imported>Sandra Aceng at 06:43, 20 February 2025

2025-02-20T06:43:40Z

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{{short description|Non-governmental organization in Uganda}}
[[File:WOUGNET_Staff.jpg|thumb|WOUGNET staff at the secretariat]]
{{Infobox organization
| name = WOUGNET
| formation = May 2000
| full_name = Women of Uganda Network
| logo = WOUGNET logo.png
| abbreviation = WOUGNET
| founder = Dorothy Okello
| founding_location = Kampala, Central Region
| purpose = To develop the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among women as tools to share information and address issues collectively.
| headquarters = Kampala, Uganda
| location_country = Uganda
| region = East Africa
| membership = 30
| leader_title = Executive Director
| leader_name = Sandra Aceng
| board_of_directors = Angela Nakafeero Peace Musiimenta Ednah Karamagi Julie Agum James Oriekot Fridah Mutesi Shubey Nantege Luzinda
| staff = 18
| website = https://wougnet.org/
}}

'''Women of Uganda Network''' ('''WOUGNET''') also known as ''Women of Uganda Network Development Limited'' is [[Uganda]]n [[non-governmental organization]] that aids women and women's organisations in the use and access of [[information and communication technologies]] (ICTs) to share information and address issues their concerns such as gender norms, advocating for their rights and building communities and businesses through education.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=WOUGNET Leading Efforts to Strengthen Digital Resilience and Combat Online Gender Based Violence |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/161241 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=New Vision |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-20 |title=Intersectionality of women’s digital rights |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/letters/intersectionality-of-women-s-digital-rights-4166212 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Monitor |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) - Uganda - 50 Million African Women Speak |url=https://www.womenconnect.org/web/uganda/mentors/-/asset_publisher/4KhjxQB8GffJ/content/women-of-uganda-network-wougnet- |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=www.womenconnect.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-12 |title=Journalists urged to take care of own mental health |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/journalists-urged-to-take-care-of-own-mental-health--3470118 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Monitor |language=en}}</ref><ref name="monitor.co.ug">{{Cite web |date=2021-01-07 |title=Women decry discrimination in ICT policy initiatives |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/full-woman/women-decry-discrimination-in-ict-policy-initiatives-1628026 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Monitor |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==

WOUGNET was founded in May 2000 by women's organisations from [[Uganda]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Cooperation |first=Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural |date=2002 |title=The Women of Uganda Network (Uganda) |url=https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/57503 |journal=ICT Update |language=en}}</ref> Its mailing lists are hosted by [[Kabissa]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2022-03-23 |title=Wougnet: A society in which women are empowered through the use of ICTs for sustainable development - CTIN |url=https://civictech.africa/case-study/women-of-uganda-network-a-society-in-which-women-are-empowered-through-the-use-of-icts-for-sustainable-development/,%20https://civictech.africa/case-study/women-of-uganda-network-a-society-in-which-women-are-empowered-through-the-use-of-icts-for-sustainable-development/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |language=en-ZA}}</ref>

'''Mission:''' To promote the use of [[information and communication technologies]] by women and girls for gender equality and sustainable development.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) {{!}} Women in the World Foundation |url=https://womenintheworld.org/solutions/entry/women-of-uganda-network-wougnet/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=womenintheworld.org |language=en}}</ref>

'''Aim:''' To improve the conditions of life for Ugandan women, by enhancing their capacities and opportunities for exchange, collaboration and information sharing.<ref name=":3" />

'''Vision:''' An inclusive and just society where women and girls are enabled to use ICTs for sustainable development.<ref name=":3" />

'''Programs''': Information Sharing and Networking, Technical Support, and Gender and ICT Policy Advocacy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) {{!}} Association for Progressive Communications |url=https://www.apc.org/en/member/women-uganda-network-wougnet-1 |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=www.apc.org}}</ref>

WOUGNET does research and analysis on internet and ICT policies,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boho |first=Meganne |date=2020-10-12 |title=Men 43% more likely than women to use in the internet in Uganda |url=https://africanmediaagency.com/men-43-more-likely-than-women-to-use-in-the-internet-in-uganda/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=African Media Agency |language=en-US}}</ref> promotes equal access to information, intersection of gender and technology, capacity building on online safety and emerging technology trends among other activities to ensure that women are catered for in them.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gender equality goes online; women call for equal internet access |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/1410719 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=New Vision |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-19 |title=Internet Shutdowns: An Evaluation of Women’s Online Expression and Participation in Uganda |url=https://internews.org/blog/internet-shutdowns-an-evaluation-of-womens-online-expression-and-participation-in-uganda/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Information Saves Lives {{!}} Internews |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bridging the Digital Gender Gap in Uganda: An assessment of women’s rights online based on the principles of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms {{!}} African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms |url=https://africaninternetrights.org/en/resource/bridging-digital-gender-gap-uganda-assessment-women%E2%80%99s-rights-online-based-principles |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=africaninternetrights.org}}</ref> It also implements other programs in agriculture, digital inclusion, entrepreneurship, governance and accountability among other programs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) {{!}} The Women's Rights Online Network |url=https://www.womenrightsonline.net/partners/women-of-uganda-network-wougnet |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.womenrightsonline.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WOUGNET ( Women of Uganda Network) {{!}} AUDA-NEPAD |url=https://www.nepad.org/nepadspanishfund/project/wougnet-women-of-uganda-network |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.nepad.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Uganda |url=https://wphfund.org/countries/uganda/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Executive directors ==

