In Uganda, climate change isn’t a distant threat; it’s an immediate crisis. Communities across the country, from bustling Kampala to rural Jinja, are feeling its effects – erratic rainfall, droughts, and devastating landslides. At the forefront of the response are women and girls in all their diversity, pioneering solutions in agriculture, water management, and community education.

The Champions for Equality Fighting for Gender and Climate Justice in Uganda

Last year, a group of Global Fund for Women Champions for Equality partners traveled to Uganda to meet with these very leaders. Champions for Equality is a unique, three-year initiative that brings together global advocates, activists, and philanthropists committed to advancing gender and climate justice. 

As part of the program, Champions have the powerful opportunity to engage deeply with grassroots feminist movements—and, more importantly, to turn that learning into action. They are not just informed, but activated: sharing stories, building solidarity, and becoming donor partners who help sustain and amplify the work of gender justice movements on the frontlines. In Uganda, the Champions witnessed firsthand the impact of flexible funding, learning from the very leaders who are using it to drive real, community-led change.

In Jinja, the first stop was a visit to a women’s cooperative where sustainable agriculture practices are transforming communities. Up to 70% of Uganda’s farming workforce is female—but most are unable to own the land they work on due to patriarchal norms. These unequal property rights hold back their earnings, while climate change makes access to resources like water even more precarious. Global Fund for Women's grantee partner Girls for Climate Action (G4CA) is helping to address these inequalities by securing plots of land which women cultivate collectively - employing sustainable farming methods, providing food for their families and generate income, in a changing climate.

Feminist Leadership and the Intersections of Climate Justice

Global Fund for Women’s partner, Global Rights Alert (GRA), also led the Champions through Murchison Falls National Park to observe an oil drilling operation that raises urgent questions about the intersection of economic, environmental, and climate justice. While Uganda’s growing oil industry is seen as a potential economic boost, the environmental impact and emissions pose significant concerns. Local activists are asking a critical question: Is it worth it?

Read the full article about gender justice and climate activism in Uganda at Global Fund for Women.