On April 16, 2026, a powerful milestone for collaborative politics unfolded in Eastern Uganda. The newly elected executive members of the Interparty Women's Platform (IWOP) Teso sub-region convened to map out the implementation of their first strategic action plan.
What makes this gathering remarkable is not just the speed of their mobilization—meeting only two weeks after their intensive leadership training by WDN-U - but the diverse coalition sitting around the table.
Unity Across Diverse Party Lines
The IWOP Teso sub-region executive committee is a rare political space where party rivalries are set aside for a shared vision of social and economic progress. The current leadership brings together representatives from across Uganda's political spectrum:
National Resistance Movement (NRM)
Uganda People's Congress (UPC)
Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA)
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)
Conservative Party (CP)
These women leaders are part of a unique coalition spanning 10 political parties in Uganda. Their mission is clear: to build an effective, cross-party platform for women to positively influence political culture and foster a harmonious, just, and holistic society.
Solving the Sustainability Challenge Head-On
A common bottleneck for grassroots political advocacy groups is the reliance on external funding. Without continuous capital, excellent ideas and action plans risk gathering dust on shelves.
Knowing this, the Teso sub-region executive is taking active, deliberate steps toward long-term financial sustainability.
Taking Ownership: The executive committee has introduced a local membership subscription model. By contributing their own funds, members ensure they can reliably finance and schedule their own platform meetings and operations without waiting for external backing.
This bottom-up financial ownership is a massive leap forward for the autonomy and resilience of regional women's coalitions in Uganda.
Mentorship in Action: A Solid Foundation
This crucial planning session followed closely on the heels of a regional leadership academy designed to equip the new committee with advanced governance, negotiation, and strategy skills.
The training was spearheaded by:
The Women’s Democracy Network-Uganda (WDN-U)
The National IWOP Chairperson
The incoming leadership of the IWOP Summit
By matching global leadership standards with a deep, localized understanding of Uganda's political realities, this initiative ensures the new leaders have the confidence and strategy needed to drive immediate results.
Standing with Our Partners
This milestone is made possible through the dedication of grassroots leaders, regional networks, and international allies who believe in the power of inclusive democracy.
We extend our deep appreciation to Perry Aritua, Francis K. Rogers, and our partnering organizations:
The Women's International Peace Centre
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
Together these women are proving that when women lead across party lines the entire community wins.
