In 2023, Uganda passed one of the most punitive anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the world: the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA). Building on years of institutionalised homophobia, the Act criminalised same-sex intimacy and the so-called “promotion of homosexuality,” extending punishment to organisations, advocates, and even service providers. With provisions introducing the death penalty in certain cases and prison sentences of up to twenty years, the AHA weaponised law against entire communities. It emboldened police harassment, legitimised transphobia, and heightened the already precarious risks faced by LGBTQ+ Ugandans. In this hostile climate, the very existence of transgender and gender-diverse organisations became a radical act of resistance.
The Trans Youth Initiative-Uganda (TYI-Uganda), a grassroots organisation in the country’s southwestern region, continued its work despite heightened risks. Established in 2017, TYI-Uganda focuses on supporting rural transgender and gender-diverse youth. Despite the AHA increasing the dangers its members faced, the organisation expanded its programmes with a focus on legal literacy, resilience, and safety. With CMI!’s support, TYI-Uganda became a critical source of information, protection, and connection for young people who would otherwise have had little access to support.
Central to TYI-Uganda’s strategy was the continuation and scaling of its paralegal programme. The training gave transgender and gender-diverse youth tools to understand their rights, document violations, and pursue legal remedies. In 2024, the initiative expanded geographically to reach new districts, equipping participants with knowledge of constitutional protections, as well as strategies for navigating increasingly hostile law enforcement practices. As one staff member explained: “By breaking down these legal challenges, participants gained a deeper understanding of their rights and how to protect themselves from escalating legal conflicts.”
Equally important was TYI-Uganda’s investment in safety and resilience. With support from Mama Cash and CMI!, the organisation strengthened its digital and physical security measures. Staff and volunteers, often the first to face harassment, received training to protect against surveillance, online attacks, and police intimidation. In a context where visibility can be both empowering and dangerous, these measures were vital to sustaining activism. TYI-Uganda also prioritised psychosocial support.
TYI-Uganda’s work extended beyond its immediate membership. Through collaborations with local authorities, including the Mbarara police and health institutions such as TASO Mbarara, the organisation opened dialogue that challenged entrenched prejudice. By building relationships with service providers, TYI-Uganda created pathways for community members to access post-violence care and health services, reducing isolation and risk.
CMI! Support has enabled the continuation of programming that might otherwise have been forced into silence. This tells international funders they must remain flexible and responsive, recognising that opportunities and crises emerge quickly in hostile legal contexts. Resources must support advocacy, but also the infrastructure of survival—security, wellbeing, and safe spaces. Moreover, donors should prioritise long-term support rather than short-term projects, ensuring that organisations like TYI-Uganda can continue to grow their capacity in the face of intensifying risks.
Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act represents a profound attack on human rights. But the story of TYI-Uganda demonstrates that even under conditions of repression, transgender, and gender-diverse youth are not passive victims.
