EST. 2019 | REGISTERED 2020

Ubuntu Law and Justice Centre

African feminist organization providing healing justice through full-circle solutions

Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Plot 1853 John Kiyingi Rd, Kampala - Uganda

Who We Are

African feminist entity advancing access to justice to women and structurally excluded persons through full-circle, people-centred justice solutions. Founded in 2019 by a collective of community human rights lawyers, advocates and activists, UBUNTU works to advance justice and equality for women and structurally excluded persons across Uganda through legal representation, strategic litigation research and knowledge creation towards healing and gender justice to our diverse communities.

Our guiding philosophy is ubuntu; ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’, the essence of our shared humanity, reflecting interconnectedness, mutual respect, compassion, solidarity and dignity for all, regardless of our differences. Rooted in African understandings of the person as a relational and whole being, we locate our oppression within the broader legal, social, economic and political conditions that produce them, and within the context of the societies in which we live.

Guided by ubuntu, we expand access to justice, challenge violence, safeguard dignity, and transform oppressive narratives and structures across our communities.

Team members planning or a community setting
UB

Our Foundation

Rooted in African feminist values and community justice.

Our Purpose

Vision, Mission & Objectives

M

Mission

Delivering healing justice and robust transformative solutions through legal services, research and knowledge, policy advocacy, and engagement with marginalised women and structurally excluded communities.

V

Vision

A just world where we all thrive with dignity.

O

Objectives

  • Quality legal responses for marginalised women
  • Mobilize and engage marginalised women
  • Strengthen institutional and financial capacity

Our Approach

FJ

Full-Circle Justice Solutions

Intersecting legal, social and economic barriers continue to deprive women and other structurally excluded persons of access to justice, health services, education and employment. Joblessness, homelessness, state oppression and systemic poverty driven by criminalisation of their identities, push many into risky, unregulated or informal economies, where exploitation and abuse are rampant.

Further, structural and societal barriers hinder them from accessing health and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and gender justice remedies, exposing them to daily exclusion, heightened violence and psychological distress.

This oppression cannot be separated from broader systemic patterns of patriarchy, authoritarianism, inequality, poverty and social exclusion. There is still no such thing as a single-issue struggle — the harms exist in a web of interconnected factors.

To respond to these layered realities, UBUNTU provides holistic, cohesive and synergistic interventions that combine innovative legal remedies with healing justice responses to the structural and root causes of the harm being meted to our communities.

UBUNTU has succeeded in distinguishing itself as a key actor in justice and development priorities in Uganda.

Illustration representing Ubuntu's full-circle approach
Full Circle Approach
HJ

Healing Justice

We provide restorative healing for development, addressing both legal needs and underlying trauma from oppression.

TS

Transformative Solutions

Our work encapsulates the African understanding of the human being as a whole and relational being.

UP

Ubuntu Philosophy

The essence of humanity that reflects our interconnectedness and calls for respect regardless of differences.

Our Core Values

ID

Interconnectedness & Diversity

We recognise that we are shaped by our relationships – we are who we are through our connection with others. We celebrate and embrace diversity in all its forms. We practice inclusion at every level and maintain zero tolerance for discrimination, exclusionary practices or harmful discourse.

HD

Humanity & Dignity

We affirm the inherent worth of every person. We believe that alienation, marginalisation and dehumanisation are unacceptable and unjustified as they minimise us and our communities. We strive to uphold dignity and human rights, seeking equality, justice and fairness that goes beyond written concepts to restore holistic well-being.

C

Consciousness

We act with intention and consciousness. Our work and the outcomes we intend to achieve are guided by a deep understanding of our values, African queer feminist identity, and the related political underpinnings. Every action we take is deliberate, strategic and aligned with our purpose.

P

Professionalism

We believe in doing things the right way. We are committed to excellence, transparency and accountability in all that we do, and to meeting the objectives we have set out. We uphold high standards of conduct, reject workplace abuse or harassment, and ensure our organisational processes reflect integrity and ethical practices.

F

Feminism

We centre feminist principles, feminist discourse and intersectional approaches in our work. We challenge misogyny, patriarchy and all forms of oppression, advocating for gender justice that recognises the diverse and intersecting identities of our communities.

Our Structure

ED

Executive Director

Leadership
FA

Finance & Admin

Manager

AD

Administration

Officer / Assistant

DEV

Development

Officer

PR

Partners / Donors

Relations

LC

Legal & Comms

Officer

PRG

Programme

Officer

What We Do

The Ubuntu Law and Justice Centre offers holistic, healing-justice approaches addressing root causes facing marginalised women and other structurally excluded persons in Uganda.

Grounded in ubuntu, our work links legal support, socio-economic empowerment, and collective healing. We situate injustice within patriarchal, homophobic systems, expand access to justice, confront violence, and deliver responses promoting dignity, resilience, and wellbeing.

Objective 1

Legal and healing justice remedies

To advance healing and gender justice outcomes by providing integrated legal services, engendering strategic litigation and producing quality research that informs policy and practice.

Objective 2

A mobilised and engaged community

To build informed, engaged and mobilised communities fostering rights protection and norm change, through increased knowledge, participation and advocacy.

Objective 3

Strengthened institutional and financial capacity

To build a resilient, effective and sustainable organisation capable of delivering high-quality programmes and adapting to a rapidly shifting context.

Our Interventions

LS

Legal Services

  • Quality and timely legal responses for marginalised women
  • Addressing discriminatory and harmful laws, policies and practices
  • Legal innovation and full-circle justice solutions
CE

Community Engagement

  • Mobilising and engaging marginalised women
  • Promotion and protection of dignity and rights
  • Knowledge generation and policy advocacy

Join Our Movement for Healing Justice

Be part of our mission to provide transformative solutions for marginalised communities in Uganda.