07 April 2022
Dr Peter Ngategize, family and friends of Mrs Peninah Ngategize- On behalf of the Founder of the Graça Machel Trust, Mrs Graça Machel, the Board of Trustees, the team at the Trust, the Trust’s Family in Uganda, our networks partners across the continent and our partners wish to express our deepest sympathies on the demise of Mrs Peninah Ngategize.
The passing of Peninah profoundly saddens us. When news about her death got to us, we were shocked and in pain as it had taken from us a kindhearted individual, a loving friend and a dear colleague. As we mourn, we also pay tribute and celebrate her life and contributions to our work. We are aware of the special relationship she shared with her family which enabled her to perform all her duties outside to near perfection – We thank the family for giving her this space to excel.
Peninah was a significant force and committed member and Country Director of the African Women Agribusiness Network Uganda Chapter. Her absence will be significantly felt as she was an influential, engaged and collaborative leader. Penny had a deep passion for women’s empowerment and enabled other women to participate in the network at various levels within the different agriculture value chains.
As we remember her, we are also inspired by her many successes, which we will continue to draw lessons from for years to come. She was one of the five founding members of AWAN Uganda in 2004 and served on the Board of AWAN Uganda for 14 years up to 2018. She continued to play an essential role as Technical Advisor after retiring from the Board of Directors in 2018.
She represented AWAN Uganda on the Trusts’ Uganda Networks playing a significant role in ensuring unity of purpose among the Trusts’ Uganda Networks. She continued to play an invaluable role in recruiting and mentoring new women entrepreneurs joining AWAN Uganda, including the current Chairperson.
She was a tireless mentor of young women entering the agribusiness sector as entrepreneurs. With her rich experience and expertise, she founded Computer Wise Ltd, a limited company focusing on bridging the digital gap between women and men by providing digital skills to women entrepreneurs. We also knew her as someone who linked women smallholder farmers to markets, extension services and business development services through KIKA Farm Ltd.
We were very fortunate to have Penny represent us across the region as National Vice Chairperson and representative of the Trust’s Steering Committee. It is a significant loss to the country network she worked passionately to build, and it was indeed an honour to have had her in our presence and as part of the Graça Machel Trust Family.
Upon hearing the news of her passing, Mrs Graca Machel said…
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Penny, an extremely valued respected member of our Networks collective. Nature surprises and hits us where it hurts most because it is unexpected. Penny was apparently full of life. I have not been aware of her ill health. I’m so devastated!”– Graça Machel.
This is a difficult time for Pennys’ family. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. We wish you the strength and comfort to bear with this loss.
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.