Pamoya

WOUGNET Update Newsletter - November 2004
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A monthly electronic newsletter from Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) -
http://www.wougnet.org
For comments or queries, contact info [at] wougnet [dot] org
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This month's contents:
1. Women Organisations in Uganda
2. Links & Resources
3. WOUGNET News

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We apologise for non-issue of the October 2004 WOUGNET Update Newsletter.
This was due to connectivity problems we experienced last month, which
thankfully, have now been resolved.
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WOMEN ORGANISATIONS IN UGANDA
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= Council for Economic Empowerment of Women in Africa (CEEWA - Uganda)
CEEWA-Uganda's mission is to promote the economic empowerment of women
through advancement of women's concerns in the economic development
process. Among its activities, with the support of IDRC and Hivos,
CEEWA-Uganda is implementing an ICTs Project to promote Community Economic
Empowerment. CEEWA is a regional organisation with chapters in Kenya,
Lesotho, Mali, Senegal, Burkinafaso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia,
Malawi and South Africa.
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/ceewau.html

= Kabaawo Women's Savings & Credit Development Association (KWOSCDA)
KWOSCDA's mission is to have a group of women engaged in economic
activities for improved families. KWOSCDA in July 2003 expanded and
improved its farming project through acquisition of a Friesian cow, Ngabo.
Since August 2003, Ngabo provided to the families and children within the
community with high quality milk. Ngabo, was only four months pregnant,
when the members of KWOSCDA were drastically hit with sad news on the 23rd
August 2004, when NGABO the only Friesian cow, they had acquired, broke out
of the farm and fed on poisonous Polythene bags, resulting into her
untimely death. We are appealing and seeking for friends around and abroad,
to come to our assistance, to enable us replace Ngabo, and continue with
the project.
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/kwoscda.html

= Isis-WICCE: Launch of study report Â"Women, Armed Conflict and Food Security"
Isis-WomenÂ's International Cross Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE) launched
the study of Â"Women, Armed Conflict and Food Security: An Exploratory Study
of Mbarara, Kasese, Bugiri and KitgumÂ" report on Wednesday 1st September
2004. The idea of the study was to document womenÂ's experiences in areas of
armed conflict and how this impacts on Food Security. In addition, it was
necessary to make comparison to find out the disparity between food
security in conflict and non-conflict areas. Hence the study was carried
out in Kitgum and Kasese (Conflict areas) and Mbarara and Bugiri
(Non-conflict areas).
For more information, contact isis [at] starcom [dot] co [dot] ug
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/isis.html

= Kabale Women's Guidance and Counseling Services Conference, September
11, 2004
K.W.G.C.S has been holding an annual general conference with the aim of
bringing together women for a variety of activities. This year, the theme
was "The
Benefit of Guidance and Counseling to an Individual". The conference took
place in one of the villages from which there is a group member of the
project, in Rwene, Buhara sub-county. The guest of honour was the Kabale
Resident District Commision. Four group members meet with a number of about
450 people present.
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/kwgcs.html

= UWONET: Launch of the WomenÂ's Minimum Demands To Political Parties
In October 2004, UWONET launched "Women's Minimum Demands To Political
Parties". UWONET is disseminating the keynote address at the launch as a
useful resource in the current process of engendering the political
transition. The keynote address presented by Ms. Sarah Mukasa and entitled
"Addressing WomenÂ's Demands in The Transition Process" is available online
at: http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/uwonet.html#WDTP

= Baroness Janet WhitakerÂ's Dialogue with Ugandan Women Organisations
The meeting of Baroness Janet Whitaker with Ugandan women organisations was
convened by the United Nations Fund for women Empowerment (UNIFEM) in
conjunction with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with the aim
of sharing information with organizations working to promote gender
equality and womenÂ's empowerment in Uganda. It was intended to provide
Baroness Janet Whitaker with an insight into the plight of Ugandan women
especially in her capacity as an active member of the UK UNIFEM committee ­
promoting gender equality and women empowerment. A report of the meeting is
available online at:
http://www.wougnet.org/Meetings/WOUGNETevents.html#BJW

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LINKS & RESOURCES
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a) Business

