Abstract:

The roles of women in community forestry in Uganda are well documented. However, the socio-cultural restrictions of
women and poor access to conventional information media undermine optimization of their potentials. This study
investigated Inforniation-Coninnmication Technology (ICT) use pattern of women tree fanners. Questionnaires were
administered to 376 women tree farmers who were randomly sampled from the parishes of Bugulumbya, Kasambira
and Nawandhyo, Buzaya County, Kamuli district. The findings revealed that 31 % of the women own functional radio
sets and prefer listening to the evening broadcast (8.00 - 10.OOp.m) for agricultural programmes. Readership of
newspapers and extension publications were the other information media. About 42% of the women prefer to read the
Lusoga language version of the Newspapers and extension publications because many of them could only read in
vernacular; particularly posters (52%). Most of the women enjoy traditional forms of communication particularly
local music (67%). Therefore, the use of print media or extension publications for information dissemination to
women tree farmers in Uganda should be in their native languages. Local programmes particularly, music should be
integrated into conventional agricultural communication channels for the benefit of rural women, many of whom often
have low education levels.