Blog2025

Year: 2025

Empowering Trans Communities, Advancing Human Rights

From June 3rd – 6th, 2025, Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) kicked off its 2LEAD Fellowship under the Safe Horizons Project with a four-day training in Kampala for ten (10) trans and gender-diverse fellows. This first step in the six-month program empowered fellows with skills in human rights advocacy, digital safety, peacebuilding, leadership, and self-care to address challenges like the Anti-Homosexuality Act (2023) and online violence ahead of the 2026 elections.

An overwhelming number of applications were received. A thorough selection process, guided by a dedicated committee, chose the top ten (10) fellows, balancing regional quotas and gender diversity. The training enhanced their advocacy, public policy, digital security, and AI expertise, focusing on key issues, strategy development, policy engagement, and regional action plans.

Fellows praised the practical, inclusive learning environment and peer collaboration.

“This training empowered me to advocate effectively at all levels,” one fellow noted.

Gratitude goes to facilitators and partners for this strong start. Next, fellows will join mentorship sessions, community dialogues, advocacy campaigns, and peacebuilding efforts (June-November 2025), building on TNU’s Ethnography Study to boost trans community safety in Uganda. A dissemination workshop is set for mid-November.

Join the 2LEAD Fellowship 2025: Empowering Trans and Gender-Diverse Leaders

Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) proudly announces the 2LEAD Fellowship, a transformative leadership program under our Safe Horizon Project. Running from June to November 2025, this initiative empowers trans and gender-diverse leaders from Uganda’s Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western regions to drive advocacy, community mobilization, and policy change. Through training, mentorship, community dialogues, and research, fellows will build resilient trans communities while ensuring compliance with Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA).

Seize this opportunity to lead impactful change and advocate for a safer, more inclusive Uganda!

Program Objectives:

  • Train fellows in human rights advocacy, digital and physical security, mental health, and community mobilization to lead trans-focused initiatives.
  • Support fellows to facilitate regional community dialogues to raise awareness of trans legal rights and foster collaboration with duty bearers.
  • Enable fellows to develop policy briefs and an AHA-compliant online advocacy campaign to influence policy and public perceptions.
  • Promote sustained advocacy through mentorship and research dissemination, enhancing protections for trans persons.

Who Can Apply?

We seek passionate trans and gender-diverse individuals who:

  • Are aged 18–35 and reside in Uganda’s Central, Eastern, Northern, or Western regions.
  • Are committed to advancing trans rights and community resilience.
  • Can participate fully in the program, from June to November 2025.

Benefits of Joining:

  • Develop leadership and advocacy skills through a 4-day residential training in Kampala.
  • Lead community dialogues to amplify trans voices and engage stakeholders like police and local leaders.
  • Contribute to policy change through research and advocacy campaigns.
  • Receive mentorship and networking opportunities with activists and policymakers.

Program Timeline:

  • May 2025: Preparatory phase.
  • 1st Week of June 2025: 4-day training for fellows.
  • June, August, September, October 2025: Fellows lead community dialogues, coordinated by TNU member organizations and guided by the National Trans Advocacy Committee (NTAC).
  • 3rd Week of June–November 2025: Monthly virtual group mentorship and individual sessions for peer-to-peer learning and strategy refinement.
  • June–November 2025: Fellows conduct research and develop policy briefs and position papers on trans rights, safety, resilience, and legal protections.
  • 3rd Week of November 2025: One-day dissemination workshop to share dialogue insights, briefs, and research findings.

Application Procedure and Requirements:

To apply, submit the following documents addressed to Apako Williams, Executive Director, Tranz Network Uganda:

  • Completed Application Form.
  • Cover letter (max. 1 page) outlining your motivation and relevant experience.
  • CV (max. 2 pages) highlighting your background and skills.
  • Copy of your National ID or Passport.

Email your application to info@tranznetwork.org with the subject line “2LEAD Fellowship Application 2025” by May 25, 2025.

Download the Call for Applications and Application Form for full details.

Spread the Word!

Please share this opportunity with your networks and communities to connect us with dedicated trans and gender-diverse leaders across Uganda. Your support strengthens our collective advocacy for a more inclusive future.

For inquiries, contact info@tranznetwork.org or call +256 800 344544. Join us in transforming lives and communities!

Tranz Network Uganda: Empowering Trans Communities, Advancing Human Rights

The Impact of U.S. Executive Orders on Trans and Gender Diverse Persons in Uganda

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Kampala, Uganda – April 2025

Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) is proud to launch its newest report, “The Impact of U.S. Executive Orders on Trans and Gender Diverse Persons in Uganda.” 

This timely study uncovers the far-reaching consequences of recent U.S. policy changes under President Trump’s administration, which, when combined with Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), have ignited a crisis for trans communities.

The findings are alarming. Over 77.8% of surveyed NGOs report scaling back or suspending services due to frozen funding. In many cases, life-saving health programs—such as HIV testing, ART distribution, and shelter services—have been halted. Moreover, heightened social stigma and violence are pushing trans persons further into the margins.

However, this is not just a Ugandan issue. The global ripple effects of U.S. foreign policy decisions, especially when paired with conservative donor trends, are dismantling fragile safety nets for one of the world’s most vulnerable populations. This report captures those human stories through lived experiences and qualitative data, while also calling on all stakeholders to take immediate and coordinated action.


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Key Highlights

  • Funding Freeze: 77.8% of organizations affected by halted U.S. aid
  • Healthcare Collapse: PrEP and ART programs disrupted in several regions
  • Real Voices: Firsthand testimonies reveal trauma, eviction, and survival strategies

Despite these challenges, community resilience remains. Peer-led networks are stepping in where institutions have failed, demonstrating the need for sustained funding and renewed legal protections.

🗣️ “We’ve lost so much, but we haven’t lost each other. We’re still here, still fighting, still trying to survive.”
— Trans woman, Kampala

Why This Matters

This report is more than just research—it’s a call to global action. As U.S. funding retreats and other bilateral donors follow suit, the future of trans health and human rights in Uganda hangs in the balance.


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Transgender Day of Visibility 2025: A Call for Action in Uganda

Today, on Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) 2025, we honour the strength, resilience, and courage of trans persons worldwide. In Uganda, where the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) and other repressive laws continue to endanger trans lives, visibility is more than just recognition—it is an act of resistance.

The Reality for Trans Persons in Uganda

Across the world, trans and gender-diverse persons face systemic discrimination, but in Uganda, the situation has become even more dire. Criminalization, violence, and restricted access to healthcare and social services have left many in a state of crisis. As international funding shifts and donor support becomes uncertain, the very programs that sustain trans communities are under threat.

TNU’s Groundbreaking Research and Advocacy Efforts

In response to these growing challenges, Tranz Network Uganda (TNU) has launched a comprehensive quantitative ethnography study to:

✅ Document the lived realities of trans persons in Uganda.
✅ Map available resources and identify service gaps.
✅ Lay the foundation for trans rights advocacy, security awareness, and mental health support.

This research will be instrumental in ensuring that trans-specific programs are designed to meet the community’s actual needs and advocate for sustainable policy changes.

Why Visibility Matters More Than Ever

While TDOV is celebrating trans people, it’s also a call to action. As laws and policies are constantly threatening trans lives in Uganda, we need more advocacy, mobilization, and solidarity than ever before. We must continue the fight for dignity, equality, and safety, not just today but every day.

🌍 #TransDayOfVisibility #TDOV #TDOV2025 

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