WOUGNET Update Newsletter - May 2004

[Dorothy Okello <dokello@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

WOUGNET Update Newsletter - May 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@xxxxxxxxxxx
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This month's contents:
1. Women Organisations in Uganda
2. Documents on Women's Issues in Uganda
3. ICT Policy
4. Links & Resources
5. Project News and Events
6. WOUGNET News

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WOMEN ORGANISATIONS IN UGANDA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

= Tusubira Women's Group (TUWOGRO)
  http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/tuwogro.html
Operating in Jinja, TUWOGRO's mission is to be responsible, self reliant and
developmental women in our homes and society at large.
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#TUWOGRO


= FOWODE: Internship Program for Young Women Leaders
  Application deadline: 5th May 2004
Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) is a non-partisan organisation whose
mission is to promote gender equality in all decision-making through advocacy,
training, research and publishing. This year FOWODE has started an internship
program for young women.
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/fowode.html#IPYWL


= Advertisement for the post of executive Secretary - NUWODU
National Union of Women with Disabilities of Uganda (NUWODU) is an indigenous
umbrella organisation that brings together all categories of women and girls
with disabilities purposely to have a strong voice for a common cause,
particularly to defend, protect the rights and advocate for equal opportunities
for women and girls with disabilities. NUWODU is seeking to a suitable person
to fill the post of an Executive Secretary. The deadline for applications is
May 14, 2004.
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/nuwodu.html


= Isis-WICCE: IT Training Announcement
Isis-WICCE announces that the Information Technology Training programme for
women and girls is registering interested persons for the following
sessions; 
a) INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS AND MS WORD (starting the week of 10 - 15th May up
to the end of the month) 
b) THE INTERNET AND RELATED APPLICATIONS (starting 1st week of June) 
Fee: Ug. Shs. 25,000 per package.
Each session accommodates 20 persons. If you are interested please register
with Irene Tusiime at Isis-WICCE. Priority is for women and girls. 
Contact:
Tel: (041) 543953
Email: isis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Trainees will have free access to the Internet during the training period. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/isis.html#ITT


= UWOPA announces new executive
Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) held its elections on 23rd March
2004, and the names of the new Executive members are available online. Also
available is a copy of UWOPA's Women's Day Supplement "Re: Examining the role
of UWOPA in enhancing women's participation in Parliament of Uganda 1989 -
2003".
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/uwopa.html


= Association of Women Engineers, Technicians and Scientists in Uganda (WETSU)
WETSU's mission is to promote girls and women's participation in engineering,
scientific and technological education and work so as to enhance development
and uplift the status of women.
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/wetsu.html


= UCWDC Quarterly Progress Report for the Period January - April 2004
In line with the objective of improving food security and household incomes,
for the period, Uganda Church Women Development Centre (UCWDC)'s activities
focused on the Food Security and Household Incomes Improvement Project. The
project is piloted with 6 women and 2 men of Bufuula Miracle Centre Church in
Mafubira sub-County, Jinja District. The women were targeted since they have
plots of agricultural land which they controlled but were unable to cultivate
or develop due to resource constraints. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/ucwdc.html#Q12004



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DOCUMENTS ON WOMEN'S ISSUES IN UGANDA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

= Sisterhood? The Casual Link Between Gender-Focused NGOs and the Grassroots 
  Women of Uganda (Mary Ssonko Nabacwa, 2001) 
This is an exploratory study that sought to analyse the causes of the gaps
between the policy advocacy work of gender focussed NGOs at the national level
and the realities of the grassroots women in Uganda. The study was designed to
identify the factors that affect the effectiveness of policy advocacy work
aimed at empowering grassroots women, its linkages with the issues of women at
the grassroots level and make recommendations for improvement. 
The study was based on qualitative methods of data collection and analysis.
Data was collected from six key informants from National Association of women
organisations in Uganda (NAWOU), Uganda Women's Network (UWONET), OXFAM, Forum
for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), Federation of Uganda Women Lawyers (FIDA) and
ActionAid Uganda (AAU). It is also based on secondary data from past literature
on the subject and from the above NGOs. Thirdly the study is based on the
active participation of the writer in the advocacy by gender focussed NGOs at
the national level for the past three and half years and having worked in Rakai
World Vision Uganda Project from 1994 to 1997.
The document is available online at:
http://www.wougnet.org/documents.html#SADV



