Ladies' Map up in Kampala

The Google Technology User group (GTUG) organised a Google MapUp/Mapping party an event which saw a group of Tech enthusiastic young women in Kampala get together to map special interest places in their world. The event which was organised by a team at GTUG started at 10:00 GMT +3 with an introductory presentation by Max Adoko, a Google Map Maker Advocate at Google Kampala. According to Max, Google Map Maker allows you to add and update geographic information for millions of users to see in Google Maps and Google Earth.

Why Focus on Women?

An interview with Mr. Adoko revealed that having ladies was on purpose to expand the variety of mappers in Uganda. “There is a lot of potential that ladies can add onto our maps” He added that Ladies too have special interest places and it would be difficult to have a comprehensive map if we do not have detail slike Saloons, Markets, Boutiques, Clinics, Beauty Spas among other. A brief interview with Mr. Adoko below;

I talked to a few lady mappers and asked them why they attended the ladies Map up event;

Sandra Komuhiimbo an Information and Communications Assistant at Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) said “UWONET is currently profiling women’s Organisations across the country, I am here to pick up(more) skills to create a map for the network members and allies”

Ruth Aine a Journalist and blogger said  “I am  a curious and adventurous person, I love to create stuff, so, when I heard about adding salons and my favourite places to Google maps, I said why not? And It’s pretty easy and interesting too. Love it”

Esther Akello said “I want to have my village and Teso region on the map. So excited about the whole activity”

A cross section of ladies Mapping at GTUG in Kampala on 03/03/2012

Mr. Adoko said that, they hope  toorganise this event on quarterly basis and to have more women involved in technology. He believes that it will help bridge the current gender digital divide that exists in Uganda.

Richard Zulu said that a lady who will have the biggest number of edits will recieve an invitation to attend the Africa GEO summit which brings together all mappers around Africa to share their experiences and discuss the way forward in regard to mapping. This year’s summit is scheduled for August 25-26 in Nigeria, West Africa.