EVERY STORY MATTERS❗ As we celebrate 40 years of championing women's rights and gender equality in Uganda, we invite everyone whose life has been touched by ACFODE to share their story. Has ACFODE empowered you to become a leader? Strengthened your organisation? Inspired your advocacy? Improved your livelihood? Or helped transform your community? Your experience is part of our legacy and your voice can inspire the next generation. SHARE YOUR STORY USING #ACFODEAt40 #40YearsOfImpact #ACFODEStory #YourVoiceMatters ----------- @jckwesiga @miriamatembe @MaudeMugihsa @JeanKemitare @nkgladys @PerryAritua @hildaakabwai @twongye @BagumaAllenK @SandraNassali @millyNakawooya @Phinakasaija @owobusingye @BettyByanyima @ReginaBafaki @AinoHarpie @BelindaK_ @rukundorebecca2 @t_wanyoto @JanetAine17 @ShibaAmanyire @nanyombishamil1 @katsviolet @alexsimpsonT @prossy_aye2032 @edmondbarigye @namara284 @anakaliti @IsabellaAkiteng @GeorgeKany41662 @lwanga_miriam @LKarayi @AsiimweJackie7 @Andysen18 @SarahBireete @SimonKaggwaNjal @DBaziwe @FionaMyriad @ivanssempijja @nicksonogwal @CSekimpi @joszake @nickopiyo

Building on last year’s gender training and the development of YARD’s Gender Policy and Action Plans, ACFODE is facilitating a two-day Institutional Gender Self-Assessment for Youth Association for Rural Development (YARD), helping the organisation reflect on its progress, identify gaps and strengthen how gender equality is reflected in its leadership, policies, budgeting and programmes. The assessment will inform an action plan to guide the next steps towards a more gender-responsive institution. Every organisation has a role to play in advancing gender equality. Making it part of everyday decisions, policies and practices is a good place to start. #GenderEquality #GenderResponsiveInstitutions #ACFODE

We are not stopping at one school! #ACFODE continues to share the knowledge and skills that help young people grow their own food. This time, we took our kitchen gardening initiative to Kibuye Primary School and Kibuye Secondary School. Through their GBV Prevention Clubs, learners planted spinach, sukuma wiki, onions, cabbage and other vegetables using tower bags, showing that you don’t need a big garden to grow your own food. By learning these skills, students can start growing vegetables at school and at home, helping their families access fresh food while caring for the environment. A small space can still grow something valuable! Start yours today #KitchenGardening #YouthEmpowerment #FoodSecurity #ACFODE

Working together to end GBV On 14 October, ACFODE joined partners to prepare for the 2026 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The discussions focused on ways to help communities prevent GBV, support survivors and improve access to justice. Proposed activities include community dialogues, legal aid clinics, school campaigns, radio talk shows and sessions encouraging men to take an active role in preventing violence. The campaign will run from 25 November to 10 December under the global theme: “UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Ensure Justice, Protect Survivors, End Impunity.” Every woman and girl deserves to live free from violence, and every survivor deserves support and justice. #16DaysOfActivism #EndGBV #ProtectSurvivors #ACFODE

Women’s land rights must be protected not only by law, but also in practice. ACFODE is participating in the 4th Women Land Rights Conference, joining conversations on strengthening access to justice for women’s land and property rights. #WomensLandRights #GenderEquality

Learning matters when it changes how we work. It is one thing to learn something new. It is another to put it into practice. As the media training came to a close, we asked one of the participating reporters what they would do differently after the two days of learning. For journalists and content creators, every interview, every question and every story presents an opportunity to report more responsibly. The goal is to inform the public while respecting the dignity and safety of the people involved. #ResponsibleJournalism #GenderSensitiveReporting #ACFODE

Every story has something to teach us. We must keep improving how we tell them so their lessons are heard, understood and remembered. Following ACFODE’s two-day training on gender- and conflict-sensitive journalism and communication, we spoke to one of the participating reporters about what they learned and what stood out to them. Responsible reporting calls for more than getting the facts. It also means thinking about consent, privacy, dignity and how our words affect the people whose stories we tell. This is what they had to say. #ResponsibleJournalism #GenderSensitiveReporting #ACFODE

Ending violence against women and girls requires more than commitment. It demands evidence, collaboration and action. Our Executive Director, Ms.Regina Bafaki, participated in the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Forum 2026, held from 5–9 October in Bangkok, Thailand. The global convening brought together researchers, policymakers, activists and practitioners to exchange knowledge, challenge existing approaches and advance evidence-based solutions to violence against women and children. For #ACFODE, participation in such spaces reinforces the importance of connecting global research and learning with grassroots realities, ensuring that prevention efforts, policies and responses reflect the lived experiences of women and girls. As we continue advocating for gender equality and women's rights in Uganda, one message remains clear: Ending gender-based violence requires collective responsibility, survivor-centred approaches and sustained action at every level. #ACFODE #SVRIForum2026 #EndGBV #WomensRights #GenderEquality #EndViolenceAgainstWomen

