Kampire Kagale Bahana
Uganda
I call myself a feminist because I have no other choice. I firmly believe that women’s position
around the world is unequal to that of men, and I wish to be part of the force that changes it.
I live and work in Kampala, Uganda for a Women’s non-governmental
organisation called Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE). I am a
program assistant in the Women in Leadership program and provide support
to the Program Officer and Executive Director to implement programs that
increase the number and quality of women in decision-making positions around
Uganda. This includes capacity-building workshops, national level advocacy
work, proposal writing and research. Although the word feminist has become
an epithet of sorts, I think it is necessary to take on that mantle proudly, and
live my life as an example of what a feminist actually is.
Feminists in Africa face a lot of challenges because African women are not
only faced with male oppression, but economic and racial oppression as
well. There is much to be done if women in Africa are to take a lead in
the development of the continent. Gaps in healthcare, education and political
and social leadership are some of the most egregious and harmful problems
facing African women today. On the personal level, the statistics on sexual
and gender-based violence across Africa are horrifying, and have far-reaching
effects on women, our community and our development.
I believe that we can tackle some of these challenges by creating spaces for
women across Africa to share experiences, success and failures in organising
and just provide solidarity to each other. One of the reasons I am excited about
the African Feminist Forum is that in sharing our strategies we can become a
more powerful force. For this reason, the Charter on Feminist Principles for
African Feminists is a critical tool that should be internalised, and disseminated.
We also need to have more mentoring among all feminists around organising,
strategizing, mobilising and analysis. In particular young women have a lot
of energy and new ideas, and older women have a lot of experience and
much to teach. Relationships between the two can only be fruitful for the
feminist movement. Also, by continuing to wear the feminist mantle proudly
and publicly, we can reduce the stigma around it.
In my professional life I have chosen to work in a field directly related to the
betterment of African women. I firmly believe that increasing the number and
quality of women in leadership goes a long way toward addressing some of
the above issues.
Of course, “the personal is political” too. I try to live my life with feminist ideals
in mind. I also do a lot of writing personally and feminism and the position of
women in Africa is a topic that is never far from my work. I am inspired by the
strength of African women. Hearing stories about, and meeting women who
have faced diversity with great strength and grace makes me grateful for the
opportunities I have been given, and determined to use them wisely. It gives me
the passion and energy necessary to make change in this world and it makes
me proud to be an African feminist woman.
VPS II
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