ACFODE wins Women Achievers Award 2012 for Outstanding Women’s Organization

In recognition for her commitment to promoting women’s rights in Uganda, Action For Development (ACFODE) – an indigenous, voluntary, non-governmental women’s organization was given the Women Achievers Award 2012 for her “Contributions in Enhancing Women’s Empowerment and Sustaining the Women’s Movement in Uganda.”

ACFODE's Executive Director Ms. Regina Bafaki with the Award. 

The Award was given by Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) on behalf of the women of Uganda during the National Women’s Week Jubilee Celebrations.

ACFODE founders, members and staff therefore take this opportunity to extend their most sincere thanks to UWONET and to all the women and men of Uganda for nominating and believing in ACFODE's mandate.

Words cannot even express how happy we are!! Consequently, we promise to continue promoting women’s rights until gender equality is a reality in Uganda since we have been inspired to work harder.

Other ACFODE Staff celebrating the Award

Below are some of ACFODE’s contributions/ milestones to the Ugandan Women’s Movement over the years;

• ACFODE has existed for the last 27 Years and has consistently advocated for Women’s Rights since 1985 despite many challenges.

• ACFODE Contributed greatly to efforts that resulted in the establishment of the Ministry of Women in Development under the president’s office in 1998.

• ACFODE advocated for the inclusion of the Affirmative Action in the 1995 Constitution and other gender-related human rights provisions appearing in the preamble, in the National Objectives and Directive Principles of State policy i.e.  Article 78 and 180, Article 78 (1) (b), and Article 180 (2).

• ACFODE through the link programme was able to gather and connect the CA legislators with the citizens and hence contributed to the constitution making process.

• Since inception, ACFODE has trained and motivated many women to compete for leadership position both at local and national levels for instance; more than 50,000 women have been equipped with leadership skills

• ACFODE has worked with more than 30 institutions of Higher Learning in Uganda to promote the Gender Equality Agenda and Good Governance among the youth.

• ACFODE has given birth/ contribution to the formation of other women/human rights organistaions such as UWONET, UDN, UNGOF, HURINET among others.

• Visibility of the women’s cause in the mainstream media; as early as 1991, ACFODE lobbied and secured a weekly Women’s Page in the government newspaper, The New Vision to cover women’s issues.  

• ACFODE pioneered the Women’s Magazine i.e. The Arise in 1991 and has since been a women’s advocacy Magazine that enables Ugandans to share their views about different Gender Issues. Other organizations have since then followed suit (Public and Private). 

• The establishment of the Department of women studies at Makerere University in 1991 was a result of ACFODE’s lobbying efforts with the University Women’s Association. Today it is the Makerere School of Gender Studies.

• In 1993, ACFODE worked closely with other organizations and was hence instrumental in establishing the National Association of Women Organizations in Uganda (NAWOU) - an independent umbrella body for all women NGOs.

• ACFODE spearheaded the advocacy for the enactment of the Equal Opportunities Commission in 2007 by coordinating a Coalition of 22 CSOs.

Compiled by Sandra Nassali

Public Relations & Communications Officer

Action For Development

snassali@acfode.org