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Justice and Human Rights Uganda Project #65421

Support a woman to access justice in Uganda

by Uganda Association of Women Lawyers FIDA - Uganda Chapter

Project Report | Mar 20, 2025
Update on Fund a Woman, Fund a Child March 2025

By Faith A. Chagara | Program Advisor, FIDA-Uganda

A legal Officer providing legal advise to a woman

Justice for the Vulnerable: Empowering women in Uganda

In Uganda, thousands of vulnerable women and individuals face daunting challenges every day. Domestic violence, child neglect, and land disputes are just a few of the pressing issues that threaten their well-being and dignity. But there is hope.

FIDA-Uganda has been working tirelessly to provide critical legal aid services to those who need it most. Between December 2024 and February 2025, we supported an astonishing 3,326 vulnerable individuals, with a significant focus on supporting vulnerable women (73.9% of the clients) to access justice and build resilience.

Our efforts have yielded remarkable results.

65.7% of cases were successfully resolved through legal advice, mediations, and court interventions.
19.5% of clients were referred to partner organizations for additional support services, including shelter, health, and police assistance.
Vulnerable women received crucial counselling to address psychosocial and mental health issues that exacerbate their vulnerabilities.

However, our work is far from over. Systemic issues continue to perpetuate vulnerability, particularly among women. That's why we need your support.

Your Donation Can Make a Difference. By contributing to FIDA-Uganda, you'll be helping us:

Provide critical legal aid and psychosocial support services to vulnerable women.
Advocate for policy changes that promote gender equality and justice.
Empower women to claim their rights and build a brighter future through economic empowerment and agency building.

Every donation, no matter how small, counts. Together, we can create a more just and equitable society for all.

Success story: Lucy's rescue from Child Marriage

In Uganda, where 43% of women are married off before the age of 18, Lucy's story could have ended in tragedy. [1] But thanks to FIDA-Uganda's intervention, Lucy was saved from child marriage and can now continue her education.

At 14, Lucy's father, who had abandoned her since childhood, asked to see her. Lucy had never had the chance of enjoying a father’s love or knowing what it means to have a father. But instead of reconnecting, he had sinister plans to marry her off.

Florence started worrying when school time came, and Lucy hadn’t returned from her father’s home as agreed; yet the father had blocked all access to the child. Her anxiety was further escalated by the realization that her father had taken her to a village notorious for child marriages and teenage pregnancies. Florence had secured a scholarship for Lucy's education, but her father's actions threatened to derail her future. Desperate for help, Florence approached FIDA-Uganda for legal aid in April 2025.

FIDA-Uganda's legal officer invited the parties for mediation, but Lucy's father refused to attend. Undeterred, the legal officer filed an application for maintenance and custody, which resulted in a ruling in Florence's favor. The court granted Florence immediate custody of Lucy and ordered the father to provide monthly maintenance, scholastic materials, clothing, and medication.

Child marriage is not only a human rights violation, but it also increases the risk of teenage pregnancy, which can have a profound effect on the physical and mental health and lives of young girl mothers, increasing their vulnerability to serious health complications if they give birth at a very young age.[2] Thanks to FIDA-Uganda's intervention, Lucy is back in school, and her future looks brighter. Lucy’s mom is grateful for the support, saying, "You saved my daughter from being denied her right to education, and getting married at a younger age. I have finally gotten my daughter back, and I will protect her from child marriage at all costs."

Lucy's story is a testament to FIDA-Uganda's tireless efforts to protect women's and children's rights in Uganda. With your support, FIDA-Uganda can continue to provide legal aid and advocacy services to those who need it most.

FIDA-Uganda marks 50 years of fighting for women's rights:

On December 7, 2024, FIDA-Uganda celebrated a major milestone – its 50th anniversary at the Kampala Serena Hotel, a momentous occasion, celebrating five decades of tireless efforts to promote women's rights and gender equality in Uganda. The grand celebratory dinner brought together over 450 participants, including founders, long-serving staff, members, Community Legal Volunteers, and beneficiaries. The 50th-anniversary celebration was a testament to FIDA-Uganda's resilience and determination to create a more just and equitable society.

