Nakere Rural Women Activists (NARWOA) is an umbrella Community-Based Organization for women groups that started out in November 2002. The group converged for meetings under a tree locally called ‘Ekere’ thus the name Nakere Rural Women Activists. It was established as a community response to the humanitarian crisis in Karamoja, to address cross border and inter-ethnic political instability, the rise of warlords, high domestic violence, and discrimination of women in the society and overall adverse poverty.
The Impact of NARWOA: With a vision to create an inclusive society that promotes the rights of women and other vulnerable people in Uganda, NARWOA’s work focuses on five themes including; NARWOA’s leadership management and governance Capacity, Research and Advocacy, Capacity of women organizations, Livelihood, and Networking and partnerships implementing programs in 3 sub-counties of Kotido, Kacheri and Panyangara.
When the organisation started out, the group composed songs and used music dance and drama during peace talks for where they would go and camp with men in the bush dialoguing for peace. The Peace Centre then Isis-WICCE in partnership with NARWOA organized a peace exposition with funding from the Norwegian Government. The exposition was an opportunity for grassroots to meet their leaders and policymakers as they openly audit national and local post-conflict reconstruction plans as well as their effect on the affected communities. As a result, 18 health workers were trained to conduct cervical cancer screening in Kotido District.
In partnership with the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), NARWOA provides soft loans to vulnerable women in Kotido town council and Panyangara sub-county to improve their livelihood. The nominated women write a business plan, signs an MOU with NARWOA and the money is handed over, given for a period of 4 months. This programme increases their participation in agribusiness hence improving their financial capabilities. NARWOA has worked with other women networks like Teso Karamoja Women TEKWIP on cross-border meetings on peaceful coexistence between Teso and Karamoja.
Over the years, NARWOA has reached over 15,000 women and 250,000 children through the design and lobby of their programmes for appropriate and viable income-generating activities thus improving household incomes and food security of rural women through increased agricultural production.
The organization can be reached through the following channels;
Director: Mrs Ataa Jesca
Email: jesca.ataa@yahoo.com
Organization Website: www.narwoa.rog
Organization Email: info@narwoa.rog
Tel. +256782821170
