The Women's Democracy Network–Uganda (WDN-U), in partnership with the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the Interparty Women's Platform in Uganda (IWOP), successfully concluded a regional roundtable dialogue in Soroti, bringing together women leaders from the Eastern Region to strengthen women's participation in Uganda's democratic processes.
The dialogue convened women leaders representing the 10 IWOP member political parties: ANT, CP, DP, EPU, FDC, JEEMA, NRM, PPP, UFA, and UPC. Participants engaged in discussions aimed at deepening their understanding of their respective party manifestos alongside the National Women's Manifesto 2026–2031.
A key outcome of the roundtable was the identification of three priority issues affecting women across the Teso sub-region: persistent poverty, limited access to quality healthcare, and challenges within the education sector. Participants emphasized that these issues continue to undermine human capital development, economic empowerment, and the overall livelihoods of women and their communities.
The women leaders also outlined the critical role they will play in championing these priorities throughout the upcoming campaign period. They identified relevant government institutions and other duty bearers responsible for addressing the challenges and committed to ensuring these issues remain central to public discourse during the elections.
In addition, participants reflected on challenges experienced during previous electoral processes. They highlighted several areas requiring improvement, including actions by the Electoral Commission, political parties, and security agencies to foster a more inclusive, transparent, and peaceful electoral environment for women candidates and voters.
WDN-U will consolidate the recommendations from the dialogue and engage the relevant national duty bearers to advocate for the implementation of the proposed reforms and the advancement of women's priorities ahead of the 2026–2031 electoral cycle.
The Soroti roundtable forms part of WDN-U's ongoing commitment to strengthening women's political leadership, promoting inclusive governance, and ensuring that women's voices meaningfully influence policy and decision-making at both regional and national levels.
