The agreement comes on the back of a recommendation that was made at the third UNATU Women’s Round Table Conference held in Kampala on 4 October.

The recommendation was unanimously passed at UNATU’s second Congress on 7 October and will be implemented within the next five year period.

The aim is to boost female representation within UNATO’s membership from its current level of 37 per cent, and to improve women’s representation in leadership roles within UNATU from 24 per cent (nationally) and 20 per cent (regionally).

The UNATU Women’s Round Table Conference pulled together over 140 women delegates from all districts in Uganda to deliberate on issues that affect them as union members and female educators.

Key issues included: identifying issues limiting the ability of women educators to level with male educators in leadership roles at work and within the union; encouraging female educators to be financially independent, and motivating them to keep healthy, as well as to exploit their full potential with confidence.  

In this context, the conference adopted a series of recommendations that will guide and inform UNATU’s strategic direction in relation to gender policy for the next five years.

The proposals included: implementation of a gender empowerment plan; an increase in women’s membership to advocate for education and gender equity; strengthening of local, national and international women’s networks, achieve gender equality in the union, and support programmes to address gender justice and empowerment of the disadvantaged.

Stressing the importance of the forum to increase women leadership, UNATU General Secretary and EI Executive Board member, Teopista Birungi Mayanja, said: “With 2011 being election year in UNATU’s calendar, this conference is meant to motivate and inspire more women to gain confidence and vie for posts on the National Executive Council.”