Events at the AU summit in Kampala, 20-27 July

(Public notice)--Events that are taking place at the 15th ordinary session of the African Union summit in Kampala, Uganda between 20-27 July 2010.

20 July – The struggle for climate justice

Venue: Grand Imperial Hotel, central Kampala, 09:00-16:00

Hosted by the Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)

A one-day public forum, featuring climate change experts and speakers from across Africa, looks at Africa’s role in international climate negotiations and how communities are being affected. In particular it looks at why women and children are the most vulnerable and what the AU should be doing to better protect them from the impact of climate change.

Contacts in Kampala: Alun McDonald +254736666663 +254736666663 ; Mithika Mwenda +254724403555 +254724403555

21 July – Darfur round table and new report on peacekeepers

Venue: Hotel Africana, central Kampala, 15:00

Hosted by The Darfur Consortium

Recent months in Darfur have seen a major surge in violence again – the worst period in two years. A panel of experts discusses latest events and how the AU should be responding, including a new report looking at the challenges facing the UN-AU peacekeeping mission, whose mandate is up for renewal on 31 July. The panel will also discuss the growing concerns about the situation in southern Sudan ahead of January’s referendum – probably the most important event in Sudan’s recent history.

Contacts in Kampala: Dismas Nkunda +256753310404 +256753310404 ; Alun McDonald +254736666663 +254736666663

21-22 July – African rural women’s health conference

Venue: Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, Lugard Avenue, Entebbe, 09:00-17:00

Maternal mortality and healthcare is the main focus of the Summit, but the voices of people most affected by these issues are often not heard. Around 60 women from rural communities in 15 African countries will lead a conference on reproductive health issues and the healthcare challenges they face in remote rural areas – from lack of hospitals and clinics, to social attitudes. Women representatives from across the continent are available for interviews

Contacts in Kampala: Alun McDonald +254 73 666 6663; Yves Niyiragira +254 735676662

21 July (TBC) – How Uganda is performing on women’s rights

Venue: Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, Lugard Avenue, Entebbe (Time TBC)

Hosted by Akina Mama Wa Afrika

A new report looks at how well Uganda has delivered on the Maputo Protocol – also known as the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa, which includes guarantees of women’s political participation, social equity and control over their reproductive health. There has been progress, particularly on political representation and gender equality, but also serious setbacks on maternal and reproductive health.

Contacts in Kampala: Alun McDonald +254 73 666 6663, Yves Niyiragira +254 735676662; Charles Bambara +256757413857 +256757413857

21 July – Launch of new report on HIV & gender violence in conflict

Venue: Hotel Africana, central Kampala (Time TBC)

Hosted by the Urgent Action Fund and ISIS-WICCE

Focusing specifically on research from Uganda, Zimbabwe and Liberia, a new report looks at women’s rights issues and the spread of HIV/AIDS in conflict and post conflict settings.

Alun McDonald +254 73 666 6663; Beatrice Were +278 28 245814;

23 July – Mock “Presidents Debate”

Venue: Hotel Africana, central Kampala (Time TBC)

In the very first stunt of its kind at an AU Summit, civil society actors, using puppets and masks, will play the roles of Presidents such as Jacob Zuma, Yoweri Museveni, Bingu Wa Mutharika, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Goodluck Jonathan, Mwai Kibaki and Paul Biya, in a live “Presidential” debate about how Africa deals with healthcare issues, and why leaders have not kept the promises they have made.

Alun McDonald +254 73 666 6663, Beatrice Were +278 28 245814

24 July – Launch of the “State of the Union” Africa report

Venue: Imperial Royal Hotel, central Kampala, 09:00–11:00

The State of the Union is a new coalition and the first of its kind – set up to monitor whether African governments have kept the promises they have made on key development issues, including health, governance, corruption, education, youth, elections, women’s rights and agriculture. For example, AU governments have committed to allocate 15% of their national budgets to improve access to good healthcare – yet only six have actually done this. The new report draws on research from ten countries in which 450 million Africans live, and shows where progress has been made and where promises have been broken.

Contacts in Kampala: Alun McDonald +254 73 666 6663; Charles Bambara +256 757 413857; Joyce Mutoka +256 75 741 3852

24 July – High level forum on Maternal Health (12-4pm)

Venue: Lake Victoria Serena Resort, Lweza/Kigo, Kampala, 12:00 for media

The First Ladies of Uganda and Sierra Leone, the Vice President of Malawi and Uganda’s Minister for Health are some of the guest speakers as civil society and experts get together to discuss Africa’s maternal healthcare policies and how to prevent the millions of needless and preventable deaths that occur across the continent each year. A press conference will be held before the main session, though media are welcome to stay throughout.

Contacts in Kampala: Alun McDonald +254 73 666 6663; Charles Bambara +256 757 413857

25 July: African Women’s 15% Concert with Yvonne Chakachaka

Venue: Hotel Africana, central Kampala, 12:00

Legendary South African singer Yvonne Chakachaka is headlining a special concert featuring new songs urging AU governments to keep their promises to spend 15% of their budgets on healthcare. Other African women artists will also perform, including from Kenya (Sara), Zambia (Sister D, Michael Zulu and Mwale), Mozambique (Mingas), Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania. Performers will be available for interviews.

Contacts in Kampala: Alun McDonald +254 73 666 6663; Charles Bambara +256 757 413857

25-27 July: Heads of State and government summit

The main event – with maternal mortality, healthcare and peace & security issues highest on the agenda. Spokespeople from across Africa are available for interviews on issues from how to improve healthcare for African women, to the governance records of AU member states, and the conflicts in Sudan, DRC and Somalia.

Contacts in Kampala: Alun McDonald +254 73 666 6663; Charles Bambara +256 757 413857

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