A lot is cooking for GMT Networks – Uganda. August has been a busy month as the team planned for the coming High Level Roundtable Convening to be held on 8th September at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala. The Roundtable is part of the Graca Machel Trust Women’s Leadership for Financial inclusion and Economic Recovery Initiative (WLFI), which is being implemented by different GMT affiliates across the continent.
The Roundtable is aimed at seeking commitments and political will of relevant policy maker and leaders, to the recently launched Gender mainstreaming standards for Gender inclusive Covid-19 Economic recovery interventions. The launch, which was followed by a convening of the National and Regional female representatives on the task force for covid 19 held at Hotel Africana in July set the pace for the three-year project. Participation in the Roundtable discussions is open as it is a hybrid of online and physical. It is going to be an interesting conversation for all those interested in understanding politics of inclusion and exclusion as shaped by policies and and policymakers. Many times there is lack of spaces for the public to join conversations towards policy change or shaping new policies. This is an opportunity to Join the the conversation and be part of teams seeking to influencing Covid-19 economic recovery strategies in Uganda, starting at 07:00 AM. Zoom link is; https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86346915876?pwd=aXRNZURtcVhNYmxCR2RoUlg2UzRoQT09, Meeting ID: 863 4691 5876, Passcode: 848637.
Network members have been busy following up on the different outcomes of the WLFI activities while at the same time driving other crucial activities in individual networks relevant to GMT strategies. The National Association of Business Women (NABW), was the lead convener of the 3rd COMESA Federation of Women in Business, held at the Uganda Museum and Sheraton Hotel in Kampala. Through the generous support of Graca Machel Trust in South Africa, all GMT Networks in Uganda were represented at the event. In her speech, NABW Chairperson Florence Kasule recognised the important role played by GMT to drive business opportunities for women in Africa. The Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperative Hon. Ntabazi Harriet notably promised to help women advance their agendas to bring them the money needed to improve their businesses when they submit their proposals and budgets.
The theme for 2022 was; ‘Business Women Advancing Regional Trade.’ The emphasis was on the need for the recognition of the contribution of business women to economic development in the region. The team pledged to continue to be in line with Agenda 2063 goal of transformed economies with a focus on economic diversification and resilience.
In other developments, Theopista Sekitto represented GMT networks at the South Africa ‘s Women’s Day Celebration 2022 at Serena Hotel in Kampala. The South African Ambassador to Uganda recognised GMT Uganda networks for the post-covid economic recovery and financial inclusion initiatives targeting women.
To celebrate the season AWAN, led by Joyce Atuhaire, held the candle high when their team won a grant to enable them trade opportunities in dried fruit in the UK.
Twongye'wanderings 