic SRHR funding, ensuring sustainability and protection from political fluctuations abroad.
Develop a nationally-owned SRHR strategy, informed by local feminist movements, frontline healthcare workers, and communities directly affected by policy shifts.
Implement transparent and accountable health-financing mechanisms to guarantee that allocated funds actually reach rural health centers and vulnerable populations.
Integrate SRHR explicitly into national economic and development frameworks, recognizing reproductive health as critical infrastructure for inclusive growth.

In Kenya, feminist-led grassroots groups such as TICAH (Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health) successfully advocated for increased government funding for contraceptives, reducing dependency on international donors. Similarly, South African movements like the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition (SRJC) have consistently argued that national autonomy in health services is critical, highlighting both economic benefits and the moral imperative to protect citizens from external political manipulation.

These examples offer powerful lessons, feminist leadership that is locally grounded and strategically focused can foster meaningful change. Uganda too must heed these lessons, shifting from passive recipients of aid to proactive planners and advocates for our collective future.

Our bodies, health, and dignity should never hinge on decisions made thousands of miles away. We must cease begging for our lives and begin demanding dignity through deliberate national investment in SRHR. When donor politics abandon us, feminist solidarity and local investment must step in, not as a reactionary measure, but as a permanent solution rooted in dignity, equity, and care.

It is time for Uganda, and Africa at large to transform the way we value our sexual and reproductive health, prioritizing it not as an optional policy objective but as a fundamental feminist right, a critical health necessity, and an economic imperative. Our future, after all, belongs in our own hands.

References

Kasooha, I. (2022). Office of the Prime Minister. https://opm.go.ug/prime-minister-launches-reports-on-teenage-pregnancies-calls-for-action-beyond-lamentations/

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights DPG. (n.d.). Local Development Partners’ Group (LDPG) | World Bank Uganda. https://www.ldpg.or.ug/groups/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights-dpg/

Sully, E. A., Biddlecom, A., Darroch, J. E., Riley, T., Ashford, L. S., Lince-Deroche, N., Firestein, L., & Murro, R. (2020). Adding it up: Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health 2019. In Guttmacher Institute. https://doi.org/10.1363/2020.31593

United States Government cuts future funding for UNFPA. (n.d.). United Nations Population Fund. https://www.unfpa.org/united-states-government-cuts-future-funding-unfpa

Unpacking Uganda’s 2024–25 Budget: Iser’s Insights on Public Services Funding. (n.d.). In Institute for Social and Economic Rights. Retrieved May 13, 2025, from https://iser-uganda.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Unpacking-Ugandas-2024%E2%80%9325-Budget-ISERs-Insights-on-Public-Services-Funding.pdf

Article by Samantha Agasha

Women, Land, and the Weight of Culture in Uganda

Mon, 05 May 2025 11:55:50 GMT

I once went to the Ggaba fish market on a rainy day and the road had turned into a soupy mess. If you have been there, I do not have to describe to you the sticky black earth that became glue for a laden bicycle, bringing it down and blocking a pathway. This forced people to make their way through a food stall and in particular, to jump over some matooke. A few women, foreigners, managed to do it but I was paralysed.

After standing there for a moment, I asked the lady in the stall. ‘Can I jump?’ It was the sort of question a child asks when they know they shouldn’t do something but want an adult to absolve them. She said ‘Bwoba toli Muganda, buuka.’ If you are not a Muganda, jump. The culture says simply, ‘Do not jump over food.’ I found another way.

Culture dictates what can and can’t be done. It guides and protects but it can also restrain. If a cultural norm could hold me back from crossing a path, imagine one standing against a woman’s ability to own land.

In Uganda, few things are as prized as land. This makes its exchange and ownership almost sacred. When land is combined with women, the temperature rises across cultures. The words ‘Our culture says women do not own land.’ are often mentioned, leaving people throwing their hands up in defeat. And yet, it is no secret that families where women are alienated from land rights see a decline in everything from nutrition, household income and education levels for children.

Women in Uganda can own land by buying it. However, without a strong financial base, the only other ways are through inheritance and marriage. Where women cannot inherit family land, marriage becomes an avenue. Should a woman be unable to inherit land from her husband or if she remains unmarried, her chances of owning land reduce even further.

We cannot discuss land in Uganda without looking at the word ownership. In the pre-colonial times, a lot of the land was communally owned and it still is in many places. Whereas women didn’t have ownership, they could have user rights or access rights. They could farm on and construct on the land. This has remained the case today.

I did a tour of 5 tribes in Uganda to get a reading of what the different cultures really say about women and land ownership.

LUGBARA, THE TEREGU

What culture used to say: As head of a family, a man can take a decision like selling his wife’s land without her permission.

The advent of colonialism gave women of the Teregu tribe the semblance of a voice. Now they could report their errant husbands to the Local Councils and to the police. Enough husbands were imprisoned that it became a point of concern for the elders. Together with the chiefs, the elders sat down and put a curse in place to curb this practice. Should a woman ever report her husband to a civil court, she would suffer supernatural consequences. This is known as the Aruba practice. It was an effective deterrent and it became part of the culture.

Unfortunately, since the men knew that they were insulated, it led to a repeat of the maltreatment women were reporting in the first place; including acts like selling land a woman had bought for herself with impunity.

What culture says now: Fast forward to the 2000’s and once more the chiefs and elders sat down and scrutinized the situation and found it to be unfair to women. To make things more equitable, they decided to undo the curse that had tied women's hands. After some sacred rites, it was declared okay for a woman to report a man with no fear of harm befalling her. This means that it is no longer acceptable for a man to, for instance, sell his wife’s land without her consent.

However, some people ignore the updated cultural edict, and choose to follow what was done in the colonial times. Their excuse is that ‘Our culture says…’.

TOORO

What ‘they’ say culture says : “Women are free to own land.” “We do not give women land.”

Among the Batooro, there is equity. Still, others whisper that they do not give women land. This is an example of people modifying culture to serve their interests.

What culture really says: Women in Tooro can and do own land and it can be attained through inheritance. Grandparents for instance can give land to either female or male grandchildren. This is however more respected when this gifting is documented or is mentioned publically. In the absence of that, males tend to be given higher consideration when land is being shared.

Upon the passing of a father, it is not uncommon for the family home to be left to the widow and his daughters and not the sons. One daughter of Tooro mentioned that her late father has 3 heirs; 2 daughters and a son. All decisions about the estate are taken by the trio and this is not frowned upon customarily.

I spoke to women who had themselves inherited land from their fathers and knew several others. While there are families who opt to only have male heirs and males owning land this is a personal choice and doesn’t appear to have cultural backing.

Additionally, there is no social barrier should a woman wish to buy land. No one will ask her ‘where she got the money.’

Tooro culture today

Marriage used to be the only avenue for women to get land but the thinking around marriage has changed, and this has in turn shifted the thinking around land rights. Some women do not marry, others freely end marriages they are unsatisfied with. This phenomenon has led parents to think about the future of their daughters.

“It is no longer just about the boy, people have realized that when parents die, their girls suffer. And if your children suffer then you have not died peacefully,” said one mother. Today parents are taking steps to leave assets to both girls and boys and this is something that is respected in the culture.

In addition, women are more enlightened and can ask questions when they are left out of land sharing.

ACHOLI

What culture says: Girls and women do not inherit family land. Mothers however are conduits for their children, specifically boy children to own land.

In Acholi, as in many other places in Uganda, polygamy is a common practice. Here, a husband may allocate different portions of land to different wives.

When Akello got married, her husband gave her land on which to raise their children. When he passed away, Akello retained that land and was able to build on it as well as grow crops and rear some animals. When her co-wife’s son, Ocen, tried to seize Akello’s land, she ran to the elders. They pointed to Ocen and said. ‘This is not your land. Your father gave your mother the other land, you should inherit that.’

At this point, the elders realised that mothers, despite not having full land rights themselves, were conduits for their children, specifically boy children, to own land. For this reason it was important to include women in the land conversation.

Should a mother have only girls, their sons, her grandchildren would inherit that land.

Once more, this made marriage a key area for a woman to gain stability. There was no consideration put in place for a woman should she leave her marriage. Some families however welcome women to return to the parental home should a marriage end or should their daughter become a widow.

Culture today

Benevolent fathers or brothers can offer daughters and sisters land user rights but there are limits to what she can do with the land. While this is one of the best case scenarios, having user rights alone is untenable. Women in this situation need to ask for permission to fully benefit from the land. They live in uncertainty because the owners can change their minds at will.

Women across the country are encouraged to embrace user rights and perhaps use them to earn money to buy land they can own fully.

Today, a father or mother in Acholi may decide to give their daughter land outright. And if she has the money, she may buy herself land. However, depending on the society she finds herself in, it might be easier for her to front a male as the buyer and secretly own the land.

In the recent past, the certificate of customary ownership has become popularised. It allowed all family members/owners, without excluding the women, to be documented. Despite this, some families have chosen to go against it and not include women.

A saying in Acholi is cited “Ceere pat pat”, literally meaning; “Even though we are one tribe, what happens on that hill isn’t normal to this one.” For instance; Just because you choose to give your daughters land, doesn’t mean I should do the same.

BUGANDA

What ‘they’ say culture sa ys: “In our culture, a woman does not inherit land. In our culture, a woman does not inherit her husband’s land. It can only be inherited by their children. In the absence of said children, the land reverts to the man’s larger family.”

What culture says: Traditionally, neither men nor women owned land, all land belonged to the Kabaka. Instead, they had user rights. With colonialism came private land ownership and for reasons of society and economics, it was men who were primed to take advantage of this. However, no law barred them from giving land to their daughters and some did, allowing women to own land outright. Women could also inherit land from their other relatives.

Prior to that, a woman could also gain land user rights through marriage. These rights were predicated on the husband’s life. Upon his death, her brothers would come to take her back to her family of birth. However, it was important that her children who are considered to be of the father’s clan be taken to their father’s people. If the widow did not remarry, or if a daughter had never married, she would stay on her father’s or brother's land and would have land user rights until her death. It was generally understood that women should not be dispossessed.

When it came to inheritance, a man would have 2 heirs, a male and a female co-heir called the Lubuga. This could be a sister or niece and the two worked hand in hand. Likewise, a woman would have 2 heirs. The advent of colonialism and western religions undermined the existence of the Lubuga for men, greatly exalting the primary male heir. It is also important to note that Baganda can make a distinction between heirship. Omusika owomusayi (of the blood line) and Omusika ow’ebintu (an heir to the property). Omusika owomusayi stands in the place of the deceased and takes over their responsibilities. For instance, the musika for a father would perform the duties of the father, essentially becoming a father to the late’s children. However, omusika ow’ebintu, of the property, including land, can be either male or female, especially in more modern times.

In Buganda today, a woman can inherit land from her father, her mother, her relatives, her husband and she may buy land for herself. I found some parents who prefer that daughters inherit the family property. They feel that girls take better care of property and are deemed more sentimental to their parents’ legacy.

BAGWERE

What culture said: There isn’t a well-documented literature of the Bagwere culture and traditional perspective so some norms were borrowed. But when it comes to land ownership, customarily, daughters were not given a share of land.

Women owned land by buying it or via marriage. The latter is a major reason why daughters were not catered for in family land sharing. There was a belief that she would be taken care of by her husband and that if she was given land, she would take away what was considered one family’s wealth and give it to another. This belief cuts across all the tribes I interacted with. However in reality, across all tribes, women would actually not get land from their husbands, the land was reserved for their male children, if at all.

Among the Bagwere, a widow was entitled to a share of her late husband’s land to do with as she pleased but it is unclear if she had full ownership rights. If a marriage ended, her father or the head of the family might give her land to live on but this was and is not mandatory.

What culture says now: Then as now, there were cases where a family head gave land to his daughters. The culture has evolved its thinking to the point that now daughters can be installed as heirs for their fathers. However, the heir is not meant to sell the land but keep it for family use. The same applies even if the heir is male.

Barring any of the above, in some families, girls are assertive enough to stand up and demand for a share if they are left out in family land distribution.

In researching this story, I found culture to be like an endless onion. One layer reveals another and another and another. It was impossible to condense it. However, there were 3 stand outs:

The first being that culture is not static. As with the Lugbara, it can shift to solve an issue and shift again to solve yet another one. I learnt that by and large, people will do what makes them most comfortable, physically and psychologically. Some people will look at culture and choose not to follow it…they will say, ‘I know our culture thinks I should not, but I will give my daughter this land.’ Others will say, ‘Culture says I should let my brothers’ widow retain his property but I will not.’
Second, I learnt that because our cultures are not well documented and are passed on orally there is room for distortion. But to that point, unlike the western legal system we inherited, cultural landmarks are not laws that one will be punished by. Just like at the Ggaba market, no one was there to arrest me if I skipped over the food, but I could not do it.
Lastly, I learnt that culture is an ongoing conversation. By virtue of people being representatives of culture, it means that culture is alive and living things change. So is culture to blame for women’s land disenfranchisement? You be the judge.

This story was written by Anne Kirya and supported by the FOTEA and OXFAM Stories4Change program. Illustrations by Shem Kamba.

It was written in consultation with people from different cultures; mothers, fathers, grandparents, grandchildren, elders, sons and daughters.

Adomati Aldo, Maria Ndagire Kirya, Richard Kirya, Kamba Saleh, Mrs. Nyakana, Kenyana Anne, Christina Kaijabwangu Ebinu , Sunday Akumu, Jimmy Ochom, and David F.K Mpanga.

The Delicate Dance Between Uganda’s Civil Society and Technology Ahead of the 2026 Elections

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:36:05 GMT

The interplay between civil society and technology in Uganda's electoral context presents both challenges and opportunities. As the 2026 elections approach, it is imperative for stakeholders to collaborate in fostering a digital environment that promotes transparency, inclusivity, and democratic participation while safeguarding against potential abuses of power. Through concerted efforts, Uganda can harness the potential of technology to strengthen its democratic processes and civic engagement.

Think about it, as Uganda approaches its 2026 general elections, the intersection of civil society and technology has become increasingly significant. Civil society organizations (CSOs) are now more than ever leveraging digital tools to enhance civic engagement, promote transparency, and advocate for democratic reforms. Simultaneously, the government's approach to digital regulation and surveillance has raised concerns about the balance between national security and civil liberties.

Let’s together explore the evolving landscape of civil society and technology in Uganda, highlighting key developments, challenges, and opportunities as the nation prepares for its next electoral cycle.

We shall dive right into the various digital initiatives contributing to conscientization of citizens and holding government accountable. Ugandan civil society has embraced technology to foster greater citizen participation and governmental accountability. Some notable initiatives include:

Parliament Watch Uganda: this platform monitors parliamentary proceedings and disseminates information to the public, enhancing legislative transparency.
The Citizen Report : By promoting a civically engaged public, The Citizen Report aims to cultivate well-informed communities where both leadership and citizens are equipped with knowledge of their responsibilities to each other and their society.
U-Report: Launched by UNICEF Uganda in 2011, U-Report is a mobile-based platform that engages youth in national dialogues through SMS polls on various social issues.
Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET): Established in 2000, WOUGNET empowers women through ICTs, focusing on digital literacy, online safety, and advocacy against online gender-based violence.

Among many other initiatives, and now with the increased usage of social media and all her platforms, society has been provided with alternative spaces for discourse, especially among the youth, who constitute a significant portion of the population. Social media platforms like Tik Tok, Facebook, Twitter (now X), and WhatsApp have become vital tools for political mobilization and civic engagement in Uganda. These platforms have been instrumental in organizing protests, sharing information, and fostering community discussions on governance and human rights, social media has become a civic space!

Social Media Regulation

The Ugandan government has announced plans to regulate social media ahead of the 2026 elections, citing concerns over misinformation and national security. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of ICT and National Guidance, stated that new policies and technologies would be introduced to monitor and control digital communication platforms. While the government asserts that these measures aim to prevent the spread of false information, critics argue that such regulations could suppress freedom of expression and silence dissenting voices.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) also plans to acquire advanced digital monitoring technologies, including AI-powered tools, to filter harmful content online. These systems are expected to identify hate speech, incitement, and misinformation, with capabilities for real-time monitoring of high-traffic social media channels. While the government emphasizes user safety, civil society groups express concerns about potential overreach and infringement on digital rights.

That’s not all. The Electoral Commission of Uganda is already facing challenges in implementing a mandatory biometric voter system for the 2026 elections. Issues include low participation in voter register updates, technical and logistical hurdles, and concerns about potential voter disenfranchisement. Experts warn that without adequate preparation and voter education, significant portions of the electorate could be excluded from the voting process.

So what does all this mean for civic space and organizing?

Civil society organizations must advocate for expanded public consultation and transparency in the implementation of biometric systems. They ought to emphasize the need for inclusive processes that consider the technical, financial, and social implications of such technologies to ensure electoral integrity and public trust.

It is very clear that the government's efforts to regulate digital spaces raise critical questions about balancing national security with individual freedoms. While combating misinformation is essential, it is equally important to safeguard freedom of expression and prevent the misuse of surveillance tools for political repression, but at what and whose cost ?

There is a pressing need to enhance digital literacy among citizens to navigate the complexities of the digital information landscape. Civil society can play a pivotal role in educating the public about digital rights, online safety, and critical evaluation of information sources, as they already have been doing - so why does the journey seem far from ending?

While this dance takes shape and everyone slowly finds their footing, let us all be reminded that ensuring safe and practical technological advancements in the electoral process with inclusivity is vital. Special attention should be given to marginalized groups, including women, rural populations, and persons with disabilities, to prevent digital divides from exacerbating existing inequalities. And while all that is happening, will technology save us this election cycle or make things worse? Think about it!

Article by Penelope Sanyu

Profits, Power, and Possibilities: A Feminist Call to Rethink Investment in Uganda

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 08:22:37 GMT

In the hills of Mbale, a foreign company builds a factory. The community loses its water source. In Kampala, a social enterprise struggles to scale because funding only follows profit. The pattern is clear: capital is flowing, but impact is not.

In Uganda, investment is not new. Capital has always found fertile ground here. But the question is no longer whether we are attracting investment. It’s whether the investments we attract are building communities, or simply extracting from them.

Impact investment offers an alternative; a model that marries financial return with measurable social and environmental outcomes. Yet in our local context, where traditional investment models still reign supreme, this approach remains misunderstood, underutilized, and sometimes outright ignored.

Traditional investments in Uganda concentrate in high-return sectors that often benefit the few at the expense of the many. Real estate and construction have transformed Kampala’s skyline, but these developments frequently exclude low-income communities and drive up the cost of living. In extractive industries like oil, gas, and mining, profit margins soar while the communities closest to these resource zones are displaced, under-compensated, and left worse off than before.

Large-scale commercial agriculture has expanded, often through foreign direct investment, but local farmers are pushed to the margins. Land grabbing, loss of biodiversity, and exploitative labor practices are recurring themes. Meanwhile, microfinance institutions and traditional banks lend at high interest rates, trapping borrowers in cycles of debt. Import-driven trade, though profitable, does little to empower local industries, and infrastructure deals under public-private partnerships often prioritize returns for the private sector over access and affordability for citizens.

The result? A lopsided development trajectory: profitable on paper, extractive in practice.

Impact investment disrupts that narrative. It is not philanthropy dressed as finance; it is intentional capital that asks harder questions. Can we generate returns while reducing maternal mortality? Build solar grids that deliver both power and profit? Empower women entrepreneurs and still grow the bottom line?

Globally, the impact investment movement is expanding. From climate-smart agriculture in India to affordable housing in Latin America, investors are realizing that doing good does not have to come at the expense of doing well. But in Uganda, this ecosystem is still young. Awareness is low. Platforms for social entrepreneurs are few. Incentives for community-aligned investing are even fewer.

And yet the need has never been greater. Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world. Youth unemployment, gender inequality, and the climate crisis are not just development challenges, they are investment opportunities waiting to be redefined. Social enterprises are emerging, civil society organizations are innovating at the grassroots level, and women are leading informal businesses with grit and grace.

Photo by Random Institute on Unsplash

Any vision of development that ignores gender is fundamentally incomplete. Women in Uganda are not just participants in the economy; they are drivers of innovation, care work, and community resilience. And yet, patriarchal investment frameworks often overlook them. Impact investment, when approached with a feminist lens, can correct this imbalance. It asks: who benefits from this capital? Whose voices are heard? Whose labor is made visible?

Feminist impact investment recognizes that economic systems are not neutral. They reflect power, privilege, and access. It prioritizes funding for women-led enterprises, supports care infrastructure, and demands equity in decision-making spaces. It sees value in traditionally undervalued sectors, like health, education, and food systems, where women disproportionately work. It centers the lived experiences of women—especially rural, indigenous, queer, and disabled women—and measures success not only in financial terms but in shifts in power and agency.

CSOs in Uganda, especially those led by youth and women, already understand the social pulse. They know the communities, the gaps, the possibilities. But they lack the capital to scale their impact. Investors, on the other hand, have the money, but often lack context, trust, or the frameworks to assess non-financial returns. It is in this gap that impact investing can thrive, if both parties are willing to meet in the middle.

To get there, we must challenge how we define value. Investors must expand their lens beyond profit and consider the long-term social return on their investments. Civil society organizations must embrace data, scalability, and transparency, not as burdens, but as bridges. Partnerships must be built not on paternalism, but on shared purpose.

This is a call to investors: look beyond the numbers. Ask whose lives are changed by your investments. Measure returns not just in profits, but in possibilities created. And to CSOs: step into the room not just as beneficiaries but as co-creators. Speak the language of capital, but don’t lose the soul of the communities you represent.

