Ms Sharon Nabafu always wanted to assist women in obtaining their full rights, but was never sure how to proceed. At that point, a friend recommended that she attends the Forum for Women in Democracy’s (Fowode) Alternative and Transformative Leadership camp geared at mentoring women into holistic leaders.
The in-house attorney of Wilkens Property Services describes the camp as mind-boggling because of the various ideas the leadership training opened up to her. In addition to getting strategic networks through well-known women, she acquired confidence and learned a lot.
‘Wilkens Property Services invited me for an interview after the camp. I felt as though I had changed into someone else. I spoke with confidence about my background and character while aligning my responses with the job description. I passed with flying colours, knowing at the back of my mind that had I done this interview before the camp, I would have failed. I’m not the Sharon who was often overwhelmed with ideas. Today, I take action on my ideas. In addition to founding a local organisation to advance equal opportunities for females, I aim to provide free legal services to the girls in my hometown of Manafwa. I am indebted to Fowode for the information they provided. It is quite valuable,’ she says.
Ms Connie Nakinda, a recipient of Girls for Girls (G4G) leadership mentoring, is a teenage mother who thrived due to a strong support system, thus resuming school and getting work. She wanted to do the same for other girls, but didn’t know how. ‘My eyes were opened to this by the G4G sessions, showing me that I could effect change at the local level, especially through one-on-one sessions that had been of great use to me,’ she says.
After the mentorship, Ms Nakinda founded the Phoenix Girls Initiative, through which she and her group skill girls. The first 20 girls in Serere District who received skilling will be flagged off. They also intend to select two of the girls to send to college. ‘G4G provided me with a network and the necessary motivation to create impact. They helped to initiate this project, and I’m grateful for the joy and hope we are bringing to the girls’ lives,’ she says.
Why are civil society organisations promoting the idea of preparing women for leadership roles? In 2019, Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman conducted a study on women and found that they are superior to men in 17 out of 19 critical leadership domains. These include taking initiative, acting with resilience, practicing self-development, driving for results, and displaying high integrity and honesty.
According to Forbes Magazine, female chief executive officers (CEOs) are more likely to support and put into practice flexible work policies since they recognise their value.
Though women make up 41.9 percent of the workforce globally, only 32.2 percent occupy senior leadership roles, according to data from the Academy of Women’s Leadership, and Forbes reports that as of 2023, women accounted for just 10.4 percent of leadership positions at Fortune 500 businesses. In Uganda, Ms Peace Mutuuzo, the junior Gender minister, proposed that the percentage of women in senior positions rise from 30 percent to 50 percent.
The Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) Executive Director, Ms Rita Aciro, exhorts women to fight for their rights instead of lamenting because the gender advancements of today were made possible by the efforts of women leaders in the past. What women leader empowerment opportunities are we talking about?
The Alternative and Transformative Leadership camp was established in 2004, according to Ms Patricia Munabi Babiiha, the executive director of FOWODE, to increase the number of transformative and accountable leaders.
‘Young leaders have been challenged to promote women’s rights, cultivate responsible leadership, and actively engage in all facets of political, economic, and social life through the yearly leadership training camps. Currently, FOWODE is proud to have a cadre of 1,025 young leaders who hold a variety of leadership roles in academia, business, politics, and their local communities,’ she says.
Ms Sarah Nakintu, the programme officer for Women and Leadership Programme at FOWODE, says diverse women from all regions of Uganda come together for the annual two-week transformative leadership camp, which gives them an opportunity to reflect on the changes they wish to see in their lives, families, and communities.
June marked the end of this year’s one. The Female Future Leadership Development Programme, which was launched in 2011 by the Federation of Uganda Employers is another women leadership empowerment programme pushing participants to go beyond their comfort zones and realise their full potential.
‘The course teaches effective negotiation, fosters a sense of belonging, and enhances self-awareness, confidence, presence, visibility, and resilience,’ the website states, ‘This helps participants become more effective leaders and can champion the strategic agenda of their organisations.’
Why mentor and train women leaders?
