ICT AND TECHNOLOGY FOR RURAL WOMEN. IS IT REAL?

By: 
Kabugho Sharon -E-Society
The use of ICT and other technological based platforms is one of the biggest engines that triggers social and economic development in communities  in the current and future generation. Women and girls taking a very big number in the population in communities, it observed that women involvement and activeness in ICT based and technological innovations seams to still be a nightmare.  

E- Society Resource Centre Kasese District  in partnership with the Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa [CIPESA] is is spear heading a compaign to promote Inclusive and effective access to ICT and promotion of digital rights. on Friday the E-Society Centre carried out  a training for Women leaders on the Current ICT based initiatives , digital literacy and women digital security on Friday 29th Nov 2019 at E- Society Resource Centre. the training was aimed at assessing the rate of women use of technological bases platforms in their daily lives, identify challenges and design a way forward.

It was observed that out of 10 homes, only 4 women own phones and 0 ou of the 4 own and know how to use smart phones, only 1 out of 10 own radios out of whom 1 out of the 10 follow current affairs and civic activities on radios, the same applies to TVs, emails and social media. 

Women appreciated the training having been an eye opener to utilize digital platforms to access and freely share information for development and fight for their rights. 

While addressing the Women during the training , the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer  Ssenku Samuel Kimuli called upon women to pay attention to adapting ICT skills because the world has become a global village through technology. 

Ithungu Norah Matsande the Chairperson board for ACODEV and a political representative for women encouraged women to utilise digital platforms for social and economic development through carrying out online businesses. She testified to the women how her business has expanded through social media marketing.

The ICT officer Kasese Mumbere Samuel encouraged women to utilise the resource centre to acquire computer skills for free. 

However, women confessed how they have faced cyber harassment when they try to express their views especially on social media and committed to advocating for their digital rights and sensitizing other women on how they can utilize digital platforms for social and economic development.

The E-Society Resource Centre is dedicated to empowering the women especially in rural areas to get  transformed into the digital erra.

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