Because at the end of the day, real development is not a line item on a balance sheet. It is a child in Gulu who goes to school because her mother’s agro-business got funded. It is a health worker in Mbarara who no longer walks five kilometers to a clinic. It is a community in Mbale that gets clean energy without losing its water source.

Capital that cares is not just a dream, it is a choice. And that choice begins when we stop prioritizing profits over people.

Article by Hannah Stacey Baluka

What Wellness Really Looks Like for African Women

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 11:30:18 GMT

When we hear the word “wellness,” images of green juices, yoga mats, and solo getaways often come to mind. But for African women, wellness is something much deeper. It’s not just about spa days or self-help books. It’s about survival, liberation, and creating space to breathe in a world that rarely pauses for us.

Wellness, for many African women, is an act of resistance. It means fighting for access; to quality healthcare, mental health support, reproductive services, and safe maternal care. Far too often, we carry the emotional, physical, and financial load for our families and communities, with little support in return. Prioritizing our health is not a trend. It’s a radical claim to our right to exist fully and freely.

Economic stability is not just a pillar of wellness. It’s a foundation for freedom. The ability to earn a living, own property, and make independent financial decisions gives African women the power to build lives on their own terms. It’s about more than survival. It’s about agency. With economic autonomy comes the capacity to prioritize health, escape cycles of exploitation, and invest in personal and generational growth. It’s a kind of security that strengthens not just the body, but the mind and spirit too.

And rest? It’s essential. We’re often celebrated for being strong, but strength without softness leads to burnout. The “strong Black woman” trope may sound empowering, but it can also be isolating. True wellness is about giving ourselves permission to stop, to heal, and to feel joy without guilt. It’s about choosing rest as a form of resistance and joy as a form of healing.

At the heart of it, wellness for African women is about wholeness. Physically. Mentally. Financially. Spiritually. It’s about dismantling the systems that keep us in survival mode and building communities where we are seen, supported, and celebrated.

We deserve more than survival. We deserve to thrive.

By Hellena Sakisa

Honoring Our Past, Shaping Our Future: Our Chief Steward's Speech at the Femme Forte Museum Launch

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 11:47:58 GMT

On March 7, 2025, we gathered for a moment that was both historic and deeply personal—the launch of the Virtual Museum of African Feminists. This museum is more than a digital archive; it is a testament to the resilience, brilliance, and activism of African feminists throughout history.

At the heart of this moment was Penelope Sanyu, the Chief Steward of Femme Forte Uganda, whose powerful speech captured the spirit of the museum and the movement it represents. Her words reminded us why this space is necessary, why our stories matter, and why we must continue to fight for visibility, justice, and liberation.

The Full Speech by Penelope Sanyu, the Chief Steward of Femme Forte Uganda

Dear friends,

All protocol observed.

Today, we gather for a moment that is both historic and deeply personal. A moment that is bigger than any one of us yet rooted in the stories of each of us. A moment that carries the echoes of those who came before us, the fire of those among us, and the hope of those yet to come.

As I stand before you, I am overwhelmed with gratitude—gratitude for the voices that refused to be silenced, the hands that built movements, the spirits that dared to dream of more just, more equal, and more liberated women’s movements. This Feminist Virtual Museum is not just a collection of memories; it is a living, breathing testament to the power of resistance, the depth of our struggles, and the beauty of our victories.

I think of the women who nurtured me into feminism, those who taught me—sometimes with words, sometimes with actions—that to be a woman in this world is to constantly negotiate for dignity, for respect, for space. I think of the mentors who challenged me, the sisters who held me when the work felt heavy, the comrades who reminded me that our struggles are collective.

I think of the countless conversations, the dreams shared over tea, the strategizing in hidden rooms, the laughter that fueled our spirits even in the hardest times. This museum is for all of them, for all of us.

And I think of the generations yet to come. The young feminist who will stumble upon this archive years from now and realize that they are not alone. That their anger is valid. That their dreams are possible. That they stand on the shoulders of giants.

We live in a world where feminism has become a loaded word. It's a loaded word here at home and now, some international allies are also treating it as a loaded word, cutting the funding of those who dare to speak this word.

So why would anyone need to visit a feminist museum, you might ask? The simple answer is because history has always done a good job erasing the genius, labor, and stories of women. We have been made to believe that the women who came before us were silent, passive, and unimportant. We feel a time might come when history will do its nasty trick and erase the stories of the women we know today, but with this museum, we refuse to be silent and to let our stories get erased.

This museum is a defiant act of remembrance and resistance. It is a space where feminist voices will never again be silenced. It is a space where young girls will come and see themselves reflected in the brilliance of those who walked before them. A space where activists, scholars, and everyday people will find inspiration, courage, and affirmation. This museum is our way of saying: We were here. We fought. We built. We loved. We dreamed. And we continue to rise.

But let me be clear: This museum is not just about looking back. It is about the future. It is about strategy. It is about ensuring that feminist knowledge, experiences, and resistance continue to shape our collective liberation.

This museum will serve as:

An Archive of Power – Documenting and preserving the voices, actions, and triumphs of African feminists.
A Space for Intergenerational Dialogue – Bridging the wisdom of those who paved the way with the energy and innovation of the young feminists leading today.
A Tool for Learning and Unlearning – Providing resources that challenge patriarchal narratives and inspire new ways of thinking and organizing.
A Call to Action – Because feminism is not just about knowing our history—it is about using that history to fuel our resistance, our organizing, and our radical reimagination of what Uganda, Africa, and the world can be.

This launch is not the end, but the beginning. This museum is a foundation, and it will be up to all of us to keep building, expanding, and ensuring that the stories of feminist resistance in Africa are never lost again. This museum is not the work of one organization; it’s the collective work of many. It’s the work of a movement. And because it's the work of a movement, we are calling on all the other clans of women—those near and those far—to bring their heroines and their stories. Let us display the basket that fed a village, the pen that drafted liberation, the robe that survived a protest. This museum is not ours; it is yours. If your grandmother’s name is missing, bring it to us. So, we can paint a bigger picture of what a feminist movement looks like and celebrate those that have advanced the place of women in our society. We are still on a journey of discovery, and we invite any fellow travelers who feel this type of work is worth doing to join us on this journey.

We know that we stand on the shoulders of many great women. For those who wonder, "Who are these women?" I hope a museum like this can start to bring them into focus. So that we might know them, love them, honor them, and if the universe and stars allow it, so that we might be them.

Lastly, we dedicate this museum not only to the women whose names we know but also to those whose names were stolen, buried, or never spoken. We dedicate this space to the young girls walking into their power, and to the women who came before us and paved the path for the rest of us.

To every feminist in this room and beyond, this is our collective victory. But we know that the work is far from over. Our movements still face backlash. Our voices are still threatened. Our rights are still under attack. Let us celebrate tonight. Let us honor those who paved the way. And tomorrow, let us continue the work—with even more fire, even more love, and even more determination.

This is our history. This is our power. This is our future.

The Virtual Museum of African Feminists is live, standing as an enduring declaration. Explore it now and be part of the movement! https://femmefortemuseum.com/

Celebrating Women's Day Amidst a Menstrual Hygiene Crisis: A Call to Action

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 09:20:26 GMT

Press Statement

Kampala, Wednesday, 9:00 a.m

We the women’s movement have read with concern the latest Audit Report by the Auditor General which reveals the dire state of access to menstrual hygiene products for girls in Uganda leading to 64% of girls missing school days, this exposes a crisis that demands immediate attention. Additionally, a recent feasibility study on Menstrual health and school absenteeism among adolescent girls in Uganda found that 19.8% of girls interviewed reported missing at least 1 day of school during their last period, and 17.3% reported missing school in the last 30 days due to menstruation. 38.5% of these mentioned ‘fear of leaking blood’ as their main reason for missing school during menstruation.

The government cites resource constraints to cover the gap, yet menstrual health interventions require just 0.05% of the national budget, a negligible fraction of national expenditure. This crisis disproportionately affects girls, while boys often continue their education uninterrupted. The result? A cycle of inequality and discrimination, where young girls are denied their right to education simply because of a natural biological process.

Uganda continues to demonstrate its obsession with policing morality rather than addressing real social injustices. Their recent push to criminalize cohabitation under the proposed Marriage Bill 2024 is one of the attempts to control personal choices while conveniently ignoring the urgent struggles faced by women, girls and other structurally marginalized groups in Uganda. The broader religious community has also been complicit in endorsing laws that perpetuate violence and discrimination. Yet, they remain silent on critical issues like sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, menstrual health, the shrinking Civic Space, and issues that profoundly impact the lives of millions of Ugandans.

While religious leaders and policymakers debate who should or should not live together, young girls nationwide are missing school because they cannot afford sanitary pads. While our leaders push for regressive laws under the guise of morality, they continue to ignore the daily injustices, including sexual and gender-based violence, that strip women and girls of dignity, education, and opportunities. A case in point is the recent media reports where girls in various regions of Uganda are said to be using sand and others are using bleeding holes to manage their menstruation putting their health at risk. Beyond the availability of menstrual hygiene products, local governments continue to neglect the provision of essential water and sanitation services, like access to clean water, toilets, changing rooms, and appropriate disposal systems for pads; which are fundamental in ensuring that girls experience their menstruation with dignity. The inequitable access to water, such as fees levied on fetching water, long distances and lines at the boreholes etc, often forces girls to prioritize using the little water they have access to for household needs instead of their menstrual hygiene. This further deepens the cycle of inequality.

The gap in access to menstrual hygiene products has been largely covered by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which are currently under attack. According to the NGO Bureau over 8,000 NGOs closed shop between 2019 and 2023, More recently, the United States government has also rolled out the USAID funds freeze which has affected a good number of CSOs. The funding cuts and crises are not just from the US; we have also seen that countries that had feminist funding policies have shifted priorities, resulting in massive funding cuts.

Last year, in November 2024, the Dutch government announced intentions to cut NGO funding by US$1.1 billion. In addition, they require that organizations qualify for funding to generate at least 50% of their income independently (up from 25%). The Dutch government announced that it will also stop funding all projects related to women’s rights, gender equality, vocational and higher education, and sports and culture. The impact of this will see a disruption in provision of essential services by CSOs key among which is the provision of menstrual hygiene products to girls in schools, an area much neglected by our government.

With this in mind we make the following demands;

To the Government of Uganda

Guarantee domestic financing to ensure uninterrupted access to critical health services including menstrual hygiene products, water and sanitation, HIV prevention and treatment and other reproductive health services.
Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Education to urgently share a comprehensive plan to address funding gaps in health and education, including period poverty, and ensure an intersectional response to this, to ensure that women and girls in all their diversities are catered for, and that no one is left behind.

To religious, cultural, and other opinion leaders

Cease fanning moral panic about sensitive issues, especially those that relate to women and other marginalized groups. The role of religious leaders should be to promote peace and unity and not sow discord and discrimination. Instead, they should utilise their platforms to raise critical issues like condemning violence against women and holding the government accountable to their commitments.
Call out the government for its failure to address the issues that affect the lives of women and girls including menstrual health issues, sexual and gender-based violence, unemployment, absence of social welfare programs and safety nets leaving women to fend for themselves and their communities, resulting in poor health and life outcomes

To The media, academia, and individual activists

They should be critical and independent thinkers. Go beyond political rhetoric to uncover the hidden truths. Critically assess political narratives by comparing rhetoric with on-the-ground realities, ensuring human rights violations are not obscured by glorified portrayals of political figures.
Collaborate with experts to counter deception. The media can serve as a vital bridge by prioritizing factual, accurate reporting to combat disinformation.
Author articles that highlight hope, solutions, and alternative perspectives, moving beyond doom-focused narratives. Spotlight grassroots innovations and advocacy efforts fostering positive change.

The time for action is NOW. Menstrual health is critical for the realization of all human rights of women including right to education, dignity, privacy, health, expression and association. This is also central for the realisation of Agenda 2030, as it is linked to SDG 3 and 5 to ensure that we leave no one behind. Ugandan women and girls deserve better!!!

Signed By

Femme Forte Uganda
Women’s Probono Initiative (WPI)
Akina Mama Wa Afrika (AMWA)
Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP)
Women and Girl Child Development Association (WEGCDA)
Safe Haven for Sisters Initiative (SHASI)
Coalition on Girls Empowerment (COGE)
Centre for Women Justice Uganda (CWJU)
FIDA - Uganda
Together Alive Health Initiative -TAHI
Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women (MEMPROW)
Wilmat Development Foundation (WDF) 13. Give A Hand Foundation

A Home for Our Stories: The Virtual Museum of African Feminist Icons

samantha@femmeforteug.com — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:19:36 GMT

A Museum that Feels Like Home - By Penelope Sanyu

In the heart of our collective feminist imagination, there has always been a dream; one that preserves, honors, and amplifies the voices of African women who have shaped history, defied the odds, and redefined power. Today, that dream is becoming reality in a way that's never been seen before.

The Femme Forte Uganda Virtual Museum is more than an archive. It is a movement, a living, breathing testament to the brilliance, resilience, and ingenuity of African women across generations. What makes this museum even more revolutionary is its design, inspired by the shape of a woman’s body. This is a deliberate and unapologetic celebration of the physical and symbolic embodiment of power, creation, and continuity.

Unlike traditional museums, which often impose rigid, patriarchal structures, demanding silence, linear storytelling, and curated authority—the Femme Forte Virtual Museum breaks the mold. It invites you into a space that is fluid, organic, and deeply personal, just like a woman’s body. Its curves mirror the nurturing embrace of history and culture, holding within them the stories of women who have shaped Africa’s past, present, and future. Its soft edges and dynamic structure challenge the rigid confines of traditional archives, allowing stories to unfold in ways that feel intimate and alive. It is a museum that moves, breathes, and speaks, just like the icons it honors.

For too long, African women’s histories have been erased, sidelined, or fragmented. Now, we reclaim digital space, not just to preserve our stories, but to make them accessible to all. The Femme Forte Virtual Museum dismantles barriers, ensuring that whether you are in Kampala, Dakar, Accra, Nairobi, or anywhere else in the world, you can step into this sacred space and witness the brilliance of African women.

From defiant queens and revolutionaries to the poets, scientists, artists, and everyday women who have shaped our societies, this museum is an act of defiance, a love letter, and a declaration of existence all in one.

The unveiling of the Femme Forte Virtual Museum will not be just another launch, it will be a homecoming for our stories. Expect:

Immersive experiences showcasing the lives and legacies of African feminist icons.
Interactive storytelling that allows you to walk through history in a way that feels personal and real.
Conversations with curators, artists, and historians about the significance of feminist archiving and digital storytelling.
A feminist gathering, uniting those who believe in the power of documenting and celebrating women’s contributions.

This museum is just the beginning. It is an evolving space where new voices will be added, where younger generations will see themselves reflected, and where African women’s histories will never again be whispered. They will be sung, danced to, and shouted out loud in all their glory.

With just two days to the launch, please know that this is more than a museum; it’s a movement. It’s your museum. Your story. Our revolution.

Femme Forte Uganda Announces the Launch of Her Virtual Museum Honoring African Feminists

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 05:22:07 GMT

Kampala, Uganda - February 2025

Femme Forte Uganda is thrilled to announce the launch of Her Virtual Museum of African Feminists, a groundbreaking digital platform dedicated to honoring the legacies of feminist icons across Africa. The museum, set to be unveiled on March 7, 2025, ahead of International Women’s Day, stands as a tribute to the sheroes who, in many ways have and continue to pave the way for gender justice and a more equitable society.

Rooted in the wisdom and resilience of siblings who came before us, this museum is a space to celebrate movement wins, amplify feminist narratives, and collectively build upon the foundations of liberation laid by African feminists throughout history. Rather than merely drawing inspiration from existing frameworks, the initiative recognizes the urgent need to create alternative feminist knowledges, ones that center African art, realities, experiences, power, and radical imaginations.

Initially conceived as a data bank of African feminist icons and their work, this gift has evolved into a virtual museum to provide an interactive, engaging, and immersive experience. “This museum is more than a digital archive; it is a living, breathing testament to the power of African feminist’s past, present and future,” said Penelope Sanyu, Chief Steward at Femme Forte. “By curating these stories, we not only honor our sheroes but also commit to expanding and strengthening feminist and allied movements that love and support women.”

Key Features of the Virtual Museum:

Interactive exhibits: Engaging storytelling through multimedia presentations on African feminists and their contributions.
Educational resources: Curated materials for students, educators, and activists to deepen their understanding of African feminist movements.
Accessible design: Ensuring inclusivity and seamless engagement for a global audience.

Why Launch Before International Women’s Day?

The timing of the launch is strategic, aligning with International Women’s Day to spotlight the importance of inclusion and feminist leadership. The museum represents Femme Forte’s offering to the broader feminist movement, a digital archive preserving the contributions of African feminists for future generations.

Launching a day before International Women’s Day 2025, the museum is Femme Forte’s contribution to the global feminist movement. It serves as a digital monument to the legacies of African feminists, ensuring their contributions are preserved, celebrated, and serve as a catalyst for future generations of changemakers.

The Virtual Museum of African Feminists will be accessible online at https://bit.ly/3DOCVNv .

About Femme Forte

Femme Forte is a feminist organization dedicated to movement building by championing body rights and integrity, economic inclusion, and transformative feminist leadership in Uganda. Through advocacy, education, and innovation, Femme Forte strengthens intergenerational pathways between young and older feminists who aspire to contribute meaningfully to the broader women’s movement in Uganda and beyond.

The Global Gag Rule: A Death Sentence for Bodily Autonomy and SRHR

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 09:10:26 GMT

The global gag rule, officially known as the Mexico City Policy, is not just a policy; it is a deliberate attack on bodily autonomy, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), and the feminist movement at large. It is a political tool wielded to control the choices, voices, and futures of women and marginalized communities, particularly in the Global South. When the policy is in effect, it blocks international organizations from receiving U.S. global health funding if they so much as provide information about abortion even with their own, non-U.S. funds. This is not just a matter of financial restrictions; it is a suppression of knowledge, agency, and power.

Power and Control: Who Holds It and Who Suffers?

First implemented in 1985, the global gag rule has been a political pendulum, reinstated by Republican presidents and rescinded by Democratic ones. Over the decades, its impact has only grown more severe. The most devastating expansion came in 2017, under the Trump administration, casting an ominous shadow over global health systems. The policy was no longer just about restricting funding for abortion-related services; it cut off support for a broad spectrum of essential health services, including U.S. global HIV (under PEPFAR) and maternal and child health (MCH) assistance.

As of January 25, 2025, President Donald Trump has reinstated the policy. It is, at its core, about power. Who holds it? Who enforces it? Who is stripped of it?

Power is in the hands of policymakers, primarily wealthy, conservative men in the U.S. government who make decisions that shape the reproductive destinies of millions of women across the world. They dictate what can be said, what services can be provided, and who is deemed worthy of care. This is not about protecting life; it is about maintaining control over women's bodies, particularly those in the Global South, where foreign aid is often a lifeline for essential healthcare services.

Power is also in resistance. Feminists, activists, healthcare workers, and grassroots organizations continue to fight back, despite the chilling effect of the gag rule. Every time this policy is reinstated, we see a rise in unsafe abortions, a surge in unintended pregnancies, and a setback in access to contraception because banning organizations from using even their own, non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services or advocate for reproductive rights doesn’t eliminate abortion; it only drives it underground. And yet, we persist. The right to decide what happens to our bodies is not up for negotiation.

As we wait for a future progressive government to revoke this policy again, the damage is already being done. Delays in action are not neutral; they actively harm the feminist movement and the right to bodily autonomy that we fight for.

Think about it:

Comprehensive sexuality education programs are losing funding, leaving young girls without access to critical knowledge about their bodies and rights.
Feminist health initiatives that provide contraception, post-abortion care, and maternal healthcare are shutting down or scaling back due to financial constraints.
Advocacy organizations are being silenced, unable to speak openly about abortion rights without jeopardizing their entire operations.
Community health workers, often women, are losing jobs, cutting off local access to trusted sources of reproductive healthcare.

These are not just abstract losses; they are direct assaults on the feminist movement’s ability to empower, educate, and protect.

Break the Gag: A Call to Action

The global gag rule must not only be revoked; it must be permanently abolished. We cannot continue this cycle where every change in U.S. leadership dictates the fate of women's healthcare worldwide. Feminist organizing, advocacy, and pressure have forced reversals before, and they will again. But we must demand more than temporary fixes.

What can we do?

Raise our voices on social media, in our communities, and through every available platform. Silence only serves the oppressor.
Support feminist organizations that continue to provide SRHR services despite financial challenges.
Pressure our governments to fund SRHR independently, reducing reliance on U.S. aid that comes with strings attached.
Educate and engage because knowledge is power, and power is what they fear most.

We will not be gagged. We will not be silenced. We will fight for choice, for power, and for the feminist future we deserve.

Article by Samantha Agasha and Hannah Stacey Baluka

Reference List:

Abortion. (2024, May 17). World Health Organization. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abortion
Global gag rule: How U.S. aid is threatening health and speech worldwide. (2019, April). Open Society Foundations. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/explainers/what-global-gag-rule
Impact of the Trump administration’s global Gag rule on sexual and reproductive health in Uganda. (2022, December 13). Guttmacher Institute. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/impact-trump-administrations-global-gag-rule-sexual-and-reproductive-health-uganda
Trump administration reinstates the global gag rule in a setback for health, gender equality, and human rights. (2025, January 25). Centre for Reproductive Rights. Retrieved February 5, 2025, from https://reproductiverights.org/trump-administration-reinstates-global-gag-rule/

My Period Has Gone on Strike!

