Ruth Atim and Fortunate kemigisha

Women’s involvement in technology in Uganda has been on the rise in recent years, with more and more women taking up roles in the tech industry. This has been attributed to several factors, including increased access to technology, government policies promoting gender equality, and the efforts of civil society organizations to encourage girls and women to pursue careers in technology.

One of the major challenges faced by women in the tech industry in Uganda has been a lack of access to education and training. Women have historically been underrepresented in STEM fields, and this has had a ripple effect on the tech industry, where women are still a minority. However, in recent years, there has been a concerted effort to encourage girls and women to pursue careers in technology, with several organizations offering training and mentorship programs aimed at empowering women in the tech industry.

One such organization is Women in Technology Uganda (WITU), which was founded in 2009 with the aim of promoting the participation of women in the technology sector. WITU runs several programs, including coding boot camps, mentorship programs, and networking events, to help women build their skills and connect with other women in the tech industry.

Another organization that has been instrumental in promoting women’s involvement in technology in Uganda is the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). The UCC has launched several initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of women in the tech industry, including a scholarship program for girls pursuing degrees in STEM fields and a mentorship program for women in the tech industry.

Several initiatives are helping to increase women’s involvement in technology. One such initiative is the Girls Who Code program, which provides young girls with opportunities to learn about computer science and coding. The program has reached over 300,000 girls across the United States and has helped to increase the number of women in technology-related careers. The National Centre for Women & Information Technology, which works to increase women’s representation in technology-related fields has helped to provide resources and support to women pursuing careers in technology and has helped to increase the number of women in leadership positions in the industry.

Companies are also taking steps to increase women’s involvement in technology. Many organizations are implementing diversity and inclusion programs, which aim to create more inclusive work environments and promote gender equality in the workplace. Companies are also working to increase the representation of women in leadership positions, which can help to create role models and mentors for women in technology.

Women’s involvement in technology is critical, as the industry plays a vital role in driving economic growth and shaping the world’s future. One of the success stories of women in technology in Uganda is Joanitah N Nalubega, the founder and CEO of Uganics, a social enterprise that produces mosquito repellent soap to combat malaria in Uganda. Nalubega started Uganics in 2017 and has since won several awards for her innovative product. Nalubega’s success is a testament to the potential for women to thrive in the tech industry in Uganda.

Her story is a testament that women’s involvement in technology promotes gender equality in the workplace, which is crucial for creating inclusive work environments, promoting diversity and can drive economic growth.

In conclusion, women’s involvement in the technology industry in Uganda has been on the rise in recent years, thanks to the efforts of organizations like WITU and the UCC. However, there is still a long way to go in terms of achieving gender parity in the tech industry. More needs to be done to address the gender gap in STEM education, provide mentorship and networking opportunities for women in the tech industry, and promote policies that encourage gender equality in the workplace. With continued effort and commitment from all stakeholders, women can continue to thrive in the tech industry in Uganda and beyond.

A woman uses a computer in Uganda’s capital, Kampala-Uganda. (PHOTO/COURTESY)

Maryanne Emomeri and Ruth Atim

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to have a significant impact on the future of work. While AI has already been automating many routine and repetitive tasks, it is increasingly being used to augment human intelligence and decision-making capabilities. It has had many impacts on the future of worklike automating many routine and repetitive tasks, freeing up human workers to focus on more complex and creative tasks that require human ingenuity.

AI also provides decision support by analyzing large amounts of data and providing insights that can help humans make better decisions. It can also increase productivity by automating tasks, reducing errors, and providing decision support. On a good note, AI will be left to deal with automating routine tasks, and we will become more focused on creativity, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.

While AI has the potential to revolutionize work, it is important to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared fairly and that workers are supported through the transition. But it may also be a threat in some instances, for example; AI doesn’t possess qualities such as human connections, empathy, critical thinking, creativity and social intelligence. Teachers, doctors, psychologists and cybersecurity professionals among others are some of the people who will survive the AI revolution.

As machines become increasingly smart and effective at carrying out tasks, what are some of the changes to anticipate? Let’s explore some of the ways that AI is changing or will change the work culture.

