Major ACFODE Highlights for the month of January

Board Retreat

It took place from the 14^th-16^th of Jan.2011. ACFODE Board of Directors, which entails of Jane Nakintu – Chairperson, Alice Bwongyeirwe – Treasurer, Regina Bafaki – Secretary, Helen Twongyeirwe, Gertrude Sekabira, Christine Kawasiima, Robert Kabaale and Dr. Florence Muhanuzi (members) and George Kanyomoozi – ACFODE Staff Representative met to review ACFODE’s achievements in 2010 and to also lay strategies for 2011.

The Board reviewed its performance as well as ACFODE's 2011 work plan.

Networking activities

ACFODE attended a consultative meeting organized by UNIFEM and The National Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (NACWOLA) to discuss the ‘the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Bill 2010.’ The meeting highlighted the specific concerns NACWOLA such as mandatory testing, disclosure and criminalization of transmission among others. These were raised in light of Uganda's international, regional and national human rights obligations.

We also attend an International Conference organized by Brac on ‘Creating Useful Knowledge for Africa’s Development.’ Experiences from different sectors of development were reviewed in order to provide better understanding of the processes and challenges of useful knowledge creation, in the context of Africa and with particular emphasis on Uganda. Experiences from other developing countries about knowledge transfer and translation were also explored. Issues relating to scaling up HIV AIDS Research in Uganda, Research Innovation for Equity, Livelihoods and knowledge, the demand and usage of financial services in Uganda were discussed among others.

ACFDOE also attended the Women Cluster meeting organized by HURINET. It meant to lay a strategy for 2011 amongst member organizations.

On going activities

Popularizing the Citizens Manifesto in districts of Kisoro and Soroti

ACFODE in collaboration with NGO Forum held one day candidates’ forums in the districts of Kisoro and Soroti . The purpose of these fora was to create a platform for grass-root women and aspiring political candidates where critical women issues and demands raised in the Citizens Manifesto were to be discussed.

Research

Action for Development supported by the International Centre for Research on Women is undertaking a research project entitled “Exploring access to justice through traditional mechanisms and the formal justice system for women who experience violence” The study is being conducted in four Sub Counties of Bwambara and Nyakishenyi in Rukungiri district (western Uganda) plus Apara and Ogur in Lira district in the north.

Submitted By Sandra Nassali

Public Relations & Communications Officer

Action For Development