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 08:14:42 GMT

My dear traveler,

I have a serious problem. My period has decided to go on strike! It packed its cramps, mood swings, and chocolate cravings and just disappeared. I have been waiting patiently, like a mother waiting for her child to come home from school, but this child is missing in action.

At first, I thought maybe it was just being fashionably late, you know, like those aunties who say they are "on the way" but haven’t even left their house. But now, it’s been too long, and I am starting to have negotiations with my ancestors. Did I offend the gods of ovulation? Did my uterus decide it needs a vacation without informing me? Or worse, should I be worried about an unexpected guest arriving in nine months?!

This is where I must remind you, my sister, that we must take care of our sexual and reproductive health! We cannot leave things to chance and "vibes." Check your cycle, know your safe days (but don't trust them too much, eeh!), and if you are engaging in adult activities, please be responsible. That kind of Qweshunga is all fun and games until...

Anyway, let’s not play hide and seek with pregnancy tests, thinking they will change their minds if we check five times in different lighting. As for me, I am off to have a serious conversation with my womb. I will give it one last chance before I start writing missing person reports.

Meanwhile, please take care of yourself, visit a doctor when necessary, keep track of your health, and don’t let your period catch you by surprise like an uninvited wedding guest.

With love and mild panic,

Fellow traveler.

(Article by anon, via Qweshunga)

End of Year Message from our Chief Steward

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:54:07 GMT

Dear Femme Forte,

As we bid farewell to an extraordinary year, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the strides we have made together. Femme Forte Uganda stands as a testament to the power of feminist movement building, a beacon of hope for those who dare to dream of a world where equality and equity is not just a distant ideal but a lived reality.

This year, 2024, our collective commitment to advancing equality found expression in remarkable ways. From hosting transformative conversations to amplifying the voices of the marginalized, we deepened our roots as a movement that centers justice, care, and systemic change. Through collaborations with partners across various sectors, we challenged norms that uphold inequality, created spaces of healing and growth, and fostered solidarity across communities. These connections remind us that feminism is not an individual pursuit but a collective endeavor that thrives on the strength of our relationships.

Our work in 2024 reaffirmed that collaboration is the lifeblood of movement building. Together, we launched groundbreaking initiatives and projects that were bold acts of reclaiming our narratives. We stood united in the fight against femicides, sexual and gender based violence, technology-facilitated gender-based violence, reproductive justice, among others, recognizing that equality in the digital age demands that no one is left behind. We championed leadership transitions and inter generational conversations that honor feminist principles, ensuring that our work reflects not only where we stand today but where we aspire to go tomorrow.

These achievements would not have been possible without the relentless dedication of our staff and board. To the Femme Forte Uganda team, thank you for embodying the values we hold dear and for your tireless commitment to driving the feminist agenda forward. Your creativity, resilience, and passion have been the backbone of every success we celebrate today. To our board, thank you for your wisdom, guidance, and belief in the transformative power of Femme Forte’s vision. Together, you have been architects of change, creating pathways for a more inclusive and equitable future.

As we step into 2025, let us continue to harness the power of collaboration and movement building to dismantle systems of oppression and co-create a world where equality is not negotiable. Feminist work is work for the long haul and it is deliberate, as it is bold and hopeful. Let us recommit to doing this work with care, compassion, and conviction.

To our partners, thank you for standing with us, for dreaming with us, and for walking this journey side by side. To our constituents, your courage inspires us, your stories empower us, and your resilience strengthens us. Femme Forte Uganda exists because of you, and we are honored to serve as stewards of this shared vision.

Here’s to 2025, a year of greater strides, deeper connections, and transformative impact. Together, we will continue to rise, to build, and to lead.

In gratitude and solidarity,

Penelope Sanyu

Chief Steward

Femme Forte Uganda

A Tribute to Mr. Norbert Ndawula

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:40:49 GMT

Today, is an unbelievable day. Many of us are dealing with shock , others have so many unanswered questions, others heavy hearts, guilt, shame, gratitude, respect, a whole mix of emotions. In all, we are here to acknowledge that life is fleeting and we must embrace our journeys with grace and love. Our hearts are heavy with the weight of sorrow and our spirits are downcast! But;

We gather to celebrate the life of a man who was much more than just a colleague or friend. Norbert Ndawula, joined Femme Forte Uganda in November 2018 and left in May 2020. Though he is departed from this earthly life, he has left behind an indelible legacy woven into the very fabric of our community and our memories.

Norbert was not only a storyteller by title but also by spirit. Did you ever hear this man laugh? His laughter told so many stories hidden within. He carried within him a rare gift—the ability to live and capture life in its purest form, to see beyond the ordinary, and to draw out the extraordinary from every story he encountered. With words and warmth, he transformed the lives of those who listened. He taught us to see with our hearts and to listen with compassion, bringing to life the hopes, dreams, and resilience of Femme Forte and those who make it what it is. His words lifted spirits, soothed pain, and reminded us all of our shared humanity.

In every story Norbert was a part of, there was always laughter, a message of hope, a spark of joy, or a profound reminder of our strength. His years with Femme Forte were marked by unbridled dedication, boundless creativity, and an unwavering belief in the power of storytelling to heal and to connect us. For Norbert, storytelling was never just about narrating events—it was about connecting with people, giving voice to the unheard, and championing causes close to his heart.

Today, we mourn not only for his passing but for the stories left untold, the words unspoken, and the many hearts left yearning for his gentle and warm guidance. Yet, even as we grieve, we find comfort in knowing that his spirit lives on in every story he encountered, in the memories he gifted us, and in the lives he touched. Norbert has become a part of our shared history, a cherished chapter in the Femme Forte story.

To his family, especially to mummy, Sandra, Pesh and Zoe we extend our deepest sympathies. Thank you for sharing Norbert with us, for allowing him to be a light in our lives and our work. We hope you find solace in knowing that he was—and will always be—immensely cherished, respected, and loved by so many. To Zoe, we have so many stories to share because we first heard about your conception and then told stories all through to your birth, your daddy was a great man, may you always remember him thus!

As we prepare to lay our friend and colleague Norbert to rest in his ancestral home, let us not say goodbye but instead carry forward the lessons he left us. Let us honor his legacy by being storytellers of the spirit of laughter, hope, love, and resilience in our own ways. Rest in peace, Norbert Ndawula. Your stories will forever remain with us, and your light will never fade.

On Behalf of the

Femme Forte Community,

Thank you.

IT SHOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO STEAL!

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 10:11:09 GMT

“Someone will ask, ‘Will it pay?’ If it will, one will steal. If it won’t pay, one won’t steal. It should be too expensive to steal. This is why corruption is happening on a grand scale. They must steal enough to stay out of jail.” - Auditor General John Muwanga, May 31, 2013

The catalyst for the current #March2Parliament protests is a series of high-profile corruption scandals that have exposed the misuse of public funds by top government officials; the most egregious allegations involving the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among. The Speaker and a number of her staff are accused of breaching parliamentary rules by using private bank accounts to withdraw enormous amounts of money between April 2023 and January 2024, supposedly for Among’s official work including outreach, community projects, and expenses. Journalists also allege that Among oversaw the distribution of more than Shs1.7 billion in 2022 as “service awards” for parliamentary commissioners, who oversee spending and salaries in Parliament. (Wepukhulu, 2024)

The #March2Parliament protests have articulated seven demands: the resignation of Anita Among as Speaker of Parliament, reduction in the number of MPs, immediate resignation of implicated MPs pending investigations into corruption allegations, comprehensive lifestyle audits of MPs with public disclosure, reduction of MPs' salaries and allowances to 3 million, and unrestricted exercise of Ugandans' democratic right to peaceful assembly without obstruction.

Corruption remains a pervasive issue in Uganda, severely impacting its economy and governance. According to Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, Uganda ranks 141st out of 180 countries, indicating widespread corruption within its public sector.

In 2021, the Inspectorate of Government, initiated research on the cost of corruption in Uganda which found that fully eradicating corruption is estimated to result in total societal savings of at least UGX 9.1 trillion. The current reality is public funds intended for vital services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure are instead being siphoned off to enrich a few. Hospitals are left underfunded, resulting in inadequate medical supplies and services. Schools lack basic structures and educational materials, and the country's roads are riddled with potholes, making daily commutes treacherous. The average Ugandan, struggling to make ends meet, bears the brunt of these failures and their pain and anguish are palpable as they confront a system that has consistently failed to address their most basic needs.

The response from the government has been largely dismissive. Speaker Anita Among and other implicated officials have either ignored the allegations or labeled them as baseless rumors, and despite President Yoweri Museveni claiming to have evidence of corruption during his State of the Nation address in June, there have not been any efforts to bring the perpetrators to book.

"I have been hearing, but now I have proof. I have been hearing that from the ministry of Finance, they arrange with accounting officers of ministries to come to parliament. Working with some people there, to provide certain funds provided you take a share. I didn’t believe it but now I have proof.” (URN, 2024)

In a country where street protests are often met with heavy-handed responses from security forces, online activism has become a crucial tool for the anti-corruption movement. Previous campaigns such as the #UgandaParliamentExhibition campaign utilized social media to bypass traditional media restrictions and reach a broader audience. Ugandan youths are following the same script with #March2Parliament; using social media to not only mobilize numbers but also direct financial, legal and medical resources to whoever might need them.

At least 100 peaceful protesters were arbitrarily arrested on July 23rd when the protests first broke out, arraigned in court and remanded on charges of “causing common nuisance” and also being “idle and disorderly.” It should be noted that in 2022, The Constitutional Court nullified section 168 (1) (c and d) of the Penal Code Act that creates the idle and disorderly offence because it infringes on a number of constitutional provisions. (Independent, 2022)

The road ahead is indeed long and challenging, but the resilience and courage of youth activists offer a promising path forward in the quest for a corruption-free Uganda. This is a collective effort; it demands the participation of all. While civil society and feminist groups bring valuable expertise and resources to the table, every Ugandan must engage actively in this fight for transparency and justice.

Note: Phase II of the #March2Parliament is currently underway. Follow the hashtag on X (formerly Twitter) to lend your voice or expertise to the fight.

References:

Wepukhulu, K. S. (2024, March 18). Champions of Uganda’s anti-gay law blame ‘homosexuals’ for corruption scandal. openDemocracy. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/uganda-parliament-anita-among-corruption-scandal-politics/
Inspectorate of Government. (2021). COST OF CORRUPTION IN UGANDA. https://www.igg.go.ug/media/files/publications/IG__cost_of_corruption_flier.pdf
URN. (2024, June 6). Museveni: I have evidence of parliament, Finance corruption. The Observer - Uganda. https://observer.ug/index.php/news/headlines/81549-museveni-i-have-evidence-of-parliament-finance-corruption
Independent. (2022, December 2). Constitutional court nullifies Idle and Disorderly law. The Independent Uganda: https://www.independent.co.ug/constitutional-court-nullifies-idle-and-disorderly-law/

Article by Baluka Hannah Stacey and Samantha Agasha

Closing the Gender Gap in Intellectual Property: Women and the Sustainable Development Goals Connection

samantha@femmeforteug.com — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:35:45 GMT

In the pursuit of sustainable development and gender equality, the role of intellectual property (IP) rights cannot be understated. Intellectual property encompasses a wide range of creations, from inventions and innovations to artistic expressions and cultural heritage.

Yet, despite their significant contributions to the intellectual landscape, women continue to face barriers such as underrepresentation and bias, limited access to resources such as funding, mentorship, and networks that are crucial for navigating and succeeding in IP systems, and societal expectations and cultural norms that discourage women from pursuing careers in STEM or asserting their rights in IP systems, among other things.

Closing the gender gap in intellectual property is not only a matter of equity and justice but also a crucial component of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Understanding the Gender Gap

The gender gap in intellectual property manifests in various forms, including disparities in patent ownership, trademark registrations, copyright protections, and access to resources and opportunities. Women are underrepresented in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), where intellectual property creation and innovation thrive.

According to the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), women accounted for only 17.7% of all inventors listed in Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications in 2023. This percentage varies by region and sector, with some areas like biotechnology and chemistry seeing relatively higher participation rates for women compared to fields like electrical and mechanical engineering.

Intersectionality also plays a pivotal role in shaping the experiences of women in accessing and benefiting from intellectual property (IP) systems. Factors such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location intersect with gender to create layered challenges and opportunities. Women from marginalized racial or ethnic groups often encounter compounded barriers, including historical exclusion from educational and professional opportunities in STEM fields where IP creation is prominent. Socioeconomic status influences access to resources needed for patent filings and legal protections, with women from lower-income backgrounds facing greater financial constraints.

Empowering Women through Intellectual Property

Intellectual property rights provide creators and innovators with legal protections and incentives to invest in research, development, and creative endeavors. By securing intellectual property rights, women can gain recognition for their contributions, access markets, attract investment, and generate income, thereby enhancing their economic empowerment and social inclusion.

Empowering women to assert their intellectual property rights can be done by promoting education and awareness programs that inform women about their rights under intellectual property laws, providing training and capacity-building programs on IP management, patenting processes, copyright protections, trademark registrations, and strategies for commercializing IP assets, and advocating for gender-responsive IP policies and regulations that promote equal opportunities for women in IP systems.

Linking Women's Rights to the SDGs

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a comprehensive framework for addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable development. Gender equality is recognized as a standalone goal (SDG 5) and a cross-cutting theme that is essential for achieving all the SDGs. Closing the gender gap in intellectual property aligns with multiple SDGs, including:

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality – Promoting women's participation in intellectual property systems and ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women creators and innovators contribute to achieving gender equality.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Closing the gender gap in intellectual property fosters innovation, creativity, and technological advancement, driving sustainable industrialization and economic growth.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Addressing gender disparities in intellectual property rights reduces inequalities and promotes social inclusion and justice.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Collaborative efforts involving governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector are essential for closing the gender gap in intellectual property and advancing the SDGs.

Dr. Ada Wong, a biotechnologist from Singapore, exemplifies success in navigating intellectual property systems to protect innovation. Despite initial challenges securing funding and facing biases in a male-dominated field, Dr. Wong strategically filed patents for her bio-fertilizer innovations with specialized legal guidance. Networking with mentors and validating market demand were crucial, leading to multiple patents and recognition for her sustainable agriculture solutions. Her achievements attracted investment, enabling her startup to scale and gain industry acclaim.

Closing the gender gap in intellectual property is not only a matter of rights but also a strategic imperative for achieving sustainable development. By empowering women to assert their intellectual property rights, we can unlock their full potential as creators, innovators, and agents of change. Aligning efforts to close the gender gap in intellectual property with the Sustainable Development Goals can amplify impact and contribute to building a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

Article by Baluka Hannah Stacey

Food and Your Menstruation Cycle!

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 21:54:12 GMT

The menstrual cycle is an important part of many people’s lives. Despite this, misinformation, silence and shame abound around the topic.

For menstrual hygiene day, I set out to write an article strictly about how you can use food to optimize your wellbeing during your period but I ended getting a lot more than that from my interview with Gilbert Nsanzimfura, a nutritionist with TMR International Hospital. He shared in detail about the 4 stages of the menstrual cycle, how you may feel, what you can eat and what you should avoid to get through each like a champ. Enjoy!

Nutrition takes place for the entirety of mankind’s life, but for this article we are going to focus on nutrition for women of reproductive age. The menstrual cycle has 4 phases: Menstruation phase , Follicular phase , Luteal phase and Ovulation .

Follicular phase: This is the phase between the first day after blood flow has stopped up to about the 13 ^th -14 ^th day when ovulation normally occurs. This stage involves a follicle stimulating hormone which facilitates the growth of follicles. These follicles will harbor a mature egg during the ovulation phase.
Ovulation phase: This is where a mature egg (ovum) is released from the fallopian tubes. This is the shortest phase of the cycle, it can last up to 24 hours. This is called the excitement phase of the entire menstruation cycle.
Luteal phase: It normally collides with menstruation and sometimes they are even confused to be the same phase. In the Luteal phase, the body is getting ready to start mothering an embryo; the egg is already released into the uterus for fertilization. This stage involves multiple hormones at the same time, including progesterone and oestrogen. These two hormones are very stubborn in that their reactions are very rapid. They both, each at a time, support the thickening of the uterine walls. This stage lasts about 10 to 15 days, from your ovulation day to the day you experience your first drop of blood flowing through the vagina if fertilization does not take place.
Menstruation: This is normally the most distressing phase of the entire cycle. It lasts about 3-7 days although some might experience it for up to 10 days. Some women have them heavy, others light, others painful and others very painful.

NUTRITION AND THE MENSTRUATION CYCLE

First there are foods that need to be taken throughout each of these phases. These are foods you cannot do without, the first being Vitamins and minerals. The body cannot manufacture them on its own. The good news is that the body does not need a lot, this is why they are called micronutrients. Others are proteins, carbohydrates for energy and lipids.

NUTRITION DURING THE FOLLICULAR PHASE

At this point, your body has gone through changes.

−You have lost blood, iron and minerals

−Dizziness may be felt

−You may feel weak

Here it’s like building a house from ruins. You need to take all the food stuffs but mainly you need to replace the lost iron, the lost calcium and the lost magnesium.

Foods to eat

•Boiled eggs

•Chicken

•Sea food like salmon and sardines. (There is a difference between sea food and fresh body food. You can have Nile perch and Tilapia but they will not give the exact replacement.)

•Plant protein

•Legumes like beans and lentils

•Liver and other Vitamin D rich foods. We want Vitamin D because it facilitates absorption of calcium in the body.

•Leafy vegetables

•Purple vegetables

But because most people feel dizzy and are not interested in working and the like, we also encourage that you take more protein and plenty of water.

Foods to avoid

•Take carbohydrates but sparingly. If you take too much, it may make you feel dizzier. This is because digestion of carbs leads to production of glucose. Accumulation of glucose leads to high sugar levels which can cause symptoms like thirst and dizziness and other long term symptoms.

•Avoid all trans fats, from red meat like beef and goat

•Avoid processed food stuffs including bacon

•Minimize salt intake, especially added salt. It can make you spot further because it encourages water retention.

•Limit sugar intake. Like salt, it may make you spot even when you have finished your menstruation.

If you flow heavily, we encourage you to do light and not vigorous exercises.

Important to note: ALL junk foodstuffs should be avoided in all the phases. Junk food has been earmarked as a leading factor of almost all non-communicable diseases. All adults should be cutting out fast, foods, especially Irish potato chips.

NUTRITION DURING OVULATION PHASE

This is the shortest and most ‘excited’ phase. You are in a very good mood, you want to eat anything, and most females want to engage in sex. This is when people tend to have cravings for fast foods, snacks, sweet things and pastries. But if you are planning to get pregnant this is when you should start preparing.

Go for:

•Instead of sweets, go for an apple, a mango

Avoid:

•Fatty foodstuffs

•Alcohol

•Use of nicotine, coffee and caffeine. These 3 have an effect on oxygen production. If the egg is fertilized that night and you used these, we could end up seeing defects later in the child.

NUTRITION DURING THE LUTEAL PHASE

This phase happens whether the egg has been fertilized or not. Here, a foundation is being built, creating an environment to support a growing embryo. A good diet in this phase is key whether you are planning on getting pregnant or not. Not having healthy eating patterns can result in a very painful period, you may have clots.

This stage requires a lot of:

•Plant protein

•More fruits and vegetables.

NUTRITION DURING THE MENSTRUATION PHASE

Towards menstruation, some people have an urge for sex, some lose appetite, become restless, or experience stomach ache. The symptoms of this phase are many; from headaches to dizziness, apathy, disinterest in doing exercise, in doing work and cramps. Every female experiences it their own way.

To relieve headaches and anxiety, you can have scents and aromas in your room.

We encourage you to eat:

•Bananas. They are happiness fruits, they trigger the release of melatonin which helps you to feel relaxed.

•Watermelon

•Easily digestible fats like avocados

•Carrot and orange juice will help you replace the minerals you are losing

•Plenty of water. Warm or hot but not cold

•Beans, lentils and legumes are very important

•Get plant protein to help build back on what has been shed

•Eggs and milk because they are rich in calcium and iron. We are losing a lot of it so we want to replace it.

•Vegetables because they have a lot of mineral deposits

•Whole grains

•And, not very highly recommended, but if you have a sweet tooth, you can take some chocolate.

Foods to avoid

•All cooking oil should be avoided, whether vegetable or avocado, margarine, kimbo, sunflower or sunseed. Oil increases free radicals in the body, this may promote inflammation and make menses heavier, longer and more painful.

•Avoid all red meats during menstruation for the same reason as oil, free radicals. It can be eaten at least 7 days after the last day of menses.

•Sugars and salt should be minimized

•Avoid coffee because of its production of caffeine

•Avoid alcohol because it’s a like a blood thinner. It may make your flow heavy, and may lead to lengthening of the menstruation phase

•Processed grains

•Carbonated drinks like soda

•Paw paw

Do light exercise such as a walk to relieve cramps and facilitate easy flow.

As an end note: Some people have very very painful periods and this can happen at any age. It may be due to heavy production of a hormone called prostaglandin during menstruation. I advise them to see a doctor for a hormonal balance treatment routine.

Article by: For Food's Sake Eat (https://4foodssakeeat.com/)

A Fond Farewell and Celebration: Honoring Patience’s Journey with Femme Forte Uganda

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:19:45 GMT

Last week, we bid farewell and celebrated the incredible journey of our beloved storyteller, Ms. Patience Ahumuza, who is embarking on a new chapter in her life. While the news of her departure may hit you like a sudden gust of wind, leaving you bewildered and saddened, you will also be comforted to know that her departure is a feminist act of resistance - to REST and RECHARGE! Goodbyes are never easy, but we are extremely grateful to have crossed paths and worked with someone as remarkable as Patience. Her work has left an indelible mark on Femme Forte, and we will cherish the memories we've created together forever.

