Outstanding women recognised

PIC: Proscovia Namujju receiing her award at Ngamba Sanctuary in Mukono district. (Credit: Nicholas Kajoba)

RECOGNITION | WOMEN

MUKONO - Several Ugandan women who have a played big role in the empowerment of women's struggle have been recognised and awarded.

The celebrating womanhood awards ceremony was organised by Native Travel Festival as one of the annual activities held to mark International Women's Day.

The event took place at Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Mukono.

The executive director of Native travel festival, Sarah Nsigaye, said the awards event seeks to celebrate achievements realised in the struggle for women empowerment, highlight women's success stories and provide network opportunities.

The Awards are named after gallant women such as, Wangari Maathai, Fatuma Abdurallai, Joan Kagezi, Sarah Ntiro, Miria Matembe and Yvonne Namaganda. Others are Lily Ajarova, Victoria Sekitoleko, Sadia Ali and Malala Yousfazai.

Nsigaye said the awardees were identified through inviting women and civic society organisations to nominate potential candidates per category.

"We also monitored  media reports for potential candidates. From the forwarded names, we select three candidates per category. It is from these candidates that representatives of at least 50 women and civic institutions vote the winners," she said.

Nsigaye said the choice of Ngamba Island is based on this year's theme of ‘Women Nurturing Nature' given that the executive director, Lily Ajarova, is a woman who has effectively steered Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary beyond providing a safe habitat to vulnerable chimpanzees.

The winners in various categories
Henry Kasozi got the Victoria Sekitoleko Award, Wangai Maatha Award- Pauline Nantongo, Yvone Namaganda award-Brian Gumusiriz and Mama Sadia Award- Diana Atwine.

The Sarah Ntiro Award went to Luzira women prison wing, the Joan Kagezi Award  - Justice Catherine Bamugemerire, while  John Nagenda got the Miria Matembe Award. Godiver Businge scooped the Lily Ajarova award, Malala Yousafzai award- Proscovia Namujju, Jvj Award-Given Kayondo, the Dorcus Inzikiru award went to Patricia Opolot, while Joan Lule took home the Abdullai Fatimah Award.