Advocacy , Digital Security and Movement Building

Forum on Internet Freedom Africa. #FIFA2019

In September i was privileged to attend CIPESA's Forum on Internet Freedom #FIFA2019 in Addis Abeba on full bursary. This was a very exciting and insightful .  

There is an erosion of digital freedom and free expression in Uganda. Freedom of expression is not just about the rights of journalists and the media it's about the rights of Civil Societies to receive and disseminate information. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has used ill-defined and unchecked powers to regulate internet freedom for example the introduction of social media tax. This has made it difficult and more expensive to run projects to due the increase communication costs.

Attending  #FIFAfrica19  helped me to meet and share my experiences with fellow participants. It helped me to engage experts in Digital Security, Human Rights Defenders, and Various Donors.  We talked about the future of Internet freedom in Africa with regards to the rights of freedom of expression and how to share information securely in an organization. 

After #FIFA2019  I held a one day digital security and feminist conversation with 30 rural women from Rakai district. I shared the knowledge a acquired with them and we agreed that they need to understand more on Digital security.

This helped the women to safeguard their data and improve on their security in regards to communication modes and operating community based organizations.

Digital Literacy and Digital Security  

I attended Women's Online Safety Training in Uganda organized by Facebook on Internet Freedom in Africa in August 2019.

One key learning from this space was there are so many women who have experienced cyber bullying and harassment and are traumatized about the internet. There is a great need for digital security and human rights awareness for women.

Africa Hair Chronicles , Feminist talks, Pop Up Craft Market, Safe Space

Redefining the Identity of LGBTI Refugees using Hair as a Symbol of Strength and dignity.Including Feminist Conversations, Digital Security and Financial Literacy

We have annual mobile hair salon social meetings which are documented. We meet up and braid hair, dye hair, share experiences that we have gone through during the month. We set up a craft market where clothing, bags, shoes and jewelry made by our members are sold to the people who come to braid their hair and this is a safe space where we strategies about how to build a better and inclusive LGBTIQ+ community. #MyHairMyIdentity

This event has been a great tool for building capacity and movement building for members in my organization and fellow feminists and activists that attend the event every year.

This event has become a positive space and a healing space for so many women who have gone through trauma. The relationships that have grown out of this event have built confidence and empowered many young feminist leaders.

"The Future is a Million Shades of Female and its Beautiful."

Using Sports as a tool to Advocate for Human Rights 

Sports has been a male dominated game in African culture. As Simma we formed an all female Refugee team. This team has enabled our members to break barriers and change the attitude towards girl child education.

using sports has created a great movement among our LGBTI youth. It has built capacity and confidence of girls and helped sensitize parents about the importance of gender equality.