• Efficiency and Productivity:Apparently, what man can do, AI can do better. Unlike human beings, AI won’t experience burnout or emotional ups and downs. This is what makes AI convenient as it won’t go through fatigue, get bored doing repetitive tasks and it works for longer hours and won’t ask for a salary increase. AI is even more productive and effective since it’s free from human error.
• Decision Making: Have you ever wondered how Netflix is able to make near perfect personalizedmovie suggestions for you? AI significantly contributes to making this possible by analyzing your previous preferences. AI can also assist in the hiring process by reviewing CVs and cover letters and selecting the best candidates thus influencing the hiring decisions.
• Task Automation: Tasks such as data entry, customer service, report and CV generation are performed faster and at a lower cost using AI. Nowadays, it’s commonplace to interact with a chatbot on websites than accessing help through contact forms, emails or making calls. In sectors such as the construction industry, AI will lower the risk of accidents and injuries. Generative AI tools like Dall- E 2 and Gen 1 will also simplify work.
• Fraud Detection: In the financial and online security industry, AI’s ability to analyze large amounts of data at the same time and detect unusual activities in real time, more fraudulent activities will be detected early and averted.
• New Professional Roles: AI will create room for new job roles such as AI developers, AI hardware specialists, artificial intelligence and machine learning engineers, ethical AI specialists and robotoperators.

 The Drawbacks.

Elon Musk and some AI researchers recently issued an open letter urging a pause on giant AI experiments stating that AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose greater risks to society and humanity. True to their words, AI comes with its own set of drawbacks, that include;

• More Cyberthreats: AI tools have the ability to write malicious codes that can be used to launch attacks on systems and undermine security. Having in mind that AI has the ability to automate tasks and identify vulnerabilities, it can also launch more serious attacks.
• Job Loss: As mentioned earlier, artificial intelligence will declare many jobs obsolete. Self-driving cars will do away with chauffeurs, chatbots will get rid of customer service representatives and so on. People will be compelled to take up more courses that will shift careers.
• Over dependence on AI: Although AI appears to be superior to humans, it cannot replace human ingenuity or invention. But, if humans rely too much on AI, they will be constrained in their capacity for creativity and problem-solving, which could lead to a future in which human beings think like robots.
• Cultural Bias: Lack of diversity will result in prejudice of any kind, whether it be cultural or otherwise while designing AI systems. AI programmers will be people, and people make assumptions. Since different individuals hold different views and because laws and policies may not be implemented quickly enough to keep up with developing technologies, cultural prejudice may manifest itself in a variety of ways.

In a nutshell, the impact of AI on the future of work is dependent on how it is implemented and the extent to which it is integrated with human work.

(An illustrated internet Image showing how the future looks like, and why we all need to diversify to remain relevant).

Maria was a 17-year-old girl with big dreams for her future but her life changed drastically one night. She was sleeping in her grass thatched house with her family when the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) stormed her village and abducted her with her entire family. She watched in horror as her family members were brutally killed.

The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) was a rebel group that operated in Northern Uganda and neighboring countries from the mid-1980s to the mid-2010s. Led by Joseph Kony, the LRA claimed to be fighting for the establishment of a theocratic government based on the Ten Commandments. During their decades-long insurgency, the LRA committed numerous human rights abuses, including massacres, abductions, and the forced recruitment of child soldiers. The conflict resulted in the displacement of millions of people and the deaths of tens of thousands. The war in Northern Uganda was a brutal and protracted conflict that had a devastating impact on the region. It left many communities in poverty and destroyed the social fabric of the affected areas. Though the LRA was eventually weakened and forced out of Uganda, the legacy of the conflict continues to be felt in the region to this day.

For the several months Maria was held captive, she witnessed many atrocities that give her nightmares to date.  “The rebels used to shoot dead anyone who complained that they were tired of walking because we walked from Gulu district up to the South Sudan border for about 304km. My cousin, Apiyo was shot dead because her legs were swollen, her mother’s mouth and ears cut, we would be beaten for failing to cook on time. Life was tough, but by the grace of God I came out alive and lost my whole family unfortunately”.  Maria narrates her ordeal.

“Then one day, I managed to escape during a shoot-out between the rebels and the Ugandan Army (UPDF). It’s at this point that my family members died because they were shot as they tried to also escape”.  She adds.

Maria fled to Gulu city, hoping to start a new life but life in the city was not easy. Without a family or education, Maria was forced to turn to commercial sex work in order to survive.

