Ms Mugisha holds a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science and Sociology), Master of Arts in Development Studies and a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies. She has a wealth of experience in addressing and implementing gender within Government’s national framework and from a civil society perspective. She is an administrator and manager as evidenced from her long term of service in Government as a Culture Officer in the Ministry of Culture and Community Development now the Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development for 12 years where after she also worked as a District Gender Officer, Mbarara District Local Government for about 7 years. We therefore deem her a fit and proper person to work for the Organization especially in as far as her experiences will be required in handling network partners at all levels, creating the much needed synergies and Coalition building and strengthening of partnership at the national, regional and grassroots levels as we place more emphasis on grassroots involvement and participation and linkages with national levels and initiatives.

She is passionate about women’s issues, mature, committed to the attainment of gender equality and equity, consistent and reliable as seen from her long term of service in Government and visionary as evidenced from her work. It is our belief that she is the right person to steer the Organization to greater heights. We affirm her as the right person for this position in enabling the Organization understand better and therefore develop appropriate strategies in dealing with specific issues such as the Domestic Relations Bill among others given her experiences in both Government and in civil society.

It is my humble request that our partners, donors, members and associates will render her the necessary support in the promotion and attainment of UWONET’s vision, mission, strategic objectives and ultimately your goals, objectives too towards the realization of an alternative world where women and men in society are considered and treated as equals.

I thank you once again for your continued support and commitment to UWONET’s cause.

Yours sincerely,

Edited introduction letter from:
Lorna Juliet Amutojo
AG CHAIRPERSON
VICE CHAIRPERSON
UWONET


October 2007: Celebration of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security
On 25th October 2007, the Uganda Women's Coalition for Peace held a number of activities in celebration of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The Uganda Women's Coalition for Peace is a loose coalition of women and human rights non governmental organizations making contributions through lobbying and advocating for the inclusion of women and women concerns in the ongoing peace talks. The coalition was formed in August 2006 coordinated by Uganda Women's Network (UWONET) and is technically and financially supported by UNIFEM and other donor partners namely: SIDA, Norway, UNDP and DFID.

The Coalition appreciates the Government of Uganda for supporting women's empowerment and promoting women's human rights in national development processes. This to us is a gesture of statesmanship and commitment in enhancing affirmative action.

March 2007: Introduction of UWONET Acting Coordinator, Dr. Daisy Namono
On behalf of the Board I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you Dr. Daisy Namono who is the Ag. Coordinator of UWONET with effect from 1st March 2007.

Dr. Namono Daisy has a Masters Degree in Natural Resources and Environment and a Degree in Veterinary Medicine. She also has a Diploma in rural Policy and Project Planning. She has undertaken several courses in Financial and management, including one on Management of NGOs, Gender among others.

She has been a Board member of UWONET since 2002 where she first served as a Secretary and later as the Vice chairperson. She has been closely associated with the Network programmes and actively participated in their development of the various manuals.

Dr. Namono worked as an extension Officer for two years before joining a Bank where she worked as a Project Analyst for 15 years. She later left to work as the Executive Secretary for the Bahai Faith. She has undertaken a number of consultancies in areas of environment and livelihoods, with direct technical support to a number of rural livelihood groups.

Currently Dr. Namono also serves as the Chairperson - Slum Aid Project, which is a member of UWONET. She is also a Board member of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.

I hope and request that, you give her support and continue your collaboration with UWONET.

Yours sincerely,

Associate Prof. Grace Bantebya Kyomuhendo
CHAIRPERSON UWONET

For more information, contact Uganda Women's Network (UWONET).

January 2007: Kayunga Women's Peace Center is launched
The Kayunga Women's Peace Center is a home for women in the central region of Uganda, who have lost their matrimonial homes to their spouses or families because of lack of a fair family law in Uganda. The Center was launched by the Domestic Relations Bill (DRB) Coalition and took place on 16th January 2007.

The purpose of the launching ceremony was to lay a foundation stone for the Kayunga Women's Peace Center, and to lobby and advocate the various stakeholders to support the re-tabling of the Domestic Relations Bill (DRB). Also at this event, women shared their testimonies and experiences all of which will build onto the DRB advocacy. Various cultural and traditional leaders attended this function, which offered the Coalition a platform to further lobby them and seek their support.

For more information, contact Uganda Women's Network (UWONET).

October 2006: Northern Uganda women speak out on Juba talks
Guided by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security and the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (2004), five women’s organizations with the support of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and under the leadership of the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) engaged in consultations from 10 – 14 October in Northern Uganda. These consultations were undertaken to demonstrate solidarity with the women of Northern Uganda and gather the views of women most acutely affected by the 20-year conflict on the current ongoing peace process in Juba.

UWONET called a press conference on Wednesday 18th October 2006 at UWONET offices in Ntinda, with the purpose of disseminating the views of women in Northern Uganda on the ongoing peace process in Juba.

