About Us

OUR
STORY

FOWODE’s beginnings are rooted in the 1994-1995 Constitution-making process in Uganda. It all started in 1994 when 8 women came together to lead the Women’s Caucus in the Constituent Assembly. With support from the Uganda women’s movement, feminist academics, funding partners and allies from the disability, workers and youth movements, the Women’s Caucus won landmark provisions guaranteeing women’s rights and gender equality, and opened opportunities for women’s political, economic and social empowerment through affirmative action. Uganda’s Constitution was acclaimed as one of the most gender sensitive in the world.

Riding on the momentum of the constitution making process, FOWODE was established as a Non-Governmental Organization to offer a platform for Ugandan women’s learning, networking, sharing experiences and advocating for gender equality and equity in decision-making process. Relentlessly pursuing a non-partisan path and grounded in the Ugandan and African women’s rights movements, FOWODE has focused its efforts on building transformative leadership for women’s rights and influencing public policy.

FOWODE has continued to be a pacesetter in promoting gender equality and women’s leadership in the country. Whereas it primarily focuses on women’s issues, FOWODE also seeks gender equality and thus involves men in all aspects of its work. FOWODE has strategically positioned itself as a champion for women’s rights protection, participation in political decision making and engaging in issues of macroeconomic governance such as Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB).

WHO WE SERVE

We primarily target vulnerable women and girls in all their different diversities. At the grassroots, we work with women especially the often marginalized like young women, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), widows and women living with HIV/AIDs to ensure that they are not left behind in the development discourse. FOWODE also targets men as champions for gender equality.
At national level, we target policy makers, technocrats in relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the media and likeminded organizations to advance social justice and gender equality.

Cross Cutting Issues

FOWODE recognizes that addressing Gender Based Violence is critical for the realization of women’s voice, power and resources, our strategic model for women’s agency and empowerment. GBV is a significant obstacle to achieving gender equality given that it undermines women’s autonomy, decision-making capacity, and economic empowerment, hindering the realization of women’s full potential.  GBV Programming is therefore an integral part of our strategy. Using a multi-stakeholder approach, we aim to conscientize communities, address the root causes, strengthen referral pathways, influence GBV financing and heighten policy advocacy.

FOWODE realizes that resources are a critical part of empowerment and agency. Women who are able to meet their basic needs are more likely to reclaim their voice by participating in strategic causes like advocacy for improved maternity services. We therefore invest in enhancing women’s economic empowerment as a catalyst for them to participate in leadership and influence decision-making in the public and private spheres. We equip organized women’s groups with essential skills for economic self-sufficiency, support their income generating activities with start up capital and link them to exiting opportunities in the private and public sector.  We advance women’s economic rights by advocating for policies and programs that guarantee equitable access.

Climate change can exacerbate feminized poverty and inequalities. In recognition of the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and girls and their under representation in climate related decision making, FOWODE integrates climate justice in her work. Climate action is infused into our interventions at grassroot level and we leverage our strategic positioning and movement building potency to enhance women’s participation in decision making on climate change. As part of our gender responsive budgeting work, we advocate for government’s prioritization of financing for climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience.

FOWODE acknowledges that girl child education is foundational in the realization of women’s rights because it fosters social change by challenging discriminatory norms, reducing child marriage, and promoting safer, more inclusive communities. Through the Gender and Leadership Clubs, we partner with pupils and senior teachers to promote conducive learning environments in schools with a focus on menstrual hygiene management, challenging negative gender stereotypes, nurturing critical life skills and promoting positive masculinities.  Using the Village Budget Club model, we undertake civic engagement on the critical value addition of girl child education, rally parents and guardians to support the cause and sustain advocacy for increased resourcing for gender priorities in schools.

Realizing SRHR is essential for achieving gender equality and empowering women to reach their full potential because it enables them to exercise autonomy and agency, participate fully in society, enjoy better health and wellbeing, and challenge gender inequalities. FOWODE weaves SRHR into her programs by capacitating communities especially women to reclaim their SRHR, monitor health facilities and advocate for gender responsive health services. Women leaders at all levels are trained to effectively legislate for policies that uphold SRHR. We partner with male allies to conscientize communities on the dividends of supporting women’s full realization of their Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.

