Judith’s story

Judith is part of an organisation of persons with disabilities called Empower Her Disability Network Uganda. She joined the group because she feels really strong about supporting persons with disabilities and contributing to an organisation that is working to create change.

Empower Her received a grant under the Disability Justice Fund for Women to do advocacy work on disability.

About Empower Her Disability Network.

Judith shares about what Empower Her does and she says:

“At Empower Her, we focus on empowering young women and girls with disabilities and advocating for their rights. We want to amplify voices that have too often been unheard.”

“Our work is centred on building confidence, self-esteem, and leadership so that young women and girls with disabilities are able to speak out in their communities and advocate for themselves.”

“We particularly work with young women with disabilities in universities who may be facing challenges but do not always feel able to raise them. For example, some may experience personal or social difficulties for long periods without support. We help create space for them to speak up, be heard, and know that their voices matter.”

“We are working to ensure that no one is left behind and that women with disabilities are able to claim their rights and opportunities.”

How Empower Her has used the grant received.

“We received the first phase of the grant and began with a kick-off meeting. This was important to introduce the project to key stakeholders. We involved district leaders, representatives from ADD, and disability justice activists so that everyone could understand the project, its purpose, and the groups we intended to reach.”

“With the grant we have also carried out mentorship programmes for young women and girls with disabilities in universities, focusing on leadership skills and confidence-building. Many of those involved have since taken on leadership opportunities within their universities, and we are already seeing positive results.”

Judith.

“This grant has been an eye-opener for us as an organisation. It has enabled us to reach university students with disabilities whom we may never have connected with before. Through sharing information and creating opportunities, we have been able to reach more young people.”

“The grant has also helped us gain recognition from different stakeholders, including government institutions. We mainly work within Nakawa Division, and now district leaders know who we are. When we engage with them, we are given space to raise important issues affecting persons with disabilities. We do not take that for granted.”

“Empower Her was still in the early stages of forming a board of directors. Through this grant, that process became a priority, and we now have a six-member board providing oversight and direction.”

“The grant has also strengthened our systems for reporting and accountability. As Board Treasurer, I review financial reports before they are submitted. This has helped us become more structured and accountable as an organisation.”

“Good governance, financial systems, and internal controls are important for growth, and this grant has helped us build these foundations.”

Impact of Empower Her’s Work in the lives of the university students supported.

“We have trained students with disabilities on advocacy and disability justice and out of this, we have witnessed young women with disabilities begin to speak out with confidence. Information is power, and once they understand their rights and their potential, they are able to advocate for themselves with authority.”

“This is especially important because many women with disabilities grow up being made to feel invisible or unheard. Now they are finding their voices and recognising that they can influence decisions that affect their lives. That is something we are very proud of at Empower Her.”

“An example is Flavia who previously struggled to speak in public. Today, she serves on a university committee and is confident in expressing herself. She has taken on leadership responsibilities and is speaking up to ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities are recognised. Seeing that kind of transformation is very powerful.”

“Since taking part in the training by Empower Her, I have stepped into several leadership roles where I am applying the skills and knowledge I gained in advocacy, leadership, and disability rights. I now serve as Leader of Persons with Disabilities at Uganda Martyrs Chaplaincy Church, Project Manager of St. Jude Nanziri – Mandela Catholic Community, and Project Manager of the Kyambogo University Disability Association.”

Flavia.

Flavia continues to say:

“Through these roles, I have been able to advocate for inclusion, accessibility, equal participation, and stronger support systems for students with disabilities. I am also aspiring to become a Guild Representative for the Persons with Disabilities fraternity at Kyambogo University, which reflects my continued commitment to leadership and change.”

Agnes is also one of the students that received training and mentorship from Empower Her.

She says:

“Taking part in Empower Her’s training on advocacy and learning about the African Disability Protocol and was a turning point in my life. Before the training, I struggled with self-doubt and hid my hard-of-hearing impairment because of fear and stigma. The training gave me self-acceptance, hope, and courage to step forward with confidence.”

Agnes continues to say:

Since then, I have been crowned Miss Ability Uganda 2025–2026, I have become a Peer Educator at Reach A Hand Uganda, enrolled in a Data Analysis programme, applied for a master’s in counselling at Makerere University, and launched THRIVE & EARN, a programme supporting 400 persons with disabilities across Uganda. Empower Her helped me find my voice, and now I am committed to using it to create change for others.”

The power of flexible funding.

”This may be our first grant, but it has given us the experience, systems, and confidence to pursue future opportunities and continue strengthening as an organisation.”

“This funding means a great deal to us. It was a flexible grant that did not come with excessive barriers or impossible requirements. For a relatively young organisation, receiving this support was very significant. Many donors place strict conditions that smaller organisations may struggle to meet. But ADD believed in us and supported us in a way that allowed us to grow.”

Judith.

“In many other spaces, organisations must first go through lengthy due diligence processes before receiving funding. Donors often ask for policies, systems, governance documents, compliance records, finance manuals, procurement procedures, and more.”

“If an organisation does not already have all of these in place, they may be excluded from funding altogether.”

“With ADD, the approach has been more flexible and supportive. Rather than shutting organisations out, it creates room for growth while still encouraging accountability. That trust makes a huge difference.”

“Funders should not be overly restrictive. If you want organisations to grow, they need an opportunity to start somewhere.”

“Smaller organisations may still be developing their systems, but that should not automatically disqualify them. Instead, funders can provide support, guidance, and feedback.”

“Funding should not stop simply because an organisation is still building its capacity. Supporting that growth is how funders can truly reach the communities they want to serve.”