= New Workspace on ICT-based Enterprises for Women in Development

A new project is starting to investigate how ICT-based enterprises can
improve women's livelihoods in developing countries.
We invite you to join our workspace on this topic and to share your
experience, ideas and resources. This will help us build knowledge: about
the impacts of such enterprises on women, their lives and livelidhoods; and
about business models and strategies for developing such enterprises. In
turn, we will
share this back with you.
To join us, please click the word "Join" via Web page:
http://www.dgroups.org/groups/WomenICTEnterprise
Alternatively, send a short message requesting to join to:
richard [dot] heeks [at] man [dot] ac [dot] uk
For your information, we include in "ICT-based enterprises", data entry,
programming, Web design, ICT training, ICT consulting, and other activities
where ICTs are fundamental to the enterprise. We believe these represent
an important and growing path through which to create wealth and skills for
women in poor communities. We will be sharing experiences and lessons from
ICT-based enterprise projects as we proceed.
This project is funded by the UK's Department for International Development
and co-ordinated by IDPM, at the University of Manchester, UK.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/business.html#ICTE

b) Development

= Another Life International (ALiWA)
Operating in Wakiso District, ALiWA's mission is to raise many from poverty
to prosperity, from ruins to riches and to inspire people to have a reason
to live.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/development.html#ALIWA

= Nile Basin Resource Centre Programme (NBRCP) - Uganda
Operating in Northern Uganda, NBRCP's mission is to be a front runner in
the alleviation of poverty in the country and stop further spread of HIV/AIDS.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/development.html#NBRCP

= Science and Development Network October 2004 Newsletter
The Science and Development Network is delighted to
announce that the new edition of the Africa Newsletter, focusing on science
communication and gender issues, is now available. Coinciding with the news
that Kenyan environmental activist and politician (and former scientist)
Wangari Maathai has won the Nobel Prize for Peace, the October newsletter
includes profiles of women scientists and women science journalists as well
as reporting on some innovative science communication projects. Go to
http://www.scidev.net/africanewsletter/scidev-africa-oct04.pdf to download
the PDF document or email africa [at] scidev [dot] net to receive a print copy.
To register for regular updates from SciDev.Net, go to
http://www.scidev.net/register

c) Education

= Nyaka AIDS Orphans School
The mission of Nyaka AIDS Orphans School is to provide quality, free
education and extracurricular activities, both formal and informal, to
children who have been orphaned due to HIV/AIDS as a means to counteract
pervasive hunger, poverty, and systemic deprivation.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/education.html#NAOS

d) Human Rights

= ECCA: Child Domestic Violence and Child Sexual Abuse in Rakai District,
Uganda

This report is an output of a rapid assessment study on trends of Child
Sexual Abuse (CSA) and Child Domestic Violence (CDV) that was conducted by
Empower Children and Communities against Abuse (ECCA) between April and May
2004 in Rakai District, South Western Uganda. The overall objective was to
seek views of children and adults on Child Domestic Violence and Child
Sexual Abuse. In September 2002, ECCA developed a unique partnership with
Rakai Health Science Program (RHSP), formerly known as Rakai Project, that
commissioned ECCA to build the capacity of HIV/AIDS and Reproductive health
counsellors to handle Domestic Violence (DV) related cases. Among the
issues that emerged during the training were limited local capacity in
Rakai district to provide services and support for GBV related matters
especially Domestic Violence and its effects on children. It was against
this background that the Rapid Assessment Study in Rakai District was
commissioned. A copy of the report is available online at:
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/eccaug.html#CDVR04

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WOUGNET News
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= Report on WOUGNET workshop "Women's health: The role of ICTs"

The report summarizes the proceedings of the Â"WomenÂ's Health: The Role of
ICTsÂ" workshop, which was held on August 19, 2004 at Hotel Africana, Kampala.
With support from Hivos, WOUGNET organized this workshop to explore the
opportunities that ICT can bring about in the enhancement of womenÂ's health
related issues in Uganda. The half-day workshop drew participation of 48
representatives from government, women organisations and other
non-governmental organisations around the country. Participants noted
follow-up issues should include:
- Family planning within the communities
- Economic empowerment of women through ICTs as it an impediment to womenÂ's
health
- The role of youth in ICT
- Tailoring ICTs to womenÂ's health
- Specific interventions to enhance women to harness ICTs for health
A copy of the report is available online at:
http://www.wougnet.org/Meetings/WOUGNETevents.html#WHICT

