America honours Ugandan women
Apr 10, 2011
SEVEN women were on Thursday awarded by the American Embassy, for being courageous and overcoming challenges.
By Enock Kakande
SEVEN women were on Thursday awarded by the American Embassy, for being courageous and overcoming challenges.
They were recognised in various categories during the first ever Uganda Women of Courage Awards gala held at the residence of the US ambassador Jerry Lanier, in Kampala.
Lanier said Uganda’s women of courage awards recognises women’s efforts in education, health, human rights, social justice , economic empowerment, environmental protection, peace and security and media.
Among those honoured were Beatrice Ayuru in the area of education, Jesca Anyango in health, Elizabeth Nkonji in economic empowerment, Lydia Kantono in peace and security, Betty Tibaleka in media, Beatrice Anywar in environment change and Beatrice Komujinya in human rights.
She was also recognised for spearheading the Government’s move to ban the sale of polythene bags. Anywar is the Shadow minister for water and environment.
Isis-Women’s International Cross Cultural –Cultural Exchange (WICCE) and Century Entrepreneurship Development Agency (CEDA) International organised the gala. Ambassador Lanier urged women work harder to improve the lives of Ugandans.
“A majority of the thirty two million Ugandans live on less than a dollar per day. There is room for progress in supporting education, enhancing social delivery systems, building a democratic culture and promoting long term sustainable development,†Jerry said.
Lydia Kantono, Assistant Superitendent of Police (ASSP).
She was honoured for fighting corruption in the Police force. She carried out anti-corruption investigations and has set an example for exemplary performance. She encouraged women to join the Police force because they are performers and less corrupt.
Lydia has effectively provided accurate information to the inspector general of Police (IGP) resulting in the disruption of multiple criminal fraud rings. She further coordinated security related issues between the U.S. mission Uganda’s Regional Security office and the Uganda Police Force.
Betty Tibaleka, talk show host
She is a counsellor who currently hosts a local television talk show, The Untold Story, on UBC TV. Her shows high light the social injustices faced by Uganda women and encourages the sharing of experiences to break down the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and domestic violence. Betty brings the public stories that are considered culturally, socially and economically sensitive.
They range from family feuds that have left children helpless to the human rights of prisoners. For example she has hosted the intersex community to create awareness of sex education in schools.
Betty created awareness in Butaleja fishing villages, the communities known to have among the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Uganda.
Betty Tibaleka, talk show host
She is a counsellor who currently hosts a local television talk show, The Untold Story, on UBC TV. Her shows high light the social injustices faced by Uganda women and encourages the sharing of experiences to break down the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and domestic violence. Betty brings the public stories that are considered culturally, socially and economically sensitive.
They range from family feuds that have left children helpless to the human rights of prisoners. For example she has hosted the intersex community to create awareness of sex education in schools.
Betty created awareness in Butaleja fishing villages, the communities known to have among the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Uganda.
Kitgum woman MP. Beatrice Anywar
She was recognised for her “Save Mabira†demonstration in April 2007. Despite her arrest her effort led to the cancellation of the sale of forest to Mehta Group, an investor to grow sugar cane. She also advocated for the ban of polythene bags (kavera). Government has since then banned the manufacture, importation and use of polythene bags below thirty microns.
Anywar’s role in Parliament and member of the natural resources committee has spearheaded efforts to save the natural environment and combating the effects of climate change. She started a local tree nursery in Kitgum for free distribution of seedlings to the community and also advocated for growing drought resistant crops to counter climate change,
Jesca Anyango Were
A teacher and a Para-legal in Namayingo district. For three years Jesca has reached out to HIV positive women and men in Uganda. She encouraged people to always know their health status by testing for HIV.
In 2008, Jesca led a team of sixteen women in eight sub counties of Namayingo district to train local women as paralegals so that they support women and families affected by AIDS to access justice.
Jesca’s legal services helped widows affected with AIDS fight gender based violence and property loss to ruthless in-laws. “I feel I should be a voice for the mothers, share testimonies, family planning, sustainability and human rights,†she added after receiving her plaque.
Jesca has garnered the support of key enforcement actors including the police’s family protection unit, probation and welfare offices, local council leaders, religious leaders to campaign for access to justice for women and families affected by AIDS.
Prudence Komujinya, Acid Survivors She said her being recognised as a woman of courage is a call to continue denouncing acid violence. Her promising career as an English teacher was drastically altered when she suffered an acid attack in July 2001. She was left with extensive facial disfigurement with one eye.