Several programmes have been implemented in the past to empower women, even in leadership roles. Training women leaders equips women at different levels to serve diligently in their spaces of influence. It could be in the family, municipal government, church, or on a board. The Business Network International Uganda Country Director, Ms Diana Ninsiima Kibuuka, asserts that these leadership training and mentorship programmes are crucial because most women are hesitant to assume leadership roles.
‘Many women have declined leadership and service opportunities because of imposter syndrome and feel worthless and incapable. Some don’t think they have all it takes to lead, thus shying away. For example, backlash and attacks on women in politics are common. Because of this, every girl and woman needs to be trained and given a spark of purpose,’ she says.
The Academy of Women’s Leadership claims women leaders may encounter antagonism in some work situations because of traditional perceptions of leaders, who are predominantly male.
According to the website, men ‘tend to have better connections than women, allowing them to discover mentors and peers that can boost their leadership journey.’ Therefore, these leadership development programmes help the women achieve greatness while providing a much-needed sense of community.
What needs to be done?
Organisations need to intentionally invest in the retention and support of its brilliant female leaders, according to the Centre for Creative Leadership. Women who receive leadership development training not only help other high-potential women succeed but also help them overcome the unique obstacles they encounter.
One of the individual trainers invested in honing the skills of women in leadership and those aspiring to it is Ms Eunice Waweru, the Chief Financial Officer at Uganda Breweries Ltd. She thinks that one of the biggest ways to increase diversity in leadership is to support women in overcoming their anxieties and pursuing their goals.
‘When a woman sees another woman who has made it to a certain level in their career and personal life (role models they can relate to), it creates believability, humanises them, helps them break barriers such as gender biases and other systemic barriers that often hinder their advancement in leadership roles,’ she says.
Targeted coaching assists young women in determining their professional choices, seeing areas for improvement, and becoming ready for larger and better things. They get the fire and steroids they require to grow from it. That was the case of Ms Brenda Kisakye, an HIV positive girl who was on the verge of suicide but leadership mentorship turned her into an advocate of the girl child and a mentor for others in her Lweza community.
Testimonies
Jane Bisando: ‘Statistics about teenage pregnancies, child abuse, and similar issues had long troubled me. I fervently searched for ways that I might support the protection of women’s and girls’ rights. The Alternative and Transformative Leadership camp was my answer and the most enjoyable aspect was gaining practical skills such as making paper bags, bangles, and reusable sanitary pads. We were urged to visit local schools and educate students about sexual reproductive health and rights after the camp. I went to Nebbi with a friend from the camp and began with a girl in my area who frequently skipped school for several days during the term due to lack of sanitary pads. I taught her how to make pads using the skills I had learned at camp, so it was an especially memorable experience as more girls joined her. I have trained young girls in my community to make reusable pads and paper bags, thanks to money I received from MENTRO and CIDA International. The girls use and market the items.’
Maria Ledochowska Nnatabi: ‘I have been a leader all my life, and today, I serve in Jinja City. While I had attended several leadership trainings, none was attached to gender until my former lecturer pointed me to the Alternative and Transformative Leadership camp by FOWODE. It was here that I learned about gender sensitivity, gender equity and equality. I came to appreciate that it mattered that leaders are conscious about gender as it applies to representation, rights fulfilment and service provision. After the camp, I engaged other women leaders to do more for girls and women. Together, we created action points starting with helping girls stay in school. As the secretary for women affairs, I started a mentoring programme for girls where we share our stories on our journey to leadership, provide tips on keeping healthy and motivate them to complete school. The girls also learn how to make reusable pads and effectively manage their menstruation to avoid missing school during their period. My future plan is to become a Member of Parliament which will be a strategic position through which I can prepare and encourage young women leaders to succeed in leadership.’
Sarah Sabila: ‘Ms Hellena, the mental health facilitator, said ‘There is no reason to live in the past or future; live in the present at all times.’ Those words changed my life. I was always thinking about the ‘what ifs’ and the future before the Alternative and Transformative Leadership camp, but that session gave me a great tool for living in the now. Additionally, the area made it possible to network and form strategic relationships. I also learnt how important it is to take responsibility for my time and to be time conscious rather than create excuses.’