Life as a sex worker was dangerous and unpredictable as she faced constant harassment and abuse from clients, and often had to deal with police harassment and arrest. But again, she found a way to survive, and she eventually became one of the most successful sex workers in the area.

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The government imposed a lockdown and movement restrictions, which meant that Maria couldn’t meet her clients. She was left with no source of income, and she struggled to make ends meet.

Desperate to find a new way to support herself, Maria decided to start a fruit vending business. She had always loved fruit and knew a lot about it from her childhood in Paicho village. She started by selling fruit on the streets and quickly built up a loyal customer base. On a good note, her past didn’t affect the new business as few people knew about it. Her journey towards financial independence began when her remaining family refused to reintegrate her and knew that she had to find a way to support herself.

“My fruit delivery business was an instant hit with the local community as I offered fresh, locally sourced fruits that were delivered directly to my customers’ doors”. “My business is a success as am able to make enough money to support herself, am proud of what I have achieved” says Maria with beaming smiles on her face.

Maria is passionate about her business, and loves the independence and empowerment it has brought her. She is finally able to afford rent, groceries, and other basic needs, and no longer needs to rely on sex work. She is grateful for the new opportunity, and while she misses her former sex worker friends, she is happy with her new reality.

Maria’s story is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit. Despite facing unimaginable challenges, she found a way to survive and thrive. And in doing so, she has become an inspiration to others.

This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Ruth Atim and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Working from home and hybrid work environments (combining remote and onsite working) are the future because workers like the flexibility, they get to save on office expenses and commuting time becomes productive time. But having a workforce distributed across so many locations, on so many devices (including personal devices), creates its own set of technical issues and the most basic one is cyber security.

The fast-paced world of digital technology also means that we’re making rapid progress across many frontiers. However, with such advancements comes a rise in the scale and complexity of cyber threatsand the increase in remote working clearly called for a greater focus on cybersecurity, because of the greater exposure to cyber attacks.

A cyber attack by definition is a deliberate exploitation of one’s systems and/or network and involves the use of malicious code to compromise one’s computer, leak or hold one’s data hostage, and this peaked during the pandemic.

This is apparent, for example, from the fact that 51% of individuals got scammed while working from home. Cyber-attackers saw the pandemic as an opportunity to step up their criminal activities by exploiting the vulnerability of people working from home and capitalizing on people’s strong interest in coronavirus-related news. For example, most scammers set up fake coronavirus related websites and emails, which lured many into clicking such malicious attachments containing keyloggers hence offering their data on a silver Plata to the hackers.

Aida Bukubuza, the team leader of Aydia Technology and Gender Initiative says cyber-criminals have become more sophisticated, better equipped and bolder in their actions, making cyber security an ever-present concern for everyone.

She says there is need to strengthen our home networks, for example one can start with a strong encryption password as well as a virtual private network. A VPN will encrypt all traffic leaving your devices until it arrives at its destination.  “If cybercriminals do manage to hack your communication line, they won’t intercept anything but encrypted data”. She adds.

Kate lanyero, a cybercrime-victim says in office, her workmates could edit documents and attend meetings in person, adding that in the world of remote work, the demand for videoconferencing software and collaboration tools has increased dramatically and this has also attracted interest from cybercriminals.

“Many of my us use our personal accounts on free services such as Google Docs to collaborate on documents and exchange files yet these services generally lack the centralized rights management that would enable us to protect confidential data hence getting exposed to cyber-attacks” she notes.

The Solution…

The work-from-home cat is out of the bag, and there’s no putting it back in so we ought to be careful because cyber security is an essential consideration in our modern digital world. With so much of our personal information available at the click of a button, there are always cyber risks to be wary of. However, by knowing about the cyber security threats and how to deal with them, you can give yourself the best chance of keeping your data safe.

I spoke to quite a number of individuals to ascertain how they have been able to keep safe despite spending over 80% of their time working online.

Draru Rose a civil servant from Arua district who was also a victim of cyber bullying says it’s important to keep one’s system and applications updated because cyber criminals often exploit vulnerabilities in software, operating systems, and web browsers to carry out their attacks. “Providers regularly patch their products to remove such vulnerabilities, so it’s essential that updates are installed” She notes. Rose adds that people should avoid clicking on links and attachments from unknown sourcesbecause cyber threats often try to mimic authentic correspondence.