# [[Dorothy Okello]] (Founder)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network {{!}} GFAR |url=https://www.gfar.net/organizations/women-uganda-network |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=www.gfar.net}}</ref>
# Peace Oliver Amuge (May 2020 to February 2023).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amuge, Peace Oliver {{!}} Internet Governance Forum |url=https://www.intgovforum.org/en/content/amuge-peace-oliver |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.intgovforum.org}}</ref>
# [[metawiki:User:Sandra Aceng|Sandra Aceng]] from March 2023 to date.

== Memberships ==
WOUGNET is a member of;

* ICT4Democracy (ICT4D) network<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) : |url=https://ict4dem.blogs.dsv.su.se/about/partnerproject-briefs/wougnet/ |access-date=2023-06-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) – ICT4 Democracy |url=https://ict4democracy.org/about-ict4d/partnerproject-briefs/wougnet/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Women's Rights Online (WRO) network spearheaded by [[World Wide Web Foundation]]'''.'''<ref name="monitor.co.ug"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) |url=https://webfoundation.org/about/funding-partners/wougnet/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=World Wide Web Foundation |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Association for Progressive Communications]] (APC) since January 2005.<ref name=":0" />
* [[Girls Not Brides]] since 25 March 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network (Wougnet) |url=https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/our-partnership/member-directory/women-of-uganda-network-wougnet/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Girls Not Brides |language=en}}</ref>
* The [[Global Network Initiative]] (GNI) since 2019.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Sheehy |first=Chris |title=The Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) Joins GNI |url=https://globalnetworkinitiative.org/wougnet-joins-gni/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Global Network Initiative |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Digital Human Rights Lab since 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WOUGNET |url=https://digitalhumanrightslab.org/community/wougnet/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Digital Human Rights Lab |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Uganda Women's Network]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=UWONET Members |url=https://www.uwonet.or.ug/about/uwonet-membership/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (RUFORUM).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network {{!}} RUFORUM |url=https://www.ruforum.org/directory/women-uganda-network |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=www.ruforum.org}}</ref>

==Tools==

WOUGNET uses email, social media, the web, SMS (short messaging service)<ref name="Women of Uganda Network WOUGNET">{{Cite web |date=2007-11-26 |title=Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) |url=https://takebackthetech.net/local_actions/women_of_uganda_network_wougnet |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Take Back The Tech |language=en}}</ref> and "traditional means" such as [[radio]], [[television]] and [[Printing|print]] media such as newspapers<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=NOTICE FROM WOUGNET |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/3303 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=New Vision |language=en}}</ref> to communicate and share information about online gender based violence (OGBV), online safety among other issues.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=The Women of Uganda Network on the fight for gender equality and the issues facing women across Uganda |url=https://www.missingperspectives.com/home/wougnet |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Missing Perspectives |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Awards ==
'''Democracy Innovation Award (2013):''' In 2013, WOUGNET was awarded the Winner Of The Democracy Innovation at the closing ceremony of the second World Forum for Democracy held in Strasbourg.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Böttcher |first=Jasmin |date=2013-11-30 |title=The Winner Of The Democracy Innovation Award! {{!}} Society 3.0 |url=https://society30.com/winner-democracy-innovation-award/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |language=en-US}}</ref> The Innovation Award recognized the efforts taken to involve citizens in democratic processes and the general public life.<ref name=":9" />

'''World Summit Award (2003):''' WOUGNET received the World Summit Award in the "Inclusion & Empowerment" category, acknowledging its efforts to empower women through ICTs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) |url=https://wsa-global.org/winner/women-of-uganda-network-wougnet/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |language=en}}</ref>

2024 award for championing the women in ICT agenda in Uganda.

== Members ==
WOUGNET has no membership fees for its three types of memberships and these are individual, organisation (Women organisations based in Uganda) and affiliate (organisations that are not women organisations based in Uganda). To become a member you have to are required to subscribe to the WOUGNET mailing list.<ref name=":5" />

'''WOUGNET members include:'''
* Reach out Wives of Soldiers’ Association (ROWOSA)<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Our Members |url=https://wougnet.org/our-members/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=WOUGNET |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Slum Aid Project (SAP)<ref name=":8" />
* Ibanda Women's Guild (IWOGU)<ref name=":8" />
* Gabula Atudde Women Group (GABULA ATUDDE)<ref name=":8" />
* Tusubira Women's Group (TUWOGRO)<ref name=":8" />
* Warm Hearts Foundation (WHF)
* Katosi Women Development Trust (KWDT)
* Ntulume Village Women Development Association (NVIWODA)
* Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association (UWEAL)
* Comfort Community Empowerment Network (COCENET)
* Local Sustainable Communities Organizations (LOSCO)
* St Bruno Doll Making Group
* Hope Case Foundation (HCF)
* Kigezi Women in Development (KWID)
* Uganda Muslim Women Vision (UMWV)
* Grassroots Women's Association for Development (GWAD)
* Disabled Women in Development (DIWODE)
* Karma Rural Women's Development Organization (KRUWODO)
* Community action for sustainable livelihood (CASUL)

