WOMEN IN UGANDA

From the Kitchen to the Conference Room

Challenges Worldwide

Written by Challenges Worldwide ICS volunteers:

Naomi Deller, Laura Willis and Donia Al Saffar

“Are predetermined gender related norms still creating obstacles to the empowerment of women in Uganda?”

Women in Uganda face a multitude of social, economic and cultural challenges that serve as barriers to equality in everyday life. At a glance, Uganda ranks relatively well on the Global Gender Gap Index in comparison to most Sub-Saharan African countries (ranked 11 out of 31 measured in Sub-Saharan Africa, and 58 out of 145 countries worldwide in 2015).

However, it is apparent that there is a clear disparity between men and women economically and socially within the country. Much of Uganda’s constitution is aimed at facilitating the rights of women and promoting equality in the country – in the past decade, recent laws supporting the empowerment of women and girls through education have taken a big leap from where they once were. We asked ourselves, ‘Are predetermined gender related norms still creating obstacles to the empowerment of women in Uganda?’

International Citizen Service (ICS) volunteers, working with Challenges Worldwide in Uganda, have been placed in small to mediums sized enterprises all over Kampala, the country’s chaotic and colourful capital. We have had the

opportunity to meet and work with some of the women who are challenging the gender-related norms and combating those obstacles that are still apparent throughout the country today. The typical image of a Ugandan woman following a traditional role as a wife and mother is something that is beginning to change as many more women are as more women are fulfilling ambitions and working towards goals they might not have been expected to reach in the past. However, as we found from talking to a variety of ambitious women working in Uganda, there are still many misconceptions of what women are capable of doing in work, in business, in politics and more.

This article sets out to explore the experiences of a range of women based in Uganda’s capital city, Kampala, asking them to look back in time, consider their achievements and highlight any females who have influenced them in life. We spoke to several women from different walks of life who are actively defying some of the stereotypes and misconceptions of women in Uganda today. Here’s what they had to say…

Born in Kampala, Clare studied project management but always had an interest in fashion. Earlier in life this was just handwork, but after finishing these initial projects, Clare decided to carry on with her true passion – fashion. She started with simple crafts and a little bit of income but had big ambitions to do fashion and clothing. She has so far been in business for 2 – 3 years in small scale but has recently started getting out there to show people what she does. Clare has held her stall in Kibuye Market, Kampala, since June 2015. She says that it has so far been successful, but up and down from day to day.

Growing Up…What do you think of your own achievements? Would your younger self be surprised at where you are today? When you’re really doing something you love, you are motivated and you can do more. If you appreciate what you do, you are very proud of yourself and it gets you moving. It gives you motivation for waking up early in the morning and saying “oh yeah, people believe in me, people like what I do!”. So my achievements, I’m really happy and I’m proud of myself!My younger self wouldn’t be surprised or people close to me, as they have seen me

really do this and want to do this. So they would just go – “yes she’s doing what she really needs”. But others, maybe adults, they may say “wow, this young girl is doing this” and most adults say that because they are surprised I’m young and motivate myself to get up early in the morning. It is still a surprise to them because most young people don’t want to work – they think of office work, something like that. This is a bit tiresome. You have to wake up early in the morning, like by 5am or 6am you are here so you are pushing yourself. And you have to make all these things by yourself, so yeah. But I knew I could do it!

Clare Nasasasira, 26, Self-employed stall owner, designer and dress-maker

Can you name an African female who has been of influence to you throughout your life? Who were/are they and what was their role?In terms of this, it’s my mum actually because all of this began with my mum. She used to dress us so nice at home so that motivated me. You know when you are dressed nice you carry on, you always want to look good. So how she dressed me really put me ahead and influenced what I’m doing.

Here and Now…What do you think are the misconceptions of women in Africa?Misconceptions… you’re supposed to be home, you’re not supposed to work, and you’re supposed to be mothers. Actually that’s the main thing according to women in Africa. Not going to school is another thing… so it’s more home-stay than out-go. But it’s changing and women are not at home so much, it is growing. So you can see that most of the women here (at the market), these businesses, are women.