Recognising girls and young women for their leadership, resilience, creativity and community impact is an important step towards ensuring their contributions are seen and valued. On 8 October, our Programme Officer, @rukundorebecca2 , joined the National Girl Champion Awards 2026, a celebration of girls and young women using their talents and abilities to make a difference in their communities. We appreciate the organisers for creating a platform that celebrates these young champions, amplifies their voices and encourages more girls to pursue their ambitions. Every girl deserves opportunities to develop her potential, lead and contribute to her community. Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. May this recognition open more doors for you and inspire many other girls to believe in what they can achieve. #GirlChampionAwards #GirlsLeadership #GenderEquality

The questions we ask, the words we use and the details we choose to share can shape how people understand an issue and how those involved are treated. #ACFODE brought together #journalists, content creators and #influencers for a training on gender- and conflict-sensitive journalism and communication last week. Participants explored: 1. Responsible interviewing, 2.Informed consent, 3.Privacy, 4.Source protection and, 5. How to report sensitive issues without victim-blaming or exposing people to further harm. They also put these lessons into practice through interviews, story editing and script development. As we wrapped up the training, participants learned that good reporting is not just about getting the story. It is also about how we tell it and the impact it has on the people involved. What is one thing you think media practitioners need to do better when reporting sensitive stories, especially the ones about women and children? #ResponsibleJournalism #GenderSensitiveReporting #ACFODE

Every girl deserves the opportunity to learn, lead and shape her future. Investing in girls today is investing in a more equal tomorrow. #DayOfTheGirlChild #GirlsRights

Today, Uganda celebrates 64 years of Uganda’s independence and the people who continue to shape our country every day. As we celebrate, may every woman and girl have the freedom, opportunity and voice to participate fully in the decisions that shape her life, her family and her community. Here’s to a Uganda where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, lead and prosper. Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇬 #Ugandaat64 #UgandaIndependenceDay #Uganda #GenderEquality #WomenAndGirls

When a story is sensitive, does the way we tell it matter as much as the facts we report? On Day 2 of ACFODE’s training on Gendered, Conflict-Sensitive Journalism and Communication, media practitioners are looking beyond what makes a story newsworthy to how that story is framed, produced and presented. The sessions have explored responsible coverage of sensitive issues, with emphasis on consent, privacy, dignity and avoiding victim-blaming. Participants have also taken part in a practical group editing exercise, reviewing and improving television, radio and YouTube content through a gender and conflict-sensitive lens. For journalists and media practitioners, responsible reporting is not only about getting the facts right. It is also about asking: Whose voice is being heard? What harm could this coverage cause? And does the story protect the dignity of the people at its centre? As the training continues, #ACFODE is supporting media practitioners to strengthen reporting that is accurate, ethical, inclusive and sensitive to the realities of the people and communities they cover. #GenderResponsiveMedia #ConflictSensitiveJournalism #ResponsibleReporting #ACFODE

Gender matters in how stories are told. Today, #ACFODE is bringing together journalists, reporters, content creators and influencers from different media houses for a two-day training on Gendered Conflict-Sensitive Journalism and Communication. Facilitated by @SandraNassali, the training is creating space for media practitioners to reflect on how gender, power and stereotypes can shape the way stories are reported and communicated. Participants have so far explored gender and communication, roles, power relations and stereotypes in media coverage. They also worked in groups to identify gender bias, missing voices and unequal representation in the stories we consume and produce. The conversations continue as participants look deeper into how media can tell stories that are more balanced, inclusive and sensitive to gender and conflict. Join us online by contributing to this conversation in the comment section. #GenderAndMedia #ConflictSensitiveJournalism #GenderEquality #ACFODE

Following the recent activities at Bukere Primary and Secondary Schools, ACFODE extended the kitchen gardening initiative to Kabweza Primary School, where members of the GBV Prevention Club took part in planting kitchen gardens and fruit trees. Beyond learning about GBV prevention, the learners are gaining practical skills they can use at home to support food production and household well-being. It is encouraging to see GBV Prevention Clubs becoming spaces where young people gain knowledge and skills that benefit them at school and at home. #ACFODE #GBVPrevention #KitchenGardening #YouthEmpowerment #FoodSecurity #GenderEquality