Fund a woman, fund a child

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.