WOUGNET Update Newsletter ­ August 2006

[Dorothy Okello <dokello@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

WOUGNET Update Newsletter ­ August 2006
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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 Organizations in Uganda
2. Documents on Women's Issues in Uganda
3. ICT Policy
4. Links & Resources
5. Project News and Events
6. TechTip
7. WOUGNET News
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WOMEN ORGANISATIONS IN UGANDA
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= Isis-WICCE Launches the ?Medical Interventional 
Study of war affected Kitgum District?,?Training 
Manual? and Video - ?Standing at the Cross Roads?
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/isis.html#MIS-KD
Isis-WICCE is a human rights group that deals 
with issues arising out of war conflicts, as they 
relate to women, men and children. The role of 
the organization is to carry out action oriented 
documentation of human rights experiences. Its 
first study was in Luwero, and studies have since 
been conducted in Gulu, Kitgum, Teso and Lira 
districts. As a result of a study carried out in 
Kitgum District, Isis WICCE being an action 
oriented organization arranged for a team of 
experts in surgery and psychiatry to travel to 
Kitgum for intervention in the IDP camps of 
Padipe and Muchwini. It was funded by Medica Mondiale.
A manual, video and report have been produced and 
were the subject of the launch. The manual 
contains questionnaires administered to the 
different categories of people in the camps. 
During the launch, members who took part in the 
study shared their experiences and findings with 
the participants while some of the beneficiaries 
of the exercise were brought forward to give 
their testimonies. The Ugandan Minister of state 
for Health, Hon. Richard Nduhura, thanked 
Isis-WICCE for the effort they have put in 
alleviating the plight of the people in Northern 
Uganda and pledged government commitment to 
continue where Isis-WICCE had stopped.


= EASSI: Ten Years of "Strengthening the Women?s 
Movement in the Eastern Africa Sub Region" - November 2006
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/eassi.html#Ten2006
EASSI?s mission is to facilitate follow-up of the 
Dakar and Beijing Platforms for Action (BPFAs) in 
order to enhance the advancement of women and 
social justice through Research and 
Documentation, Advocacy, Capacity Building, 
Networking and Information Sharing. EASSI 
specifically tracks government?s implementation 
of the BPFAs within the eight Eastern African 
countries of Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, 
Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.
EASSI will celebrate its 10 years Anniversary in 
Kampala, Uganda in November 2006. The theme for 
the celebration will be ?Strengthening the 
Women?s Movement in the Eastern Africa Sub 
Region?. Other key themes to be discussed at the 
Forum include ?Women and peace situation in the 
region, Land and food insecurity, Young women?s 
leaderships roles and Millennium Development 
Goals (MDGs).? The Forum will be attended by 
participants from different women?s organizations 
in the sub region and beyond. Special focus will 
be made on participation of grassroots women, 
especially women from the host country. For more 
information and/or to obtain registration forms, contact eassi@xxxxxxxxx


= NAWOU Elects New Executive Committee
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/nawou.html#ThirdNEC
Since formation in 1992, NAWOU has gone through 
various stages of development. By 2005 the 
organization had reached maturity and members 
felt it was time to review performance and refocus the organization. A National
Executive Committee (NEC) was set up with subcommittees comprising of:
1) Democracy and Good governance
2) Health and Women?s Rights.
3) Environmental Protection, Economic Empowerment and Capacity Building.
4) Mobilization, Networking and International Relations.

This year NAWOU elected their third NEC. High 
Court Judge and Human Rights Gender Activist Lady 
Justice Margaret Oguli-Oumo was appointed the new 
President of NAWOU. She is deputized by Mrs. 
Merinah Konyonyo who is an assistant Commissioner 
of Police and Head of Welfare in the Uganda 
Police Force. Mrs. Catherine Kabagambe is the 
National Treasurer while other members include 
Professor Victoria Mwaka, Mrs. Cecilia Engole, Ms. Imelda
Kahangirwe, Ms. Appy Sempaka, Mrs. Lovisa Kabula, 
Mrs. Sarah Kyazze, Mrs. Evelyn Kasaza, Mrs. 
Pauline Lukwiya, Mrs. Miriam Kakurugusi and Hajati Madinah Zalwango.
It is hoped that NAWOU being an inclusive 
organization, will get most women in Uganda to 
learn and benefit from all opportunities 
possible. From the training programmes, 
micro-credit project, the marketing network and the
upcoming Commonwealth meetings in 2007.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DOCUMENTS ON WOMEN'S ISSUES IN UGANDA
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= Access to ICT Higher Education: Reflections on 
Good Practices in Promoting Gender Equality at 
Makerere University (Aramanzan Madanda and Peace Mutuwa, 2005)
http://www.wougnet.org/documents.html#AICTHE