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ICT POLICY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

= ICT Policy: A Beginner's Handbook
More copies of "ICT Policy: A Beginner's Handbook" are available for sale at
the WOUGNET office. Published by the Association for Progressive
Communications, the book "takes the mystery out of information and
communications technology (ICT) policy. Whether you are a member of a civil
society organisation, a researcher, an activist, a journalist looking for
background information, or someone simply interested in the topics". While the
area of concern includes many kinds of ICTs, the book's focus is centered on
the internet.
The book has four parts. The first part explains what is meant by ICT policy,
and why it is important. Part Two looks at what makes the internet different
from other media and ICTs, and seeks to explain why present internet use is
inequitably distributed. Part Three explains policy and regulation, how policy
is decided, who the main players are, and what can be done to ensure that
policy decision-making is transparent and participatory. Part Four considers
specific themes in ICT policy, with a focus on the internet.
To obtain a copy of the handbook, contact Hadijah Namumbya, WOUGNET Information
Officer, at the WOUGNET Office (Room 13, Plot 59 Nkurumah Road). The book is
25,000 Uganda Shillings. For further information, contact Hadijah at (041)
256832 or (077) 910500 or stop by the WOUGNET office.


= Draft E-Government Sector Working Group Document
Following the November 2003 stakeholder workshop on development of national ICT
strategy for Uganda, a number of sector focal institutions and sector working
groups were formalized. Among these groups is the E-Government Sector Working
Group. The group proposes to host a public meeting in May 2004 to review and
gather further input to the E-Government strategy document (available online as
800 kB zipped document):
http://www.wougnet.org/ICTpolicy/ug/ugictpolicy.html 


= Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA)
Launched in February 2003, the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for
Africa (FOSSFA) is determined to develop local capacity and create jobs in
Africa by developing an OSS market that will initially target the public sector
in government, health and education. FOSSFA announces the new url for its
website: http://www.fossfa.net
http://www.wougnet.org/ICTpolicy/opensource.html#FOSSFA



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LINKS & RESOURCES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a) Development

= Kasubi Community Development Association (KACODA)
Operating in Kampala, Kiboga and Mubende districts, KACODA's mission is to
offer support to families affected most by the social and economic effects of
HIV/AIDS by providing to enable them have livelihoods.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/development.html#KACODA



b) Health

= Buwaiswa Children's Home - Kamuli Uganda (BCH-UGANDA)
Operating in Buwaiswa, Kamuli, Eastern Uganda, BCH-UGANDA's mission is to look
after the HIV/AIDS affected/infected, abandoned children and children from the
war torn areas.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/health.html#BCHU


= vivo Uganda
vivo is an alliance of professionals experienced in the fields of
psychotraumatology, international health, humanitarian aid, scientific
laboratory and field research, sustainable development and human rights
advocacy. vivo Uganda was founded in February 2004, and vivo's immediate focus
in Uganda will be the current humanitarian emergency in Northern Uganda. vivo
aims to build-up a mental health intervention model, that offers psychological
rehabilitation and re-integration services for the most affected population
groups in this region.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/health.html#VIVO


= AEGiS - AIDS Education Global Information System
AEGiS began in the mid-1980s and is a web-based reference for HIV/AIDS-related
information. Through a keyword-searchable knowledgebase, AEGiS offers
information via HIV/AIDS specific publications and news sources from around the
world. In addition, an array of reference materials are offered. Information
from African countries is available at
http://www.aegis.org/links/africa-index.asp. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/health.html#AEGIS



c) ICT-related organisations and resources

= NetTel@Africa
The overall goal of the NetTel@Africa is to make the provision of ICT more
efficient and ubiquitous to the citizens of targeted countries. Achievement of
the goal will require improved policy and regulatory reform and increased
private sector investment in ICT (telecommunications sector). To this end,
NetTel@Africa seeks to strengthen the capabilities of policy making and
regulatory bodies, private sector operators, consumer advocacy groups and
academic institutions that can assist with sustained capacity building in the
ICT sector. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/ictresources.html#NetTel