Over the course of five days, over 200 women from five districts (Gulu, Pader, Amuru, Kitgum and Lira), representing over 25 organizations and constituencies uniformly called for enduring peace in Uganda. Representatives of district leadership, Muslim, Catholic, Anglican and lay communities, civil society and IDP camps all appealed for the parties in Juba to remain fully committed to sitting together at the peace table to build a comprehensive and peaceful future for all of Uganda. The members of the Civil Society Women’s Peace Coalition strongly support the voices of those consulted, noting with urgency several messages from across the districts visited.

The women of Northern Uganda call for peace at all costs, expressing their exhaustion and profound sadness at the suffering of so many in the greater North. They call for all engaged in the negotiations to speak the language of peace, with one voice, to the people of Uganda and to each other, and to ensure that their actions reaffirm their commitment to peace. The women emphasized that there should be no return home with out peace. They implore the parties to consider the specific impact the conflict has had on women: elderly, young, mothers, sisters and daughters of Uganda. They have borne the burden of conflict and know the sorrow of loss and pain of violence, which no justice mechanism, including the International Criminal Court can repair. They stand ready to nurture peace in their homes and communities and support all parties to do the same. Those that have been displaced and disenfranchised are hungry to go home to their lands, to reap the fruits of Uganda’s soil and to build homes for future generations.

The Civil Society Women’s Peace Coalition acknowledges and is encouraged by the important steps taken by the Government of Southern Sudan and the efforts of both parties to the negotiations to come together to bring an end to this conflict. In response to the women of Northern Uganda, taking into account their concerns and messages and in solidarity with them, the Civil Society Women’s Peace Coalition recommend the following to those engaged in the Juba process:

• Speak the language of peace, to each other and to the people of Uganda, so that all are encouraged by your commitment to the process;
• That all involved in the peace process hold themselves accountable to the women of Uganda and the Great Lakes region who have borne the burden of this conflict;
• Take into consideration the inclusion of perspectives from communities which have long suffered such as women and girls displaced internally by the conflict, and women and girls associated with fighting forces;
• Guarantee that the process and its monitoring include the protection of the rights of women and girls, especially with respect to their bodily integrity;
• Ensure that the Office of the Mediator and the parties to the negotiations have sufficient gender and women’s rights expertise so that the perspectives and rights of women and girls might be fully taken into account;
• Finally, recognize and seek the participation of women in the peace process

The statement was produced by The Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), its 17 member organizations, allies and the women of the Greater North.

February 2006: Launch of the Women's Manifesto
On Friday 3rd February 2006, Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) spearheaded the launch of the Women's Manifesto 2006 at Hotel Africana, Kampala. The document seeks to give women a common platform for addressing crucial concerns of women in Uganda through helping more of them to take up leadership positions in politics, especially Parliament. The idea of women's manifesto is not new. In several African countries, such as South Africa, and Zambia, coalitions of women's organizations such as the Zambia National Women's Lobby Group (NWLG) have come up with a set of demands to lobby Parliament and the executive to address women leadership issues. The function was graced by Woman Presidential Candidate Mrs. Miria Kalule Obote as well as a cross section of women activists in Uganda.

November 2004: DRB Coalition Position on the Domestic Relations Bill
As a follow-up of the Domestic Relations Bill (DRB) Harmonization Workshop held earlier this year (March 24-25, 2004), a DRB position paper (WORD format) was compiled. The DRB Coalition was granted an appointment by The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee to present their views on Thursday 25th November 2004. Click here (WORD format) for a copy of the Memorandum presented to the committee. Following the meeting, an addendum to Memo was produced to address the issues raised by the Parliamentary Committee. Click here (WORD format) for a copy of the addendum to the Memorandum presented to the committee.
For more information about the DRB coalition, contact UWONET.

November 2004: Roundtable Meetings with Political Parties in Uganda
As a follow-up of the "Women's Minimum Demands to Political Parties and Organizations" compiled and launched on 4th October 2004, UWONET started round table meetings with parties on issues raised in the women's demands. The first round of meetings were held with five parties, namely, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda People's Congress (UPC), Democratic Party (DP), Conservative Party (CP) and National Resistance Movement (NRM). For copies of the meetings' minutes (WORD format), click the party acronyms: FDC - UPC - DP - NRM.
For a summary of the issues that arose out of the first round of meetings and that will form the basis of the next round of meetings, click here.

October 2004: Launch of the Women’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 was presented by Ms. Sarah Mukasa and is entitled Addressing Women’s Demands in The Transition Process (WORD format).

September 2002: Uganda Women Activists and Human Rights organisations Meet His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Nigeria over the case of Amina Lawal
On 3rd September 2002, Activists from Uganda women organisations, and Human Rights organisations met His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Nigeria to Uganda Sam Edem. The aim of the meeting was to request His Excellency the Ambassador, to receive, on behalf of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Nigeria, a 3 page statement (about Amina Lawal's case), from various civil society organisations represented by about 40 activists. The group held a one Kilometre peaceful demonstration to the commission.