Throughout her tenure, Patience has been the driving force behind our organization's voice on all socials, tirelessly advocating for gender equity and empowering voices that often go unheard. From amplifying marginalized voices to spearheading impactful campaigns, creating networks and bonds, teaching and growing with us, she has been instrumental in shaping Femme Forte's message outlook and impact.

Besides being our storyteller, Patience also actively participated in programming, fundraising, and administration among other roles. Her leadership, empathy, and fierce determination have inspired us to push boundaries, challenge norms, and strive for a more just and equitable world. Her dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to feminist values have left an indelible mark on our community and beyond.

As Patience takes a break to reflect on her career direction, we honor and celebrate her courage to first of all acknowledge the need to take a break - rest is truly resistance, the courage to pursue her passions and dreams unapologetically and the love for work she does to serve and love women. While her absence will be felt deeply within our team, we stand behind her decision to prioritize her own health, growth and general well-being. We have no doubt that Patience will continue to make waves wherever her journey takes her in the feminist spaces. Her impact extends far beyond the confines of our organization, and we eagerly await the incredible contributions she will undoubtedly make in the future.

As we bid her farewell, we express our deepest gratitude for the tireless dedication, unwavering passion, and invaluable contributions. While her physical presence will be missed, her legacy will continue to inspire us in our ongoing pursuit of equality and justice.

Patience, as you embark on this new chapter, know that you take with you the love, admiration, and endless support of your colleagues and feminist community. May your journey be filled with joy, fulfillment, and boundless opportunities.

With heartfelt appreciation and warm wishes,

Femme Forte Uganda.

A Feminist Force: Celebrating Norah's Journey

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 12:56:01 GMT

On 11th February 2022, I had a phone conversation with a young excited voice on the other side of the line, this voice, too curious and so eager to meet was asking to volunteer with Femme Forte Uganda. We were going through a transition around that time so I asked her to represent us at a meeting with one of our main partners ( knowing full well she was going to be frustrated and not want to return ) Alas! This was the beginning of what would be a long and beautiful learning journey for us both. Long story short, Ms. Norah joined the team as a volunteer and continued to grow through the ranks to this day.

It's with mixed emotions that I bid farewell to Ms. Norah, a shining star in our feminist constellation for the past two years. As she embarks on an exciting journey of pursuing further studies, we raise a collective glass to her remarkable contributions and unwavering commitment to our cause. Norah joined us not just as an employee, but as a young, passionate advocate, a strategic thinker, and a ball of inspiration. Her dedication to our mission was evident in everything she did, from spearheading impactful campaigns to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for our team.

Now we remember her for:

1. Her strategic brilliance: Whether it was crafting compelling messaging or developing innovative solutions, Norah's sharp mind and strategic thinking were invaluable assets.

2. Her unwavering passion: Norah's infectious enthusiasm for feminism fueled our collective fire, reminding us of the power we hold when we unite for change. “We shall miss your constant reminders over lunch that, “men are trash”

3. Her collaborative spirit: She was a true team player, always willing to lend a helping hand and fostering a spirit of collaboration that empowered everyone around her. There is not one person who doesn’t attest to her team spirit.

Norah's impact extends far beyond the walls of our organization. She leaves behind a legacy of empowerment of young girls, reminding us that each of us has the potential to be a force for positive change. While we'll miss her dearly, we're excited for the incredible path that lies ahead for Norah. We do not doubt that she will continue to be a champion for equality and justice, leaving her mark on the world wherever she goes.

This isn't goodbye, Ms. Norah, but rather a "see you later." We know you'll achieve great things, and we'll be here, cheering you on every step of the way. Thank you for giving your all to building the Femme Forte dream, for everything you are and were, and best wishes for your future endeavors! Remember you are always #FemmeForte and no one can take that away from you.

On behalf of the entire team at Femme Forte Uganda, we offer our heartfelt gratitude and best wishes for your new role and engagement.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Thu, 11 May 2023 08:26:41 GMT

Understanding Types, Legal Frameworks, and Effective Solutions.

Photo by Kindel Media

A workplace is ideally meant to foster productivity, growth, and individual fulfillment of employees as they, in turn, contribute to the realization of the overall desired goal of an entity. The ideal workspace should be respectful, inclusive, and with an aura secure enough to keep a worker excited and motivated enough to report to work to give their best.

Employees are however robbed of the right to experience safety when the environment turns toxic, toxic enough that they are demotivated and unwilling to give their best, and in the extreme, wish to quit the space. A toxic work environment is characterized by hostile and negative atmospheres that impact the well-being and productivity of the employees and causes them to battle with stress, anxiety, and fear among other impacts.

Sexual harassment is one of the practices that leads to toxic work environments. This is any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that results in physical, psychological, or sexual harm, that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offense or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment (Edlund, 2020). Everyone in the workplace is prone to sexual harassment, this includes workers in both low and high-managerial positions, service providers, and persons that interact with the workspace.

Quid Pro Quo (something for something) harassment and Hostile environment harassment are the two types of sexual harassment (June 2012).

(Kiwalabye, 2017) throws light on the various manifestations of sexual harassment in the workspace, that are either subtle enough to be ignored or direct enough to leave unnoticed. These take the forms of, but are not limited to;

Unwanted sexual attention,
Any unwelcome physical touch
Sexual remarks on a person’s body or clothing,
Sexual questions or jokes,
Sexual assault and rape at the workplace,
Receiving career threats upon refusing to accede to date or sexual favors,
Verbal sexual harassment such as someone being addressed in a sexually offensive manner
Displaying sexually explicit materials in the workplace without educational or work-related motives.

How Sexual Harassment at workplaces impacts workers

Sexual harassment in the workplace may cause victims short-term and long-term negative effects. It leads to depression and post-traumatic stress. Individuals may feel humiliated, lose self-esteem, and more. It may also lead to workplace problems like higher turnover, absenteeism, and decreased work performance (Yie & Ping, 2021).

The authors further stipulate that employees of various genders that have experienced sexual harassment experience negative emotions ranging from embarrassment, shame, depression, a decrease in self-esteem, and lack of job satisfaction to compromised safety.

In addition, sexual harassment at work may result in the likelihood of conducting substance abuse, experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD), and in the extremes, development, and execution of suicidal tendencies (Yie & Ping, 2021)

Legal Frameworks on sexual harassment:

National frameworks

Regional-level Policy and legal framework

International frameworks

While having a robust sexual harassment policy in a workspace is plausible, it is not an absolute mechanism to completely wipe out the vice of sexual harassment in the workspaces. A regular review and update of the policy are needed to ensure it responds to the changing context of sexual harassment so it remains effective, informative, and relevant but also aligns with the current ideal practices and expectations in the workplace.

Responding to sexual harassment in the absence of legal and policy frameworks

In a rare situation that there isn’t a legal or policy framework to respond to a sexual harassment situation, most likely in an informal setting, these outlined interventions can be used to deal with the situation head-on;

Speaking Up! Should you encounter any form of sexual harassment, there is power in airing it out. Openly speak about how you feel about the situation. It is important because there are subtle forms of sexual harassment that may go unnoticed
Confide in a colleague you trust
Document the sexual harassment incident. Gladly it’s an era of technology, taking videos, and making use of camera recordings are important in reporting the case
Leverage the support mechanisms of other work entities. These could be partners, networks, or companies/organizations that have established legal or policy frameworks that address sexual harassment. These could avail information and support a victim on the required steps needed to take to reach justice and healing.

The procedure for handling sexual harassment complaints (Act, 2023)

Upon receipt of a complaint, the labor officer shall promptly investigate a complaint by taking the following steps;

Register the details of the complaint in the form prescribed in the Second Schedule
Interview the complainant to ascertain the facts of the matter;
Obtain from the committee the written report of their investigation and decision on the complaint;
Notify the employer of the complaint and direct the employer to respond to the complaint;
Investigate the complaint to ascertain the facts to the extent practicable, throughout the investigation and consult the union office where a union exists in the establishment
In case of a labor officer not being a labor Commissioner, dispose of the complaint or refer it to the Labor Commissioner in case of deadlock;
Inform the employer and complainant of the decision in writing;
Inform the employer that he or she will not engage in retaliation against the complainant or anyone else who cooperates with the investigations;
Order the employer to separate the complainant and the person alleged to have harassed to avoid further harassment without adverse discrimination affecting their working conditions; and
Continuously monitor the interim measures that are being taken by the employer throughout the investigation and after that

The emotional gap in legal and policy frameworks

Policies and laws alone cannot be completely effective tools to prevent and respond to sexual harassment. Victims of sexual harassment, who are absolute emotional beings, are at the core of response and intervention, and policies cannot fully address the emotional scars that sexual harassment can have on an individual, both at the workplace and in spaces beyond work. It’s plausible that these policy and legal frameworks provide guidelines and consequences for the vice. They also may not be enforced adequately and under the fact that they are frameworks, the language therein could be limiting enough for the victims to hold back on reporting for fear of retaliation of the unseen or unclear consequences.

It is therefore most important to have support systems in workplaces that are preventive, restorative, and responsive. These systems may include;

Establishing sexual harassment committees in the workplace to register complaints, investigate and respond to the complaints.
Readily available counseling services,
Training of all individuals (employers, employees service providers, and all individuals that are affiliated with the workspace) on sexual harassment

Employers should therefore be in a position to identify and respond to situations that depict sexual harassment and take measures to prevent sexual harassment and generally promote a safe working environment for all workers in the space.

References

Act, E. (2023). Employment ( Sexual Harassment ) Regulations, 2012 .

Edlund, C. (2020). Prevention of Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Abuse of Authority Policy. UNWomen , 1–18. https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About Us/Accountability/UN-Women-Harassment-sexual-harassment-discrimination-and-abuse-of-authority-policy-en.pdf

June, I. (2012). Sexual harassment in the world of work . 190 , 789. www.ilga-europe.org/resources/glossary

Kiwalabye, F. (2017). Sexual harassment at the workplace : A case study of the Uganda police force. Youth Crime Watch Uganda/IgnitusWorldwide Uganda , P13.

Williams, T. H., & Williams, N. M. (1999). Preventing and responding to sexual harassment. Family Practice Management , 6 (9), 32. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cin20&AN=1999073011&site=ehost-live

Yie, C. E., & Ping, N. T. S. (2021). Sexual Harassment in Workplace: A Literature Review. The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies , 9 (8). https://doi.org/10.24940/theijhss/2021/v9/i8/hs2108-023

Newsletter: August/September 2022

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 13:22:00 GMT

Dear friends of Femme Forte, we are thrilled to share the August/September newsletter, take the sweet trouble and fix your tight schedules to get familiar with our last two month’s activities. This write-up comes with feminine fondness and friendliness, please scroll relentlessly and get edified with our August endeavours.

Sexual and Gender Based Violence and Mental Health.

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:17:08 GMT

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is any sexual act that is perpetrated against a person’s will. In Africa and Uganda in particular, it’s based on gendered norms, cultures, and unequal power relationships all being results of the patriarchal power structure in societies and individual relationships. It includes physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual violence and denial of ownership of resources or access to services. Violence consists of threats and coercion. SGBV inflicts harm on women, girls, men, and boys and is a severe violation of several human rights. Victims of SGBV in Uganda confront a political economy that undermines their access to justice, even as the rights agenda works to develop and implement laws, policies and interventions that promote gender equality and balance. This notion provides insights into the daily struggles of women who have fallen victim to the structural patriarchy that is engrained in Ugandan society.

The acts of fighting sexual and gender-based violence in Uganda have become futile without the involvement of Mental Health, one cannot address social, economic, political injustice, discrimination, unfairness, oppression, abuse, and stereotypes without bringing in the context of Mental health which is sensitive to both men and women.

Sexual and gender-based violence is one of the hard realities that women in Uganda are facing, this is mostly because of a lack of power and authority due to the patriarchy we are born in. This has culminated into limited access to assets and no social networks to be sure of belonging, gender inequalities, conflict, power imbalance, insufficient food at home and alcoholism, and lack of assertiveness for those who fled their countries due to war (refugees), as a result, they are prone and all vulnerable, as we can all imagine, there is not much a refugee woman can do to keep herself occupied or safe and the inadequate or limited operation of the rescue organizations also put them at a vulnerable position where they can easily be abused or taken advantage of, these organizations fail to keep up or provide appropriate help usually due to increasing numbers of refugees coming into the refugee camps], hence increasing the rate of SGBV and creates a big setback in the acquisition of women empowerment and sustainable development in general. SGBV denies women and girls [men too] the security and freedom to explore their full potential.

As long as women and girls are not given a chance to explore their full potential and build up individually, they are forced to settle for less than they could have if they had the freedom and security to do it. Very little is being said about the impact of SGBV on the mental health of the survivors and very little is being done to find out the extent of SGBV on the mental health of its survivors.

SGBV has serious consequences on the psychological health of the survivors and their families, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), shock, memory loss, sexual dysfunction, and suicide are some of the psychological effects of SGBV on the survivors and their families. According to research, one-third of all cases of suicide among women, and 60% of all female murder victims are linked to sexual and gender-based violence. Different forms of SGBV also leave a deep emotional scar on many of the survivors.

Research conducted by Advocate for Humans Rights revealed that hopelessness, loss of control, anger, suicide, behavior disorders, and eating disorder are some consequences of Sexual and Gender-Based violence.

The most common types of SGBV prevailing in Uganda (especially, in the refugee camps) include; rape, female genital Mutilation, forced marriage, wife inheritance, wife battering, defilement, forced prostitution, and incest, and all of these practices are fueled by families that use their daughters as a source of money or resources to survive, young girls in child marriage and forced marriage to be able to get money from the men, law institutions also aid these acts by not seriously taking these cases of abuse into account and punishing the perpetrators, it is purported that when one reports the case to the police, they have to pay an amount between ugx5000-ugx50000 to the police as facilitation fees to officers to arrest the oppressor. With this, few women report these cases of abuse to the authorities considering the financial hurdles in their daily lives.

The community also fuels these evil acts of Sexual and gender-based violence by blaming the women and cruising their dressing as the reason for their abuse. If a girl or woman was raped yet she was dressed in a trouser earlier, community members blame her and call her dress code indecent and hence the man goes free. In some communities, women believe that being beaten by their husbands is a sign of love, such beliefs have encouraged SGBV and some of such women have even lost their lives.

All that has been shared above have resulted in Post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety, depression, loss of self-esteem, suicide, sexual dysfunction, and behavioral disorder.

Aside from the community, law institutions, families, women, and young girls have little understanding of sexual and gender-based violence and its effect on their mental health. The general public’s understanding of SGBV is limited, men are isolated from discussions on ending SGBV yet they are the main offenders, and the information on which actor should end the vice has not percolated deep to some parties. While men are cited severally to be perpetrators, they too can be fighters of SGBV if sensitization had them in a plan (s). As an extra factor, there is a scarcity of information on SGBV and Mental health.

Poverty is yet another reason why SGBV is prevailing because women are following men for bare necessities such as sanitary pads, soap, and lotion and have ended up being abused by these men, they cannot even report it because they will be blamed for it. There is an unmet need for SGBV and mental health services in West Nile resulting in high numbers of women struggling with mental disorders.

Several organizations fighting for women’s rights and health could be motivated to take on the task to sensitize the women in these communities about SGBV and its effect on their mental health, the laws that protect them from SGBV, and where they can seek help in case they are abused, and also refer them to where they can get services and some organizations can even decide to provide these services to these survivors of SGBV and their families.

Though men and women suffer SGBV, the magnitude of women victims cannot easily be juxtaposed to that of men. There is a need for all concerned to be vigilant, implement policies and handle this conundrum with compassion if we are to realize palpable results.

Making Trade Work For Women - Roadside Vending During COVID-19

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Making Trade Work For Women - Street Vending During COVID-19

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Making Trade Work For Women - Food Vending During COVID-19

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Single Motherhood in time of COVID-19: An inter sectional analysis needed in addressing Women’s trade needs post COVID-19

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 12:18:12 GMT

Not just all women but single mothers and other categories of socially discriminated women should be considered for Post COVID-19 business relief.

A study carried out by the Master card in 57 countries in 2018 established that Ugandan women are the most entrepreneurial in the world with 1 out of 3 businesses in Uganda owned by women. Although, women are robust in starting SMEs, they lack information and access to resources to grow them into bigger enterprises. With huge local trade and individual purchasing power reductions, SMEs have faced rather tough times during COVID 19. The effect of these have chiefly been felt by single mothers and female headed households in trade who are struggling to make a living for both them selves and their families.

According to the Uganda National Household Survey of 2016/17, 31% of households are female headed. In these households, women have the sole responsibility of tending to both the financial and un-paid care needs of their children.

Unlike most male headed households, female headed households are usually operated by single mothers with one source of income and a large burden of care work. Knowing that women already constitute the largest percentage of Uganda’s poorest and on average earn half at 110, 000 Uganda shillings than men at 220,000 Uganda shillings, single mothers are likely facing the brunt of a pandemic that further limits their already diminished economic opportunities. Moreover, due to male based hereditary systems, men are likely to have access to land and other resources they can use to refinance their businesses. On the other hand, single mothers and female headed households depend on incomes from wages and jobs.

With job loss has come huge damages in income and deep feelings of hopelessness. Industries that employ women and a large proportion of single mothers such as; hospitality, child care and the service sector have been hit hardest. On the other hand, male dominated jobs such as; truck drivers, army and police offices as well as top management remain operational and for the most part paying workers’ wages.

Furthermore, single mothers rely on social support structures, whether it is for money to buy basic needs or for people to take care of their children as they engage in productive work. With social distancing in place even that is all crumbling.

Heart breaking stories of effects arising from single motherhood in the time of COVID-19 continue to surface in Uganda and all over the world.

In the UK, just last week, The Mirror online newspaper reported the death of a 34-year-old Ugandan single mother that starved to death next to her malnourished son. Although she had managed to get food from friends in the past, economic hardship and social distancing made it much harder to access food and basic needs.

On fabulous Beautiful Homes, a Facebook page, just a day ago, a single mother who had lost a job as a private teacher was left with no option but sleep in a tent with her children because she was un able to pay rent. Before COVID-19, she had been constructing a house.

I made a case in the beginning as to women’s excellent business acumen despite challenges to build businesses in Uganda. Women have created opportunities as well as been great employees in the labor market and yet remain invisible figures in state incentives given for trade and businesses.

However, I call for an even further dissection and challenge of the gendered category-woman to analyze the business needs not only of single mothers but other more socially discriminated categories of women like those living with disabilities, HIV/AIDs and those with different sexual orientations.

The onus falls on the government and different stakeholders to provide stimulus trade packages such as; business finance, information, training as well as skilling for post COVID-19 enterprise recuperation. These have already been mentioned as important elements for women economic empowerment for Uganda under the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program and the Second National Development Plan and only need re-commitment.

These services also need to further be boosted with facilities such as; subsidized reproductive health clinics, free child care and intentional mitigation against Gender Based Violence. Without these in place, women that are socially segregated, are likely to sustain long term effects on their mental and physical health, incomes and children’s outcomes in life. In fact, if nothing is done now, am afraid that more women may soon be found dead next to their malnourished kids.

Originally posted at https://pebbletalk.wordpress.com/2020/09/04/an-inter-sectional-analysis-needed-in-addressing-womens-trade-needs-post-covid-19-single-motherhood-in-time-of-covid-19/

What Next?: COVID-19 & Women’s Economic Empowerment

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:51:11 GMT

The need to address the economic implication of COVID-19 is a critical one particularly a solution that entails taking the gender perspective into consideration. It is an opportunity for women’s voices to be heard in regard to business, inclusive markets, and their status & role in the formal labor market and include these conversations in the economic decision making both on a national & global platform.

with requirements like loan documents and security, copies of audited accounts, tax clearance certificates, and proof of National Social Security Fund compliance needed to access the financing from Uganda Development Bank (UDB), it becomes impossible for small businesses (especially in the informal sector) to access this funding

The Ugandan government set aside UGX 1 trillion as a stimulus package to benefit Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the aim of assisting these Ugandan businesses to increase the production of essential goods and services for import replacement and export promotion. However, with requirements like loan documents and security, copies of audited accounts, tax clearance certificates, and proof of National Social Security Fund compliance needed to access the financing from Uganda Development Bank (UDB), it becomes impossible for small businesses (especially in the informal sector) to access this funding. In addition, with the decline in sales due to the reduced purchasing power of consumers owing to the impact of COVID-19, it has reduced the ability of businesses to pay back loans. This lack of financial inclusion risks damaging the economy and regresses the steps that have been made to grow entrepreneurship especially as women in business face bigger obstacles.

While governments are taking action to assist the SMEs (that operate on a larger capacity) i.e. through the stimulus package), little has been done/discussed on what will be done to rehabilitate small businesses owned by women including those in the informal sector. Furthermore, as it has been indicated that women have been the most affected by COVID-19 either through singlehandedly supporting households or working as frontline healthcare workers or losing livelihoods/employment, it would be imperative to provide support income.

we need all parties involved from policymakers to the government to be aware that gender issues have to be taken into account in their decisions

What can be done? We need all parties involved from policymakers to the government to be aware that gender issues have to be taken into account in their decisions. This entails protecting and enforcing women’s rights, ensuring women are represented in leadership positions in the private sector, civil society, business, and politics, and taking the forefront at providing avenues to upskill and include practical skills in the education curriculum that are relevant & offer better opportunities for the present and future of the workplace. Financial inclusion is key to ensure that money is allocated to the population and sectors that need it the most.