Daniel Okello, a journalist and digital security trainer urges the pubic to acquire cyber security training. “Learning about how cyber threats manifest and how they are used against individuals is a key part of staying safe. By taking even basic cyber security training, you can further your knowledge about the right steps to take” he adds.

Acen Prisca, a stay home mom who also works from home says her cyber security hack is securing collaboration Apps like Microsoft Teams, Slack, WhatsApp and google-drive by ensuring that file sharing permissions are restricted within her team. “I also use a Virtual Private Network because it masks my online activities hence protecting mypasswords and other sensitive information that hackers could exploit”, she adds.

Conclusion…

Just as you would lock your front door so you don’t get robbed, you also need to lock out malicious actors online. Also, setting up a secure remote-working environment is not an overnight job as itrequires a considerable effort from you as a person.   By developing good habits such as establishing strong passwords, using multi-factor authentication and performing regular software updates among others, you can help provide the secure environment your work deserves. The measures laid out here should help you and your colleagues ease the burden and effectively protect work-from-home setups from cyberthreats.

On the 30th November, Girls Not Brides Uganda (GNBU) held a girl summit under theme: Working Together to End Child Marriage and teenage pregnancies. GNBU is a National alliance with a membership of 103 Non-Government Organizations working at community, district, regional and national level committed to Ending Child Marriage and enabling girls fulfill their potential and it’s chaired by Joy for Children Uganda and World Vision Uganda. 

While opening the event, the Guest Honor Hon. Mutansigwa Diana, the Minister of State  in the Office of the Vice President said the summit is crucial for all because it provides a platform where proven practices will be shared, new innovative approaches formulated and formative ideas natured. She also applauded numeral social experts, human rights activists, cultural and religious leaders for joining the event and paying attention to the issue of “Child Marriage”, a subject that has eluded the nation for centuries and decades. Many stakeholders were in attendance including policy makers, cultural and traditional leaders, faith leaders, girls, civil society and parents in the communities. All these are key players in the fight to end child marriage and to ensure there are less child marriages, fewer teen pregnancies, and more years spent in school as this would eventually boost Uganda’s overall earnings.

The purpose of the summit was to provide a platform for girls to share their experiences by telling their own stories so as to amplify their collective voices in rallying for government action in supporting their rights and also increase awareness of the human rights situation of girls in Uganda, with particular emphasis on the impact of harmful traditional practices such as child marriages.

A stakeholder signing a Pledge Card to End Child Marriage.

Hon. Margret Makhoha, the chairperson Uganda Parliamentary forum for children moderated a session where the Children panelists addressed the applicability of sustainable development goals (SDG) 3,4,5 & 16 with SDG 3 talking about Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4 tackling quality education, SDG 5 emphasizing the need to achieve Gender Equality and empowerment for all women and girls and SDG 16, to Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies. 

Hon. Mutansigwa Diana, the Guest of honor was impressed by the panel and noted that girls are now breaking boundaries posed by stereotypes and exclusion. “Girls in general and women in particular are actively participating in all sectors of Uganda’s social, political and economical spheres as innovators and managers at all levels of our society,”  She adds. She attributed this change to the many opportunities that are being accorded to women and urged many stakeholders to come on board and support the Girl Child.

According Barbra Namara, the project coordinator, Girls Not Brides Uganda, girls ought to be empowered and mentored because child marriage not only harms and violates a girl’s body but also denies her the ability to enjoy many other rights, e.g., the right to education, right to healthy relationships, the freedom to choose whom and when to marry, when to get pregnant and how many children to have. “Such incidences have made may young girls to live in poverty,” She adds. 

Statistics indicate that uganda has the 16th highest prevalence rate of child marriage in the world and the 10th highest absolute number of child brides, with an estimated 4 million in total. According to current statistics, 34% of women are married under the age of 18, and 7.3% are married before they turn 15. These are worrisome statistics. If nothing is done about it, many young girls will drop out of school which eventually leads to poverty. According to a report by UNICEF, Child marriage increases the risk of teenage pregnancy, which can have a profound effect on the health and lives of young women and contribute to high fertility rates. Current evidence shows that 25 per cent of the 1.2 million pregnancies recorded in Uganda annually are from teenage mothers, with more than 300,000 pregnancies ending in unsafe abortions. These occurrences violate the basic rights of girls and women as it is rooted in social and gender inequality and a desire to control women’s bodies and lives. 

Impact of child marriage.