This paper explores access to Information and 
Communication Technology (ICT) training in 
Makerere University by gender. It focuses on 
selected examples showing the promotion of 
general access to ICT training in the university. 
Examples of the Department of Women and Gender 
Studies and the Faculty of Computing and 
Information Technology are utilised. The paper 
also analyses the efforts of the gender 
mainstreaming division. The division is charged 
with the role of mainstreaming gender into all 
aspects of the university, including gendering 
the ICT training process. In all, the measures 
aimed at promoting and / or improving access to 
ICT higher education are tackled. In this 
context, the purpose of this paper is twofold: 
one, to present good practices that can be 
emulated in developing relevant ICT training 
policies and practices in similar higher 
institutions of learning; and two, to make 
recommendations for possible utilisation by 
organisations and institutions of higher learning as well as governments.


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ICT POLICY
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= Seminar: Community-driven ICT Networks for 
Local Development in Rural Areas, Hotel Africana, 17 August 2006
WOUGNET is organising a seminar under the theme 
"Community-driven ICT Networks for Local 
Development in Rural Areas", to be held at Hotel 
Africana on 17th August 2006. ICT access and ICT 
networks increasingly underpin not just 
communications but service delivery, empowerment 
and local development. However, many in rural 
areas remain under-served as networking them is 
usually challenging, expensive and difficult. On 
the demand side, several things are lacking: 
money, awareness, client transportation to the 
centres, and clarity/focus (sometimes on the part 
of the ICT centres) about how the services can be 
used to improve livelihoods. The seminar will 
consider emerging options to address rural 
development through the use of community ICT 
enabled networks.  A report on a study conducted 
to assess the case for and the potential of 
community-driven local ICT networks and services 
in Uganda will also be presented. The study was 
conducted under a programme component of UNDP?s 
'making ICT work for the poor' service line that 
aims to contribute to enlarging the policy 
options for enhancing pro-poor access to 
communication tools, development information and 
services and exploring the potential for 
strengthening community and local development through the use of ICT.
To register for participation in the seminar, 
send email to ictpolicy@xxxxxxxxxxx or call (041) 532035.


= I-Network Public Debate - ?Gender and ICT, Why the Fuss??

On 14 July 2006, I-Network Uganda hosted a Public 
Debate on the topic "Gender and ICT, Why the 
Fuss?". The Debate was held at the Grand Imperial 
Hotel, Kampala, and attracted gender advocates 
and members from the public. The main speakers 
were Mr. Aramanazan Madanda - Department of Women 
and Gender Studies, Makerere, Ms. Rosette Ndeezi 
- CEEWA Uganda and Mr. Daniel Kakinda - SchoolNet 
Uganda. If access to and use of information and 
communication technologies is directly linked to 
social and economic development, then it is 
imperative to ensure that women in Uganda 
understand the significance of these technologies 
and use them. There are a number of well known 
factors that constrain women's access and usage 
of ICTs including literacy and education, 
language, time, costs, geographical location of 
the ICT facilities, social and cultural norms, 
ICT skills, etc. However, given the social and 
economic opportunities that can lead to women's 
empowerment through the use of ICTs, there is 
therefore need to include gender concerns in ICT 
policies to increase women's access and usage of 
ICT infrastructure and of education 
opportunities. Recommendations made during the 
debate include the need for gender responsiveness 
in terms of proactively finding solutions to 
address the gender digital divide, advocacy for 
gender-sensitive policies at all levels, and the 
need for role models in 'Women and ICT'.
(Compiled by Brenda Muyanja, WOUGNET Information 
Officer. For a report of the debate, contact 
Natalie Kimbugwe, I-Network Program Manager, kimbugwe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LINKS & RESOURCES
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a) Development

= Rwenzori Research Consultancy (REROC)
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/development.html#REROC
Established in 2000, Rwenzori Research 
Consultancy (REROC) operates in Kasese and 
Bundibugyo Districts of Uganda. The 
organization?s mission is to contribute to the 
improvement of disadvantaged groups of people 
through sustainable agriculture, improved health, 
communications and information exchange, fighting 
against HIV/AIDS and psychosocial support in the Rwenzori region.

