2024

Goal: The project seeks to create a robust network of women leaders, journalists and key stakeholders to counter the spread of gendered disinformation in both politics and media.

Duration: 1 November 2024 – 28 March 2025

Funded by: Internet Society Foundation

Project Overview:
In Uganda, gendered disinformation has been on the rise, with women politicians and journalists aged between 20-55 being frequently targeted. Women politicians and journalists are disproportionately affected by defamatory narratives, disinformation, misinformation and online harassment These attacks not only hinder women’s political participation and professionalism, but also threaten democratic principles by discouraging potential female leaders.

Gendered disinformation undermines democratic processes and exacerbates gender inequalities, making it essential to address this issue to ensure a fair and just electoral landscape.

Goal: To foster community participation, ownership and sustainability of the WOUGNET Rural Connectivity Broadband Network (RCBN), while nurturing a comprehensive approach to inclusive internet accessibility, in Apac district, Northern Uganda

Year: One Year (2024)

Funded by: Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

Project Overview:

Communities in Northern Uganda especially those in rural areas face significant barriers to access and use digital technologies, due to factors such as, poverty, digital illiteracy, cultural norms and gender stereotypes. To address these challenges, WOUGNET established the Kubere Information Centre (KIC) in 2005 in Northern Uganda, a digital hub that leverages Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to empower women and girls across various sectors.

To strengthen the uptake and utilization of ICTs, WOUGNET in partnership with Makerere University NetLabsUG launched projects to enhance women’s digital inclusion, focusing on free internet and digital tools accessibility to women, girls and marginalized communities, through the Rural Connectivity Broadband Network (RCBN) initiative.

To foster community involvement and participation in the uptake and utilization of the diverse Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), while nurturing a comprehensive approach to inclusive internet accessibility, WOUGNET with support from the Internet Society (ISOC) Foundation established the first technical community in the region to create a pathway for heightened adoption and promote long term sustainability of the diverse ICT initiatives, with a central focus on inclusive internet accessibility at the various network access points and access to the digital tools set up at the Kubere Information Centre (KIC) digital hub.

The technical community’s central role is to act as technical focal points for the various free internet access points provided by WOUGNET in the region. The expansion of new network sites created an urgent need to foster the growth and sustainability of this emerging technical community. With valuable support from the Internet Society Foundation, we aim to strengthen the community’s foundation, enabling greater knowledge-sharing, resilience, and long-term impact.

Together, we are building a network that is not only technically sound but also deeply inclusive and supportive of continuous development.

Goal:

The knowledge and skills of women and girls on digital rights are improved to bridge the gender digital divide in Uganda.

Duration: 1st September, 2024 – 31st March, 2025

Funded by: Enabel

Project Overview:

WOUGNET is implementing the Digital Rights for Girls and Women (D4GW) project to address the persistent gender digital divide and rising cases of Online Gender Based Violence (OGBV) in Uganda. Despite the rapid expansion of digital technologies, many women and girls remain excluded from safe, meaningful online participation due to systemic barriers such as limited access, low digital literacy, and targeted online abuse.

D4GW will focus on raising awareness, building local capacity, and strengthening community-led efforts to promote digital inclusion and online safety for women and girls. The project will engage civil society organizations, grassroots trainers (Trainers of trainees), and community members through regional workshops, and the distribution of accessible educational materials, including a comic book designed to spark dialogue on gender inclusivity and tech spaces.

An important outcome of the project will be the launch of an Online Gender-Based Violence Knowledge and Support Services Portal to provide reliable information and referral pathways for survivors and advocates. By centering the experiences of women and girls, D4GW aims to foster feminist digital spaces that are safe, inclusive, and empowering.

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