Uganda’s fertility rate stands at 5.9 children per woman, above the Sub-Saharan average of 4.8. This high fertility rate is attributed in part to the low use of contraceptives, but high rates of child marriage and early childbearing also play an important role. Ending child marriage would reduce fertility by 8 percent nationally, and could lower the country’s overall population growth rate of 3 percent by 0.17 percent. If child marriage were ended today, it is estimated that the benefit in terms of the higher standards of living that would be generated thanks to lower population growth would reach US$2.4 billion a year by 2030.There are other risks associated with early marriage: Girls who marry before 18 are at a higher risk of dying in childbirth. When a child is born of a mother younger than 18, research shows there is a higher risk of him or her suffering from either stunting (physical and mental underdevelopment through undernutrition) or mortality under the age of 5. The economic benefits that resulting from a reduction of these could reach US$275 million per year by 2030.  Under Ugandan law, child marriage is a crime. Global research, suggesting that girls who marry early are more likely to experience physical, psychological, and sexual abuse and violence from their partners than those who marry as adults, applies also to Uganda. 

Conclusion:

It’s proven that empowering women and girls helps economic growth and development”, It’s also important that we tackle the underlying gender inequalities that exist between men and women because no goal can be achieved without empowering girls especially when they are still young. Let’s all combine efforts and end Child Marriage.

#GirlSummitUg

#ItTakesAWorld

#16days

Participants and Different Stakeholders that Attended the Summit.

Orange the World:  End Child Pregnancy Now!

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of life in Uganda, resulting in school closures, loss of jobs, and disruptions in access to health and social services. But no group has felt the effects of the pandemic more than adolescent girls!

World Vision Uganda today the 25^th November 2021 kicked off their activities to mark the 16 days of Activism against Gender Based Violence with a Webinar teenage pregnancies under the theme: “Orange the World: END TEENAGE PREGNANCY NOW!”.

The webinar who’s many purpose was to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the various instruments and identify lessons learnt with successful ending-violence interventions was attended by stakeholders from different spaces, and this is a good sign because it keeps everyone in check as far as ending violence is concerned.

A report by UNFPA  stipulates that many adolescent girls have been deprived of the social protection that school offers and have been exposed to risks of sexual violence, exploitation and abuse, child marriages, and teenage pregnancies.

Grace Hellen Namulwana, the Child protection technical lead with world Vision Uganda who moderated the webinar said that Children who experience sexual abuse are more likely to be socially isolated, suffer from mental health problems, and attempt and commit suicide and are also more likely to develop alcohol or drug dependencies.

“These outcomes impact every aspect of a child’s life, including their ability to develop into productive adults” Hellen adds.

Rev. Richard M. Rukundo, a Child rights advocate and youth Mentor also sights stigma against survivors, fear of intimidation, lack of awareness and of trust in the benefits of services as one of the major challenges in addressing issues of teenage pregnancy.

“Many have accepted violence as normal and this has made it difficult to change their mindsets” Rev Richard adds.

Statistics.

At 9 million, adolescents make up a quarter of the population in Uganda. Yet life is harsh for many. Poverty, HIV and AIDS, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence and low participation education has made it difficult for young people to fulfil their potential.

According to Rosette Nanyanzi, a Gender Technical advisor with the ministry of Education & sports, Adolescent girls, in particular, face multiple vulnerabilities because 25% of Ugandan teenagers become pregnant by the age of 19 and close to half are married before their 18th birthday.

“To make it worse, many teenage mothers do not have access to adequate reproductive health care and die while trying to give life” Rosette adds.

In 2013, Uganda was ranked 16th out of 25 countries with the highest rate of teenage pregnancies, and this worsened during the Lockdowns and school closures that kept many young people stuck at home and exposing them to sex abuse, and teenage pregnancies. The little access to birth control also made matters worse for the vulnerable girls.

According to the UNFPA 2020 fact sheet on teenage pregnancy in Uganda, 3 districts had an increase in teenage pregnancies by over 25 percent from 2019 to 2020. For example, Dokolo in lango district had 35.2%, Budaka in Bukedi had 28.7%, Teso had 28.6% and Manafwa in Bugisu with 19.1%, Sheema in Ankole with 18.1% and Napak in Karamoja had 12.6%

Conclusion.

The teenage pregnancy rate of 25% in Uganda is worrying. Young mothers risk poor maternal and child health, being isolated, attempting unsafe abortions, failure to continue with school, and poverty.

