Milestones
Over the past two decades of its existence, UMWA has experienced tremendous growth as reflected in the milestones it has registered.
1995-1997: UMWA was the first journalist association to participate in Civic Education Programmes during the electoral processes.
1997: Establishment of a Secretariat. To date the Secretariat has a staffing strength of 8 people with relevant skills and experience and 25 volounteers. UMWA has its own facilities like a training centre, conference facilities, radio station with production studio, vehicle, computers, telephones, fax and Internet facilities.
1998: Acquired a home. The one acre plot is owned and controlled by UMWA which is an indicator of maturity and growth.
1998: The newspaper The Other Voice (TOV) was published. The 8-page advocacy and lobbying newspaper is a response to the unfair and inadequate coverage of women in Uganda’s media.
1998: UMWA published a number of books, for instance A Directory Of Women In The Media, Tips For Women Leaders In The Use Of The Mass Media, and Gender Policy Guidelines For Women In Uganda.
2001: A radio station, Mama FM 101,7 was established. It is the first women radio station in Africa, and the second in the world after the Norwegian RadiOrakel. Mama FM targets particularly women between the active age of 15-45. It is offering a channel for development communication and practical experience for particularly female communicators.
2004: 45 women have benefited from a scholarship program and as a result other media women have been empowered to invest in their education.
2005: Erection of a 60-meter mast at the UMWA premises. This has boosted Mama FM’s signal and coverage and reduced on operational costs.
2008: UMWA ernt through an organizational development process and now have the UMWA Evaluation and Mama FM Impact Assessment Reports in place.