The COVID-19 crisis is a turning point and opportunity for us to act with intention. If we take measured action and include women in key decision-making processes at all levels in different sectors, then we have a chance to build an economically sound future and make further strides in building gain towards women’s economic empowerment. We will be on our way to ensure gender equality and sustainable economic growth.

Originally posted at https://medium.com/@galadrielflorentina/covid-19-womens-economic-empowerment-1a46a2fcbd23

It’s time to leverage digital platforms for women’s small business growth post COVID-19 in Uganda.

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:39:16 GMT

Women constitute almost 51 percent of the population in Uganda. They also represent the biggest percentage in the trade (55 %) and manufacturing (51%) sectors. Women’s contribution to the economy though largely informal contributes to improved family and community well-being because women spend their income for the benefit of others.

To this end a number of policies, laws and programs to encourage women economic empowerment have been initiated by the government. For example, Within the second National Development Plan (NDP II), the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), was identified to directly address some of the challenges and opportunities for skilling, financing, socio-cultural norms for increased economic empowerment of women in or willing to participate in business. Even with these measures, women still represent the biggest number of poor in Uganda and 70% of vulnerable employment. Businesses started by women in Uganda remain small with low profitability and shorter life span.

Women in Uganda often face sex related issues that restrict their ability to make decisions to grow their business. These different issues such as the inability to access loans, gender digital gap, un-paid care work burden and lack of general business information have been exuberated by COVID-19.

COVID-19 and effect on women businesses

Government measures and presidential directives to stop the rapid spread of the virus in Uganda have included the closure of businesses, public institutions, social distancing, the ban on public transport and the closure of borders. These largely gender-blind measures have had catastrophic effects on trade. According to a May 2020 report by Private Sector Foundation in Uganda, most private businesses that previously operated at 50-60% capacity have already declined to about 20% capacity and general business activity has already declined by over 50%.

With these disruptions, women shoulder the biggest burdens as small business owners or employees. With no safety nets for informal business owners (the largest percentage of them women), the failure and closure of businesses has become rampant.

Women further report reduced income and failure to provide for their families with the several measures instituted to clamp down petty and market vending activities. For example, on the 25 ^th March, the president announced a ban on the sale of non- food items in Ugandan markets for two weeks to keep social distancing measures affecting women who constitute the biggest number of sellers in markets.

Additionally, vendors, selling food items were required to sleep in the market. A failure of women in markets to balance care work and productive work forced many to choose more home-based enterprises with less profit. Moreover, media reports were awash with un-precedented brutalizing of women street vendors to keep them off the street.

Digital Platforms as a coping strategy

Even with the present-day ease of COVID-19 measures, women traders have been thrown to the sharks with noted low government commitment to provide information and support. The president has encouraged that business owners find new ways of doing business.

Women working in the informal sector have no idea where and how to start. With the shift of a number of business to digital platforms, women remain further marginalized due to gender digital gap. For example, more men (58%) than women (46%) own a mobile phone in Uganda. Beyond ownership is the ability to use ICT based technologies for business growth if available.

And yet digital platforms are important to foster proper decision making and ensure that government Standard Operating Procedures like social distancing are followed, keeping women healthy and safe. Digital platforms allow women access agricultural and business advisory services, market linkages and market services. Additionally, access to information around source of loans and their conditions, training opportunities plus sensitization of laws and policies will be widely distributed if platforms like radio and phones are employed.

As of 2016, up to 80 % of the Ugandan economy was informal constituting of mainly women. Government has availed stimulus packages for formal businesses including loans and information non-reflective of these statistics. However, to cushion women businesses from shock and recapitalize them, government, business developers and women organizations must play a crucial role in helping women access and utilize technologies or digital platforms to make trade information and services easier and faster.

Originally posted at https://pebbletalk.wordpress.com/2020/08/31/its-time-to-leverage-digital-platforms-for-womens-small-business-growth-post-covid-19-in-uganda/

On COVID-19 & Its Effects on Gender Equality

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 07:59:17 GMT

I have a distant memory of watching the news at my parents’ home during the Christmas season of 2019 and mildly thinking that China was going through a flu season that would pass & be contained within the country. Within months, the disease had spread across continents, and when in March WHO announced COVID-19 as a pandemic, I don’t think we all fully understood the changes the world we knew would go through.

We watched as the countries shut down borders, closed businesses, and hospitals became overwhelmed with the COVID-19 infections & deaths. As Uganda went into total lockdown, prices of basic foods & needs skyrocketed and people grappled with how their livelihoods would adapt to the changes. With little to no revenue coming in, businesses started closing, laying off employees, and cutting costs in order to stay afloat.

During our weekly conversations, my mother (who is a government teacher), told me she was worried about a number of colleagues (especially the women) who worked in private schools and no longer received salary (because schools are closed) and who were in no position to even pay for their basic needs.

Like a lot of people, I also found myself as part of the collateral damage as I was laid off early in May & although it came as no surprise, it was still a shock. In the weeks before & those that followed, friends & acquaintances shared being laid off or going to work and finding the offices closed with no explanation from employers. My local hairdresser passed by my home to say she was closing the salon for good; she wouldn’t be able to make rent and any money she had made was to cater to her family. My neighbor (who is a single parent) had to let her house-helper go as she had lost her job and had to use her savings to keep the home running. A friend who has a small pig farm shared that her customers had halted buying and with the increased cost of feeds, she was struggling financially to continue feeding her livestock. During our weekly conversations, my mother (who is a government teacher), told me she was worried about a number of colleagues (especially the women) who worked in private schools and no longer received salary (because schools are closed) and who were in no position to even pay for their basic needs. With only markets, pharmacies, and supermarkets/shops allowed to stay open, sectors like food, transport, hospitality & tourism, manufacturing struggled to stay afloat. While there were jobs that could be done remotely (especially in the formal sector), most could only be done physically and with the need for social distance to reduce the spread of the virus, it was difficult to do these jobs. The business impact of COVID 19 has been felt & will continue to do so for years to come.

Going through a pandemic collectively as a country and world has shown us humanity’s selfless spirit to work together BUT equally magnified the impact & gender inequalities that exist in our society. I remember stumbling on this article from The World Economic Forum which explained that on a global scale women were vulnerable as they’re the primary caregivers at home, 70% of them work in health and social services, and hold weaker positions than men in the labor market & economically. What this basically means is that women have to take care of the home, be extra careful not to catch or pass on the virus working as essential workers and all the while being paid less or nothing for doing the same work as men. Essentially women got the short end of the stick.

It was (and still is) alarming to watch an increasing number of women-owned businesses shutting down or being suspended indefinitely.

Despite both genders suffering the adverse effects of the economic impact of COVID-19, I have personally observed based on the people in my community that the women are facing the brunt of it. It was (and still is) alarming to watch an increasing number of women-owned businesses shutting down or being suspended indefinitely. It was on finding out the WHY that prompted me to do research that led me down a rabbit hole of labor market statistics (which is quite fascinating btw) and actually reading the data that UBOS collects from surveys & censuses. On the hunt for information is where I found this piece from The Economic Policy Research Centre on Why Gender Matters in Uganda’s response to COVID-19, that based on the 2018 UBOS showed more women (85.6%) than men (84.5%) are employed in the informal sector which has been the most affected during the lockdown. This means that while male-dominated industries like transport (cargo) and construction continued, on the other hand, the female-dominated industries like tourism & hospitality and agriculture are struggling. This is especially hard as women are more likely to be single parents and are sole providers of the home. Unfortunately because of this, women in the informal sector are more likely to continue working putting their health at risk without using PPE like masks or hand-washing and self-isolating.

Therefore, the question is, what changes do we have to make to make this the world that caters to all its citizens & works towards building a more equitable society? How can women become empowered economically, not just for this crisis but also for the next one? How can women be more included in conversations that will ensure that their contributions are valued and paid for and thus bring about gender equality?

Originally posted at https://medium.com/@galadrielflorentina/on-covid-19-its-effects-on-gender-equality-b801fb9a8829

Statement: Our Commitment to Accountability

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 08:14:17 GMT

Beaten, Perplexed but not Crashed: Informal Workers in the Face of COVID-19

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 12:16:53 GMT

Crises come, and crises go, but none has held the world at ransom like the COVID-19 pandemic. Global economies were endangered and some of the most advanced health care systems started to crumble. Experts have predicted a roll-back in some of the gains made towards gender equality as women worked day and night to uphold their societies without a care for themselves. In Uganda, panic shopping got the best of us. Now that the situation appears to be returning to normal, what if we asked you if you received the government posho and beans that was promised as relief food for vulnerable citizens? Hold that thought, what if we asked you whether for one moment during the lockdown, you stopped and thought about the plight of the woman who sells you fruits at the market, or the one selling roadside gonja, (roasted plantain) or even your boda guy? If you did not, relax, it is not something we will hold against you. We were all trying to survive a pandemic.

However, now, you can stop and think about the women in the informal sector – women who were further marginalized by the pandemic, women whose lives were threatened to the very core. We bring you stories of four women, from downtown Wandegeya who were kind enough to share their COVID-19 experiences with us, in the hope that action will be taken to make their situation better. These are stories of struggle and compromise, told amidst tears and sudden bouts of laughter, because they have nothing left to do about their situations. They hold hope close to their chests, envisioning a brighter future ahead as they continue to navigate the systems that have forgotten about them.

Catherine

The burden of fending for the family consequently fell on me which meant that I had to think innovatively, in the middle of a pandemic.

My name is Catherine*. I come from Rukungiri but I live in Katanga and sell bananas on the street in Wandegeya. Before the lockdown was imposed, I had just restocked. The morning after the President’s address, I carried my bananas to Wandegeya and to my surprise, there were no cars. I had not listened to the address. I took my bananas back home and while we managed to eat some, the rest got rotten. Since my partner was also out of work, I could not get myself to ask him for the kameeza (money provided by male partner to look after the home) because I knew he did not have the money. The burden of fending for the family consequently fell on me which meant that I had to think innovatively, in the middle of a pandemic. For some time, we did not have enough food in the house and were forced to eat our little and hard-earned savings. After a while, we were able to receive the government food that was promised. We were relieved despite the fact that the food was of poor quality. Nonetheless, we were glad that we could put starving behind us.

In the midst of all this, the landlord was on our necks, demanding for rent. If we dared tell him that the president ordered for citizens not to be evicted, he asked if it was the president who built the houses. We had to pay in every possible way! Looking for alternative sources of income came with the risk of being accused of infidelity if I did not account for where I had obtained the money from. Some of my colleagues reported that their partners had turned to violence over similar issues. I noticed that domestic violence has been on the rise since the lockdown started. We tried and reported these cases to the village chairperson and women’s representative in vain. When they did not refer us to the police, they trivialized the matter as private and something to be settled confidentially between the two concerned parties. Where we succeeded in registering the case with the police, we would be asked for UGX20000 for them to carry out investigations. Where would we get this kind of money when we were struggling to put some food on our plates?

As the situation returns to normal, we are still struggling to get back to our feet. For some reason, we are not allowed to work. Between police and KCCA officials chasing us around, we are forced to work on the run. It is something we have gotten used to. When you spot them, you run away and return when they leave. I must do everything possible to take food back home at the end of the day. I cannot feed my children stories of the police grabbing my goods. The worst part about all this is that I am treated like an outcast in my own country. I pay my dues and yet I will not be allowed to sell my fruits on the street. Why would City Council agents treat me like an armed robber? Even before they treat me as such, why don’t they take time to find out why I work on the street, what situation has forced me to live that way before taking my hard earned money? If I could return to my village, I would. We have been forced to sell our property to pay these people so that they do not throw out our goods. I deserve better.

The worst part about all this is that I am treated like an outcast in my own country. I pay my dues and yet I will not be allowed to sell my fruits on the street. Why would City Council agents treat me like an armed robber?

In my opinion, it would have helped me better if the government gave me capital of say UGX100000 as opposed to handouts. We ate the 6kgs of posho and that was it, with the capital, I would have been able to start a new enterprise in response to the COVID-19 situation. The government also has the ability to support women’s groups and our investments to help us recover from the pandemic. At the moment, my biggest worry are my children. We do not know when schools will resume but when they do, school fees will be a major requirement. My dream has always been that my children will attain the level of education that I did not, and break that invisible curse over my people. What would make me extremely happy right now is if a good Samaritan came my way, I have heard of organisations that do so, and take that school fees burden off my chest.

Amina

My name is Amina* and I live in Kanyanya but I sell food in Wandegeya, by the roadside under those umbrellas that you usually see. I am one of the leaders of the Wandegeya Women’s Cooperative Society. This situation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has been doubly hard for me as a leader whom people constantly looked to for help and yet I had nothing to offer them either. At times, I managed to walk and go visit my members but it was shameful, to say the least, when I arrived empty-handed. People called me all the way from Nansana and Kyengera reporting that they had not received food and could not leave their homes not knowing that I did not know whom to ask for help either. When some of us approached the police, we were told that they (the police) had no authority over the food and were advised to go where the food was being distributed from. There, we were told to go to the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) who asked for letters from our Local Councils (LCs). When we took these, the RDC ridiculed us and told us that we were not the only people suffering and needed to be patient. The next time, we took seven women along with us and we were given just two bags of posho. Since people were almost starving, we conceded and took that. We had to live to face another day. Similarly, visiting health centres when one of us fell ill was a tug of war. We once walked to a health centre in Komamboga where we found long lines and left unattended to.

At times, I managed to walk and go visit my members but it was shameful, to say the least, when I arrived empty-handed.

The food was finally delivered and we are grateful that the government came through regarding that promise. But even then, not all members received the food and those who did could not afford the charcoal (fuel) to prepare it. I would find children picking sticks off the road to be used as firewood. Some went into draining channels looking for this same firewood. Meanwhile, back home, because men were looking to women to provide for the needs of the home, and women were looking to men, scuffles usually ensued with most of the injured being women. Relatedly, for our members whose husbands were spending their entire days at home, most of whom living in one-roomed houses, cases of domestic violence were reported for example in the form of marital rape. If the men needed sex, it did not matter that the children were watching and in most cases, the women protested which ended in rape.

Speaking of violence, we have faced a lot of oppression in our pursuit of a livelihood during this COVID-19 period. Normally, we would have to deal with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) law enforcers chasing us around and while they have behaved this time round, we have had to face opposition from the police. We were mistreated by police officers who raided our stalls and made away with our goods. Later, we would learn that they took these and distributed them among themselves. Dealing with the KCCA is much easier because even as they chase us around, they endeavor to respect us and handle us like human beings. This is because we had an opportunity to meet with their leadership and air out our grievances. The leaders advised us to take note of their uniforms' IDs and report them. Once they confiscated our goods and when we reported these to the Mayor, our property was returned.

We were mistreated by police officers who raided our stalls and made away with our goods. Later, we would learn that they took these and distributed them among themselves.

Still on that, I wish that we did not have to pay bribes to be able to operate on the street. The situation is already hard as it is. While I understand that the KCCA license law is under review and will allow us to pay for a license to operate, it does not help our circumstances that the same KCCA agents demand for kitu kidogo (bribes) for us to keep our goods. We also come in search of what to eat. If I make UGX3000 in a day, that is what my children will eat. It is unfair for them to ask us to split it. As far as the savings group is concerned, at the moment, each member is looking at it as their means to recovery. Since the initiative was established only recently, membership is low and that means that savings gathered are minimal. Even with these, out of 70 members, about 30 are active yet each and everyone wants a share of the money. As a leader, how do I go about dividing these few funds among members? Our hope is that the government will look at the scheme as one to support and invest in.

My other plea to the government is for it to prioritize the needs of omuntu wa wansi (marginalized citizens) in service delivery. We have been extremely affected, more than the people who had the security of a monthly salary. We lost all our income. We know that programs exist to help people like us but those initiatives do not reach us. If the government looked into that and investigated it, perhaps we would be in a better place. Since we continue to remain invisible, my request to development organisations and women’s rights organisations is for them to amplify our voices at policy level. If I wrote a letter to the President and forwarded it through an NGO, he would pay more attention than if I dared approach him on my own. We fear, we are intimidated. Some of the places we go to ask for bribes, with NGOs, I know my issue will be heard. That is all I need, a listening ear.

Zaina

My name is Zaina* and I live and work in Wandegeya. I make katogo and sell it to passers-by. Sometimes, I sell oranges to supplement this. Well, this was all before, long before, the Coronavirus was declared a pandemic and we were forced to stay at home. At mine, the lockdown has been a depressing experience. It was imposed when I was sick and stuck in the house. My husband also lost his job and fell ill and as a result, we were two patients in the house. My legs hurt and I was unable to walk to the hospital which is quite far from where I live. This is an ailment I have nursed since October 2019. Back then, I could depend on handouts from my husband. My children were constantly hungry and it did not help that the neighbours always had something cooking outside. They were also not used to staying at home all day and reining them in has been a challenge. My landlord is always threatening to evict us for rent dues. Without a shilling in my pockets, I have nowhere to go. It is not like I can wake up and start trekking to my village with the curfew being enforced.

Between that, starving and making sure my children are still able to attend school, I am at a loss for what to do. I am grateful that the government offered relief food despite the fact that it took ages to get to us, and when it did, it was not the best quality. The schools communicated that learning would continue over TVs and mobiles phones, however, I have no smartphone and my TV set was stolen a while back when I was at work. Two of the children are in Senior One while the other is Senior Two. I did try to find ways of making money here and there to be able to at least provide for food. I asked colleagues to spare a few of their goods for me to sell, perhaps I will return the favour in the future. I am grateful that some of them agreed and while I am able to make UGX2000 or UGX3000 a day, it is not sufficient.

My landlord is always threatening to evict us for rent dues. Without a shilling in my pockets, I have nowhere to go. It is not like I can wake up and start trekking to my village with the curfew being enforced.

A number of times I asked the children to go to the streets and sell our products and even then, they are interrupted by the police and KCCA law enforcers. When they were not chased to the ends of the earth, our goods were confiscated. The children had to run to safety or risk being bundled up with the goods onto a police truck. That is if they did not demand for money that we already lacked. The oppression continued even in the confines of our homes. We live in a slum where the only space I have in my house is where I will sit and put my feet. It is surprising then that the LDUs when enforcing the curfew expected us to cook inside the house. Once they found me seated outside and forced me to go in with a burning sigiri (charcoal stove). Besides the heat, it is because of God’s protection that I did not burn the house.

The schools communicated that learning would continue over TVs and mobiles phones, however, I have no smartphone and my TV set was stolen a while back when I was at work.

If it had been up to me, I would have opted for capital instead of relief food from the government. I appreciate the endeavor but in my case, two bags of posho were damaged and when it came to the beans, I needed extra money for charcoal if they were to be well-cooked. The posho did not last a week. With capital, I would have made an investment and know that at the end of the day, all I had to spend was UGX2000 on pieces of matooke, (plantain) but with support for the next day. My situation was dire, it still is. I need all the help I can get.

Sarah

My name is Sarah*. When I am not hawking fruits and vegetables on the street, I am back home in Soweto Zone, Wandegeya. I am one of the leaders of the Wandegeya Women’s Cooperative Society. Work on the streets has been a challenge during the lockdown. We have had to deal with City Council issues daily. Once, we were beaten by the police and our goods taken and shared amongst themselves yet we were social distancing, had our gloves and masks on and even carried jerry cans with soapy water.

Some are not even real agents but simply conmen who prey on our fear of being arrested and end up extorting us.

We have constantly had to navigate LCs, police and City Council agents who have seemingly made it their life’s mission to oppress us. Some are not even real agents but simply conmen who prey on our fear of being arrested and end up extorting us. We have had to part with daily, weekly and monthly payments to be permitted to keep at our work, uninterrupted. Ask us why we do not oppose the payments and we will tell you it is because these agents will make our lives a living hell if we falter. Sometimes, we work in hiding to avoid paying these dues but rest assured that when you are discovered, you will pay up.

We are attacked on the streets and in our homes. Members of our SACCO underwent a domestic violence training previously and have used their knowledge on reporting to report cases of abuse. We have seen an increase in the number of incidences reported. Since both women and men were not working, and children were also stuck at home, families could no longer tolerate each other. This resulted in multiple acts of violence especially against women and children. The areas where we live are communal and when women denied men sex, you would find community members cheering the man on instead of rescuing the woman, an act that promoted marital rape. When we brought such matters before the police, we were told those were domestic issues and needed to be dealt with at that level.

Are we tired of being on the street? Yes. Are we tired of being beaten? Yes. But what to do, we have to survive.

My dream is that our SACCO could raise some funds out of a business and out of the profits, allow us to set us proper referral pathways to support our members in such situations and further raise awareness amongst ourselves. That is one of the challenges we set it up to address. Seeing as COVID-19 has stopped us in our tracks, we have to deal with current issues first. What we want now is for our working hours to be extended so that we can sell our merchandise to the people who leave their offices late. Are we tired of being on the street? Yes. Are we tired of being beaten? Yes. But what to do, we have to survive.

*Not real name

Singing a New Song of Self-Love: Revolutionizing Self-Care in the Times of COVID-19

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 15:35:48 GMT

The uncertainty brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic has left some of us facing record levels of anxiety that threaten to wreak havoc on our mental health. Most young women, have experienced an increase in the burden of care work, all this while trying to stay afloat at the workplace in order to keep income channels open at a time when many do not know whether their next paycheck will come. This duty to care is reinforced by the stereotype that positions women as the sole care givers in their communities, where we respond to other’s needs first and ours last. Self-care is a feminist value because we know that caring for ourselves is an act of self-preservation and is something we mustn’t push to the end of the day when our backs ache and eyes are heavy. It goes beyond self-preservation, self-love is the kind of love that has the power to manifest dreams, heal and rejuvenate broken bodies and spirits. When self-love is expressed through self-care, miracles happen. It goes without saying that self-love and self-care are worthwhile practices.

