LGBTQIA+ Equality Uganda Project #58477

Uganda Emergency fund

by MBARARA RISE FOUNDATION

Project Report | Mar 12, 2026
The Challenges encountered since the Gay law

By Mbarara Rise | Project leader

Donors, with kind respect,

Please we want to let you know that since the passage of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act in March 2023, the LGBTIQ+ community has faced escalating threats including arrests, evictions, physical attacks, sexual violence, and denial of health care. Over 159 individuals have sought urgent assistance due to these life-threatening circumstances. Many have lost jobs, been cut off from essential services like food and medicine, and are experiencing increased isolation and discrimination. These ongoing challenges have created a critical need for emergency support and protective interventions.

Mbarara Rise Foundation has responded by providing safe relocation, emergency accommodation, nutrition, medical care, mental health support, and legal assistance to the most at-risk community members. Paralegals have intervened in urgent cases, and emergency bail and legal support have helped stabilize those imprisoned or facing imminent harm. Safe houses and psychosocial counseling have offered temporary relief while addressing immediate threats to personal safety and well-being.

Despite these efforts, challenges persist. Rising cases of displacement, harassment, and economic marginalization continue to place LGBTIQ+ individuals at risk. Access to health care and essential supplies remains limited in rural areas, while the community continues to face threats from family rejection, police brutality, and homophobic campaigns. There is a pressing need to scale up safe relocation services, expand legal and medical support, and strengthen community-based outreach to ensure timely assistance reaches those most vulnerable.

Looking forward, increased donor support and partnerships are essential to sustain and expand these interventions. Funding can help provide additional safe housing, cover emergency nutrition and medical needs, support legal advocacy, and enable rapid response to new threats. By contributing, donors can directly protect lives, restore dignity, and empower Uganda’s LGBTIQ+ community to survive and thrive despite systemic discrimination and violence.

Be blessed.

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Nov 10, 2025
Sustaining Lifelines for Uganda's LGBTQI+ People

By Mbarara Rise | Project leader

Dear Donors,

Since our last report, the humanitarian crisis affecting LGBTQI+ individuals in Uganda has intensified. Two years after the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, social rejection, eviction, and economic marginalization continue to devastate our community. The needs of those seeking safety, healthcare, and support have grown faster than our current resources can cover.

Mbarara Rise Foundation remains one of the few lifelines for individuals facing extreme vulnerability. Our shelters, counselling services, and empowerment programs provide safety and hope for those escaping violence, blackmail, or homelessness. Over the past months, we have supported dozens of survivors, but the demand continues to rise:

More than 70 individuals are waiting for safe housing or temporary relocation.
Many survivors of assault still lack access to medical treatment and follow-up care.
Trauma counselling and mental health support remain critically underfunded.
Requests for livelihood training and economic empowerment have doubled, reflecting the urgent need to restore independence and stability.

Our emergency fund is nearly depleted, and without additional support, our ability to respond will be severely limited. Every contribution enables us to provide shelter, food, medical care, counselling, and life-saving assistance to those who would otherwise have nowhere to turn.

With renewed donor support, we aim to:

Expand emergency housing to meet growing demand.
Cover medical and mental health support for survivors of violence.
Strengthen livelihood and empowerment programs to restore independence.
Continue advocacy and community outreach to reduce discrimination in healthcare and social services.

Your partnership remains crucial. Together, we can sustain these lifelines, ensuring LGBTQI+ individuals in Uganda have access to safety, healthcare, and dignity. Every action counts, and with your support, hope and resilience remain alive.

In solidarity,
Mbarara Rise Foundation

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Oct 16, 2025
Two Years Under the Anti-Homosexuality Act

By Mbarara Rise | Project leader

Situation Update – October 2025
Mbarara Rise Foundation

Two years after the enactment of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act, the situation for LGBTQI+ persons has worsened into a sustained humanitarian emergency. What began as fear and uncertainty has deepened into widespread social rejection, economic collapse, and psychological trauma.

In southwestern Uganda, Mbarara Rise Foundation continues to stand as one of the few safe points of contact for those affected. Our shelters, counselling, and empowerment activities remain vital lifelines for individuals escaping violence, eviction, or blackmail. Yet, as the number of people seeking refuge grows daily, our limited resources are being stretched beyond capacity.

Why Increased Support Is Urgently Needed

Our emergency fund is nearly depleted. Every week, new calls for help arriven from survivors seeking safety, medical attention, or relocation to safer places. The scale of need now far exceeds what our small team can provide:

Over 68 people are waiting for safe housing or temporary relocation.
Many survivors of assault cannot afford medical treatment or follow-up care.
Trauma counselling and medication remain critically underfunded.
The demand for livelihood training has doubled, but resources are limited.

The current situation is not only a protection crisis but also a test of resilience for Uganda’s LGBTQI+ movement. Each day without adequate support puts more lives at risk and erodes the hope of those already living in hiding.

Amid this hostility and silence, Mbarara Rise Foundation continues to provide safety, dignity, and solidarity. With renewed donor support, we can extend emergency aid, keep our shelters open, and sustain the programs that give survivors a chance to rebuild their lives.

Every contribution matters—it means protection, food, healthcare, and the reassurance that someone still cares enough to act. Together, we can keep hope alive for those who have nowhere else to turn.

In solidarity,
Programs Leader
Mbarara Rise Foundation

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