EASSI would like to congratulate all the women who have been behind the scenes, calling on the
 government of Uganda to ratify this instrument including the Steering  Committee members of the Uganda Coalition for African Women’s Rights which comprises gender and women?s rights Civil Society Organisations in Uganda  including EASSI. We don’t forget Coalition members of the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) who have been with the Women of Uganda all the way from the start. Akina Mama wa Afrika playing the lead role in the walk has been so instrumental in the entire process.   
 EASSI is committed to  the advancement of gender equality , social justice, peace and development in
 the Eastern African Sub-region and one of the instruments that frames our work is the Maputo Protocol that Uganda just ratified.
 As we pat ourselves on the back, NOW is the time for Ugandan Women to unite even further and stronger  in the call for domestication and implementation of this instrument. Once the two have been achieved, the celebration will be even bigger.

    
 Sylvia Namale
 EASSI