Since its inception in 1974, FIDA-Uganda has been at the forefront of promoting women's rights and gender equality in Uganda. The organization has provided critical legal aid services to vulnerable women and children, advocated for policy changes, and empowered local communities. FIDA-Uganda's 50-year journey has been marked by numerous achievements, including, among others:

Providing essential legal aid services to over 20,000 vulnerable women and children annually, promoting women’s socio-economic justice; and providing legal education and training.
Advocating for gender considerations in over 15 laws and policies in Uganda.
Collaborating with partners to pilot special court sessions on Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in November 2016 to deal with the great backlog of sexual violence cases in the country. Since then, special SGBV court sessions have been held every year, expanded into various districts in Uganda and institutionalized through the national Justice, Law and Order Sector.
Empowering local communities in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and self-representation to sustain access to justice for vulnerable women and children.

As FIDA-Uganda marks this significant milestone, the organization remains committed to fighting for gender justice, empowering women and children to claim their rights, and addressing the systemic issues that perpetuate vulnerability; ensuring continuous provision of critical support to those who need it most.

Join FIDA-Uganda in celebrating this remarkable achievement and in supporting their ongoing efforts to create a brighter future for all.

[1] https://uganda.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/issue_brief_14._child_marriage_and_teenage_pregnancy._ready_to_print_1.pdf

[2] https://uganda.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/issue_brief_14._child_marriage_and_teenage_pregnancy._ready_to_print_1.pdf

FIDA-Uganda celebrates 50th Anniversary

Links:

Visit our website for more information about our work.

Attachments:

FIDA-Uganda's update on fund a woman fund a child (DOCX)

4 Attachments

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Nov 27, 2024
Update on Fund a Woman, Fund a Child November 2024

By Linette du Toit | Research and Fundraising Manager, FIDA-Uganda

FIDA-Uganda CLVs at the Court Open Day

Over the past three months, FIDA-Uganda provided holistic legal aid services to 6,534 (1,927M:4,607F) clients across our 15 legal aid clinics and 3 Family Justice Desks. 70.5% of the clients supported were women. FIDA-Uganda is intentional in extending services to vulnerable groups; over the course of the past 3 months 809 Persons With Disabilities (271M:538F) and 131 refugees benefitted from our services. The in-house counsellors in Arua and Moroto offered psycho-social services to 274 (226F:48M) clients and staff during the quarter. The counselling services helped clients to overcome trauma and to increase their level of assertiveness during mediations. FIDA-Uganda has been enhancing access to justice to women and children at the community level by participating in Court Open Days in various districts and by holding legal aid camps in hard-to-reach sub-counties.

FIDA-Uganda is celebrating our 50^th anniversary this year, and we are carefully reflecting on our impact and role within the communities where we have been working over the past 5 decades.

One of our success stories that we would like to share with you is from the Albertine region of Uganda

As Uganda approaches an employment boom in the Albertine region, driven by the oil production industry, there is growing concern about the exploitation of local women, particularly in sectors like hospitality. These women, many of whom are illiterate or have limited formal education, are most likely to be employed in hotels, restaurants, lodges, and other tourism-related businesses. While this new economic opportunity holds the promise of better livelihoods, it also increases the risk of workplace abuse, gender-based discrimination, and non-payment of wages, particularly for vulnerable women.

To address this, proactive efforts like those of FIDA-Uganda and our partners are focused on creating safe and fair work environments for women. One of the key strategies employed by FIDA-Uganda is the empowerment of Community Legal Volunteers (CLVs). These volunteers, who live and work within the communities they serve, play a vital role in bridging the gap between vulnerable women and the legal services they need to protect their rights.

Susan*, a CLV in Kibale District, is an example of how FIDA-Uganda has successfully built the capacity of individuals at the grassroots level to advocate for the rights of marginalized women. She has been trained on Uganda’s legal frameworks, such as the Employment Act of 2006, and is equipped to mediate disputes, provide legal advice, and raise awareness on issues related to workplace exploitation. Her cultural and linguistic familiarity with the communities she serves makes her uniquely positioned to offer support that is accessible, relatable, and effective.

Susan intervened in the case of Kembabazi Rose, a 41-year-old mother of five from Kirembe village. Rose, who worked as a waitress in a local lodge, had not been paid for two months. Struggling to provide for her children, Rose sought Susan’s help after hearing about FIDA-Uganda’s work on a local radio program. Through mediation, Susan helped Mary to recover her unpaid wages and regain her ability to support her family.

FIDA-Uganda CLV at Court Open Day

FIDA Legal Officer addressing Kasangati community

Prison Officers attending Kasangati Court Open Day

Kasangati Court Open Day

FIDA CLV and client in a successful property case

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