Uganda
Our programmes
Global Equality Project (April 2022 – March 2024)
Background
Strengthening the inclusion of women, girls, and other persons with intersecting identities and experiences is fundamental to democracy. Under the first phase of the Global Equality Project (GEP I), WFD supported local decision-makers and civil society actors to make progress towards advancing gender equality and defending human rights. The programme, implemented in partnership with Kaleidoscope Trust (KT), followed our programme on equality in the Commonwealth (CEP). In Uganda, CEP built on the previous work by WFD in the East African community on the development of bills concerning the re-entry and retention of teenage mothers in schools; and discrimination in employment.
Programme objectives
The second phase of GEP continues to build the capacity of inclusion champions to convene conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion of women, girls, and key populations in national development processes. The project is focusing on strategizing the revision of crucial bills concerning human rights defenders, legal aid bill, protection of girls at home and in communities, re-entry, and retention of teenage mothers in schools, the marriage bill, and employment discrimination. The programme further creates a platform for key populations, including indigenous minorities leaders, to develop new engagement strategies with key stakeholders such as state and non-state actors.
Find out more about the Global Equality Project
Grant in Aid (GIA) programme (April 2022 – March 2025)
Background
Democracy cannot live up to its promise when people or groups are excluded from political power. Uganda’s FCDO-funded GIA programme influences practices and behaviour of key Uganda national actors and stakeholders – especially the parliament and other accountability institutions – to function effectively on their mandate. WFD supports platforms that influence the public policy development process to ensure that policies are responsive to the needs of Ugandan citizens.
Programme objectives
The programme works with young reformers, accountability champions, Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Youth Affairs (UPFYA), Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), and the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change (PFCC) members. Through the programme, they get the skills and capacity to advocate for change within parliament and the executive. It also supports civil society organisations and other organised groups to coordinate with state actors to influence positive change of practice in policy development and legislation.
Completed programmes
Strengthening national youth participation and representation in Parliament of Uganda
This programme supported the Uganda National Dialogue Process to mobilise and organise women and young people from across the different regions of Uganda to achieve three inter-related objectives:
- Enhance the understanding of women and young people about the mission, goals and anticipated outcomes of the process
- Discuss the proposed dialogue themes and present specific issues of interest to the relevant decision-making spaces in the process
- Improve their organisation to sustain demand on the process to ensure that it addresses the concerns particular to women and young people.
East African commonwealth youth leaders programme
To place young people at the forefront of the regional development agenda of the EAC, WFD in partnership with youth organisations across the East African Community (EAC) implemented the East African Commonwealth Youth Leaders Initiative. The initiative provided a platform for youth leaders to raise their voices and meaningfully participate in discussions about governance issues which affect development in the region. WFD also promoted the African Charter on Democracy Elections and Governance (ACDEG). We did this by identifying stakeholders, convening key youth actors in governance, and engaging the Uganda legislature to push for the signing, ratification, and domestication of ACDEG. This initiative was delivered through the Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy (CP4D).
More completed programmes
Key results
Supported the reform of the Sexual Offences legislation in Uganda
Convened the first youth moot parliament session in Uganda which resulted in fast tracking of bill that address youth issues in parliament
Supported the first East African Youth parliament on the ratification and domestication of African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG)
4,000 jobs saved in Uganda sugar industry following intervention by young MPs working with WFD
Supported the first ever women’s parliament to take place in Uganda in 2015
Conducted mentoring sessions for 30 new women MPs following their election in 2021 (in partnership with UN Women and UWOPA)
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3rd Floor, Rumee House, Plot 19
Lumumba Avenue
Kampala
Uganda