The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | The Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) is holding the 4th National Women’s Week through several topical discussions on matters policy running up to October 27 in Kampala.
The event that started on Oct.19, according to Rita Aciro-Lakor, the Network’s executive director is discussing socio-economic and political issues that would support women to overcome life challenges and improve welfare.
Aciro said that affirmative action, health and education, leadership, technology, land and property rights, domestic violence are some of the topics being discussed.
“We are trying to find ways of doing things differently,” Aciro said at one of the events.
Speaking on behalf of the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda Presidents, John Kakembo, at Imperial Royale Hotel on October 19, said they are committed to contributing to the fight against gender violence.
He said religious institutions provide space for healing and reconciliation for those affected by domestic violence.
He urged families to take advantage of faith networks and work across faiths to remind communities that gender based violence violates dignity and human rights. He said that religious institutions should work with policy makers and other partners to formulate policies targeting GBV.
Speaking on day two of the event at Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) on Oct.20, Hope Nankunda, the executive director for Raising Teenagers Uganda urged girls in schools to avoid early pregnancy and take up individual leadership tasks in an effort to support community empowerment and economic transformation.
“Life is about service and you don’t have to be a leader to serve,” Nankunda said.
She was speaking at the Girls Arise Conference on a topic; ‘young people engaging in campaigns for the rights of fellow young people’ targeting students who were picked from a few schools and universities.
Speaking at the same event, Irene Kituyi from Women in Technology Uganda urged students to focus on Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) because they would provide opportunities in their future.
“Technology is becoming the foundation for everything we are doing today; it is taking away jobs but creating some like for social media managers,” Kituyi said.
She said that girls have potential and power to take lead in STEM.
This particular conference was held under the theme ‘growing our ranks; inspiring the next generation.’
Other activities running during the week are; press conferences, research symposium, women’s week conference, pro-bono camp, and UWONET housewarming, Fresher’s camp at Makerere University and Women’s Movie Night and more.
The weeklong event is running under the general theme ‘crossing barriers, building bridges: unleashing collective power.”