b) General Resources

= Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons 
in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa (RECSA)
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/generalresources.html#RECSA
RECSA is an institutional framework arising from 
Nairobi Declaration to coordinate the joint 
effort by National Focal Points in Member States 
to prevent, combat and eradicate stockpiling and 
illicit trafficking in small arms and light 
weapons in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of 
Africa. The Nairobi Declaration on the Problem of 
Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great 
Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa was signed on 
the 15th March 2000 by the Ministers of Foreign 
Affairs and / or Representatives of the 
Governments of Burundi, DRC, Djibouti, Ethiopia 
Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PROJECT NEWS AND EVENTS
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September 2006

= Uganda Social Forum: Building Uganda - Our 
Struggles, Our Solutions, Mandela National 
Stadium, Namboole, 18 - 21 September 2006
http://www.wougnet.org/Events/projectnews06.html#USF06

The Second Edition of the Uganda Social Forum 
(USF 2006) will be held from 18 - 21 September 
2006 at Mandela National Stadium Namboole under 
the theme 'Building Uganda ­ Our Struggles, Our 
Solutions'. USF 2006 will be an open meeting 
place for reflective thinking, democratic debate 
of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange 
of experiences and inter-linking for effective 
action, by groups and movements of civil society 
that are committed to building a society centered 
on the human person. It will be an exciting event 
that will provide yet another opportunity to 
mobilize and give voice to the ordinary citizens 
and social movements from Northern, Southern, 
South Western, Eastern, Western and West Nile 
regions of Uganda in an effort to build the 
necessary capacity for self organization and 
representation to demand for social 
transformation and the promotion of human 
dignity, mutual respect, equity, peace and 
justice and new values of solidarity.
USF 2006 is open to everyone and organizations 
wishing to participate including Community Based 
Organizations; Non Governmental Organizations; 
Farmer?s organizations and groups; Womens? groups; Youth, Children
Organizations; Special Interest Groups; Human 
Rights organizations; Community groups; Faith 
Based organizations; Artistic and Cultural Groups 
organizations; Education and Training 
organizations; Issues oriented Networks; UN 
Agencies; Media Houses and organizations; Sports 
Clubs; Scouts and Guides; Schools and Tertiary 
Institutions; Unions; Music Bands; Pan 
Africanists; Drama Groups; Corprate Bodies; Rural 
organizations; Gatherings and Associations; 
Social-Professional organizations; Government 
institutions and departments; Academic 
Institutions; Development Partners; Artists; Comedians, etc.
This year?s USF provides an opportunity for 
social movements in Uganda to strategise for 
collective action and amplify their collective 
voice to a global level as it will precede and 
feed into the first ever World Social Forum on 
the African continent to be held in January 2007 
in Nairobi, Kenya. The WSF 2007 is being jointly 
organized by the Eastern Africa countries.
If interested in participating, communicate your 
intention and commitment to participate and/or 
organize events during USF 2006. For more 
information or to request for registration forms, 
contact: Warren Nyamugasira; Deo Nyanzi; Segawa 
Hamza at Uganda National NGO Forum Plot 25 
Muyenga Tankhill Road ­ Kabalagala P.O. Box 4636, 
Kampala, Tel: 031-260373; 041-510272/501674 Fax: 
031-260372. Email: ngoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

= Radio for Peacebuilding Awards 2006, Deadline: 30 September 2006
http://www.wougnet.org/Events/projectnews06.html#RPBA06

Radio for Peacebuilding, Africa, announces the 
Radio for Peacebuilding Awards 2006 competition. 
The Radio for Peacebuilding Awards 2006 seeks to 
recognise the best programmes that contribute to 
peace. Programmes that reduce tensions in groups 
and communities, which enhance and value shared 
interests, that breakdown listener stereotypes, 
and that provide positive role models. The awards 
are open to all African radio broadcasters, both 
men and women. Prizes will be awarded in the 
following categories: (1) Drama (dramas, soap 
operas, sketches, etc); (2) Talk shows; and (3) 
Youth Radio. Four prizes will be awarded in each 
category: The first prize is 800 euros and the 
others are 300 euros each. The aim is to support 
the programmes that contribute to conflict resolution between opposing groups.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tech Tip
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= Different Ways to Back Up Data