Recommendations spanning family, community and government involvement can ultimately empower girls, their families and community members, and support collective action to reduce teenage pregnancies.

 #EndTeenagePregnancyNow 

#ItTakesAWorld

#16days 

The government of Uganda has a tendency of shutting down the internet especially when national elections are drawing closer.

WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and many other online platforms are always affected,  yet many rely on them not only for communication but also for businesses and studies.

The government of Uganda claims that internet users take advantage of these applications especially Facebook to spread wrong information and incite violence which disrupts peace.

These Digital Rights violations have stripped many Ugandans off their ability to take part in the digital economy and to organise and converse online. It has also led to substantial economic loss for both businesses and the companies that own these online platforms as they lost revenue since they couldn’t conduct their businesses on the platform.

“You cannot market your products and services on Facebook in countries in which it’s banned therefore if your target audience is Uganda, you are at a loss at the moment”.   Says Smith, a prominent businessman who has been cut off from his Ugandan market.

According to Ms. Christine Adero, a Founder and Team leader of PASSAGE Technologies, the proliferation of this continued Facebook shutdown and digital border walls is a worrying sign not only for human digital rights but also for the future of an open and free internet.

“I wonder why someone would shut-down social media even when the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced that we strongly rely on these platforms for information, communication, health care, business and education” Christine adds.

In 2021, after nearly a month since the shutdown on the internet, the government of Uganda started to partially restore internet connectivity. Whatsapp, Twitter, Instagram and other Platforms were restored except Facebook which met its demise when it took action against pro-NRM Facebook accounts that it blocked on its platform. The government then responded with shutting the app down .

This platform that has about 2.7 million Facebook subscribers out of the 18 million internet users in Uganda still requires a Virtual Private Connection in order to get access to it. The majority find it inconveniencing and data consuming hence cutting them off from the platform.

A number of Ugandan Citizens still do not understand why even after other apps were restored, Facebook remains shutdown in Uganda.

Uganda Communications Commission E.D, Irene Ssewankambo expounded on the matter and said, “Government is engaged to improve the working of Facebook in the country and is trying to improve its operations” as an explanation for why the app remains shutdown.

But the Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo said the other elements of social media like Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp were released because to a less extent, they are not as lethal as Facebook.

However, Sandra Aceng, the Program Manager, Women of Uganda Network, an organisation that aims to promote and support the use of ICTs by women says the government’s action to ban Facebook in Uganda was a revenge to Facebook’s action of blocking accounts of pro government entities.

“This has extremely hindered the right to freely access information online and participate in the democratic process”. She adds.

Sandra also notes that the use of technology that greatly promotes the participation of marginalized groups and structurally silenced women like the LGBTIQ, Persons with Disabilities, activists, and refugees has greatly been affected negatively.

Facebook is highly used in developing countries such as Uganda, and it being blocked by the government is a huge setback to the advancement of digital rights especially women’s rights onlineand this could push many into completely abandoning the platform.

Family planning and reproductive health are often portrayed as women’s responsibilities, few male contraceptive methods are available, and, providers often fail to include partners when serving female clients especially when they have problems relating to reproductive health.

I bring you a story of 2 families in the rural setting of Northern Uganda that will tell us the benefits of having men involved in family planning.

Santa’s Story

Acen Santa, a 38-year-old vendor in pece cubu, a suburb in the outskirt of gulu city, says her husband has never accompanied her to any hospital visits and Family planning is a “Myth” in their household.

Acen has 7 kids, with a 1 year or less age gap between her children, and bears the burden of raising her children alone. Her husband Mr. Rubangakene is a boda boda rider and hardly supports his family according to Acen. When asked why she doesn’t use family planning to space her children, Acen says her husband is strongly against it, and one time hit her when she brought it up for discussion.

In some parts of Northern Uganda, Family Planning (FP) discussions between men and women are complex and often include outside influence from mothers-in-law and other relatives. Additionally, male attitudes towards FP can affect contraceptive use indirectly. In the absence of explicit communication, women often incorrectly perceive that their partners are opposed to FP and therefore use contraception without telling their partners or don’t use contraception at all.

Engaging men in family planning (FP) has been found to improve programmatic outcomes and increase gender equality. While there have been few hiccups in involving them, evidence indicates that male involvement can lead to contraceptive uptake through the pathway of increased spousal communication.

