FEMRITE – Uganda Women Writers' Association, founded in 1995,[1] is an NGO based in Kampala, Uganda, whose programmes focus on developing and publishing women writers in Uganda and—more recently—in the East African region.[2] FEMRITE has likewise expanded its concerns to East African issues regarding the environment, literacy, education, health, women's rights and good governance.[3]
Of FEMRITE's origins and mission, Kyomuhendo, in a 2003 interview with Feminist Africa, stated: "To talk about FEMRITE is to talk about Uganda's literary scene, about Ugandan politics, and especially about the connections between women, politics and writing in Uganda."[6]
Major achievements of FEMRITE members and alumni[edit]
FEMRITE, as reported by various journalists, has been active in Uganda and the greater East African region in the areas of promoting literacy, educational reform, women's rights, and good governance. These activities have generally received positive notice.
Emmanuel Ssejjengo, as reported in AllAfrica.com for 14 July 2011, stated that "the FEMRITE Literary Week" was "one of the most celebrated events in Uganda's literary arts."[12]
Dennis Muhumuza, in the Daily Monitor (Uganda), 23 July 2011, discussed FEMRITE's influence on Uganda's National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), and the resulting inclusion of more Ugandan works of literature in the high school and college curriculum.[13]
Halima Abdallah, in The East African (Kenya), 14 August 2011, reviewed the FEMRITE anthology Never Too Late (ISBN9789970700233), concerning the AIDS/HIV epidemic, declaring it "a must read for all age groups as it raises questions and most times provides answers that require collective action" while noting that the collection was "born out of a desire by Femrite to generate literature for positive change aimed at addressing social issues facing not just the youth but society at large."[15]
The American news programme Wide Angle (PBS) featured FEMRITE's collaboration with IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the United Nations Office, to produce Today You Will Understand, a collection of the personal war stories of 16 women affected by the Lord's Resistance Army rebellion.[17]
Also commenting on Today You Will Understand, Martyn Drakard for the Observer (Uganda) on 10 December 2008 stated that the collection is "a voice for the voiceless" and "Compulsory reading for anyone wanting to know how the LRA war has affected people’s lives".[18]
David Kaiza, in a 2007 editorial entitled "Women writers rule" for The East African also discussed albeit somewhat sardonically the growing regional impact of FEMRITE.[19]
