Building the leadership capacities of women.

The 1995 constitution of Uganda provides for affirmative action for women, youth, workers and people with disabilities in order to ensure their representation in political decision-making at all levels. Further more the local government act guarantees a 1/3 quota for women on all local government councils. Although the affirmative action policy has lead to an increase in the number of women in the nation and local legislatures, they are still a minority. The many women newcomers as a result of the first multi-party elections in February 2006 are inexperienced and need assistance if they are to effectively participate in the policy-making processes. Their capacities need to be enhanced to focus debates on the critical issues and to articulate their gender specific concerns. By enhancing women’s effectiveness, FOWODE expects qualitative change in the agendas of the national and local legislatures. Women candidates will help to increase the numbers and quality of women joining political decision-making. Civic education is needed to engage and inform the masses about the importance of women’s participation in politics and also to counter the negative culture and religious attitudes towards women’s participation in politics.

Strategic objective for WDMP: To enhance the capacity women leaders for increased numbers visibility and impact in decision making at national and local government levels.