The Uganda Women Parliamentarian’s Association (UWOPA) in conjunction with Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA) and the Club of Madrid (CoM) organized a mission of some of its members to Uganda from the 5th to the 7th of March 2008. The mission run for three (3) days prior to the International Women’s Day due 8th March 2008.

The Club of Madrid is an independent organization dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world by drawing on the unique experience and resources of its Members – 70 democratic former heads of state and government. In partnership with other organizations and governments that share its democracy-promotion goals, the Club of Madrid provides peer to peer counsel, strategic support and technical advice to leaders and institutions working towards democratic transition and consolidation.

This mission to Uganda focused on gender legislation and was graced by the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson and the former Prime Minister of Norway, Kjell Magne Bondevik.

The three day visit in Uganda by the Club of Madrid delegation held from 5th to 7th March, 2008 ended on a good note with the President of Uganda, H.E Yoweri Museveni making an appeal for the re-tabling and passing of the Domestic Relations Bill and the Domestic Violence Bill to deal with family relations and domestic violence.

The Club of Madrid delegation was graced by the Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, the former Prime Minister of Norway, Kjell Magne Bondevik and the former South African Member of Parliament and Women rights activist Pregs Govendor. The delegation was in Uganda ahead of the International Women’s Day celebrations to support Women Leaders in their advocacy for gender legislations in the 8th Parliament. The delegation was hosted by Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) and the Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA) in conjunction with the Club of Madrid.

The team which included the Chairperson of UWOPA and a few members of UWOPA, held a number of consultative meetings with various stakeholders including H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri K. Museveni, the First Lady- Hon. Janet K. Museveni and the Speaker of Parliament. Meetings were also held with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Women Ministers including Shadow Ministers, Women and Male MPs. The team also met with the Norwegian and Irish Ambassadors, Women with disabilities, Religious Leaders, Civil Society Organizations and the media. The discussions held focused on ways of dissolving road blocks to gender legislation in Uganda.

As a result, the President of the Republic of Uganda has called for the expediting of gender related Bills that are pending including the Domestic Relations Bill and Domestic Violence Bills among others. The First Lady, Speaker of Parliament, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs as well as Women Ministers reiterated the urgent need for gender legislations in Uganda and committed their support towards the enactment of these Bills. The Civil Society organizations and other stakeholders consulted committed to closely work with women and male parliamentarians to see to it that impediments towards gender legislations are dealt with in Uganda. The visit comes ahead of preparations to table before Parliament the Domestic Violence Bill.

The Club of Madrid is an independent organization dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world by drawing on the unique experience and resources of its Members ­ 70 democratic former heads of state and government. In partnership with other organizations and governments that share its democracy-promotion goals, the Club of Madrid provides peer to peer counsel, strategic support and technical advice to leaders and institutions working towards democratic transition and consolidation.

For any further information please contact:

Monicah Amoding
Policy and Communications Officer
Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA)
P.O.Box 7178 Kampala
Tel: 256-41-4378804, 256-77-2677121
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