Fighting For Trans Rights In Uganda

Nana is the Executive Director for Trans Youth Initiative-Uganda (TYI-Uganda) which advocates and advances the health and human rights of rural transgender youth women, transgender youth sex workers, gender non-conforming youth, gender non-conforming youth sex workers and intersex youth in Uganda. The communities' uptake and utilisation of sexual and reproductive health services in western Uganda are hampered by experiences of transphobia, discrimination, and criminalisation, which has affected the overall wellbeing of the community. TYI-Uganda seeks to strengthen capacities, knowledge, and skills to articulate and dismantle violence in their communities and advocate for a safe and secure environment that protects their fundamental rights. TYI-Uganda conducted a validation meeting on the findings from a study on their communities’ needs and challenges that limit their rights, access, and utilisation of sexual and reproductive services. The organisation then facilitated a training on how to document, report and follow up on cases of human rights violations among rural transgender youth women, transgender youth sex workers, gender non-conforming youth, gender non-conforming youth sex workers and intersex youth. The findings from the study and validation meeting are being used as an evidence-based advocacy tool to engage key stakeholders. This initiative has strengthened access to justice among TYI-Uganda’s communities.

“Thank you, Trans Youth Initiative Uganda, for the tremendous work done in the implementation of these activities…which were so beneficial to the rural transgender youth women, trans sex workers and gender diverse youth. These helped to create visibility and a platform for community members to table their concerns as it was evidenced in research.” – Janei Munanura, TYI-Uganda volunteer.