Lamwaka’s Story.

Oryema and his wife Lamwaka were both 17 when they got married in 2009. They live in a remote village of coopee on Gulu-Kitgum road where most residents are peasants and not very educated. Like many other such villages, the community has very limited access to reproductive health information.

Before they were visited by Village Health Team (VHT) workers, Oryema and Lamwaka had witnessed many young couples facing very serious health problems in pregnancy. A girl from their village had recently died from such complications, adding to their fears and confusion.

“We were unable to understand the reasons of her death,” says Oryema, “But when we attended a sensitization session organized by the VHTs, we came to realize that pregnancy before the age of 18 is dangerous for women.”

What he had seen happening to other young couples, and the information and counseling provided to him by male VHT workers led Oryema to take a step that was novel for a young man in his community: “I did not want my young wide to face any problems in pregnancy,” he says, “So we decided together to delay her first pregnancy until she turned 20.”

Lamwaka talks about the impact her husband’s support had on her ability to practice family planning. “In our society, a woman has to face a lot of criticism from relatives and neighbors if she does not get pregnant within the first few months of marriage. I do not let such criticism affect me, as my husband is standing by me and fully understands that delaying pregnancy will be very helpful for my health.”

“As a responsible husband, talk to your wife about birth spacing for the health of your wife, children and overall prosperity. The health of the mother and the child is of utmost importance, so plan the next pregnancy after 2 years and use any suitable contraceptive method during this period” Oryema advices fellow men.

These 2 stories show that men play critical roles in women’s ability to seek health care, yet, more often than not, some are uninformed about women’s reproductive health needs or their own. Men are partners in reproduction and sexuality. Men’s reproductive health and their behaviors impact on women’s reproductive health and children’s well-being and society as well.

All smiles from this young and well-spaced Family: PHOTO: Health Policy Project.

According to Filda Anica, the in charge reproductive health Uganda Gulu branch, very few women come with men to access family planning services.

When asked why most men shun visits to Family planning clinics, Filda says most of them claim to be busy, others don’t want to stop having children because they think they can take care of them, while some fear the side effects of family planning like hormonal inbalances.

Opiro Martin, a resident of awach sub-county in Gulu district says that the government should sensitize men on radio to address demand-side barriers to family planning, such as male-child preference and early marriage and child birth, along with creating awareness of the importance of birth spacing.

“I believe this will increase in the proportion of men likely to have an actual conversation with their wives about family planning, and improve spousal communication” he adds.

Myths, misconceptions and cultural taboos can make it difficult for women to find family planning resources, especially if men guard their access to key health information, finances and transportation.

That is why it is important for SRHR providers to work through nontraditional means to build trust with communities including men and boys working with religious leaders to garner support for family planning in communities where contraception is often viewed as a “woman’s issue.”

Religious leaders are influential and trusted members of their community, and can play a crucial role in dispelling myths about contraception and providing information on how to use and access services. Religious leaders can also help break down gender stereotypes by providing a powerful example of how men can respect and support a partner’s reproductive health decisions.

Background history of Northern Uganda.

During 1986–2006, northern Uganda experienced an intractable civil war that led to the displacement of an estimated 1.6 million (90 %) of the inhabitants into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps. The civil war led to poor health status with the region having the worst health indices in the country. The total unmet need for family planning in the northern region, among married women was 46 % compared with 41 % nationally. Contraceptive use was at 12 % compared to the national average of 23 %. There was high rate of abortions and unwanted pregnancies. One in every five pregnant women in northern Uganda had had an abortion, while 50 % of pregnancies were unwanted. The total fertility rate estimated at 7.5 was one of the highest in the country.

So special efforts need to be made to emphasize men’s shared responsibility and promote their active involvement in responsible parenthood, sexual and reproductive behavior.

Man holding a baby bump. PHOTO: UNICEF

Conclusion.

The government of Uganda and other stakeholders need to design programs that involve men in family planning, encourage use of male methods of contraception, and encourage men to support their wives in using birth-spacing services in the interests of maternal and child health.

Also, women must be in a position to decide whether they want to get pregnant or not. In the past, the gender discourse had to focus on women’s reproductive health and rights, partly because so much had to be done to realize those rights. And since a lot of that work remains unfinished, the focus should not shift away from women.