Our Vision

A just society where rural and indigenous women enjoy full rights, safety, equality, and recognition as leaders and custodians of their communities.

Our Mission

To defend the rights, safety, and dignity of rural and indigenous women through protection, advocacy, climate action, digital empowerment, and economic justice.

Core Mandate

To protect, defend, and advance the rights of indigenous women through advocacy and rapid response to ensure justice and safety for all, without discrimination.

Welcome to Her Roots, Her Rights | HERI Initiative

HERI is a women-led organization established by a team of women in 2020, founded by a collective of passionate Women Human Rights Defenders in Uganda. We work to defend, protect, and advance the rights of rural, marginalized, and indigenous women. Our approach is fully inclusive and non-discriminatory; we welcome and serve everyone regardless of ethnicity, disability, religion, social status, or any other distinction, ensuring no one is left behind.

Our core areas of work include: Climate Justice, Environmental Sustainability, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Digital Security, GBV Prevention, Economic Justice, and expanding Civic Space. Through advocacy, partnerships, and direct support, we create safe spaces where every woman’s voice is heard, valued, and protected

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Our Strategic Objectives

  • a) To secure a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment while advancing climate justice for rural and indigenous women.
  • b) To expand democratic freedoms, protect civic space, and influence policy through strong advocacy and strategic partnerships.
  • c) To ensure that every woman has full autonomy over her body, health, and reproductive choices.
  • d) To equip women with skills and safety measures to use technology freely, safely, and effectively.
  • e) To eliminate all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and provide comprehensive protection and support to survivors and defenders.
  • f) To advance economic justice and secure livelihoods that are sustainable, fair, and empowering for women
  • g) To mainstream inclusivity and ensure no one is left behind in all our actions and within the movement.

Message from the Executive Director

Welcome to Her Roots, Her Rights Initiative (HERI). For over four decades combined, the team at HERI and I have stood alongside rural and indigenous women in Uganda, witnessing both their immense strength and the severe injustices they face daily. In 2020, driven by a shared passion for justice and a deep understanding of the gaps in service delivery, we came together as a collective of Women Human Rights Defenders to change this narrative. We asked ourselves: “If we do not stand for these women, who will?”.

Since then, with limited resources but boundless commitment, we have worked tirelessly to defend land rights, expand civic space, ensure bodily autonomy, protect women from violence, and build digital safety. We have walked with women through evictions, stood beside them when their voices were silenced, and supported them to claim their rightful place in society. Our work is deeply grassroots-led, participatory, and rooted in the belief that every woman regardless of her status, ability, or location deserves dignity, safety, and equality.

What makes HERI unique is our origin: we are from the communities we serve. We understand the culture, the traditions, and the hidden barriers because we live them too. We have proven that even with volunteer effort and community solidarity, we can achieve great impact. But we also know that the challenges are evolving climate change, digital threats, and shrinking civic space require us to be stronger, better resourced, and more visible.

Our vision is clear: a society where rural women are not just beneficiaries, but equal leaders, custodians of their land, and masters of their own destiny. As we look to the future, we are eager to expand our reach, strengthen our systems, and build strategic partnerships with allies and donors who share this vision.

I invite you to explore our website, learn about our work, and join us in this journey. Together, we can ensure that rights are protected, voices are amplified, and justice is realized from the roots up.

Thank you for standing with us.

Akampurira Patience Gift
Executive Director
Her Roots, Her Rights Initiative (HERI)

Our Work & Strategic Objectives

Climate Justice, Environment & Sustainability.

We recognize that rural women are the most affected by climate change yet hold vital knowledge for environmental protection. Under this program, we advocate for Climate Justice, ensuring women are at the center of climate action policies and responses..

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Human Rights, Civic Space, Advocacy & Partnerships

We work to protect and widen Civic Space, ensuring that women human rights defenders and community members can operate freely, assemble peacefully, and express their opinions without fear of repression. Through Advocacy and Partnerships, we collaborate..

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Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR)

We treat Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights as fundamental human rights. We work to eliminate barriers that prevent rural women from accessing quality health services, accurate information, and safe care. We advocate against harmful traditional practices..

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GBV Prevention, Support & Protection

We operate a rapid response and protection system aimed at GBV Prevention and Support. We provide urgent intervention, legal aid, safe shelter, medical assistance, and psychosocial support to women activists, defenders, and survivors facing threats.

