By Sabir Musa

Gender activists in Arua City have called for interventions of different stakeholders to close the digital gender gap which is identified as a barrier on the path of improving women’s life.

Projects Officer at Strategic Initiative for women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA-Network), Blessed Pinyoloya says, failure to close the gap will continue limiting women from access of information and opportunities. “Unless women are able to benefit from internet, it will further the already existing inequalities. A number of barriers are at the root of this gender based digital exclusion in the country” Pinyoloya reveals.
A survey conducted in October 2020 by World Web Foundation indicated that only 19% Ugandan women were using internet compared to 27% of men, out of 4-counties featured in the survey.

Arua City Community Development Officer, Judith Drate advice women to take up training opportunities on technology to close the digital gender gap. “We would like to encourage our young girls to embrace innovations and technology so that we can bridge the gap in labour force” she recommends. 
 
However, Ayivu Division Mayor, Malon Avutia challenge parents to priorities education of children if such challenges are easily to be addressed, citing the high school dropout rate as one of the major reasons behind the digital gender gap.
Women and girls in Uganda still face limited to internet affecting their access to information despite being a fundamental human right.

COVER PHOTO: Arua City Community Development Officer, Judith Drate reading report on the status of digital inclussion of women By Sabir Musa