GEOGRAPHY

The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa, bordered on the east by Kenya, the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, within which it shares borders with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a portion of the south of the country including the capital Kampala. According to the 2002 Population census, the population is 27,616,000

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
 
“Women represent 30% in politics”.

The President of Uganda, currently Yoweri Museveni, is both head of state and head of government. The president appoints a Vicde President who aids him in his tasks. The current Vice President is Prof. Gilbert Bukenya. The parliament is formed by the National Assembly, which has 303 members. Eighty-six of these members are nominated by interest groups, including women and the army. The remaining members are elected for five-year terms during general elections. Currently there are 100 women MPs.
In a measure ostensibly designed to reduce sectarian violence, political parties were restricted in their activities from 1986. In the non-party "Movement" system instituted by Museveni, political parties continued to exist, but they could only operate a headquarter office. They could not open branches, hold rallies or field candidates directly (although electoral candidates could belong to political parties). A constitutional referendum cancelled this nineteen-year ban on multi-party politics in July 2005.
The presidential elections were held in February 2006. Museveni ran against several candidates, the most prominent of whom was exiled Dr. Kizza Besigye. Museveni was declared the winner in the elections, however international election observers did not condemn the election results, or endorse the electoral process.Despite technically democratic elections, harassment of opposition had started months earlier in the form of a disturbing opposition campaign, detention of activists, rape and other criminal allegations against Besigye, and use of state funds for electoral campaigning.
EASSI has two member organizations in Uganda namely Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET and National Association of Women organizations in Uganda NAWOU).

UWONET  is an advocacy and lobbying coalition of National Women’s NGOs, institutions and individuals in Uganda, founded in 1993. UWONET was born out of the East African Women’s Conference held in Kampala in 1993. Her current Director is Manisurah Aheebwa . For more information, visit http://www.uwonet.org/

NAWOU is an indigenous un\umbrella NGO for women organizations formed in 1992. It is affiliated to the International Council for Social Welfare and has consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council. Fore more information, visit http://www.nawouuganda.org