STRIKE REPORT FROM KAABONG WOMEN'S GROUP, KAMPALA, UGANDA
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Women united for the 3rd global strike throughout Uganda on March 8th 2002.  Kaabong Women's group with all women, young, old, disabled women, from rural and urban areas, and some men joined other women globally, striking for a world which values all women's work and every life, to end all wars, and to stop domestic violence which is very common in rural areas because of high bride prices for good housing. In Karenga a strike was going on, the number of girls, women and men totaling to 1500 all together. They came from 3 districts and neighbouring districts. All women's demands were:

1. Protect women from domestic violence

2. We need at least clean water, we walk miles in search of water.

3. We need fuel wood as well as wood to construct the traditional fence around the homestead, women construct the fence and dwelling huts. 

4. Our children are dying, the clinics are very far, we need accessible health centres.

The reports of the strike from over 100 villages were collected and compiled by KWGO. Walking miles in one place for the Global Women's Strike was not possible. The Strike took place in different places. Some went to the district headquarters, Kotido. Others were in Dodoth, Labwor and Jie counties. We had all the representatives in all other places to monitor the Strike.

A spokesperson for the event fortunately was a man for the district. He talked boldly about the issues of the Strike -- why women should all join. He attacked some men who think they have paid high bride price, so they must use their wives as slaves.  He moved everybody when he told the gathering how women bear many children in order to ensure that some survive the high child mortality rate. They raise these children, look after the sick, the elderly and invalid almost single handedly as the men are all the time preoccupied with acquiring and/or looking after livestock or drinking beer all the time.

KWGO believes that the Global Women's Strike is women's answer to all the local and international demands. We wore the traditional dresses holding brooms as a symbolic sign to sweep the world clean.  We attracted many local and international people, we shouted "women can change the world we live in and we have won the struggle! and many more demands will be won.

"INVEST IN CARING NOT KILLING".

• Stop high bride price.

• We need accessible water, our children are dying every day because of drinking dirty water, and women are raped on the way when they go for water and fuel wood in the wilderness, sometimes wild animals eat them on the way.

• Stop domestic violence, four women are killed each minute due to domestic violence.

• Stop using us as slaves, we need respect for our rights.

• Governments bring development to rural/grassroots women, there is no support for us.

A spokeswoman for the event told the gathering and invited guests that the Strike is a humble way to request or put our demands to our government. Globally all women are the same, women and girls are the ones who bear the burden of earning any cash income for the family to acquire industrial products such as soap, salt and clothes. This, they do by selling fuel wood, burning charcoal in small township or brewing local beer. So women have been major contributors to the economy for ages. I strongly remind you that rather than making fiery speeches on International Women's Day, march pasts and government departments congratulating themselves upon making invisible strides, all women must rise up: join the world wide Global Women's Strike in order to demand equal opportunities. 

Grace Loumo the co-ordinator of the Global Strike, March 8 2002, thanked all the women who turned up to join other women for the Strike for the 3rd time and explained how the Strike won free medical treatment at government hospitals, and the circulation of the Global Strike throughout Uganda, also meeting with the president of the Uganda medium of association Jane Nabunya. She reminded all women and men to support the Global Strike and advised parents to start a campaign within their homes by realising the importance of educating girls and discouraging paying high dowry for their girls.  It is a time to come together, unite against domestic violence, rape and defilement. Though she knows that grassroots women live in abject poverty and traditionally society has denied Karamojong women access to resources they need to support themselves and their families. We shall strike until we change the attitudes of our men. Invest in caring not killing. Power to the sisters.

Testimonies from women in Uganda 2002 and other news

GWS 2001 information available in Luo

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