Inequality is a problem in many African countries. In what ways, if any, do you believe the lack of equality between men and women has affected you in a business or workplace? Me, no it hasn’t affected me at all, because I know what I want and I don’t depend on a man. Some women are insecure; they feel

like they want to depend on a man, some-thing like that, I don’t feel like that. I’m ok to do what I really want to do, there is no ‘ok a man has to give me money’, no, if I have my two hands then I can do work. Some women are insecure; they feel like if a man is not there, they cannot provide for themselves. My mum is real motivation for my equality. She raised me and my siblings, as a single mum, so she didn’t have a man to say ‘do that’.

The Future…Do you think equality for women would ever be a reality in Uganda and is there enough being done for female empowerment to make you feel happy about equality for future generations? Equality… You know in Africa of course we are Christian, we have to have hope. Everything is just hope. We have to hope it will happen. Right now it’s not yet there, but I know we hope it happens. I don’t know but I hope it really happens.

What advice would you give to a woman wanting to start a business in Uganda? One thing I would say is you have to have love for what you’re doing. You have to be motivated and you have to be around inspiring people. If you live with negative people, who always envy, they put you down. You need ‘this thing is great, go ahead’ but mainly you have to like what you do!

I’m ok to do what I really want to do. There is no ‘Ok a man has to give me money’.

No - if I have my two hands then I can do work.”

Vanessa was born and raised in London, UK, to Ugandan parents. Growing up, she would visit family in Kampala, and it was during one of these recent visits that she identified an unmet need for graduates trying to find work in the city. After speaking to her cousin, who had graduated from Makerere University with a First Degree in Finance two years previously, she was shocked to find out that he was still struggling to find a job, and feedback highlighted “lack of experience” despite his qualification. After further research, Vanessa identified that graduates in Kampala could benefit from access to an internship scheme whereby they would be placed in businesses ranging from multinational corporations to small/medium enterprises. With this idea, Vanessa set up ProInterns, to provide fulfilling internships that boost skills and facilitate on the job training opportunities for students and graduates.

“My mother always said to me ‘you can do and be anything you want in life’…She set a perfect example to show me ‘you can do it’.”Vanessa Atim, 24, Founder of ProInterns

Growing Up…What do you think of your own achievements? Would your younger self be surprised at where you are today? I couldn’t have seen myself here, setting up a business at 24 years old. I’ve always been super motivated and ambitious, however, I would have laughed if you had told me at age 15 that I would be moving to Uganda in almost 10 years time! Now, the country fascinates me and my perception has changed. I booked a one-way ticket from London two weeks ago and am so busy getting ProInterns set up. It’s exciting and even feels strange saying out loud that I have founded a business. I was always interested in marketing and advertising but really didn’t imagine starting my own venture so yes, my younger self would have been surprised!

Can you name an African female who has been of influence to you throughout your life? Who were/are they and what was their role?My mother has been a big influence to me throughout my life. She was born in North Uganda and relocated to London. She had me and my siblings at a young age but that didn’t stop her and she has recently graduated with her third degree! My mother gave me positive reinforcement, drive and motivation. She set a perfect example to show me “you can do it”.

Here and Now…What do you think are the misconceptions of women in Africa? I think many people expect women in Africa to be the housewife, looking after the children, staying at home and preparing food. However, it’s 2016 and women are becoming more powerful. There’s so much you can do if you don’t let misconceptions hold you back and actually challenge them. Women are investing in themselves, setting up businesses and it’s great to see the entrepreneurial spirit. I also think women have more opportunities in education as previously this wasn’t as important.