= Research ICT Africa!
Research ICT Africa! seeks to fulfil a strategic gap in the development of a
sustainable information society and knowledge economy on the African continent
by building information communication technology (ICT) policy and regulatory
research capacity in Africa needed to inform effective governance. Through a
network of African researchers it will generate the information and analysis
needed to inform appropriate but visionary policy formulation and effective
regulation of ICTs across Africa. It will embark on sustained and rigorous
research to provide decision-makers with the data and analysis to make informed
decisions in the public interest. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/ictresources.html#RIA
 

= Catalysing Access to ICT in Africa (CATIA)
The CATIA programme aims to enable poor people in Africa to gain maximum
benefit from the opportunities offered by Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) and to act as a strong catalyst for reform. It will support a
package of strategic activities to improve affordable access to the full range
of ICTs, from Internet to community radio. This programme is focussed on the
need for ICTs to address social and economic development issues. It will be
working to help build capacity across Africa to achieve sustainable change.
CATIA is a three-year programme of the Department for International Development
(DFID) in close collaboration with other donors and role players (e.g. Sida,
IDRC, CIDA, USAID and Cisco). It will be implemented in close coordination with
the Canadian government's Connectivity Africa initiative. CATIA is being
managed by Atos KPMG Consulting from a programme office in Johannesburg, South
Africa. The programme will end in April 2006. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/ictresources.html#CATIA



d) General Resources

= University Volunteer Network under the UNITeS Initiative
UNITeS, the UN Information Technology Service, promotes and facilitates
volunteer engagement to build peoples' and institutions' capacities to benefit
from the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in various
development areas. UNITeS builds and coordinates a global network of
Universities that share the common interest to help narrowing the Digital
Divide. By involving the academic community through the University
Volunteer Network, UNITeS expands both human and knowledge resources for
capacity building on the uses of Information and Communication Technologies
(ICT) for Development. Students and academic staff of UNITeS partner
universities contribute their knowledge and skills to selected development
projects and build the capacity of individuals and organizations on the
application of ICT to various development issues. At the same time they gain
practical professional experiences and complement research with social action.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/generalresources.html#UVN


e) Human Rights

= A Response by the Coalition on the NGO Bill (CONOB) to the Draft Report 
  of the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs 

In 2001, a Bill to amend the Non-Governmental Organisations Registration Act
Cap 113 was tabled in Parliament from where it was referred to the Committee on
Defence and Internal Affairs for scrutiny. The Bill has been considered by the
Committee and withdrawn on a number of occasions. The NGO community had
occasion to critically review the Bill and present its views to the Committee.
Our conclusion remains that the Bill if passed in its present form would
violate fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution and
internationally recognised standards and democratic practice. 
Presently, the Committee has compiled a Draft Report which it is in the process
of presenting to Parliament. The Coalition on the NGO Bill has analysed the
Report and is exceedingly concerned that its Recommendations do not
fundamentally depart from the Bill. A copy of the NGO Response is available
online at:  
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/hurinetu.html




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Project News and Events
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May 2004

= National Women's Conference, May 9-12, 2004, The Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel,
  Entebbe, Uganda
The Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA)is hosting a national
conference with the theme: A National Women's Conference on Sustainable Gender
Mainstreaming and the Political Transition in Uganda. The process of political
transition that will culminate with elections in 2006 will be a major and
unique milestone in the annuls of Uganda's history, and indeed her future: Not
only is there a likelihood that Ugandans will exercise their constitutional
mandate to vote for all elective offices (i.e. from the grassroots to the
presidency). For the first time since 1986, these elections will be conducted
under a multi-party system.
http://www.wougnet.org/Events/projectnews04.html#NWC



