About WOUGNET

The Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) is a place to share news, information and activities on women related issues in Uganda. WOUGNET's goal is to promote the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) by women organisations and individuals for the better being of Ugandan women. In line with this, WOUGNET maintains a mailing list and website, which are administered by Dorothy Okello. The WOUGNET list and website are hosted by Kabissa - A Space for Change in Africa.

Background

The launch of WOUGNET in May 2000 was coordinated by Dorothy Okello. For eighteen months prior to this, she had maintained an announcement list via which news and announcements were distributed to a number of women organisations as well as queries related to computer or internet usage handled. Due to the increasing interest in the announcement list and after consultation with women organisations including Isis Women's International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE), Uganda Women's Network (UWONET), Women Connect! - Uganda and Women Engineers, Technicians and Scientists in Uganda (WETSU), it was agreed that there was need for the following:

a list that would facilitate exchange of ideas and information between subscribers;
a companion website that would profile women organisations and use the web to provide additional exposure to their activities;
information and support on how to maximize the potential of ICTs within women organisations.

WOUGNET's operating structure consists of a Coordinator, Dorothy Okello, and an Administration Board that consists of: Rehema Baguma, Juliet Gipwola, Irene Kaggwa, Margaret Kemigisa, Juliet Were, and Hellen Zziwa. WOUGNET is supported by a number of volunteers, including volunteers based in Uganda as well as online volunteers.

WOUGNET Mission

Promote and support the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by women organisations as well as individuals for the better being of Ugandan women. We define ICTs to include email, the web, radio, television and print media. However, our emphasis will be directed towards email and the web, and how these technologies can be integrated with traditional means of information exchange and dissemination for maximum outreach.

WOUGNET Membership

Membership in WOUGNET is by participation in the WOUGNET online space. Membership is open to anyone interested in promoting or supporting the use of ICTs for sustainable development with an emphasis on activities directly related to Ugandan women. There is no fee for WOUGNET membership, which is available at three levels:

Individual: This level is for individuals. To join, one needs to subscribe to the WOUGNET mailing list.
Organisation: This level is for women organisations based in Uganda. To join, an organisation needs to subscribe to the WOUGNET mailing list or to subscribe to the monthly WOUGNET Update Newsletter. The choice to participate at this level is in recognition of the variable connectivity experienced by women organisations in Uganda. Groups that do not have regular access to email/the Internet can still disseminate as well as receive information via the Newsletter.
In addition, organisations need to provide a profile on the WOUGNET website. The profile can be submitted online or by requesting an Organisation Entry Form from info@wougnet.org.
Affiliate: This level is for organisations that are not women organisations based in Uganda (including non-women organisations based in Uganda), but are interested in the use of ICTs for sustainable development in Uganda and worldwide. To join, an organisation needs to subscribe to the WOUGNET mailing list. Organisations will also have links created to their websites (if available).

Awards

2003 AISI Media Awards - On Promoting the Information Society in Africa. Category: IICD Local Content Applications.

Contact WOUGNET

Click here for WOUGNET contact details.

Last update: May-15, 2003