At Femme Forte, we believe that in these uncertain times, every young woman can use that extra boost, however slight it is. They need to lift their spirits during the day and fuel their emotional cars to run for an entire day or week with joy and happiness. Enter the Femme Forte Coffee Shop, an online brave and safe space where we are hosting exciting and inspirational conversations around issues of concern to young women and where young women can simply relax and have a good time surrounded by people who are doing the same thing. One such issue is the need to stay healthy physically, socially, and emotionally and cope with the situation at hand. This virtual space was set up in such a way that at the end of every session, participants’ moods would be improved through a series of uplifting activities with a vast array of trailblazers to guide the participants on their journeys of self-discovery and joy.

There is no doubt the depths music can go in affecting one’s mood. From playing one’s favourite song to pump oneself up before an important meeting, to listening to relaxing music as you have your breakfast, or while scrolling through social media. Trust our self-care sessions with Mercy Bero, a songstress with the most angelic voice to show you a glimpse of heaven with her Nightingale like notes; slow, soft and soothing as she sings When You See Me and trust her to take you besides the mightiest waterfalls with a voice just as powerful and emotional when she sings Ain’t Nobody because well, ain’t nobody going to love you like you do!

When I find myself confronted about something about myself, I ask myself if it is something that I can change for the better. If it is a yes, I do. If it is about my body which I cannot change, I learn to love it. I did not love my feet, but I am learning to do so with some treats of pedicure. When you tell your body you love it, it will respond. – Mercy Bero

The excitement of listening in, having your song sang live, and having memories to relish is an experience that will provide euphoric feelings for days at a time. Not only will our music sessions calm your anxiety, they will provide a pleasant escape by evoking emotional responses to relax or stimulate you and provide a sweet release from the stresses of daily life. Join in next time and be part of this experience of learning to fall in love with yourself first. Click here.

Happy, happy, happy, happy ��

Is Solidarity a Thing For Privileged Women?

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 15:18:29 GMT

In 2013, when I started #solidarityisforwhitewomen, by which I meant mainstream feminist calls for solidarity centred on not only the concerns but the comfort of white middle-class women at the expense of other women, many white feminists claimed it was divisive and called it infighting, instead of recognising that the problem was real and could not solve itself. – Mikki Kendall, Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women White Feminists Forgot

The book Hood Feminism, a collection of essays by Mikki Kendall that challenges modern feminists to prioritize intersectional feminism has been described as a ‘potent and electrifying critique of today’s feminist movement announcing a fresh new voice in black feminism.’ It makes a case for intersectional feminism which takes into consideration how issues like race, class and sexual orientation intersect with gender and how our fight against patriarchy is inextricably linked to the fight against other systems of oppression such as capitalism and racism. Kendall further states that for us to win this war, our unity within the movement and solidarity with other social justice movements must be unquestionable. However, looking at the state of the global feminist movement and the presence of numerous divisive issues, is this war winnable? How can it be won when sisters within the movement do not even recognize one another as equals?

In our weekly Femme Forte Huddle, where the Femme Forte team comes together to strengthen our intellectual muscle by reading feminist literature and theorize as African feminists, we have embarked on a journey of learning from Mikki’s book. Ours is a chapter by chapter review and discussion of our relationship with the contents of the book. In her first chapter, Mikki talks about a sisterhood based on mutual respect between equals and challenges white feminists to be truly intersectional in their solidarity by showing up for women of colour just as much as they do for their concerns. This blog is a summary of reflections from our team that resulted from our conversation. In short, now is the time for a much needed overhaul of the feminist movement, an overhaul that will result in a wholesome movement that fights for the right of ALL women.

There was a time when the women’s movement in Uganda and the feminist movement within it was very elitist, and some may argue that it still is. A time when people showed up only when their cause was the one being advanced and rarely when sisters needed them to. This is as recent as the Women’s March which was organized in protest of the unresolved women murders in Wakiso. On realizing that the march was largely organized by sex workers and sisters in the (Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer) LBQ community, a number of women did not want to be a part of it anymore, expressing fear of being recorded by the media as allies of queer women. While the security concerns raised may have been valid because homosexuality is criminalized in Uganda, their withdrawal of allyship over an issue such as violence against women that affects all women could not go unnoticed. This did not stop the march from bringing Kampala to a standstill!

Cherry-picking within the movement is rampant and as a result, most of the concerns of sex workers, queer women and women with disabilities have been disregarded and a one-size fits all approach adopted on women’s issues – for women living in urban areas and those in rural areas, with and without disabilities. Similarly, there seems to be a great deal of othering between sisters where older women call the young ‘other women’ and vice versa, where cis women call LBQ women ‘other women’. It has been argued that some simply turn up for a paycheck and only show up because there is an allowance involved. How else would you explain fraud in organisations working on women’s rights?

While white feminism can lean in, can prioritise the CEO level at work, it fails to show up when black women are not being hired because of their names or fired for hairstyles. While the problems facing marginalized women have only increased in intensity, somehow food insecurity, education, and health care — beyond the most basic of reproductive needs — are rarely touted as feminist issues. – Mikki Kendall

Switching things around, if you have the privilege of reading this, allow us to liken you to the white woman mentioned above, in the Ugandan context of course. White in this case representing a certain form of privilege. As a movement, most of our conversations on a number of issues alienate and further marginalize the women whose rights we are fighting to uplift as opposed to supporting them. Consider self-care and how for a middle-class woman, the conversation revolves around fancy outings, bubble baths and a trip to Mombasa to drink mimosas over beautiful sunsets. By all means, enjoy and make merry, relish in giving your body the treat that it deserves. But, this is not a conversation that you have with a woman for whom a bathroom is a makeshift one and using it is a different kind of nightmare. A woman who works two jobs just to put a roof over their head. When we simply talk about equal pay for equal work done and not the fact the some women are only trying to get paid at all, we exercise a solidarity that works just for us. True feminism is nuanced, inclusive and reflects the concerns of all women, not just a privileged few.

Within the movement, spaces need to be created for us as sisters to have conversations around our struggles. These include our struggles even in our feminist identities as liberal, radical, religious feminists. That we shall put an end to watering down one another’s experiences and understand our different contexts instead of pointing fingers. One must understand that if all are oppressed, no oppression supersedes another or as they say, it is not the Oppression Olympics. We must endeavor to recognize any form of oppression in our spaces lest we shall become the patriarchal system that we are fighting. And not just to recognize oppression but to learn to redistribute power where we have been privileged and challenge oppressive systems when our rights are violated.

So, the next time you speak out, check that it is not your privilege speaking. And when you take to the streets, check that in your feminism, you are not forgetting any woman.

Of 5 Hairs and Broomstick Legs

Sun, 17 May 2020 11:32:51 GMT

The year is 2000. I am a Primary Four pupil at Shimoni Demonstration School. One evening as I wait for my sister to complete her school day so we head home, I take to playing with two boys from my class. I think they too were waiting for their older siblings or parents to come get them. My memory fails me on this one.

As we run around the school having a great time, something flips. We get into some kind of verbal exchange. One of the boys says, “with your owl eyes and broomstick legs.” Yoooooo I wasn’t ready. They went on to tell me I was black like charcoal and had the audacity to give these insults a musical line. I spent the rest of that evening being followed around by two boys singing about my owl eyes, broomstick legs and black like charcoal skin.

I had never been conscious about my body before; at least as far as I can remember, until then. Although I said nothing, their words had been printed on my mind. I started to squint my eyes everytime I had my photos taken and often checked the mirror to see if my skin might be getting lighter. My eye squinting was only fueled by that photographer you decided to take an up close photo of me at confirmation. People, my eyes were a third of the photo (hahahaha). Today I can laugh about it but, 12 year old me was broken because everyone who saw that photo laughed and it hurt.

Fast forward to secondary school. Senior four. We wake up to a list on the chalkboard of one of the classes. The boys, many of whom are still complete morons to this day, decided to write a list of girls and what they thought about their bodies. Bagyenzi, I was on the list as a rugger – slang for rugby player. I still do not fully understand how my tiny self was on that list and although my friends and I laughed it off, it still hurt. And there, another mark engraved on my mind

Haha, my hair. So, I have thin off black hair. I like to say I have 5 hairs. I tried growing it while in secondary school but combing it and the not so pretty colour did not help me. Eish! The gods really neglected me on this one. So I settled for my short hair all through my teenage years. All was rainbows and butterflies, until I adulted. The reality of “good hair” slapped me in a new way. My hair was never the right colour or volume. I got away by braiding it all the time, sometimes with or to a sore scalp. Little comments from people close to me about my hair only made it worse. The worst was, “eh! You need to plait your hair, your natural hair is brown and thin.”

Although, I chose single events, my life has been and is still punctuated by constant unsolicited advise to eat more, find away to gain weight so that I can be a more responsible looking woman among others. A former boyfriend of mine once told me I needed to gain weight. If there was anything he would change about me, it would be for me to gain weight ��. Abantu!

Heneway, I learned slowly to navigate this little world and learned to love myself. In the beginning it was a pretentious form of confidence and self love. I laughed off hurtful comments and outwardly put on a display of full confidence. But when the night fell, I fell too. I was like a those big mandazis that are air on the inside.

2016, was the beginning of a new journey for me. Around December, I came across writings on body image as I tried to learn about feminism. I learnt that I was never going to be good enough. Not because I wasn’t, but because I was looking at myself though a lens that will never be clear. A lens that will always find a flaw on your body. A lens that demands a size 16 to be a size 6 and asks the size 6 to be a 12. A lens that tells the dark skin girl she needs to be light skin while asking the light skin to become paper white. The natural hair movement that says hair is political while determining which hair is natural enough and operates with in the same systems of demand that was set by those that said my hair texture needed smoothing. The list is endless. Your breast are great small and you still get asked if you even have breast. I was never going to be good enough. Trying to oscillate between the fashion magazine that says your slender is beautiful and the reality of an African community that thinks you are not woman enough – “a woman is flesh not bones” while demanding the same flesh to become bones. So full of shit!

That literature freed me. I was never going to be good enough. So, I let my 5 hairs show up the way they want; be it bantu knots or my tiny puff it was what I have and I love it. My broom stick legs will come out to play when I choose. My dark skin is all I have so I will love it. This time I am not building my outside muscle, I building my inside one. I will not wait to have the perfect hair (the grandfather of fallacies) to post that image on Facebook. I am done trying. And so I walk my journey of 49kgs, size between 6 and 8 depending on how big my stomach chooses to be that season. I am going to be me for me.

I am learning now to care for my body from a place of love for it as opposed to responding to the demands of the world. I eat to nourish my body. I care for my hair because I love it. I wear nice clothes for me. When I exercise, it is because I want these broomstick/toothpick legs to carry me for longer days on this earth. My eyes are beautiful. Although, they always say what I am feeling even when I do not want to, many times betraying me, I love them. This body was made to serve me and so I will love it so it serves me better.

I haven’t yet mastered it all, but I am definitely not going to cry in the night because a mere mortal said my body is not it. If you want my body a certain way, go create it and bring it to me. Loving me, body and more, is a journey. I work everyday, with my words and actions to intentionally choose me everyday. Today I crack jokes about my body because I think they are genuinely funny and not to just to make the next comments easier on me.

I want to take this time to apologise to everyone I have ever body shamed. Anyone I made to feel unworthy through my words and actions. I am sorry. I know even the ‘jokes’ might have hurt.

Corona Virus: A Financial Burden on Women

Sun, 17 May 2020 11:32:37 GMT

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared corona-virus as a global pandemic on 11th March 2020 and ever since then, nothing has been the same in terms of health and the economy. The corona-virus has hit everyone but it has devastated the informal sector operations, wage earners and those in the tourism sector which are mostly operated by women. An average Ugandan survives on earning every day, with most of the businesses closed that means no income hence an economic crisis. Like the saying goes you cannot spend while not earning but this is where COVID-19 has led us to.

Girls and young women are severely affected economically. This is because they are more likely to take on high-risk work for their economic survival during this crisis. As the numbers of corona-virus cases continues to grow, concerns are simultaneously growing about the current and long-term effects. This has had adverse effects on certain demographics specifically on women due to the following reasons;

Health workers.

All over the word, the medical field is dominated by women. For example, a United Nations report states that women make up 70 percent of the global health workforce because women comprise the majority of health and social care workers, and are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 which puts them at greater risk. For example, by 24 February, 3,387 health workers in China were infected with COVID-19, more than 90% of them in Hubei and yet more than half of the doctors and 90% of the nurses in Hubei are women, according to the Shanghai Women’s Federation, a government body.

Limited cash inflows.

Most women in Uganda are involved in informal sector operations that is in retail and hospitality which makes 17% of female employees working in shutdown sectors compared with 13% of men. The majority of these women operate boutiques, salons and many other small businesses. Following the government’s directive of lockdown and urging people to stay home means shops remain closed, no income since they are not making sales hence affecting the owners directly and greatly.

Unpaid care givers.

Women and girls already do most of the world’s unpaid care work all over the world which has always been a financial setback for them. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), women globally perform 76.2% of total hours of unpaid care work, more than three-times as much as men. In Asia and the Pacific, that figure rises to 80%.

As health systems become stretched, many people with COVID-19 will need to be cared for at home, adding to women’s overall burden, as well as putting them at greater risk of becoming infected.

School Closures.

The closing of schools has affected women more financially. It hits women particularly hard because much of the responsibility for childcare still falls on them.Nearly 300 million students globally are currently missing class due to virus-led school closures, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).The mass shutdown of childcare centers and schools across countries, as well as localized closures has left many working parents with little choice but to take time off, or to try to work from home while caring for their children. Those who are poor, working in service jobs that cannot be done from home, and those without paid leave are especially vulnerable. This has also affected health systems, with many medical professionals struggling to find childcare. according to UNESCO.

Economic inequality.

According to the News week of 23rd April 2020 US reported a third of women report being laid off or furloughed, or receiving pay cuts because of the coronavirus outbreak. The disparity is even greater among women of color, as black women are twice as likely to report these financial issues as white men. That’s not to say that economic inequality wasn’t prevalent long before the novel coronavirus appeared. Data shows women are already making 20 cents less on average for every dollar that a man earns. The difference is even greater for women of color: Black women earn 62 cents on the dollar and Hispanic women, 54 cents. Over the course of a 40-year career, women stand to lose more than $400,000 due to the current pay gap.

As we continue with the fight, doing nothing is not an option. We all need to be creative and innovative to mitigate the corona-virus’ economic disruptions on our businesses and by following guidelines from WHO and the Ministry of Health toll free lines; 0800 100 066 or 0800 303 033 in case of any assistance.

Effects Of Corona Virus on Uganda's Economy

Sun, 17 May 2020 11:32:35 GMT

Corona-virus has affected all aspects of our lives but mostly the economic arm all around the world. As the world grapples with the corona virus, public health of course must be the first level of concern, with focus being on preventative and containment measures as well as equipping and preparing the global health care systems’ capacity to confront the pandemic. However, the negative impact of the virus on the global economy is increasing every day because of the restrictions we are seeing on the movement of people, goods and services, and containment measures such as factory closures in China, is creating a lot of uncertainty on the global economy. Uganda has been affected more since its economic performance is influenced by developments in the global economic environment. Since there is a slowdown in the global economy as a result of corona virus has led to a negative impact on Uganda’s economy. As the number of corona virus cases continues to grow, concerns are simultaneously growing about the current and long-term effects on the Uganda’s economy as follows;

Factory closures in China.

Due to the outbreak of coronavirus led to the closure of factories in china which has resulted in supply chain disruptions in Uganda since China is the major uganda’s trading partner. With China having shut down its manufacturing centers and closed its ports, there has been a resultant decrease in demand for Uganda’s commodities. Importers in China have cancelled orders from Uganda due to port closures and as a result of reduction in consumption in China. This has resulted in a reduction in the demand for the country’s exports which are mainly agricultural commodities and natural resources. For example, the three-day China International Coffee Specialty Expo that was scheduled to take place some weeks was postponed indefinitely. China is a major market for Uganda coffee and Uganda was to be the “portrait country” at this Expo. This was going to give our country a great opportunity for increased awareness, visibility and market penetration in the China and Asia Pacific specialty coffee market.

The Tourism sector.

Uganda’s tourism sector and its related industries are suffering most due to Covid-19 because Government issued a no travel policy which stopped people travelling to, and out of Uganda, under its policy “social distancing” in order to prevent and contain infections. Tourism is the number one source of foreign exchange in Uganda. It constitutes 7.7 percent of the country’s GDP and employs close to 700,000 people. As we all now know that the less people interact with each other, the less the virus spreads. This is the “social distancing” policy that WHO is advised all countries, including Uganda to follow.

This is having a negative effect on the travel and hospitality industry in Uganda. The most affected sectors are hotels, travel and tour agencies, bars, restaurants as well as international conferences and summits. For example, Uganda was supposed to host the 3rd UN G77 and China Summit but this was postponed due to the coronavirus. This summit was going to be a major boost to our country’s international image and tourism sector. It was expected to be attended by over 6,000 international delegates from 135 countries. Delegates were expected to discuss trade between countries, investment and humanitarian aid related issues.

Decline in FDI.

China is the second largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the world. There is decline in FDI inflows into China as the result of Covid19. This together with lost revenue, lower profits have translated into lower earnings which has affected China’s ability to continue making huge investments elsewhere in the world for example Uganda because in the last financial year, China topped the list of planned investments in Uganda. According to the data from the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) 45 percent of all the planned FDI into Uganda was to come from China. The investments were mainly in capital infrastructure projects and manufacturing. This means that we should expect a slowdown in FDI as a result of the coronavirus.

Decline in tax collection.

The outbreak of the virus has led to decline in tax collections since 42% of Uganda’s tax collections come from international trade in form of vat and import duty on imports and excise duty on petroleum products. The situation is becoming worse due to the reduced economic activity in the retail and trade, services, hotels, tourism and manufacturing sectors which has translated in both reduced VAT remittances and corporation tax payments to the URA.

Corona virus was declared by the WHO as a pandemic. Which means it is a global emergency. Scientists have explained that they do not yet have a clear understanding of the virus’s behavior, transmission rate, and the full extent of contagion. As we patiently wait for the cure and vaccine for this Pandemic do whatever is in your powers to protect your business, your livelihood and your family from this Pandemic by following guidelines from WHO and the Ministry of Health toll free lines; 0800 100 066 or 0800 303 033 in case of any assistance.

Saving Money Is a Very Special Aspect Of Life

Sun, 17 May 2020 10:48:38 GMT

With the outbreak of Covid-19, several measures including lock downs have been taken by different countries all over the world to prevent the spread of the virus. The lock down means no movements are allowed, closure of businesses, transport among other services since we are all supposed to stay in our homes. This can tend to be sucking but there is no alternative other than embracing it, living through it, and kissing it off when it is done. As the saying goes, change is a fact of life and if you do not change, change will change you but how is one to prepare for this change? Since the lock down, no money that has been coming in for most people which means they are spending without earning which is a very dangerous practice that can lead to total bankruptcy. During this crisis, those that have been saving are going through this change smoothly.

The importance of saving money cannot be understated. In fact, with so many proven benefits, saving money is one of the best financial habits you can adopt. But, if saving money doesn’t come easy to you or you just don’t see the point, it’s natural to ask yourself, why is saving money important?

Savings and How Important it is For Your Lifestyle

First and foremost, saving money is important because it helps protect you in the event of a financial emergency. Additionally, saving money can help you pay for large purchases, avoid debt, reduce your financial stress, leave a financial legacy, and provide you with a greater sense of financial freedom. So, saving money is a very special aspect of life due to the following reasons;

Freedom to pursue your dream career.

One of the most important reasons to save is to provide yourself with the freedom to pursue a career you love. Have you ever known somebody that was stuck in a job they hate because they didn’t have the financial freedom to quit and pursue something they enjoy? Well, if they had enough savings, I’m willing to bet that wouldn’t be the case. When you have ample cash sitting in your savings account, there’s absolutely no reason to endure a situation you hate. Therefore, saving gives one freedom to quit what they hate to pursue their dream career.

Long term security.

No matter how hard we try, we can never predict the future and for that reason, saving for a rainy day is a very good idea. For example, I have never thought in life there was going to be a day where people are told in stay in their homes worldwide which is causing financial storms all over the world which means without savings we are doomed. Saving money is important because it provides us with financial security. And the more we save, the more secure we will be.

Emergencies

In life, it is inevitable that there will be emergencies like a family emergency that requires you to fly across the country, less emotional emergencies like a broken down car and now we are living in a Covid-19 emergency so having a decent amount of money saved up helps us to go through such circumstances without adding financial stress on the pile.

Seriously, money is the last thing you need to be worrying about in an emergency. So do your future-self a favor and start up an emergency fund. Hopefully you’ll never need to use it, but if you do, you’ll be beyond grateful it’s there.

Stress Reduction

If you have been saving or have savings, there is nothing like financial stress to keep you up at night or worse, wake you up in a cold sweat. If you’ve ever experienced it, then you know how unsettling that feeling can be. You see, everybody wants more money, yet very few people work hard to save it up. So, unless you win the lottery–which is beyond unlikely–the only way to have more money is to save it over time. It’s as simple as that.

Helping Others

When you save money wisely, and invest intelligently, your money grows. And when your money grows, your opportunity to help others financially grows with it hence living generously. You cannot give what you do not have so in order to live generously, you need to believe, work, manage, invest and give. Remember, money is just a tool you can use to accomplish your goals. And if your goal is to help others as much as possible, you need to be saving and investing your money consistently. Can you imagine all the people you could help with the interest earned on $10 million you fixed for 10 years?

