About – KWDT

About Us

KWDT evolved out of the success of Katosi Women Fishing & Development Association (KWFDA), founded in 1996 as Katosi Women Fishing Group (KWFG) with 26 women in a semi traditional society that placed control of resources in the hands of men exacerbating the marginalisation of women and children. KWFG aimed at supporting women enter the lucrative male dominated fishing sector & also engaged women in the removal of the hyacinth, an invasive water weed, from Lake Victoria.

The ban on fishing in 2000, due to the use of poison in fishing, prompted KWFG to support women to diversify and engage in other economic activities and a decision was made to change the name to Katosi Women Fishing and Development Association (KWFDA). Community members were inspired by the development and progress in the households of the 48 KWFDA members and by 2004 other women opted to form groups to join KWFDA prompting the formation of Katosi Women Development Trust (KWDT).

What we do

Thematic Areas of Intervention

Target

Water Access, Sanitation & Hygiene

This program promotes access to clean water, adequate sanitation and hygiene to improve health at family and community levels as well as reducing household expenditure on health-related illnesses. This is achieved through construction of clean safe water sources at households, communities (rain water harvesting tanks, shallow, deep and bore wells), schools, communal places and health centres (latrines and ecosan toilet). These are complemented by trainings on hygiene promotion and construction of hygiene facilities such as hand washing facilities, dish drying racks, waste bins. Women are trained in construction and management of WASH facilities is led by various women groups committees. The program has a component of awareness on HIV/AIDS, malaria, reproductive and maternal health and advocacy to obtain improved services by the government.

Education

The program aims to support the education of children in fishing villages through improvement of primary schools’ infrastructure. The program offers vocational skills trainings for youths and women; awareness on human rights including land rights, women rights, mentoring women in civil and political leadership, as well as advocacy and lobbying; supporting drama and theatrical productions for awareness creation on various social issues and conducting community dialogues.

Membership

KWDT currently coordinates 921 members organised in the 36 women groups with 88% female covering 6 sub counties of Ntenjeru, Nakisunga, Mpatta, Nama, Mpunge and Katosi Town council in Mukono District, Kalangala district and Buvuma district in Uganda. With exception of Nama, all sub counties and districts border the Lake Victoria.