The Future…What advice would you give to a woman wanting to start a business in Uganda? Do it. Start it. Don’t get too caught up in the formalities, as this will jolt you back. Find a name, set up the social accounts, register the business plan and the rest will come later. That’s the way I did it. Now that I am here in Uganda and working on the ground, my business model is changing. It’s important to do your due diligence and market research but don’t get too caught up in the nitty gritty details as this may hold you back. I read a book by Susan Jeffers and it said, “feel the fear and do it anyway”. My favourite quote is by Napolean Hill who said “whatever the mind can conceive and believe. The mind can achieve”.

“My mother always said to me ‘you can do and be

anything you want in life’…She set a perfect

example to show me ‘you can do it’.”

“We are taken as weak – even when you are mighty like me! People think you are weak because you are a woman! Even when you are outwardly strong, a weak person will think you are very weak.”Mrs. J. Obbo,

Mrs. Obbo is a lecturer and researcher; teaching subjects in sociology and social administration. She has lived in Uganda her whole life and has three children; two daughters and one son.

Growing Up…What do you think of your own achievements? Would your younger self be surprised at where you are today? I think I have a lot of achievements, considering my background. I come from a peasant background and not only my family but also in my clan. I was the first girl to get a degree, I was the first girl to get a second degree. So I think, especially education-wise and considering my generation, I was a great achiever within my clan background. I am proud of where I come from.

Can you name an African female who has been of influence to you throughout your life? Who were/are they and what was their role?If I talk from the background of my clan, what surprised me most was my grandmother. My grandfather, at his time of death had two wives. The first wife already had four children and the second wife had two children and was pregnant. What was interesting is that he didn’t have a brother. When he died, at the time the common practice was that the woman would stay around and if the man

“I believe that especially with education

empowerment, women are going to be better.”

Mrs. J. Obbo, 58, Lecturer in Sociology

has brothers they would inherit her. Since there was no brother in law to inherit her, she ran away, and got married somewhere, and never came back to see her children. But my grandmother, who was younger, stayed on, looked after her children, and looked after her co-wife’s children. So to me, I never lived to see her but she was an inspiration. At that time there were no photographs but my auntie told me ‘You are the only person who looks like my mother’ – so I felt that I am strong like her. So my grandmother inspires me, especially as I couldn’t imagine how she was younger, and instead of rushing for another marriage, she stayed around, looked after her own babies, and looked after her co-wife’s children. So that was an inspiration to me. Here and Now…What do you think are the misconceptions of women in Africa?One obviously, we are taken as weak – even when you are mighty like me, people think you are weak because you are a woman! Even when you are outwardly strong, a weak person will think you are very weak. So, one misconception is that we are very, very weak. They think we can’t do without anybody.

The Future…Do you think equality for women would ever be a reality in Uganda and is there enough being done for female empowerment to make you feel happy about equality for future generations? In the future, I hope for a lot of improvement because it is already there. I will tell you that it was unheard of for girls to share property or land because we are supposed to be married away. My father, when he was still alive after the moment my mother passed on, he said

‘next is me. I don’t want to write a will, this is my property and I’m free to say aloud what I want to do with it’. So last Christmas, he called us all and clearly said ‘you boys, I’ve already given you many shares so these remaining shares, nobody should disturb as they are for my girls’. So these are strong things people would never think to do, like thinking of a girl inheriting property. This is a break-through and for that case of ours, like my father, people are learning what to do.

What future changes do you expect to see that you think will change financial power of women in Uganda? Obviously, one way of acquiring wealth is through education, you get a good job, or inherit property from parents. Now par-ents are willing to give property to their girls – that obviously will improve their financial status.

There is also our constitution – it is known as one of the two most gender-sensitive constitutions in the world – though our traditions are still hampering its implementation. But at least at the highest level of legislation, we have support. Then we have those other low level laws which are also supporting women. We have the Education Act 2008, it provides for affirmative action in education, it provides for universal primary education, it provides universal free primary education and even free secondary education, it also provides for women to go and stay in school. Then we also have the General Gender Policy and the Gender in Education Policy. This provides affirmative action for empowerment of women. I believe that especially with education empowerment, women are go-ing to be better.

