COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

Dear Donors,

Over the past months, Mbarara Rise Foundation has focused on strengthening the capacity of grassroots LGBTIQ advocates across western Uganda. Despite the ongoing challenges posed by Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, we have successfully trained 58 community leaders in human rights awareness, financial literacy, and practical skills such as tailoring, poultry farming, and tiling. These trained advocates are now actively supporting their peers—providing emergency assistance, sharing knowledge, and helping reduce stigma in their communities.

The need for support remains urgent. Grassroots advocates face increased security risks, economic pressures, and emotional strain as they navigate hostile environments while helping others. Without renewed funding, our ability to sustain safe spaces, cover emergency stipends, and provide legal and psychosocial support will be severely limited.

To continue building a resilient LGBTIQ movement, we aim to:

1. Expand training programs to reach additional local advocates.

2. Maintain safe spaces for meetings, mentorship, and skills development.

3. Provide ongoing financial and emotional support for frontline leaders.

4. Strengthen local networks to foster advocacy, protection, and community cohesion.

Your continued partnership enables these advocates to create lasting change at the grassroots level—ensuring that LGBTIQ individuals have access to safety, knowledge, and opportunities, even in challenging circumstances.

We invite you to join us in empowering these leaders. Together, we can transform local communities and build a stronger, safer, and more inclusive Uganda.

Thank you for your unwavering support.

Dear Donors,

Since our last update, Mbarara Rise Foundation has continued working to empower grassroots LGBTIQ advocates across western Uganda, despite increasingly difficult circumstances. Over the past months, we successfully trained 58 new community advocates in human rights awareness, financial literacy, and practical economic skills like tailoring, poultry farming, and tiling. These advocates are now actively supporting their peers—offering emergency assistance, sharing knowledge, and helping reduce stigma within their localities.

However, the environment remains harsh. Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act continues to put pressure on individuals and organizations alike. Grassroots leaders face heightened security risks, financial instability, and burnout due to limited support. Our capacity-building efforts risk stalling without renewed donor investment to cover training costs, safe space operations, emergency stipends, and legal support for advocates facing persecution.

We remain committed to building a resilient network of local LGBTIQ advocates equipped with leadership, advocacy, and livelihood skills. Yet this work cannot continue at scale without your help. We are urgently seeking additional funding to expand trainings, sustain safe meeting places, and provide essential financial and psychosocial support for frontline advocates.

Your partnership directly strengthens Uganda’s grassroots LGBTIQ movement. When local leaders are equipped, they create lasting impact—building safer, more inclusive communities from the ground up.

Thank you for standing with us.