= WOUGNET@AITEC Uganda Annual Exhibition, September 15-17, 2004

WOUGNET exhibited at the 11th annual AITEC (Advancing ICT Knowledge in
Africa) exhibition at the Nile International Conference Centre, with a
complementary stand provided by AITEC. The exhibition was organised by
AITEC and was sponsored by TOSHIBA and the New Vision newspaper.
The exhibition was organised under the theme: Â"Integrating Information and
Communication Technologies in Human LivelihoodsÂ". The Minister of State in
charge of Communication in the Ministry of Works, Housing and
Communications, Hon. Michael Werikhe, officially opened the exhibition.

WOUGNET exhibited in the ICT for Development pavilion with SchoolNet
Uganda, Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST),
Computer Aid International (CAI), Uganda Communications Commission (UCC),
and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

The WOUGNET exhibit included demonstrations of the WOUGNET website, and the
WorldSpace Satellite Radio setup. Other materials exhibited were WOUGNET
brochures and materials from members and partners. Copies of the WOUGNET
GEM Evaluation (of the WOUGNET website and mailing lists) were also
available as were copies of APC's Â"ICT policy: A Beginners HandbookÂ".

A total of 160 people signed the guest book at the WOUGNET stand and
commended WOUGNET for the work being done, especially in enlightening women
and individuals in Uganda in the use of ICTs by enhancing their capacities
for exchange, collaboration and information sharing.

= Call for expressions of interest: Refurbished Computers
As a result of the WOUGNET – Computer Aid Partnership, a shipment of
refurbished Pentium II and III computers will be leaving the UK this month
bound for Kampala. A total of 210 computers are available for NGOÂ's,
non-profit organisations and schools. The computers are priced at 100
Pounds Sterling each and come with a 1-year warranty. All interested please
contact the WOUGNET program officer, Milton Aineruhanga, by email at
info [at] wougnet [dot] org or call 041 256832 for more details and to make a booking.

Similarly, we extend an invitation to anybody that would like to volunteer
their technical skills in helping the various beneficiaries setup their
computers. Again, all interested please get in touch with Milton
Aineruhanga as indicated above.

= WOUGNET – RANET Uganda Partnership: WorldSpace satellite receivers
WOUGNET in collaboration with the RANET Uganda project, under the
Metrological Department, are developing a project to facilitate access to
monthly and seasonal climate and weather information for WOUGNET members
via the WorldSpace Satellite Radio system.

Project Objectives
- Generate and disseminate to farming communities, in particular women
farmers, high quality and up-to-date information to ensure high farm yields.
- Improve the capacity of farmers and women organizations to use ICTs in
the Agricultural sector.
- Integrate ICT in agriculture for increase productivity.

RANET Uganda will obtain seasonal and monthly climatic and weather
forecasts from the Uganda Metrological Department, which they will upload
to the WorldSpace Satellite to be downloaded by the various sites with
WorldSpace receivers.

As we await the arrival of the WorldSpace receivers, we would like lay the
foundation for the project with a series of needs assessment and
sensitisation meetings with potential beneficiaries of the project.
Therefore, may WOUGNET member organisations that are interested in
participating in the project please let us know. Priority will be given to
organisations dealing with farmers especially women farmers, but all
members are free to apply.

For further information or for clarification, contact Milton Aineruhanga,
WOUGNET Program Officer, at:
Tel: (041) 256832
Email: info [at] wougnet [dot] org
Office: Room 13, Plot 59 Nkrumah Road

= Launch of WOUGNET News - Call for articles

With support from Hivos, WOUGNET will launch a print quarterly newsletter
in an to reach out and share information with a wider audience than can
currently access the Internet. As preparations towards the second World
Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) step into high gear, the maiden
issue will focus on gender concerns with ICT policy processes in Uganda. A
copy of Uganda National ICT Policy Framework is available online at:
http://www.wougnet.org/ICTpolicy/ug/ugictpolicy.html
For information on how to contribute to the newsletter, send email to
.

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