HOW WE DELIVER

OUR STRATEGIES 

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

FOWODE embeds civic conscientization and gender awareness creation in all her programs to drive progress towards a society free from patriarchy, one that values equality, diversity, inclusivity, and social justice. Through platforms like Village Budget Clubs (VBCs) and civic engagement dialogues, we aim to strengthen and deepen civic space by building the agency of citizens, and women in particular, to demand for their rights to expression, association and participation in governance. We empower them to influence gender responsive planning and budgeting by monitoring service delivery, demanding accountability and actively engaging in budget consultations and decision-making processes.

CAPACITY SHARING

FOWODE heavily invests in capacity enhancement for citizens, especially women to catalyze their activism, effective participation in decision making and organizing. Young women are nurtured on alternative and transformative leadership to replenish the pool of bold, value-driven leaders. We strengthen women’s leadership to ensure their substantive and meaningful participation in decision making processes. To foster gender responsive service delivery, FOWODE enhances the capacities of the relevant duty bearers in key Ministries, Departments and Agencies at all levels.

SOCIAL NORMS TRANSFORMATION

We aim to influence more positive attitudes of citizens towards gender equality and engage in sustained civic conscientization to transform mindsets, in support of women’s empowerment. We challenge unequal power structures and work with change agents to reshape attitudes, norms and practices to uphold women’s rights. We leverage gender transformative approaches to foster gender equality, focusing on improving gender relations, supporting women's empowerment and enhancing women's roles in decision-making. To nurture positive masculinities within the wider community, we integrate men and boys in our programs as allies in gender justice efforts to dismantle patriarchy.

POLICY ADVOCACY

FOWODE advocates for inclusive and just governance that gives women voice, choice and power. We conduct evidence-based advocacy and nurture strategic allyships aimed at reshaping governance systems for enhanced inclusivity, equity and accountability. We utilize cutting-edge research and data-driven advocacy to catalyze feminist budgeting, equitable development, and governance that serves—not silences—women and girls.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AND ALLIANCES

FOWODE collaborates with public institutions and bold allies: civil society organizations, government institutions, media, and development partners to centre women’s lived experiences in policymaking, ensuring gender-responsive governance at all levels. As a critical player in broader coalitions, we convene the Uganda Gender Consortium on SDGs, are members of the Women’s Major Group, Global Alliance on Tax Justice, FEMNET, among others. FOWODE serves as a knowledge hub for evidence-based feminist policy advocacy in the East African region and beyond.

MOVEMENT BUILDING

We are a passionate activist and an active proponent of social justice that is contributing to building a sustainable, grounded, conscious and organized movement that mobilizes communities. We mobilize diverse women at all levels to challenge patriarchal norms and demand accountability. We build ecosystems of solidarity where women’s collective action disrupts systemic inequalities and fuels transformative gender justice.

Governance

FOWODE has a robust governance structure through which strategic, policy and implementation decisions are made. The structure is comprised of the General Assembly, the Board of Directors and the Secretariat headed by an Executive Director. The General Assembly, the apex decision-making body is comprised of individual members who define the organization’s strategic direction. Every 3 years, the General Assembly elects a Board of Directors, to provide oversight of the strategy, ensure a conducive policy environment and implementation of strategic decisions. The Board is comprised of members with diverse expertise in gender advocacy, organizational governance, financial management, and political engagement. Their diverse skills collectively strengthen FOWODE’s corporate governance and ensure a solid foundation from which strategy is steered

Board of Directors

Salome-Nakawesi- Board Chairperson
SOLOME NAKAWEESI

BOARD CHAIRPERSON

board-member-2
PROF. JOSEPHINE AHIKIRE

vice chairperson

RUTH DOREEN MUTEBE

TREASURER

PATRICIA MUNABI BABIIHA

BOARD SECRETARY

Madanda-Aramanzan-e1719819800421
DR. ARAMANZAN MADANDA

MEMBER

Hon Winnie Kiiza
HON. WINNIE KIIZA

MEMBER

Management

PATRICIA MUNABI BABIIHA

Executive Director

ELIZABETH AMPAIRWE

Director Of Programmes

JANE NAKAKANDE

Finance and Administration Director

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