What do you think of your own achievements? Would your younger self be surprised at where you are today?My younger self wouldn’t be surprised of where I am today. I’ve always wanted bigger things in life and I’ve always been different in my ways of thinking, in comparison to where I grew up, I’m not surprised. I’m grateful and feel blessed.

I knew I was going to work in the commu-nity and help people, teach people, inform people. I knew that whatever I would do, would have to be revolved around people. But it was a case of finding exactly what that was.

I was born and raised in Uganda where careers guidance was not that great. Typical occupations were expected such as a teacher, lawyer, doctor or nurse. Something like health promotion or com-munity development work was not really considered as serious or intelligent as the other roles.

Can you name an African female who has been of influence to you throughout your life? Who were/are they and what was their role?Mrs Florence Mary Byekwaso – she is my mother. She grew up in an older generation where a woman having a

Rebecca Byekwaso, Under 55, Community Development Worker and Challenges Worldwide Programme Coordina-

career was almost looked down on. She pursued a career in health, as a nurse, and she never did the things that typical women did in the area where she grew up in Uganda. My mother was always busy doing something useful, whether it be with her family or in her community. She was quiet, so other people often perceived her as proud, but we knew she was hard-working and caring, we knew what she was all about and that shaped me as a child. Her open-mindedness helped me to be comfortably independent and not to worry too much about what society thinks. Being brought up in this way in my culture was a good grounding and prepared me with the challenges of living abroad.

Here and Now…What do you think are the misconceptions of women in Africa? I find this a difficult question to answer, as there are some misconceptions about African women that are true in some areas and false in others. For example, if you say a woman is vulnerable, it may be true in areas where women are not empowered. However, there are some pretty powerful African women being represented in soci-ety.

Inequality is a problem in many African countries. In what ways, if any, do you believe the lack of equality between men and women has affected you in a business or workplace? In Uganda, women are not seen to be as strong or as equal as men. Even though men may not say it, you can see inequali-ty in the way they work with women and how they think about women. I do think the inequalities are greater in the older generation than the younger one. I’m aware of gender equality but I work with it and use it to my advantage so it has never

impacted me negatively. I don’t let it stop me getting on with my life, it’s a hazard that I can overcome.

The Future…Do you think equality for women would ever be a reality in Uganda and is there enough being done for female empowerment to make you feel happy about equality for future generations? Now there is a lot more noise about women empowerment but developments are happening at a slower rate than they should be. It would be nice to see changes happening quicker. For me, there is inequality for women in work roles and earning power. I think that equality should be about treating each other respectively; as opposed to thinking one is more intelligent than the other. It upsets me to know that vulnerable women in society don’t have the voice to speak up about their circumstances and seek help.

What advice would you give to a woman wanting to start a business in Uganda? Get the right and positive support around you. It’s important to know who your friends are and remember, it’s about quality not quantity. Get a mentor, be ready to learn and don’t be discouraged. Be realistic as there will be bumps along the way. Don’t give up, just go for it and believe in yourself! What I find most frustrating in African women is the lack of confidence and self-esteem. This stops a woman from developing and is very important.One of my favourite quotes is ‘Kyosigga kyokungula’ – ‘you reap what you sow’.***

“Inequality…I don’t let it stop me getting on with my life, it’s a hazard that I can overcome”

These are just some of the inspiring women that we have met on our journey in Uganda so far.

Clare, Vanessa, Mrs. Obbo and Rebecca have all shown us that although being a woman in Uganda

still comes with certain expectations and inequalities, they won’t let this stop them working towards their goals – and enterprise and education

are just some of the ways that this has been possible. We hope they continue influencing and

inspiring others, just as they have inspired us through the making of this article – and we hope

that after reading it, they have inspired you too.

Thank you for taking the time to read this piece from the ICS Volunteers in Uganda – more from the

team coming soon!

From the Kitchen to the Conference Room

Challenges Worldwide

WOMEN IN UGANDA

Written by Challenges Worldwide ICS volunteers:

Naomi Deller, Laura Willis and Donia Al Saffar