Gender-Responsive Leadership and Budgeting is Transforming Karita Sub-County in Amudat District
A group photo of the empowered community representatives that have been trained on gender-responsive leadership and budgeting in Karita sub-county
In the rugged terrain of Amudat District, the community of Karita Sub-County is witnessing a remarkable transformation, thanks to the gender-responsive leadership and budgeting trainings conducted by the National Association of Women of Uganda (NAWOU).
Local leaders, who once viewed women as just homemakers, are now embracing a new mindset that celebrates the power of gender equality and shared responsibilities.
"The trainings with NAWOU have taught us that budgeting and decision-making should be a shared responsibility between men and women," shared Pamela, a woman councilor in Karita Sub-County. "We've learned that gender equality is not about making women equal to men, but about empowering women to take on responsibilities that were once solely the domain of men."
This newfound understanding has had a ripple effect across the community. Once relegated to the sidelines, women are now actively engaged in entrepreneurial activities, such as the thriving Friday markets where they sell milk and other food items.
“"Our men now come to us, requesting to borrow money from us, we've become contributors too, which has transformed the dynamics within our households."”
The local leaders have also embraced their role as change agents, mobilizing community members to prioritize education. "After the trainings, we've been going to different communities, encouraging parents to send their children to school," said Grace Tamade, a parish councilor.
The impact of these trainings has extended beyond the household and into the political realm. "Women were once not allowed to have a say in any meeting, let alone contest for political positions," recalled Shadrak, a ward councilor. "But now, the cultural myths have been broken, and women are empowered to take on leadership roles."
This empowerment has led to tangible policy changes, as the local leaders at the council level have passed resolutions to protect the rights of women and girls. "We've passed an ordinance that any leader found involved in forced or early marriages of girl children will be arrested," shared Grace. "We realize that a girl child is a treasure, and we must protect her."
In Karita Sub-County, the local leaders stand resolute, their expressions beaming with pride and unyielding resolve. They have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of gender-responsive leadership and budgeting, and they are committed to continuing their mission of empowering their communities, one household and one village at a time.
NAWOU is part of an Oxfam in Uganda-led consortium of partners, including Resource Rights Africa (RRA), CARITAS Moroto, The Uganda National Apiculture Development Organisation (TUNADO), and Center for Budget and Tax Policy (CBTP), which is implementing the Resilience, Inclusiveness, Sustainability, and Empowerment of Communities in Karamoja (RISE-K) program.
The project, funded by Irish Aid, is being implemented in Moroto, Amudat, and Nakapiriripirit and seeks to achieve a just and empowered community in the Karamoja subregion.