Freedom & Roam Uganda

Freedom & Roam Uganda (FARUG) is a Ugandan human rights organization dedicated to addressing discrimination, violence and social exclusion affecting lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people. The organization was established in 2003 by Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera after she and other Ugandan women experienced or witnessed harassment and abuse linked to sexual orientation and gender identity. FARUG developed as an advocacy organization centered particularly on LBTI women and is described as the only local Ugandan organization fully dedicated to LBTI issues. FARUG's work combines public education, community support, advocacy and visibility initiatives. Its activities have included raising awareness about LBTI people, sexual and reproductive health, homophobia and transphobia; increasing representation and visibility in the media; lobbying decision-makers in Uganda and at regional and international levels; and organizing skills-sharing workshops, seminars and conferences. The organization also challenges stigma and anti-LBTI beliefs through ongoing public and community engagement. A significant part of FARUG's public profile has come from its work with other Ugandan and international human rights actors. It has collaborated closely with Sexual Minorities Uganda, an umbrella advocacy organization, to document and highlight discrimination against LGBT Ugandans. FARUG's advocacy has also involved legal action when media coverage has exposed LGBT people to threats or persecution. In 2010, FARUG members and other Sexual Minorities Uganda members whose photographs had appeared in the Ugandan newspaper Rolling Stone joined a High Court petition seeking to stop circulation of an article calling for gay people to be hanged. The court granted the petition on 2 November 2010, ending circulation of the publication. The case became an important example of legal resistance to public incitement and privacy violations directed at sexual minorities in Uganda. Founder Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders in 2011 in recognition of her advocacy. FARUG's current executive director is Ssenfuka J. Warry. The organization operates in a challenging environment marked by hostility toward sexual and gender minorities, making its work relevant to human rights, public health, freedom of expression, safety and access to justice. Publicly available material provides limited detail about FARUG's finances, internal structure, funding, staffing beyond its executive director, and current program portfolio.

Freedom & Roam Uganda was founded in 2003 by Ugandan lesbian advocate Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera. Its creation followed Nabagesera's experiences of, and exposure to, harassment, discrimination and violence directed at Ugandan women because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. She established the organization with a group of friends to provide advocacy for women and other people facing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. FARUG developed as a specialized human rights organization concerned with lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex issues in Uganda. Its work has included nationwide awareness raising, public education on sexual and reproductive health, efforts to improve media visibility for LBTI people, and challenges to homophobia, transphobia and related stigma. The organization has also conducted workshops, seminars and conferences intended to share skills and knowledge within affected communities and among advocates. Beyond domestic programming, FARUG has lobbied at local, regional and international levels. It has worked with Sexual Minorities Uganda to draw attention to discrimination against LGBT people and to strengthen advocacy around threats, violence and exclusion. This collaborative work has connected FARUG's community-focused activities with broader Ugandan and international human rights campaigns. One of the organization's most prominent legal interventions followed publication by the Ugandan newspaper Rolling Stone of an article that displayed photographs of gay and lesbian Ugandans beneath a headline calling for them to be hanged. FARUG participants and other Sexual Minorities Uganda members whose images appeared in the publication brought a petition before the High Court. On 2 November 2010, the court granted the petition, effectively stopping circulation of the article. The case demonstrated the use of domestic legal remedies to contest media exposure, intimidation and incitement against sexual minorities. In May 2011, founder Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. The award recognized her work in a difficult political and social environment and increased international attention to Ugandan LBTI advocacy. Nabagesera is identified as a former executive director, while Ssenfuka J. Warry is identified as FARUG's current executive director. FARUG's public mission remains centered on reducing discrimination and improving the safety, dignity, visibility and access to information of LBTI people in Uganda. Available reference material does not establish a detailed founding budget, formal corporate ownership, commercial product portfolio or complete chronology of leadership and programs.

• 2011

  Founder receives Martin Ennals Award

  [1]Freedom & Roam Ugandaen.wikipedia.org

  Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders for her advocacy.

• 2010

  High Court stops circulation of Rolling Stone article

  [1]Freedom & Roam Ugandaen.wikipedia.org

  FARUG members and other Sexual Minorities Uganda members petitioned the High Court over the publication of photographs and a headline calling for gay people to be hanged. The court granted the petition on 2 November 2010.

• 2003

  FARUG founded

  [1]Freedom & Roam Ugandaen.wikipedia.org

  Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera founded Freedom & Roam Uganda with friends to advocate for Ugandan women and other people facing discrimination linked to sexual orientation or gender identity.

A specialist Ugandan human rights organization focused on LBTI rights, safety, visibility, health information and anti-discrimination advocacy.

• Human rights services · 2003

  LBTI human rights advocacy

  FARUG's core activity is advocacy addressing discrimination, violence, stigma and exclusion affecting lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Uganda. The organization engages local, regional and international audiences and works to increase recognition of LBTI rights.

• Education and public awareness

  Community awareness and education

  The organization raises awareness about LBTI people, sexual and reproductive health, homophobia and transphobia. Its education work includes workshops, seminars, conferences and ongoing efforts to challenge anti-LBTI beliefs and social stigma.

• Media advocacy

  Media and public visibility advocacy

  FARUG works to improve the visibility and representation of LBTI people in the media and public debate. This area also includes advocacy against harmful exposure, incitement and discriminatory portrayals.

• 2010

  Joined legal action against the Rolling Stone publicationOther

  Background

  A Ugandan newspaper published photographs of gay and lesbian people under a headline calling for gay people to be hanged. Some FARUG and Sexual Minorities Uganda members were shown in the article.

  Action taken

  FARUG members and other affected advocates petitioned the High Court seeking to stop circulation of the article.

  Aftermath

  The High Court granted the petition on 2 November 2010, effectively ending circulation of the publication.

  Source

1. 1Freedom & Roam Ugandaen.wikipedia.org