Your Marriage

I don’t think it’s a big secret that money problems are one of the leading causes of divorce. And if you’re married, you’ve probably experienced a money fight or two. And I imagine they are no fun. But I can also tell you from other people’s experiences that the more money you save, the less frequent those arguments occur. In short, saving money is good for one’s marriage. Don’t believe me? Try it.

Leaving a Financial Legacy

Let’s all take some time off and think really hard. If you died tomorrow, what kind of financial legacy would you be leaving behind? Would your story be one of debt and financial burden for your family or would you leave a legacy of financial fortitude and honor? Your financial legacy is important to the people around you. Whether you’re 20 years old or 90 years old, the way you handle your money will leave lasting effects, positive or negative, on your loved ones. So trim your expenses, and place a priority on saving and investing your money.

Education

A good education is an investment for a better future and this kind of education is expensive and it does not matter on what level. Each year many people flock various schools to earn different degrees. If you have goals of reaching some college or university, you will also need huge sums of funds. So, start saving money today for the education you dream of.

Big Purchases

It is very important to save money in order to afford big purchases like cars, boats, furniture, big screen TVs because big purchases have a way of wiggling into the lives of the financially unprepared people. For example, when monthly payments kick in and are all spent, that things that cost so much money transforms into an annoying roommate called, Buyer’s Remorse. Big purchases are fun, and at times, necessary. You need a car so that you can drive to work. Living in a home without any furniture is uncomfortable at best. Watching football on a 12-inch tv with rabbit ears is ideal. But going into debt for a big purchase is worse. Rather, saving money so that you can pay for them outrightly is the way to go.

Home Ownership

Having a home, comes with a lot of expenses. Whether they are big expenses like kitchen remodels, or small expenses, you name it, they add up to a lot of money. And while you might be able to cash out for the majority of them, it’s in your best interest to prepare for them in advance. In fact, I recommend setting up a specific savings account just for your home expenses. That way, you do not have to feel guilty pulling money from general savings when you need to fix or update something.

Major Life Events

Life is full of events, but there are a few big ones that can get particularly expensive. For instance, the two that instantly come to mind are: newborn babies, and weddings. So, it’s important to save for them.

Here’s a couple guidelines to get you started.

When that little pee stick reads positive, start a baby savings fund, and throw every last penny you can squeeze out of your budget into it. Then, when your daughter first starts dreaming about her wedding day, start saving for it because weddings are not cheap.

Minimizing Financial Risk

The more money you have, the less risky your financial situation will become. For instance, if you have Ugx10,000 to your name, and you invest Ugx6,000 to start your own business, you just risked 60% of your net worth. Whereas, if you save and invest until your net worth crests one-million shillings, then spend Ugx60,000 to start a company, you only risked 6% of your net worth. Plus, when you only invest 6% of your net worth, it’s pretty likely you will make up for that in interest, alone, over the next year. Saving and investing your money minimizes your financial risk. Plain and simple.

Compound Interest

This is the addition of interest to the principal sum of a loan or deposit, in other words, its interest on interest which is the result of reinvesting interest rather than paying it out, so that interest in the next period is then earned on the principal sum plus previously accumulated interest. For example, if you want to build any kind of wealth, you are going to need to utilize the power of compound interest. But, if you spend all your money, and never learn to save, you will miss out on this valuable financial opportunity. Additionally, the more time you waste, the less opportunity you have. Compound interest is extremely powerful, but you need to give it enough time to work its magic. You won’t just invest one day and see amazing results the next. If you start saving now, it may be years before you start to see impressive results. But if you wait years to start saving, you won’t see any results at all. Your future wealth called you and it asked you to start saving now.

Financial Independence

One of the best parts of being an adult is the independence and freedom to do what you want, when you want. (Within the confines of the law, of course) But the less you save, and the more debt you accrue, the less independence you will ever have. So, if you want to be financially independent and unshackled, you need to beef up your savings.

Saving for Fun

Many people think you have to make a choice between saving money and having fun, but this is a poisonous mentality. In fact, fun is a critical part of personal finance, and it is essential for your financial and physical well-being. Truthfully, you should always set a little money aside for enjoyment. And when you have savings, you can do this guilt-free, and without any worry that you are harming your financial future. In other words, saving money gives you the freedom to do what you want to do and sometimes that means having a little fun.

As we are living this life, let’s take it in mind that saving money is a very special aspect of life and we are all supposed to save no matter how much we earn because it is very important since it provides security, stress relief, and freedom. And while there are countless reasons to save, you just need to find a reason that resonates with you. Whether it’s helping others, improving your marital finances, leaving a positive financial legacy, or just having a little more fun, you owe it to yourself to prioritize saving. Above all save because you must.

Analyzing COVID-19 with a Feminist Lens

Sun, 17 May 2020 10:41:03 GMT

The world has come to a standstill because of the Novel COVID-19 Virus which World Health Organization declared a global pandemic. The internet and local media are awash everyday with new information and cases of people whose lives are both affected and infected by COVID-19. The magnitude of the effect and spread of the corona virus is unprecedented. The virus that hThe world has come to a standstill because of the Novel COVID-19 Virus which World Health Organization declared a global pandemic. The internet and local media are awash everyday with new information and cases of people whose lives are both affected and infected by COVID-19. The magnitude of the effect and spread of the corona virus is unprecedented. The virus that has affected each of us in some way is not only a health issue but a profound shock to our societies and economies; how unprepared we are as people to manage exigencies at a personal, community, collective, institutional, national and world at large. It has exposed the many deficiencies in our society and governance system – it has made us vulnerable as a people.

This blog was inspired by two feminists I have the privilege of learning from; Ms. Solome Nakaweesi and Ms. Hope Chigudu, who in recent conversation encouraged me to write a feminist analysis on the impact of COVID-19. In this essay, I attempt to make that analysis on the effect of the Novel COVID-19 Virus on gender, sexual and gender-based violence, race, class and information access.

Gender. There is no denying the virus has affected all genders indiscriminately. The pandemic has however affected the genders differently. As the virus spreads globally, national and global statistics indicate that more men have been infected and died as compared to women. Paradoxically, while that is the case; it appears women are bearing the brunt of the social and economic disruption and response mechanisms to address the virus. The vast majority of nurses, flight attendants, market vendors, teachers and service industry workers are female and their jobs put them on the front lines of the outbreak. Over 70% of the global health care workforce is made up of women and many more that are shouldering care-giving roles. Women are often invincible first respondents which makes them vulnerable. In terms of infection rates, Janet Paskin in her article on “Women are bearing the brunt of corona virus disruption” shares that research from China indicates that infection and death rates are more prevalent in men because men have more unhealthy lifestyles than women which in turn affect their health and lower their immunity. In an analysis of nearly 45,000 cases in China, the death rate was 2.8% for men, compared with 1.7% for women. And men made up a slight majority of the infected, at 51%. Another reason for these statistics could be the fact that men have more mobility and autonomy to leave the home and roam and in turn at a higher risk of infection. In regards to masculinities and health response, men are more likely to not adhere to restrictions on safety and will not seek medical care because of the superman complex.

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence . The risk of women being prone to violations at a personal and public level increase during times of crisis such as this pandemic. Within intimate, private and family spaces, men perpetuating violence against women increases during this pandemic because of the stresses of unemployment, anxiety, and cramped living conditions. For women in already abusive relationships, the situation is even more dire. While at the public level, the fact that there is clamp-down on public movements and trade opens a whole new area of violations against women especially in the informal sector (vendors, market women) perpetuated by security agencies as they enforce the new regulations aimed at social distancing (like stay home regulations, curfews and closure of business sectors). As various countries are devising tactics to ensure halting of the spread, women’s safety and security isn’t one of the priorities. There is a need therefore to include responses that ensure shelters and law enforcement spaces are open and able to receive people that will be affected. Similarly, as we work around response mechanism, women’s safety and security ought to be prioritized. For example, in Uganda a lock down announced from 1st April 2020; in a well-meaning move to keep markets open and to ensure women still can do business and; make sure women aren’t at risk to walk home at night; all people working in markets are required to sleep there and not go home (sleep in the markets where they work). Though this is a well-meaning measure it predisposes their lives to all kinds of risks and insecurity, sexual violence, encroaching on right to privacy and physical violence.

Gendered Access to COVID-19 Information

A survey carried out in 2014 by the Uganda Communications Commission found that only 6% of women in Uganda are online. A study conducted by WOUGNET in 2015 indicated that only 21% of women reported having used the internet, verses 61% for men. The gender gap in internet access in Uganda is real and perpetuated by a number of factors including limited access to the internet, lack of digital skills and empowerment of women, affordability of ICT services especially broadband connectivity, relevant content as well as safety of women online. These constraints hinder women’s ability to actively participate and influence ICT policy and decision-making processes.

Whereas 85% of the population lives in rural areas, 80% of internet users in Uganda are urban residents, according to the Ugandan Communications Commission. The fact that Mass Media is generally used to inform us about COVID brings to the fore issues such as: access even within us as women; poor women living in rural areas don’t have same access to information like the urban middle class. While some have an overflow, others are having little adulterated info.

Race. The Novel COVID-19 Virus originated in Wuhan City, China and later on spread throughout Europe and the Americas before it came to Africa in mid-march. Many western media outlets were in shock at how slow it was to reach Africa and for some time it was even speculated that Africans were immune to the virus. When the first case was reported in Africa, there were major news headlines like; “Corona virus finally comes to Africa” as if it was the long-awaited rains after a drought. These comments make prejudiced assumptions that all bad things have to come from Africa. It seemed like an abomination that for the first time, Africa wasn’t the origin of deadly viruses being spread out to the world. Asians are also a minority group and because this disease originated in China, there is increasing racial prejudice that the outbreak is somehow the fault of China. World over, there is an increased fear of Asians that is grounded in racism. It is further promoted by American President Donald Trump who insists on calling it the “Chinese virus” even after constant criticism on the racist connotations of calling it that. Racism towards Chinese is because as human beings, we build our prejudice on stereotypes and as such; by emphasizing that the corona virus is the ‘Chinese virus’, we are further entrenching exclusion and stigmatization based on color and race. Racists constantly find excuses to expound their hatred — and in this current backdrop of the corona virus, they’ve found yet another excuse. I just cannot imagine what would have happened to us had this virus originated in Africa.

Class. Class divides that are often camouflaged in access to health care, education, internet access, mobility, access to information etc. have been highlighted during this pandemic. Popular musician Madonna recently posted on Instagram about the fact that the Corona virus is now an equalizer because we are all susceptible to getting it. She came under fire for this post because it comes from a privileged perspective. Yes, we are all vulnerable but by no means has this virus equalized the world—-it has actually shed more light on the disparity in different social classes. Whereas Madonna, other celebrities and rich people have access to the best health care money can afford, many people are living below the poverty line and can barely afford health insurance. Whereas she can afford to stock up/ panic buy food in her home that can last her up to one year, many people are barely getting by and are living on scraps. In Uganda, some people say they would actually rather die of the virus than of hunger.

• The way the messaging of COVID-19 affects and is received by the various social classes of people. While those in urban areas have an overflow, people living in rural areas do not have enough information access in languages and simpler formats that they can understand and relate with. In regards to access to testing kits, while it is easier to get tested in urban areas, rural health centers aren’t equipped to test and manage cases of people affected with COVID-19.

• Working class Vs Manual laborers. Many of us that have desk jobs and can afford internet are comfortably working from home however, people in the informal sector like market vendors and factory workers who have been allowed to work, have to be encamped in cramped up tents and make shift shelters after they conduct their work because they are not allowed to go back home (to prevent the spread) and this puts their health and safety at risk as I mentioned earlier.

• Class was at play even within our own women’s movement and civil society fraternity with how long it took some leaders (who drive personal or organizational cars) to realize that the welfare of their staff (who use public transport) was at risk. A lot of rope pulling happened for many of them to finally cave in and let their staff work from home. Some even refused until the ban was made by the government.

• One of the prevention methods of the virus is by washing hands with water and soap which assumes that everyone has access to these basic needs–. In 2015, around 23 percent of the population lacked access to “at least basic water” in Uganda. Access to at least basic water was 39 percent of the total population, or 73% of the urban population and 32% of the rural population. Regarding sanitation, only 19% of the total population had access to “at least basic sanitation”, or 28% of the urban population and 17% of the rural population. Around 31 million people did not have access to “at least basic sanitation” in 2015(Wikipedia; Water supply and Sanitation in Uganda) The assumption of ‘washing hands with soap and water and using alcohol-based rubs’ also has social class connotations and doesn’t acknowledge the deeper structural differences in access, affordability and availability to water resources and sanitizers. Sanam Naraghi Anderlini in her article on “Women peace and security in the time of corona virus” alludes to class when she says, “Corona prevention messages have to be contextualized. There is no point in telling people to wash their hands with soap and water if there is neither soap or water.”

This pandemic has changed the shape and rhythm of our days and lives and we have all been affected by it in one way or the other. Adhering to the safety guidelines like practicing social distancing, isolation, quarantine and good hygiene (washing hands with soap and water and using alcohol-based rubs) to contain the spread of the virus is as an act of radical compassion for those around us, and ultimately ourselves.

Please take maximum care of yourselves by following guidelines from the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health. You can call the Ministry of Health toll free lines; 0800-100-066 or 0800-303-033 in case of any assistance needed.

Checking On You

website@sitemodify.com (Website Editor) — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 15:34:59 GMT

We’re currently facing a global pandemic. If you find yourself saying “dear God! What do I do?!” you’re not alone. You may also be feeling anxious, scared, alone or a mixture of all. We are with you. Thinking about you, sending you good energy and hoping you feel loved and cared for in this time.

A renegade bug is showing how deeply broken our system is. Beyond the absolutely critical tasks of taking care of yourself, harm-reduction, social distancing, hand-washing, and looking out for those around us who are most struggling, we as feminists must also make that brokenness plain. We do not get to choose the historic moments we are born into, but we do get to choose how we respond. And as we recover, and put our world back together, we have a chance to put it back together differently and better. In that spirit, we are taking time to check on you and make sure that you are taking good care of yourself. We are living in very unprecedented times where our deepest duty is to care and show sisterhood solidarity to one another. Try out these seven tings and see how they help you go through this time:

1. Take leadership in your spaces (Office, place of worship, neighborhood, family etc.). We sink or swim together! Our actions today and in the coming days must be oriented toward lifting up those on the frontlines and those that like us, maybe scared, anxious or affected by the virus. Try and do your part in these times, forgive someone’s debt, buy groceries for someone, offer paid leave, give your team time off, enable people around you access information, call and talk to someone, offer some encouragement. These are basic acts of solidarity that may help us get through this.

2. Follow simple rules. Like the coronavirus itself, which multiplies a simple cough into a global pandemic, we, too, by following simple rules — from washing hands to small acts of kindness to a flash mob in Italy that goes viral — can both defend against the virus and scale-up our activism.

3. Practice cultural Disobedience. Who knew that overthrowing patriarchy could help fight a virus, but consent culture is more important now than ever! It is not appropriate to touch or hug without asking first. We can elbow bump. We can bow. We can connect heart to heart instead of hand to hand. If slowing down and prioritizing care for loved ones is bad for the economy, then maybe it’s time for some new rules! Let’s prioritize compassion, provide needed services, and reclaim non-mainstream marginalized histories and experiences that show healthier ways of being.

4. Get creative. Business cannot remain as usual! What do you do when you can’t go out and organize mass protests? Get creative, as people all around the world are doing. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention and in response to this unprecedented moment, we are seeing a proliferation of creative tactics that build community and pressure the powerful. Be part of the solution, not the problem. Rituals can be a powerful tool for decreasing anxiety, building community, and unlocking the power of collective contemplation and action. Many faith leaders are responding to this moment by coordinating virtual services. Our familiarity with ritual makes it a great format for self-organizing.

5. Be careful with yourself and with others. Flatten the curve. So, we can rise up together for the long haul. Rest and joy are also radical acts. Stay home, restrict movements and if you must risk exposure, be careful.

6. Find opportunity to build a solidarity economy. Why wait when we can build the future now? Many of the actions we’re seeing are prefigurative interventions: mutual aid, free online classes, food sharing, buying local and spending more time in nature. This crisis can be an emergent opportunity to change oppressive policies for good. As J.M. Greer says, “Let’s turn new normals into new beautifuls.”

7. See things differently, change your perspective. Let us reframe our work and messaging toward a systems approach. “Social distancing” can be reframed as “spacious solidarity,” which connects us together in an act of taking space, rather than self-isolation. creative re-framing can help expose those oppressive structures as arbitrary and requiring systemic change.

If you're looking for support while we are under lockdown, you can connect with us by calling or writing back to us to let us know how you are taking care of you and extending solidarity to your community.

Please stay safe!

We Are Holding The Wrong People Accountable

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 08:47:21 GMT

The #MeTooUg movement really took shape at the beginning of 2020. Many young women came out to share their experiences of sexual violence as well as name and shame their abusers on various social media platforms. I celebrate these women, your stories are valid. I believe you.

Majority of the subsequent conversations on how we can curb this vice on and offline were centered around ways in which women can protect themselves from predators. This advice I find needs to be interrogated. Why is it only women who should be held accountable for their safety and yet we do not exist in this world by ourselves?

As a woman that lives in a society that blames women for literally everything that happens to them, I was not surprised by this approach. I however know for a fact that women don't rape themselves. ..rapists (who are usually always men), rape women!

I believe that we need a paradigm shift in what messages we curate for women and men. The responsibility to keep safe is emphasized and preached to the wrong party! We should stop placing the primary responsibility on safeguarding ourselves from rape on women who are usually, if not almost always, the victims. That responsibility is a heavy burden for women to carry in a world that 50% also belongs to them! Albeit, we should have messages that speak to how girls and women can protect themselves from predators, the bulk of that responsibility should lie to those that actually abuse them. In the same breath we ask women to protect themselves, we should also ask men to check their behaviour. It is up to parents and people educating children, to raise accountable and respectful children. We need to teach children that they are not entitled to having any control over other people's bodies. We need to check the toxic masculinity that children are exposed to. Lastly, Consent should be added to the curriculum.

We are all entitled to exist in this world as full human beings. Makafui Ahorney writes beautifully about this in her blog; The world belongs to women too

SISTERHOOD

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 07:33:26 GMT

For very many years I have struggled with a question; what is sisterhood? So, I tried to find out what it meant. Not so long after, I landed on a 2016 article on the internet in which Karmetria Dunham Burton – a successful woman with Delta Airlines – was being interviewed. This is what she had to say when asked what sisterhood meant to her;

Sist erhood is a bond between women who share common goals and can come together to move the agenda forward.

Sisterhood means, showing love, compassion and grace to other women in spite of race, religion, or socioeconomic status.

Empower, build up, motivate and encourage your sister. Share your story to encourage other women.

Below are some of the things I learnt from those brief statements;

Sisterhood is understanding – Being able to share your honest thoughts and feelings about your life, the space you occupy or live in, the people you allow into your life and who you keep out and why etc. Being your most authentic self with someone or a group of sisters is one of the greatest feelings and benefits of this to me. It’s a safe space to share and heal and cry especially when you feel like your back is against the wall. To call or open up to another woman or sister is to say “I trust you, I have your back, your feelings are valid and I believe in you.”
Sisterhood is empowering. A sister must love and honor herself before she can do the same for another sister. They say you cannot give what you don’t have. like attracts like and we can find each other to connect and share knowledge and resources. When women are empowered, their entire community and surrounding is empowered. Therefore, I believe there is no community empowerment without women’s empowerment.
Sisters are a secret place; they are your diary. Sisters know each other’s world, special talents and treasures.

As I continue to learn and understand sisterhood more, both in reading and practicing with those I have chosen, I will keep sharing.

Find yourself a sister!

What We Need More Of

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 06:11:14 GMT

Audre Lorde in 1983. Photograph: Robert Alexander/Getty Images

The movement is growing. The movement is evolving. Growth is beautiful and scary at the same time. Growth potentially has the power to either cause great doubt or cause great belief both of which could be dangerous if not responded to well.

Many a time our doubt may come from questioning our legitimacy in a struggle. Am I doing enough, am I doing it right, am I worthy, do I matter, is it the right space? The more one dwells on these questions, the more likely that they will begin to withdraw from the very core of the struggle that they so passionately signed up to.

I was recently reminded that in any struggle, protesters are the most celebrated because their work is most visible and yet not everyone can be a protester in a struggle.

Because of the visibility and clout that comes to visible protesters, the assumption is that we must all be built for street war which is far from the truth. This assumption more often than not causes many who may not be aware of their contribution in other ways to therefore feel inadequate.

Every struggle and revolution needs teachers. Patient teachers. Those who will never tire of transferring knowledge on the most basic of concepts of the struggle because everyday brings new learners. In this journey of feminism, we need teachers. Those who will walk the freshness of generations through any learnings they may need to be able to grasp the reason for the struggle.

Teachers more usually than not have an enviable relationship with time, they believe every student can learn, they never forget their calling which is to transfer knowledge, they are tolerant to new theories and delve into them attempting to understand how they fit into current realities.

They challenge old concepts and think broadly and widely.

They are not afraid to learn new things as well as acknowledge that the old no longer works.

Theirs is a field of learning each day so that those who come after them can have better.

We need more teachers in the feminist movement

TOXICITY

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 11:13:39 GMT

Toxic;/ poisonous, venomous, destructive.

