Kampala, Uganda – August 19, 2025
Action for Development (ACFODE), in partnership with FIDA Uganda and with generous support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Global Women CSO Environmental Human Rights Defenders Flagship Programme, convened a National Strategic Engagement for Women and Youth Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) at UNICEF Hall, Mbuya, Kampala.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening Youth Coalitions and Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders’ Political Participation and Influence for a Just, Green Future”, brought together representatives from civil society, government ministries, development partners, district officials, and grassroots leaders to amplify the role of women and youth in environmental governance.
Building on this discussion, Hon. Lady Justice Susan Okalany, in her keynote address, emphasized the urgent need for specialized environmental courts to respond to the growing burden of climate-related cases effectively. She further raised concern about male dominance in judicial leadership, noting that such an imbalance often sidelines women’s voices in decision-making processes that directly affect them.
Discussions at the workshop further stressed the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to tackling gender and climate justice. Participants called for stronger engagement of critical institutions, including the police, health workers, and state attorneys, to create a coordinated response that addresses the intersecting challenges faced by communities
Adding to this, ACFODE’s Executive Director, Regina Bafaki, underscored the urgency of empowering women-led civil society organizations and youth coalitions to shape climate priorities and influence governance agendas. She highlighted that without amplifying these voices, policies and actions risk overlooking the realities of those most affected by climate change.
“As partners of the project, we appreciate the efforts by all stakeholders, but we feel like they have always been scattered or uncoordinated. I urge all of us to use such platforms as an opportunity to prioritize environmental conservation, climate justice, and human rights protection for a just, equitable, and sustainable environment,” Bafaki emphasized.
Ian King, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Uganda, used the workshop to reiterate the agency’s commitment. “Environmental justice is a human right. At today’s workshop with women and youth environmental defenders, I reaffirm UNDP’s commitment to co-create solutions that strengthen governance, equity, and resilience for a just, green future,” he said.
The UNDP, together with its partners, including the Republic of Korea (KOICA), the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, reaffirmed its support for strengthening civic space and advancing gender-responsive climate justice, ensuring that initiatives like the Spotlight Initiative remain inclusive and impactful.
Why This Matters
Uganda continues to face intensifying climate impacts, from deforestation to land degradation, that disproportionately affect women and young people. Despite their central role in environmental stewardship, women often face barriers to land ownership, political representation, and meaningful participation in decision-making.
The workshop created space for dialogue between grassroots EHRDs, civil society, and government institutions, while also reinforcing donor commitments to gender equality and climate justice.
ACFODE Vice Chairperson Board of Directors, Carol Idembe Bunga, encouraged strategic approaches to influence environmental governance.
Rights advocate Elizabeth Kemigisha, who also doubled as the moderator for the workshop, said litigation was “moving at a snail’s pace,” undermining urgent climate responses. “Children are evolving and governments are about to change, but environmental cases are still dragging,” Kemigisha remarked as several other youth participants demanded inclusion beyond tokenism. “We don’t want to just be invited to workshops. We need to be seated at the right table where policies are made,” one young activist said during an interactive session.
The workshop closed with a strong call to action, emphasizing the need to create platforms for women-led CSOs and EHRDs, integrate grassroots climate priorities into national policy, and strengthen coalitions that can sustain collective advocacy.
