Irene Naikaali Ssentongo, THP-U Country Director (left) and Jude Kizimula Nkoyoyo (right), THP-U Partnership Building & Resource Mobilization Manager. Photo by John Okot
If women are to perform effectively in leadership spaces, there needs to be favourable conditions that can enable them to fully utilise their positions well. And for that to happen, a support system has to be put in place for them to become ‘active players’ who can comfortably and safely express their views, influence and become part of the decision processes while at the same time overcoming patriarchal challenges that can limit their potential.
This was a passionate message from Ms. Irene Naikaali Ssentongo, the Country Director of The Hunger Project-Uganda (THP-U), at a well-attended co-creation meeting at Comboni Missionary Animation Centre in Gulu City last week. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including community facilitators, music, dance and drama partners, media, and the civil society organisations from Omoro, Nwoya, Gulu, Pader and Amuru districts to brainstorm ‘inclusive’ and ‘community-centred’ ideas to shape the upcoming Northern Uganda Community Leadership Forum under the theme “Enhancing Women’s Leadership for a Transformative End of Hunger,” scheduled for November 18 in Gulu.
“Most women in leadership are not active players; they are merely listeners who are not actual contributors. Yet if a Woman is supported in leadership, they have the best interest for everyone, including their families thriving on the power and ability of a mother,” Ms. Naikaali said.
“The government has done a lot in terms of affirmative action, but more needs to be done. We need to listen to that local woman at a lower level to understand why they are not ready to take up leadership responsibility, why they are not utilising their position, and what is blocking them”.
“I strongly believe that this forum will give the CSO the opportunity to sit down and listen to the real people from the communities,” she added
THP-U first launched its program in Uganda in 1999. But the nonprofit organisation, which works to end chronic hunger and poverty through community-led action, self-reliance, and women-led strategies, could not immediately roll out its operation in northern Uganda due to the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency. When it finally began working in northern Uganda in 2019, THP-U faced several challenges.
One of them was “dependency mindset, which would need gradual efforts to change despite government support,” Naikaali said.
Another major challenge was that “many women just sit back and push the males into leadership positions instead of being active players.”
“Maybe it’s a gender issue or trauma, or that women here have so many responsibilities that taking centre stage in leadership positions may affect the other roles they play in their lives,” she noted.
But Naikaali warns that this “indirectly has devastating challenges such as taking away opportunities from [women] who could have become active players in the development and leadership space.”
“We want to empower and awaken the mindset of the communities in northern Uganda, where people can have a shared vision that is geared towards self-reliance through individual and collective action,” Ms Naikaali noted.
Maryln Apio, a peace catalyst in Amuru district, called for the need for programs that can spur mindset change among women, especially those in rural settings, adding that many still believe that one can’t become a leader because they are not educated.
“You can be a leader without necessarily being a politician,” she added. Meanwhile, on the sidelines her colleagues, split into groups, were busy discussing activities they would do in their respective districts ahead of the leadership forum.
“We (women) can be leaders in a community, village, or clan meeting,” Apio added.
Stella Kijange, a lawyer, human rights defender and minister of gender, youth and culture at Ker Kwaro Acholi, reiterated that focus should be on inspiring young girls in school and women in communities to enable them to start believing in themselves that they can become leaders regardless of their social stature.
After the co-creation meeting, the participants are expected to conduct a series of activities—such as radio talk shows, community barazas and educative musical performances—ahead of the women’s leadership forum.
The forum is expected to draw at least 100 participants from Acholi sub region who are tasked to come up with a list of tangible commitments that can address the gaps that are affecting women in leadership.
“For us as THP-U we are just convenors who are accompanying the CSOs to address gaps and then prepare our work plans where we can collaborate next year and years to come,” Naikaali said.
“Who knows? These work plans can grow into a national or regional event where an African woman-led agenda focuses on their challenges, which would complement the role of the government.”
This story was made possible thanks to NUMEC’s partner, The Hunger Project-Uganda.