She mobilised other survivors to form an organisation; Acid Survivors Foundation Uganda (ASFU) to find funding to enable survivors support each other.
SEVEN women were on Thursday awarded by the American Embassy, for being courageous and overcoming challenges.
They were recognised in various categories during the first ever Uganda Women of Courage Awards gala held at the residence of the US ambassador Jerry Lanier, in Kampala.
Lanier said Uganda’s women of courage awards recognises women’s efforts in education, health, human rights, social justice , economic empowerment, environmental protection, peace and security and media.
Among those honoured were Beatrice Ayuru in the area of education, Jesca Anyango in health, Elizabeth Nkonji in economic empowerment, Lydia Kantono in peace and security, Betty Tibaleka in media, Beatrice Anywar in environment change and Beatrice Komujinya in human rights.
She was also recognised for spearheading the Government’s move to ban the sale of polythene bags. Anywar is the Shadow minister for water and environment.
Isis-Women’s International Cross Cultural –Cultural Exchange (WICCE) and Century Entrepreneurship Development Agency (CEDA) International organised the gala. Ambassador Lanier urged women work harder to improve the lives of Ugandans.
“A majority of the thirty two million Ugandans live on less than a dollar per day. There is room for progress in supporting education, enhancing social delivery systems, building a democratic culture and promoting long term sustainable development,†Jerry said.
Lydia Kantono, Assistant Superitendent of Police (ASSP).
She was honoured for fighting corruption in the Police force. She carried out anti-corruption investigations and has set an example for exemplary performance. She encouraged women to join the Police force because they are performers and less corrupt.
Lydia has effectively provided accurate information to the inspector general of Police (IGP) resulting in the disruption of multiple criminal fraud rings. She further coordinated security related issues between the U.S. mission Uganda’s Regional Security office and the Uganda Police Force.
Betty Tibaleka, talk show host
She is a counsellor who currently hosts a local television talk show, The Untold Story, on UBC TV. Her shows high light the social injustices faced by Uganda women and encourages the sharing of experiences to break down the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and domestic violence. Betty brings the public stories that are considered culturally, socially and economically sensitive.
They range from family feuds that have left children helpless to the human rights of prisoners. For example she has hosted the intersex community to create awareness of sex education in schools.
Betty created awareness in Butaleja fishing villages, the communities known to have among the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Uganda.
Betty Tibaleka, talk show host
She is a counsellor who currently hosts a local television talk show, The Untold Story, on UBC TV. Her shows high light the social injustices faced by Uganda women and encourages the sharing of experiences to break down the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and domestic violence. Betty brings the public stories that are considered culturally, socially and economically sensitive.
They range from family feuds that have left children helpless to the human rights of prisoners. For example she has hosted the intersex community to create awareness of sex education in schools.
Betty created awareness in Butaleja fishing villages, the communities known to have among the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Uganda.
Kitgum woman MP. Beatrice Anywar
She was recognised for her “Save Mabira†demonstration in April 2007. Despite her arrest her effort led to the cancellation of the sale of forest to Mehta Group, an investor to grow sugar cane. She also advocated for the ban of polythene bags (kavera). Government has since then banned the manufacture, importation and use of polythene bags below thirty microns.
Anywar’s role in Parliament and member of the natural resources committee has spearheaded efforts to save the natural environment and combating the effects of climate change. She started a local tree nursery in Kitgum for free distribution of seedlings to the community and also advocated for growing drought resistant crops to counter climate change,
Jesca Anyango Were
A teacher and a Para-legal in Namayingo district. For three years Jesca has reached out to HIV positive women and men in Uganda. She encouraged people to always know their health status by testing for HIV.
In 2008, Jesca led a team of sixteen women in eight sub counties of Namayingo district to train local women as paralegals so that they support women and families affected by AIDS to access justice.
Jesca’s legal services helped widows affected with AIDS fight gender based violence and property loss to ruthless in-laws. “I feel I should be a voice for the mothers, share testimonies, family planning, sustainability and human rights,†she added after receiving her plaque.
Jesca has garnered the support of key enforcement actors including the police’s family protection unit, probation and welfare offices, local council leaders, religious leaders to campaign for access to justice for women and families affected by AIDS.
Prudence Komujinya, Acid Survivors She said her being recognised as a woman of courage is a call to continue denouncing acid violence. Her promising career as an English teacher was drastically altered when she suffered an acid attack in July 2001. She was left with extensive facial disfigurement with one eye.
She mobilised other survivors to form an organisation; Acid Survivors Foundation Uganda (ASFU) to find funding to enable survivors support each other.