Women’s rights in Uganda are hanging by a thread. And right now, some of the protections that do exist are at risk of being revoked.
A dangerous new Sexual Offences Bill is being debated. If passed, our partners are concerned it could strip away hard-won women's rights, including removing the need for consent in sexual relationships, legalising marital rape, and lifting the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). We’re outraged that important safeguards could be lost with the flick of a pen.
Violence against women is already surging in Uganda. Gloria Mutyaba, Programmes Director at Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG), says they are seeing“the highest number of rape and sexual harassment cases that we have ever gotten as an organisation.”
Ahead of International Women's Day tomorrow, we are asking for your urgent help to support our work with partner organisations who are working on the frontline.
As a result of theAnti-Homosexuality Act passed in 2023, FARUG was evicted from its office and forced to close a specialist drop-in clinic – that provided a lifeline for women seeking safety, therapy, and urgent healthcare.
But Gloria refuses to let that stop her. She was able to buy a van to use as a mobile clinic with a Womankind grant, which uses funds from our kind supporters like you, to continue reaching survivors. We are so grateful that you are here with us. Your support is what enabled us to react quickly in this crisis.
When facing hostility, this van is a powerful act of resistance. With a mobile clinic, FARUG can continue to provide women with a safe space, give first aid and deliver other support services that were run from the office, such as legal advice or therapy.
But there’s much more to do, and we are asking for your support. John, please chip in to our appeal if you can. We must act quickly to stand with the women who are fighting the discriminatory laws and actions that aim to remove women’s rights in Uganda.
Martina Hoggart
Director of Fundraising and Marketing Womankind Worldwide
P.S. I want you to know that I could hear the joy in Gloria’s voice when she told me how the van is going; “And now the van is our new office! It offers healthcare, mental health, wellness on wheels, legal aid on wheels. This van is a hospital. This van is a legal office”. Your donation today could help us to stand with activists like Gloria during the crisis and beyond – please donate now
