The Women in Technology Uganda Launch was a true stamp that women in Uganda are tired of taking the back seat while men take full charge in the technology and information technology sector. It was nice to see that despite the heavy down pour and terrible traffic, many still made it to the Hive Colab without a worry about their hair getting wet. (LOL) A lot of great ideas were shared in an atmosphere that encouraged all the ladies to freely speak their minds.

Barbara Birungi shared WITU’s mission which is to empower women in technology and discussed a number of ways in which this would be done which included Annual ICT camps to empower young girls, high school drives to encourage the young girls to take up technology and ICT courses, hands-on workshops for lady programmers that will enable them to share and learn of new tools they can use, to mention but a few.

Maureen Agena took women through a brainstorming session where the ladies came up with many great ideas to push WITU’s vision forward. These included volunteering as mentors at events WITU will hold and other technology events, raising WITU’s presence on universities, starting projects that will sustain WITU financially and much more. Maureen asked for commitment from the ladies which I know will not be a problem since the ladies showed perseverance in making it to the launch despite such terrible weather. Darlyne shared with the ladies the apps4africa Climate Challenge where she encouraged the ladies to take part.

It was exciting to see ladies who share the same passion come together to share and come up with ways to change our community and once again prove the stereotype wrong, that women in Uganda cannot take the lead in taking ICT and technology to the next level in our great country. It was also great to know that its not only women who showed up for this great Launch but also a few gentlemen were there (Daniel Stern, Elijah Bee and a few others) a great thank you for the support and also to the Hive Colab for Offering WITU a home. The ladies shall continue to communicate over a forum that was created, also through the WITU website www.witug.org that should be up soon, and of course during the monthly meets at the Hive Colab.

With WITU’s vision and the commitment the strong women have already shown, I speak confidently when I say, women will play an important role in the future of technology in Uganda. And I, as a member of WITU, am prepared to be a crusader for this cause. We are the future.

By Ampaire Christine
Bsc. Software engineering Makerere University Year II
Google student ambassador
WSP water ambassador
Project manager Mafuta GO (http://3.mafutago.appspot.com)
Proud member of WITU