== Awards and recognistions ==

* Inclusion & Empowerment by World Summit Award (WSA) in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) {{!}} WSA |url=https://wsa-global.org/winner/women-of-uganda-network-wougnet/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |language=en}}</ref>
* Democracy Innovation Award by The council of Europe at World Forum for Democracy in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Democracy Innovation Award goes to "Women of Uganda Network" - world-forum-democracy - www.coe.int |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/world-forum-democracy/-/democracy-innovation-award-goes-to-women-of-uganda-network- |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=world-forum-democracy |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Activities, campaigns, workshops and trainings ==
In 2005, WOUGNET registered Ugandans who would attend the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) that happened in Tunis in Tunisia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WSIS: Ugandan Women prepare |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/1115095 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=New Vision |language=en}}</ref>

WOUGNET partnered with Womensnet, South Africa and APC-Africa-Women (AAW) and ran an SMS based 16 Days of Activism campaign where messages against violence against women were sent out by both individuals and organisations.<ref name="Women of Uganda Network WOUGNET"/>

WOUGNET partnered with Internews and trained Civil Society organisations (CSOs) and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) that wanted to strengthen advocacy strategies for women's rights and privacy online.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" />

WOUGNET engaged policymakers, government agencies, CSOs and lawmakers to better understand how cybercrime legislation, data protection, access to information among other issues affected women.<ref name=":6" />

== Projects and reports ==

=== Reports ===
some of the reports include;

* Bridging the Digital Gender Gap in Uganda: An Assessment of Women Rights Online Based on the Principles of the African Declaration of Internet Rights and Freedoms (AFDEC) which addressed women's internet usage performance in Uganda.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kiyonga |first=Derrick |date=2020-06-18 |title=Govt effort needed to improve women access to the internet |url=https://observer.ug/businessnews/65341-govt-effort-needed-to-improve-women-access-to-the-internet |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=The Observer - Uganda |language=en-gb}}</ref>

=== WOUGNET's current, present and past projects include:<ref name=":4" /> ===
* Civil Society in Uganda Digital Support Programme (CUSDS) supported by the Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund which responded to COVID-19 emergency in Uganda by strengthening the institutional digital capacity of her 23 member organisations in 2020 to remain resilient during a situation where COVID-19 erected roadblocks and restrictions on movement of staff.
* Women's Rights Online Media Campaigns in Uganda supported by Association for Progressive Communications (APC) in 2020 under All Women Count Project.
* Enhancing Women's Rights Online through Inclusive and effective response to online gender-based violence in Uganda. supported by Digital Human Rights Lab in 2021.
* Our Voices, Our Futures (OVOF) funded by Association for Progressive Communications (APC) from 2021 to 2025.
* Saving Women's Journalists from Online harassment in Uganda by Improving Legislation on Freedom of Expression in the Digital Spaces and Tackling Online harassment (SWIFT) supported by Urgent Action Funds in 2021.
* Promoting Smart Policy Options in Closing Gender Digital Divide in Uganda, in partnership with CfMA supported by World Wide Web Foundation in 2020–2021.
* Strengthening Uganda's Rights to Freedom of Expression through Policy Advocacy and Media (SURFACE) supported by International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) in 2021.
* Marker-Assisted Breeding of selected Native Chickens in Mozambique and Uganda in partnership with Eduardo Mondlane Mozambique, Makerere University, Gulu University and International Rural Poultry Centre- Kyeema Foundation (Mozambique) supported by African Union from 2019 to 2022.
* Strengthening use of ICTs and social media for Citizen Engagement and improved Service Delivery supported by SIDA in Eastern and Indigo Trust UK in Northern Uganda.
* Strengthening use of ICTs and Social media for citizen engagement and improved service delivery, funded by Indigo Trust UK.
* Increasing women's decision making and influence in Internet Governance and ICT policy for the realization of women's rights in Africa, implemented with WomensNet in Uganda and South Africa and supported by UN Women Fund for Gender Equality

== See also ==

* [[Association for Progressive Communications]]
* [[Global Network Initiative]]
* [[Dorothy Okello]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wougnet}}
[[Category:Organizations established in 2000]]
[[Category:Women's organisations based in Uganda]]
[[Category:Organizations for women in science and technology]]
[[Category:Information technology organisations based in Uganda]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in Uganda]]
[[Category:Women's rights in Uganda]]

WOUGNET - Revision history

imported>Sandra Aceng at 06:43, 20 February 2025