NAWOU is an indigenous umbrella for women organizations formed in 1992 and registered as an NGO with the NGO Board of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. NAWOU is an affiliate of International Council of Women, has a consultative status with United Nations Economic and social council (ECOSOC) and collaborates with several networks, international NGOs and development partners.

NAWOU was formed to harness efforts of various women organisations efforts that had hitherto been fragmented. NAWOU's mandate is to build a strong movement among women organizations in Uganda. Her strategic role as an umbrella organization is to; Network, generate and share information, Lobbying and advocate for gender equality and equity and to build the capacity of member organizations to effectively provide services to the poor and disadvantaged.