NATIONAL ESSAY COMPETITION

YOUNG WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES

THEME: Leadership Without Limits: Why Young Women's Voices Matter in Leadership

Are you a young woman ready to lead and influence the community around you?

Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) and Women’s Democracy Network – Uganda (WDN- U) invite you to share your perspectives, ideas, and aspirations through our essay competition designed to amplify young women's voice and influence in leadership and decision-making processes.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

This essay competition aims to support and encourage young women's effective and meaningful participation in leadership and decision-making processes in Uganda. Promoting young women’s participation in leadership and civic processes is vital for advancing human rights and gender equality. These processes contribute toward shaping laws, policies, and budgets that directly affect citizens’ lives; especially young people, who make up most of Uganda’s population. When young women take part in leadership and civic processes, their perspectives help create fairer, more inclusive systems that serve everyone better.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

This competition is open to young Ugandan women (18 – 35 years) who are passionate about strengthening youth / young women participation in leadership and decision-making spaces / process to advance Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE)

ESSAY TOPIC

Option 1: Affirmative Action for women’s representation in leadership and decision-making processes in Uganda.

Option 2: Leadership Beyond Limits: Affirmative Action for Young Women's Voices in Decision- Making

Share your thoughts on one (1) of the following topics:

1. What affirmative action means for the young generation of Ugandan women leaders. (A reflection on how affirmative action policies have enhanced young women’s participation in leadership and decision-making processes. dream, challenges, and opportunities).
2. From Tokenism to Gender Transformation: How Uganda can make affirmative action more meaningful. (Examine whether current policies are enough, and to suggest real reforms that could help young women lead effectively, not just be represented).
3. Bridging the Gap: From student leadership to parliament: The role of affirmative action in nurturing young female leaders. (How affirmative action can/should) support them from school and community levels all the way to national politics).
4. The Invisible Barriers: Why many young women still struggle to participate in leadership spaces despite affirmative action. (An in-depth analysis of the social, cultural, or economic barriers that limit participation and challenges, writers to propose practical recommendations/strategies).
   

   PRIZES AND RECOGNITION

   The TOP 5 essays will be:

   1. Officially recognized and
   2. Provided with certificates of
   3. Featured on the UWONET and WDN-U social media
   4. Given opportunities to connect with mentors and leaders in leadership

   SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

   1. Word Count: 1,000 - 1,500 words
   2. Font Style: (Arial, 11 size font, 5 spacing)
   3. Format: PDF or Word document
   4. Language: English
   5. Original Work: All submissions must be your own original writing

   Send your essay via email: uwonet1@gmail.com Cc. julian@uwonet.or.ug.Subject Line: Young Women in Leadership and Decision-Making Processes

   Include:

   1. Your full name
   2. Age
   3. Contact information
   4. A brief bio (50 words)

   Submission Deadline: Friday, 21^st November 2025 5:00PM Winners Announcement: Thursday, 4^th December 2025 WHY PARTICIPATE?

   • Connect with like-minded young women
   • Gain recognition for your writing on young women’s participation in leadership and decision-making spaces/processes.
   • Contribute to the women’s movement for issues related to women’s participation in leadership and civic processes.

   For further inquiries please do not hesitate to contact UWONET Secretariat through Ms. Julian Naluwooza on 0778424330 / julian@uwonet.or.ug OR Ms. Hilda. K. Nattyaba on 0789851277 / hilda.nattyaba@uwonet.or.ug

   Share your ideas and contribute towards advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) in Uganda