National Union of Plantation and Agricultural Workers NUPAW

Florence Mbalirwa

I am the chairperson of the National women Committee of my union (NUPAW). I work as a nurse at the Sugar Cooperation Uganda Ltd (SCOUL) factory hospital. In the early nineties I was a union member but very passive. I did not know the role of a union in my life as a worker and even how I could participate in it.

I always thought leadership was for men but through trade union education organized by my union I came to know my rights and became active in union affairs. When branch elections were held at our branch I was elected as chairperson of the branch, and later became the National Chairperson of NUPAW Women’s Committee. At a later stage I was elected as Vice Chairperson of National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU) Women’s Committee. It was interest, commitment and trade union education that propelled me to take up the various positions I have so far held. I have also been a leader at church and politically am now the NRM Mukono District Chairperson Workers’ League.

Saida Bidi

I am the Director Women affairs in my union- NUPAW. I got a chance in the late 1980s to be trained in basic trade union education at grass root level. After knowing what a union is I became active in the union. Later management did some staff appraisal and I was promoted to a higher post. This meant that I would not again be a union member because at that time the law prohibited certain cadre of officers to join the union. I thought twice and turned down the offer and continued with the union instead. In 1989 I was trained as a woman TOT and coordinator under the IUF women’s project. This project helped us women to recruit more women into the union and many women gained leadership positions in the union. We formed women committees at all branches.

Later on I went for further studies in trade union training after which I was elected as a National Women Coordinator for my union. I was then appointed Director of Women Affairs. “In a nutshell hard work and interest propelled me to the top”.

Joyce Tumwesigwa

In 1987 I started working as a clerk in Lugazi Sugar Cooperation and had the chance to attend trade union training. I989 I was involved in the IFPAW project on intergrating women into trade union structures. In 1995 I was among the 10 women who were identified for training at Zimbabwe after which I worked as a woman coordinator of my union branch (Lugazi). I was again trained in South Africa in 1998 though the project ended I continued in my post as a women coordinator Lugazi branch. I later went for a three year degree course at Makerere University and I trained in Adult and Community Education for a bachelor’s degree and graduated in2006. I was then appointed a Deputy Director Education in my union (NUPAW) a post I am holding to date.

I advise women to attend /participate in trade union education; it inspires.

Uganda Horticultural and Allied Workers Union UHAWU

Rebbecca Adong

I am the National Treasurer for my union, Uganda Horticultural and Allied Workers’ Union (UHAWU)

In the beginning the employers did not understand the law on unionization. They gave us hard time. They did not allow us to talk to workers about the union. In the struggle for unionization I was given forced leave for 34 days and I was not allowed to plead my case.

Uganda Workers’ Education Association (UWEA) together with the General Secretary of my union advocated for my reinstatement and I was allowed back to work. The struggle for workers rights gave me the push to become a union leader and that is how I became the National Treasurer of UHAWU.

Women, we should know and stand up for our rights.

Amoit Christine

I work with Ugarose flowers Ltd. as a green house supervisor. Before the union came to our farm we used to work without offs, no leave and no PPEs. When we joined the union we started getting offs at least one day off every week. Then also PPEs were provided at least to the sprayers.

UWEA came and trained us on our rights at work. We can now stand up for our rights. Right now we are demanding for employment letters and already management has agreed to this.

It was after I saw the work of the union and the education we received that I stood to be elected as branch secretary for my union. I can now attend workshops and we also have paid leave now.

My fellow women!  let us stand up and fight for our rights.