August 2004

= Isis-WICCE'S 2004/5 Exchange Programme Institute: Training Announcement/Call
  for Applications, August 23 - September 3, 2004, Kampala, Uganda
Isis-WICCE is a global, action oriented resource centre
based in Kampala, Uganda. It exists to promote justice and the empowerment of
women globally through documenting violations of women's human rights, and
facilitating the exchange of information and skills to strengthen women's
capacities, visibility, and potential. This is done through the production and
exchange of information, the promotion of ideas, solidarity actions, and
networking. Isis-WICCE has been running annual Exchange Programme Institutes
since 1984. These institutes offer women activists working in the area of human
rights, armed conflict and peace building issues, an opportunity to spend time
working on specific themes, and developing skills in using the human rights
framework for advocacy purposes. 
The theme for the 2004 Institute is: Documenting the Violations of Women's
Human Rights During Armed Conflict: A Tool for Advocacy and Sustainable Peace
Building. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Events/projectnews04.html#ISISIE



November 2004

= World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse - 19 November 2004
The Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF)is happy to announce that more than
490 organisations from over 90 countries joined the international NGO coalition
and marked the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse ­ 19 November in 2003
with activities and events. The list of coalition organisations is published on
the Internet <http://www.woman.ch> and a global impact report 2003 is in
preparation. In 2004, WWSF will award for the first time active coalition
members for prevention activities organized on 19 November 2003 on the occasion
of the World Day. 
http://www.wougnet.org/Events/projectnews04.html#WDPCA
 
 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WOUGNET News
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


=  WOUGNET demonstrates the potential of digital media for development - ITU
   Telecom Africa 2004, World Summit Award News, 23.04.04
   http://www.wsis-award.org

The "Women of Uganda Network" a WSA Best Content 2003 in the category
e-Inclusion, will be presented at the ITU Telecom Africa 2004 Forum held in
Cairo (Egypt) on May 4-8th. 
WOUGNET empowers women in the use of ICT and its website has become a key
resource for members and partners providing information and linking a variety
of women related projects and resources in fields such as ICT, education,
business and human rights. 
WOUGNET has a strategic value for the world-wide inclusion of woman and allows
to take advantage of the opportunities presented by e-Content and the internet
in order to effectively address national and local problems of sustainable
development. 
ITU TELECOM AFRICA 2004, taking place in Cairo, Egypt from 4-8 May 2004 is an
event which will bring leading players from government, regional and
international operators, manufacturers, regulators and investment bodies to
participate in a major Exhibition and Forum with the theme "Access Africa".
http://www.itu.int/AFRICA2004/ 
Story also available at:
http://www.europrix.org/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=386&z=11




= Open Knowledge Network (OKN) East Africa Regional Workshop, April 2004

WOUGNET was represented at the OKN workshop held at the Silver Springs Hotel,
Nairobi from 28th-30th April 2004. The workshop attracted over 40 participants
including OKN members, prospective partners and donors from 9 different
countries (Canada, Kenya, Netherlands, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania,
Uganda, United Kingdom). The workshop intended to:
-  Build a network for content creation and ICT for Development activities
in East Africa.
-  To share experiences between the participants.
-  To explain the OKN model.
-  To start the process to select next OKN project in East Africa.
-  To start the process to establish East Africa governance of OKN.

The OKN model involves:
-  Content creation and exchange by local communities throughout Africa.
OKN is global, but with a focus on Africa.
-  Hubs: Major organisations producing content on particular or multi
sectors.
-  Access Points: Smaller organisations based in the community to source
the information (e.g. Telecentres, Community radio, Schoolnet...).
-  Access Points (APs) are staffed by what are called Community Reporters (CR).
They are based in the community and go out to source stories and find out
the information needs.
-  Hubs are staffed by what are called Knowledge Workers (KW). They are
professionals working in the hub office to edit and prepare the information
from the various APs, before it is sent out to the OKN network thru the
WorldSpace system.

In East Africa, currently there are 2 hubs in Kenya with 8 APs (1 in Tanzania),
and another 4 APs joining. Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) and AfriAfya a
consortium of 7 leading health based NGOs and the Kenyan Ministry of Health are
the current East African hubs. There is also the OKN Mobile project, which aims
to disseminate information via SMS with a focus on the youth in Kibera slum in
Nairobi. OKN looks to expand into Uganda and Tanzania with hubs and APs, with
funding available for at least 2 years.

For a copy of the workshop report, send your request to info@xxxxxxxxxxx




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