“Your toxicity in your relationships with other people is actually an extension of the toxicity in your relationship with yourself.” – Brianna Wiest

Urban dictionary describes a toxic person as an individual who has a very negative and self-entitlement disorder outlook on life. So literally a Negative Nancy and I am sure we have all at some point encountered one. One way to tell you have a toxic person in your life is that every time you encounter or hang out with them, you feel exhausted, emotionally drained, and negative. There’s always something with this person. Most times toxic people are emotionally unhealthy people that try to project their insecurities on others.

My friends and I always have conversations the toxic people in our lives and in our conversations, we have realized that many of these people are people in positions of trust and high regard in our lives who have let us down in the most unimaginable ways. They are the people whose words or actions are where most or all of our insecurities are anchored. Subjecting yourself to toxicity is harmful no matter which form it takes.

This blog however, is not only about the toxic people in our lives. Its about you, me and our toxicity; Yes! the sad and bitter truth is sometimes we are the toxic people we are trying to avoid. Often times, we are quick to point out toxic people and forget to be honest and conscious of our own toxic tendencies.

In my learning journey, one of the lessons I’ve picked up is; people aren’t all good or all bad, they are complex and always evolving. This means that even the best kind of people to us have the potential to be toxic to someone else. There aren’t many relationships that are effortless therefore toxicity exists in all relationships. It is hard to realize who is being toxic if you don’t know what toxic behaviour is to begin with. I have highlighted some examples of toxic behaviour like; being controlling and selfish, being defensive, manipulative behaviour, gas lighting, negative talk, abuse and many others. Many times, toxicity is more subtle and very often, our reactions may be unconscious and we find ourselves behaving in ways we sometimes wish we didn’t. Sometimes it’s not what you say — it’s how you say it that is toxic. Sometimes it’s how you treat others or your attitude that is toxic, even if it’s not aimed at the person who is being affected by it. I found an article that speaks to this and here is an excerpt that speaks to our individual toxic ways;

“It is also true that other people’s collective response to us can tell us pretty much everything we need to know about who we are. It is a brutal course in self-awareness, to realize the pattern in the way people react to us tells us so much about how we are in the world. It can be hard to admit when you’re the problem. To realize you’ve played the victim instead of analyzing why others don’t want to be around you. To admit you get more out of your relationships than you give back. To be honest about making excuses for why you did something wrong or selfish to someone else. It is hard apologizing, not getting defensive, and accepting that you hurt someone instead of finding many excuses to prove that you didn’t. Being reactive is toxic; listening and communicating is the mature and healthy response. It’s also important to note that just because you’re not toxic to one person, or in one type of relationship, doesn’t mean you can’t be toxic in another.”-the ladders.com

Moving forward, there are ways in which we can check ourselves. I think that understanding what toxic behaviour is and admitting when you are the toxic one is the first step. Reflecting and being conscious of your own potentially toxic behaviour and realizing that it is possible to change is the next step. How you talk to yourself, what you eat, how healthy your personal choices are for your mental health are, and your own self-worth and insecurities are all tied into why you’re being toxic in the first place. Sometimes it’s not them; it’s you. Apologizing to people you have hurt can also go a long way in riding yourself of some of the toxic tendencies we carry.

In as much as we are quick to point out other people’s toxicity, we should also in the same breath be able to recognize and check our own behaviors. Our behaviour is just learnt that means it can be unlearned as well. Change is possible as long as you do the work. We need to hold ourselves accountable with the same energy we do others.

Until next time,

The Lady Sitter♥

Creating Safe Spaces at Work

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 14:13:11 GMT

Working in a pleasant and relaxed environment is everyone’s desire. We all desire to have personal items in our work spaces to make them feel more comfortable and inviting for us. Working in a positive and safe workplace impacts your well-being in a good way and gives you a better outlook on your career. It makes getting up for work in the morning a joy rather than a chore! This is what you feel when you walk into the Femme Forte office.

Green, Pink, purple, yellow, blue, turquoise, lime etc. are all the colors that welcome you when you walk into the space, with each room painted a particular color to signify a peace, a calmness, a safety and a niceness that the space gives while speaking of the occupant’s personality, giving a safe space for anyone who walks through the doors.

Every organization needs a safe space for its employees if they are to care for their employee's emotional and physical safety and if they are to get tangible results from them.

What does it mean to have a safe space?

It's hard to tell if you don't know your workers, so take some time to learn more about them. Don't be invasive, but get to know your team on a personal level so you can better provide for their needs. Safe spaces mean different things to different people, so don't just rely upon your preconceived philosophies of what your employees might want. Remember to learn not just about their personalities, but also how they handle conflict.

But how does one create a Safe Space?

1. Make space for open and equal discussions

2. Celebrate team wins

3. Have an open door policy

4. Show appreciation for everyone

5. Spend time together not working

6. Use anonymity where appropriate

7. Reflect back on the week together

8. Avoid micromanagement by creating trust

Creating a positive and safe environment in the workplace is vital for you and your team’s wellbeing and it can be effortlessly achieved. Try some of these tips and see if you feel a difference. Good luck

Organizations with Soul

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 13:48:13 GMT

The company we keep matters extremely to us. It frames how we learn and grow, our contentment and even the connotation we get out of life. It also happens to deeply impact our work.

For organizations that recognize this deeper nature of work, “two plus two” is not just four, such entities create a synergy between and within people that helps them bring more of themselves to work each day. As a result, these organizations function quite differently from ordinary organizations.

I am reading a book, Building Organizations with Souls by Hope Chigudu and Rudo Chigudu and it has opened my eyes to how organizations can have soul. You may tell me, hold on Evelyn, organizations do not have souls -- only people have souls. Previously I would have probably agreed with you but not anymore. You see, every organization, is created by people for people -- its employees, customers, stakeholders etc. I always say that people are the greatest and number one asset of any organization.

What does it mean to have soul?

Soul means lots of things to lots of people, but when you stroll into an organization that has it, you do feel somewhat different. Femme Forte is one organization that I have walked through and I have felt the difference.

When I speak of soul, I’m not talking about soft lights, choir music, the pristine, or the perfect. For me, it’s the lack of perfection that adds to a sense of soulfulness – just like the little twists we see in others add to their humanity. The uniqueness with which work is done, the setting of the space all that therein is soul.

Having soul should never be a reason for poor performance. The soulful organizations we see have little tolerance for ineffective behavior among our people. That said, there is a certain amount of messiness in these entities – the kind of messiness you’d expect when dealing with human nature, and human relationships.

Having organizational soul is speaking an intimate soul language with close friends which creates intimacy and vulnerability in the relationship. You invest in it. You invest time, care, and presence in this relationship. Consider how many times you walk past your neighbor, that boda boda man, your security guard at office or even your office colleague, saying hello without taking time to notice and ponder their response? We are so used to the usual greeting but our minds are either not ready to hear the answer or they are preoccupied with other things that we do not take time to be present with those around us. When you learn to speak the soul language and avoid the usual statements like “It’s nothing personal – just business,” in our speech, we will have brought soul to our work places.

This subject is a wide one and I would like to tackle it bit by bit as we go along so stay with me as we journey along to discover how we can have organizations with soul and move away from the conventional forms.

Sisterhood

Mon, 27 May 2019 12:36:03 GMT

"There is something about women coming together that seems to nourish and heal us at a deep level which is why sister circles are important"-Project Love

My favorite definition of sisterhood is, “ The solidarity of women based on shared conditions, experiences, and concerns.” My best friends and I physically meet up at least once a month to catch up and just talk about what is going on in our lives and to also see who is actually working out. Our sisterhood is a tribe and each of us are uniquely gifted. When we come together, we celebrate our individual wins and also share our struggles and shortcomings. Ours is a space where we are vulnerable with each other. Where we hold one another when joy seems far away. We also plan and lay strategies for our futures and we dream together.We really do spend hours on end talking about anything and everything. Our space is also our Accountability Circle where we call out each other on our bullshit and when we fail to meet our targets or do not live up to our potential. We constantly advise and listen to each other. As sisters we are present for each other no matter what.

I call my best friends sisters I chose. They are as lucky to have me as I am to have them. When I am with my chosen sisters, I am happy and I am free to be my most authentic self. Ours is a circle where we love, respect and understand one another. That is what sisterhood is to me. A sisterhood is a space of nourishment and love. A space where you easily unload your baggage and leave reloaded with joy. Sisterhood to me is a powerful healing force. It means safety, warmth and laughter.

We all need to experience the simplicity and power of Sisterhood. Your sisters should be the people you lean on and can count on no matter what. Your sisters should be the people that kill for you and ask questions later. Your sisters should be the people that can defend you in your absence. They should be your rock as you are for them because Sisterhood is reciprocity. Your sisters should always remind you of your greatness. They should be your hype women on days when you are not feeling yourself. Your Sisterhood should be a safe space to be your most authentic self.

Dear Daughter...

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 05:29:15 GMT

jackieasiimwe.wordpress.com

From inception, our organization has invested in incubating young organizations. We did this out of a recognition that we too have received love and support from others and it’s our honor and duty to pay it forward.
We provided the young organizations (one at a time) with rent free office space within our premises. They accessed training opportunities along with my staff. They ate with us and my staff provided their expertise, such as in finance management and strategic planning, for free.
This support was provided for at least six months to enable the new entities find their feet and start to fund and friend raise.
One of the organizations we incubated is called Femme Forte. Femme Forte was with us for most of 2018 and left at the end of that year. Femme Forte has established its own office space and yesterday my whole team and I went to visit them at their new home. It literally felt like visitation day and I wrote this letter to them as a parent visiting a daughter who left home.

Dear Daughter,

It feels like only yesterday when I was holding your hand, holding you, as you learned first to crawl, then to walk. You stumbled a few times but you always got up again. I heard you say your first words, form your first unintelligible sentences, and now, you’re writing books! Oh my!
I stand here as a proud Mama! I can’t believe that today, I’m visiting you in your home! You’ve grown into your own!
It feels like yesterday, when I’d anticipate your coming home, when I’d come to your room to check on you, when I’d feel content listening to your laughter in the corridor. It feels like yesterday when I’d watch you eat at the table, watch you bring new friends and introduce them to me.
I felt a pang, the day I watched you pack your bags, the day I walked into your old room and it was empty. I felt a pang when I sat down at the the table and you were not at your usual place. I felt a pang when I received your farewell gift.
It’s hard for any mother to let her child go. But today as I stand in your space, I’m proud you left home to become your own. My child you have grown. And there is still so much more growing and blossoming ahead of you.

If you learned nothing else from me, I hope you learned:
1. Excellence - in a world full of mediocrity, this will always set you apart. And you were made not just to fit in, but to stand out.
2. Generosity - you know my mantra - to whom much is given, much will be required. I gave you much. I know you know what’s required of you. Give like the king you are. Give like royalty!
3. Love - it must be the basis and foundation of the work you do. Let love motivate you. Let it be your raison d’etre.
4. Fun - don’t be afraid to let your hair down, run in the rain sometimes, do the things that keep you young and agile. Don’t forget to play! Be wild. Be you.
5. Gratitude - for every big and small thing in our lives. Gratitude keeps us humble, helps us notice and reminds us that there is so much good in our lives. Give thanks every day for everything. Don’t take anything for granted.

As I stand here today, I wish you every blessing. May you grow into the oak tree you are meant to be. You are a healing balm to the nations. You are a safe space and a safe place for every kind of young woman. Your ideas are fresh. You walk the road less traveled. You travail through hardships and you come out as gold. You are a teacher, you set the pace, you show the way. You will become a model for wellness of body, mind and soul. You are an organization with a soul.
You are your name. Femme Forte. Strong Woman.
I wish you well. Always.
Love,
Mama(Civsource Africa)

Equip Circles.

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Femme forte is a movement building entity that is mobilizing and equipping women to become better leaders who change the story towards an equitable society.

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to hold serious meetings in informal spaces? what would that look like? Would they be effective or would people be too relaxed to think? Do you ever wish you were in a space that didn’t scream deadlines and pressure yet, so serious it got your mind spiraling with ideas? I love such spaces! I am a very visual human, i love to sing , draw my ideas or even create a story around them so they don’t come off with as much intensity as i envision them, most times they are too big and scary. I love breaking things down, and helping others be on the same page with me. I, in fact miss my elementary and Sunday school Days, where we sang literally every thing and life was so sweet, no wonder we still remember most things we learned then. So, while we were dreaming for Femme Forte, We dreamed about such spaces and we baptized them Equip circles. These are learning spaces committed to conversations with the future.

Femme forte is a movement building entity that is mobilizing and equipping women to become better leaders who change the story towards an equitable society. We are seeking to build effective resilience to break barriers and reach new heights for women in Uganda. Our core areas of work involve mobilizing women, equipping them, Sharing (hearing and telling ) their story and Celebrating them. We love Women and believe in their advancement in the social, economic, political and spiritual spheres and we practice Integrity, sisterhood , Accountability, Feminist leadership and Equity.

We are at a turning point for women , where advances in women’s rights are at threat from rising fundamentalism’s, financial crises, political turmoil and back lash against feminism. Very important gains have been made in many frameworks , policies and laws that protect the rights of women, yet, the power dynamics that drive inequality between men and women remain in force at all levels. We, therefore envision a balanced society that provides equal opportunity to both men and women. So, how do you get young women to have honest conversations in a safe space that is not another boardroom meeting? How do you build trust away from the commonly abused “mentorship word ” How do you link the older generations of women to the younger women to share and learn, and grow? It starts with conversations in safe spaces like the Equip circles.

Femme Forte exists to strengthen pathways between young and older women who aspire to meaningfully contribute to the greater women’s movement in Uganda and the world. It has often been said that, “be careful what inner circle you choose, they are either adding value to you or reducing it” and because of this, some of us have become crippled by fear to engage and network in a bid to safe guard our space and not get hurt. Fear is a lie! Break away from it and be a river that flows into other peoples lives to add value to them. Our Equip Circles are learning spaces where we can overcome our fears and differences by bringing in innovations to support women in their various areas of leadership, be it at home, in the market place or even as they lead themselves. They are designed towards catering for the different women issues and needs which aren’t satisfied by the traditional formal learning spaces (i.e. library spaces, book clubs , board rooms etc)

These Equip Circles provide the type of space that women can drop in and use to discuss ideas, exchange knowledge, sharpen skills ,build on ideas , listen to one another, celebrate and mourn together or even just feel safe. They are a more relaxed environment, typically with soft furnishings. The concept behind the Circles is the learning environment created by these spaces which is very much focused on providing a learning and growing safe circle. Rather than creating formal learning spaces in our boardrooms and offices, our women are free to talk and are often permitted to eat and drink within these Equip Circles to enable them enough comfort to share and deal with real issues affecting their livelihood without shame or fear.

At the Equip circles, we learn, have fun, share good food , recognize and celebrate people’s contributions as often as possible. Laughter renews the human spirit, sharing food creates fellowship and recognizing people’s contributions and sharing credit generosity builds confidence and strengthens long term partnerships which foster candid conversations that enable growth.

We invite you to join us, as we build this movement of women who support fellow women by pushing ourselves to new heights. Our hope at the end of the day, is that we will have told our stories , sparked change and built a movement of fearless women around Uganda who change the stories in their communities by each one equipping and supporting another woman. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter @ FemmeForteUg , or subscribe @ www.femmeforteug.org . Let us Mobilize and equip women for an equitable society !!!

16 Circles and Growing

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 14:44:52 GMT

A resolution to break barriers and foster resilience in the struggle towards equality.

Last year Femme Forte opened up shop. A social movement towards equality for both women and men.

A resolution to break barriers and foster resilience in the struggle towards equality. As we started, we had reached out to a number of women both young and old on what sort of space they would have loved to see serving them. The responses we got were overwhelming and ranged from the design and ambience of office to proposed programming. One thing was for sure, our work had been cut out and the expectation great.

We started the year with putting dreams to paper and developed our draft strategy which was edited every month of the year 2018. We wanted to do everything in the strategy but it was not possible.

And so we embarked on growing our Equip Circles. These are circled of learning and growth. In the equip circles, we do three things.
1.Mobilise for the movement
And many asked why mobilise for the movement. Simple, the movement is in transition. Never has Uganda seen a population this young with an average age of 15 and the 15 year old most likely to be female. Secondly, we had mapped out our leaders and envisioned them 10 years from today and we needed to start fitting in their shoes. Lastly, every meeting we attended around the movement was around the absence of young women in the space and so we decided grow and build we would. On interacting with a number of the young women, many didn't understand the movement or the rich history behind it and hence didn't throw their weight behind it in a bid to fight for equality and so this too became a song we sang last year

2. Equip
Because these are learning circles, it was and still is important that the ladies that came in were learning and so we advised that circles be joined around an area in which the ladies felt the need to grow in knowledge and skill

3. Tell the story
The narrative of the average young woman today is shaped by the media and what she reads most of which is external about who she is. And so we sought to change the narrative story by story. Every woman that walks into our space has a story that will bring healing to many and so it is our dream that every story is told in its most authentic self so more young women are inspired.

Last year we did 16 circles on various topics which included: Growing of Finances, Love, Mental Health, Feminism, self Care, organisation growth to mention but a few.

This year we are looking to 1000circles of learning. We hope that through these circles we will find you and we will work together.

The Future is Bright
The ceiling must be Broken
And the Story Must be Told!

OUR THOUGHTS

The Feminist Internet We Deserve: Reimagining Digital Spaces for Women and Girls

The Challenge: Digital Inequality and Online Violence

The Legal Ground: Digital Rights Are Women’s Rights Too

Systemic Failure and Lack of Representation

A Way Forward: Building the Feminist Internet We Deserve

Conclusion

Leadership Transition at Femme Forte Uganda

Press Release

Will Uganda’s Young People Reclaim the Democratic Promise?

Uganda’s Silence is Violence: A Feminist Call for Revolutionary Sexuality Education

The State of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Uganda: A Crisis Engineered by Silence

Who Blocks Progress? Naming the Gatekeepers

A Feminist Way Forward: Truth as Resistance

The Revolution Will Not Be Whispered

References

Analysis of the "Crack the Whip on Abortion Merchants" Editorial from the Daily Monitor, Through the Lens of Femme Forte Uganda's Feminist Vision

Summary of the Editorial Stance

Critical response to the editorial

So how do we practice Feminist Reimagining together?

References

When It First Came: Five Voices on Period Beginnings

Stop Begging for Our Lives: The Cost of Donor-Controlled SRHR in Uganda and the Feminist Path to Autonomy

Women, Land, and the Weight of Culture in Uganda

The Delicate Dance Between Uganda’s Civil Society and Technology Ahead of the 2026 Elections

Social Media Regulation

So what does all this mean for civic space and organizing?

Profits, Power, and Possibilities: A Feminist Call to Rethink Investment in Uganda

What Wellness Really Looks Like for African Women

Honoring Our Past, Shaping Our Future: Our Chief Steward's Speech at the Femme Forte Museum Launch

The Full Speech by Penelope Sanyu, the Chief Steward of Femme Forte Uganda

Celebrating Women's Day Amidst a Menstrual Hygiene Crisis: A Call to Action

Press Statement

A Home for Our Stories: The Virtual Museum of African Feminist Icons

A Museum that Feels Like Home - By Penelope Sanyu

Femme Forte Uganda Announces the Launch of Her Virtual Museum Honoring African Feminists

The Global Gag Rule: A Death Sentence for Bodily Autonomy and SRHR

My Period Has Gone on Strike!

End of Year Message from our Chief Steward

A Tribute to Mr. Norbert Ndawula

IT SHOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO STEAL!

Closing the Gender Gap in Intellectual Property: Women and the Sustainable Development Goals Connection

Food and Your Menstruation Cycle!

A Fond Farewell and Celebration: Honoring Patience’s Journey with Femme Forte Uganda

A Feminist Force: Celebrating Norah's Journey

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Understanding Types, Legal Frameworks, and Effective Solutions.

Newsletter: August/September 2022

Sexual and Gender Based Violence and Mental Health.

Making Trade Work For Women - Roadside Vending During COVID-19

Making Trade Work For Women - Street Vending During COVID-19

Making Trade Work For Women - Food Vending During COVID-19

Single Motherhood in time of COVID-19: An inter sectional analysis needed in addressing Women’s trade needs post COVID-19

Not just all women but single mothers and other categories of socially discriminated women should be considered for Post COVID-19 business relief.

What Next?: COVID-19 & Women’s Economic Empowerment

It’s time to leverage digital platforms for women’s small business growth post COVID-19 in Uganda.

On COVID-19 & Its Effects on Gender Equality

Statement: Our Commitment to Accountability

Beaten, Perplexed but not Crashed: Informal Workers in the Face of COVID-19

Singing a New Song of Self-Love: Revolutionizing Self-Care in the Times of COVID-19

Is Solidarity a Thing For Privileged Women?

Of 5 Hairs and Broomstick Legs

Corona Virus: A Financial Burden on Women

Effects Of Corona Virus on Uganda's Economy

Saving Money Is a Very Special Aspect Of Life

Analyzing COVID-19 with a Feminist Lens

Checking On You

We Are Holding The Wrong People Accountable

SISTERHOOD

What We Need More Of

TOXICITY

Toxic;/ poisonous, venomous, destructive.

Creating Safe Spaces at Work

Organizations with Soul

Sisterhood

Dear Daughter...

jackieasiimwe.wordpress.com

Equip Circles.

Femme forte is a movement building entity that is mobilizing and equipping women to become better leaders who change the story towards an equitable society.

16 Circles and Growing

Analysis of the "Crack the Whip on Abortion Merchants" Editorial from the Daily Monitor, Through the Lens of Femme Forte Uganda's Feminist Vision