Personal testimony - Anne Muwongi

Country: UGANDA, East Africa Name: Anne Muwonge Office address: Uganda Womens Welfare Association, PO Box 26930, Kampala EMail: uwowa@yahoo.com I was born in Uganda in a rural setting in a family of 9, 2 boys (youngest) and 7 girls. I was the sixth born in our home and all the first six were girls. I was given a name "Kithano" which translated means 'this is not a person' - because I was a girl. In our culture women/girls were not regarded as people of value and therefore they were denied education and not allowed to eat even eggs or chicken and liver or carry out any important functions in the community or inherit any property. As my father did not have any older sons, he was forced to take the older sisters to school despite the neglect and abuse from his own family members and the clan who demanded money from him to educate their sons. Unfortunately our father was gunned down during the years of the notorious Idi Amin Regime and the chance of ever going to school for the younger ones was destroyed. Our elder sister was bright in school and the Catholic nuns accepted to help her plus the rest of our family, including our youngest sister who was only 7 months old, after the death of our mother (which followed soon after the death of father). The nuns took care of us as she completed her training in a Teachers College. After this she took full responsibility for the family. I was able to complete my studies, graduating with an honours degree in social sciences from the University. Two of the younger brothers also graduated with degrees with her assistance. This sister of mine, who was only a grade two teacher by that time, also managed to upgrade herself and thereafter graduated with a degree in social work in one of the recognised universities. Since my graduation, I have carried out several researches with the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Social Research Institute in issues concerning women, family planning, and sexuality. I worked with the rural community in a womens organisation, which again awakened my interest in assisting the women. Looking back at my culture and the way I survived through support from others, I find myself committed to assisting womankind to try to break the chains that bind them culturally. This may take a long time looking at the resources available and the attitude of the people, but the struggle continues. I am now blessed with my husband and 4 children (3 girls and 1 boy), all of whom I would like to encourage and train to try and support women in their struggles for recognition and economic empowerment.