Why Back up? Because it?s so much easier to 
recover your important files than recreate them.
Unfortunately, computers break, crucial files get 
deleted, viruses infect our computers and we lose 
data. It is truly inevitable that we will lose at 
least some of our important files at some point - 
anything from family photos, work documents, to 
financial records. If there is anything on your 
computer that you do not want to lose, you need 
back up. Most people do not back up their 
computers because they think that it is a hassle. 
However there are some methods that have been 
developed to make backing up painless.
There are a wide array of methods which can be 
used to backup data. Depending on the amount of 
data to be backed up, the importance of that 
data, and the funds available to you. Some of the 
most common data storage solutions include:
1) Tape Backup: At one point the preferred data 
solution, with the lowered costs and availability 
of other media solutions (such as DVD-R), tape 
backup has become less popular. Tape backup comes 
in a number of varieties: 8mm helical scan 
technology for mid-range systems, 4mm helical for 
low-end systems, and technologies such as AIT for 
high-end systems. The write speed for magnetic 
tape is relatively slow when compared to other 
solutions, but durability is very high. With 
falling costs, it is unlikely tape backup will 
remain a reasonable option much into the future.
2) Flash Drives: For small amount of data, flash 
drives (also known as thumb drives or memory 
sticks) are a wonderful solution. They are small 
enough to fit in your pocket, offer unlimited 
rewrite capabilities, and are easy to plug into 
any computer with USB port. Capacity ranges from 
64MB to upwards of 1GB. Data durability is 
estimated to be approximately ten years, and 
unlike hard drive backups they are not susceptible to damage by magnets.
3) CD-R / CD-RW: CD-R and CD-RW technology offers 
a number of advantages as a backup solution. Both 
types of media are incredibly cheap (below 200 
Uganda Shillings a gigabyte if bought in bulk), 
write times are fast, and the data is easily 
accessible by virtually all computers. Capacity 
is 650-700MB. Recent studies have indicated that 
durability is less than was initially presumed, 
with retention dropping after five years.
4) DVD Technology: DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, 
DVD-RAM, and dual layer DVD technologies are 
essentially the replacement for CD backup for 
most people. DVD technologies can hold either 
4.7GB or, in the case of dual-layer DVDs, 8.5GB.
5) Hard Drives: As hard drive prices continue to 
drop, many businesses and individuals are turning 
to external hard drives as a backup solution. The 
cost per gigabyte can be very cheap  and copying 
the data is incredibly easy. Hard drives are 
prone to physical malfunctions and corruption by 
a number of forces, however, making their durability questionable.
6) FTP: Solutions exist online which allow you to 
upload your data to a secure server collocated in 
a protected environment. This is often a good 
option for important data which is not 
particularly large. Security is a concern for 
some, but most FTP solutions offer extensive 
security features to better protect your data. 
These data farms backup their data in turn, 
usually using tape or DVD technology (or a hybrid 
of the two), further ensuring your data's durability.
Article Source: http://www.wisegeek.com

This TechTip was compiled by the WOUGNET 
Technical Support Team. For more information, contact techsupport@xxxxxxxxxxxx


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WOUGNET News
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= WOUGNET exhibits at AITEC Uganda 2006, 12-14 July 2006

The 2006 AITEC UGANDA exhibition provided a 
platform for the country's growing population of 
ICT users in government, civil society and the 
private sector to assess latest technologies and 
the services offered by vendors and service 
providers. The event targeted several key 
audiences such as NGOs/civil society 
organizations directly involved with 
connectivity, policy makers, ISPs, Telecom 
regulators and operators, and 
consumers/end-users. The exhibition was held at 
the Rwenzori Ballroom, Sheraton Hotel. The 
official opening was conducted by Mr. David Ogong 
of Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). He 
commended AITEC Uganda for bringing together 
players in the information industry to share 
ideas and innovations. He also commended 
participants for their innovative ideas and hoped 
they would carry on. The Hon. Minister of 
Information Communication Technology, Dr. Ham 
Mukasa Muliira, toured the exhibition on day two. 
The minister said the new ministry has a 
challenge in creating awareness of what ICTs are 
and of creating tools and frameworks that people 
can use. He noted that the exhibitors were doing 
a great job in creating awareness about how ICTs 
can be used to enhance peoples? work, education, 
health, entertainment and other aspects of life.
In all, twenty organisations participated in the 
exhibition. WOUGNET was among the organisations 
that participated, exhibiting in the ICT4D 
exhibition stand. Other exhibitors at this stand 
included I-Network Uganda, EACOSS, and CIPESA. 
Over 147 guests, 39 of whom were women, visited 
the WOUGNET stall where staff shared materials 
and information on WOUGNET activities.
(Compiled by Brenda Muyanja, WOUGNET Information 
Officer. For a detailed report including photos, contact info@xxxxxxxxxxx)
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