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Redefining Inclusive Healthcare in Uganda

For far too long, trans and gender-diverse people in Uganda have faced closed doors when seeking healthcare. The challenges went beyond stigma; they were about being denied dignity, turned away from services, or left without the care they needed simply because of who they were. The gaps were too wide, the pain too deep, and the risks too dangerous to ignore.

The Tunaweza Health and Wellness Centre was born out of this reality. It was created with one clear mission: to close those gaps and ensure that no one is left behind. What started as a vision is now a fully registered, permanent health facility, standing as a symbol of hope and inclusion for communities that have too often been excluded.

Walking through the Tunaweza Health and Wellness Center, you see possibility. There is a fully stocked pharmacy where clients can access essential medicines without fear or shame. There are modern laboratories and diagnostic rooms where tests are carried out with professionalism and respect. Dedicated doctors and triage spaces welcome patients without judgment, and a data room drives evidence-based health programming that strengthens future interventions.

But the Tunaweza Health and Wellness Center is not only about what happens within its walls. The clinic embraces digital innovation to extend its reach far beyond the physical space. Through a toll-free hotline (+256 800 344544) equipped with IVR technology, clients can be connected instantly to the care they need. A real-time referral and emergency tracking system ensures that no case falls through the cracks, improving coordination across healthcare providers and creating faster, more reliable access to services.

At its core, the Tunaweza Health and Wellness Center is guided by a human-rights-based approach. It bridges the gap between underserved communities and the mainstream health system, not by working in isolation, but by building partnerships with other health facilities and networks. In doing so, it strengthens coordination, creates vital linkages, and pushes for a healthcare landscape where equity is not just an aspiration but a reality.

The range of services is as comprehensive as it is inclusive. Clients come for HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. Others seek sexual and reproductive health care, maternal and antenatal support, or postnatal services. Immunisations, laboratory work, scans, and emergency referrals are all part of the care package. Each service is designed not just to treat illness but to uphold dignity.

The Tunaweza Health and Wellness Center is not just a clinic. It is an ecosystem of care; a space built to transform lives, strengthen health systems, and advance equity for all. It is proof that when healthcare is rooted in respect and inclusion, it can heal more than bodies. It can heal communities.

2LEAD Program Fellow Championing Trans Health in Uganda

Dr. Hirya Nahiranda is a medical doctor, and passionate advocate for inclusive health and gender-affirming care. His professional and personal journeys are deeply intertwined, each fueling the other in his mission to create safe, affirming spaces for queer and trans communities in Uganda.

Currently, he serves at Ark Wellness Hub, a queer-focused clinic that primarily serves men who have sex with men (MSM), while also providing care for a growing number of trans clients — many of whom he connects with through personal networks. His work spans general medical care, STI management, HIV prevention, and guidance on gender-affirming health, where possible within the current legal framework.

Outside the clinic, he extends his work into community education, participating in podcasts, facilitating in-person sessions, and sharing practical medical information alongside his lived experience as a trans man. These platforms have allowed him to challenge stigma, spark meaningful conversations, and bridge the gap between medical knowledge and the everyday realities of queer and trans people.

In his remarks, he says,

“My trans journey has been both the compass and the fuel for his career. Growing up, my difference was visible and often became the subject of gossip, bias, and doubt. Even in school leadership roles, my abilities were questioned not because of my competence, but because of how I looked. These experiences chipped away at my confidence, even as I kept pushing forward.

Working within Uganda’s restrictive legal environment has brought its own set of challenges. It has, at times, limited how much I could fully practice gender-affirming care beyond my personal journey. But joining the TNU 2Lead Fellowship marked a turning point. It deepened my understanding of legal realities, equipping me with strategies to work safely within them while still advocating for my community.

More importantly, 2LEAD has been a space of renewal; restoring my confidence, reconnecting me with my power, and surrounding me with a network of gender-diverse leaders. The human connections, including a close friendship formed with a fellow participant, have been deeply healing and inspiring.”

Today, Dr Hirya carries a renewed clarity. For every client he sees, every conversation he starts, and every class he teaches is a step toward the future he believes in; a future where trans and queer people have the care, dignity, and respect they deserve.