Josephine Nampirima, a 42-year-old mother of six from Kanyogoga village in Lyantonde District, understands that the path to success is rarely a straight line. For years, she struggled with a deep-seated inferiority complex that made public speaking impossible. Like several women in her community, she lacked the knowledge and confidence to step into the political arena.
Her transformation began when FOWODE, through the Advancing Women’s Engagement: Strengthening Opportunities to Mobilise for Equality (AWESOME project, intervened to empower women to participate in decision-making spaces. The training sessions became a turning point for Josephine, equipping her with campaign strategies and the courage to speak in public.
Motivated by her new skills, Josephine contested for the position of Parish Women Councillor in the 2021 general elections. However, she faced the harsh reality of commercialized politics, losing the seat to an opponent who utilized financial influence to sway voters. Rather than retreating in despair, she refused to let this setback define her. She chose to view the loss as a necessary lesson, going back to the drawing board to listen, learn and correct the mistakes that had cost her the seat.
Josephine returned into the political arena with a refined strategy. The shyness that once held her back was replaced by the confidence she had built through FOWODE’s mentorship. Her resilience paid off in the recent 2026 elections, where she emerged victorious in both the party primaries and the general election.
Today, Josephine is no longer a silent observer but a vocal advocate for women’s rights. Her victory highlights the impact of FOWODE’s work in nurturing women’s leadership and ensuring that women meaningfully participate in decision making processes. For over 30 years, we have equipped over 30,000 women leaders with the knowledge and skills to place women’s needs at the core of debates, policies, legislation and budgets, fostering governance that is women-centered, transformative and accountable.