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Digital Security & Empowerment

We bridge the digital divide in rural areas by training women human rights defenders and community leaders on Digital Security, safe online communication, and the use of technology to document human rights abuses.

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Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion is not just a program; it is the foundation of everything we do. We actively ensure that our work reaches and involves women from all backgrounds – including persons with disabilities

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Economic Justice

We believe that rights cannot be fully realized without economic power. Our Economic Justice program focuses on ensuring women have equal access to resources, markets, financial services, and fair income

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Our Activities & Achievements

Her Roots, Her Rights Initiative (HERI) was established in 2020 by a team of experienced Women Human Rights Defenders. Since our founding, we have operated as an informal, grassroots collective of activists, volunteers, and community leaders. All activities listed below have been implemented through voluntary contributions, community solidarity, and the expertise and dedication of our members, demonstrating our deep commitment and proven capacity to serve rural communities.

Community Land Rights Defense Campaigns (2021–Present):

As a collective of defenders working voluntarily, we have organized and supported 10 rural women’s groups to document and resist land grabbing, illegal evictions, and unfair land transactions affecting indigenous and local communities. We provided legal guidance and community paralegal training using our shared expertise, successfully helping over 350 women secure their land rights and stop unlawful displacement.

Indigenous Knowledge & Environmental Stewardship Program (2022–2023)

Drawing on our own knowledge and community partnerships, we documented and promoted indigenous sustainable farming methods and natural resource management practices led by elderly and indigenous women. We trained 200 women in climate-resilient agriculture, soil conservation, and tree planting, establishing 5 community tree nurseries and demonstration farms to combat environmental degradation and food insecurity.

Advocacy for Climate-Smart Policies

We engaged local government and district authorities as experts and community representatives to include women’s voices in climate change adaptation plans and environment management bylaws, ensuring rural women are recognized as key custodians of the environment.

“Know Your Rights” Grassroots Education (2020–Present):

Working as a volunteer team, we have conducted over 40 community sensitization workshops reaching more than 1,800 rural women on their constitutional rights, land laws, civic freedoms, and how to access justice. These forums created safe spaces for women to discuss challenges and learn how to engage with duty-bearers.

Civic Space Protection & Solidarity Actions

Since 2020, our members have monitored and reported on restrictions on civic freedoms in the region in their individual capacity and as a group. We organized solidarity missions and provided accompaniment support to 25 Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) facing threats, intimidation, or arrest due to their work, ensuring they could continue their activism safely.

Policy Engagement & Movement Building

We are active participants in national and regional women’s rights coalitions, representing our grassroots collective voice. We have contributed to shadow reports, position papers, and policy briefs submitted to the Ugandan Government and United Nations mechanisms, highlighting gaps in the protection of rural and indigenous women’s rights. We have built strong relationships with 8 local organizations and 4 international networks.

SRHR & Bodily Autonomy Project (2021–2022)

Through community mobilization and voluntary expertise, we implemented dialogues and training sessions for 600 rural women focusing on reproductive health rights, access to healthcare services, and eliminating barriers to care. We worked with local health facilities as community partners to improve information flow and ensure women understand their rights regarding health and family planning.

Ending Harmful Practices Initiative

We carried out intensive community education and cultural dialogue meetings as local activists to address harmful traditional norms that violate women’s reproductive rights and dignity. Our work has contributed to a visible reduction in stigma and improved community acceptance of women’s right to make independent health choices.

“Safe Online, Stronger Voices” Training Series (2022–Present):

Recognizing the growing digital threats to activists, we utilized our collective skills to train 150 Women Human Rights Defenders and Community Leaders on digital safety, secure communication tools, data protection, and how to prevent and respond to cyber-harassment and surveillance. We provide ongoing virtual mentorship and rapid response support based on our shared knowledge.

Digital Advocacy & Storytelling Project:

We equipped women with skills to use digital platforms safely to document human rights violations and share their stories globally. We supported the production of digital content and campaigns that reached over 50,000 people, amplifying rural women’s voices beyond local boundaries while ensuring their safety and anonymity where necessary.

Rapid Response & Safety Mechanism (2020–Present):

As experienced defenders, we established a confidential peer-support system that provides immediate assistance to women facing violence, threats, or violations. To date, we have responded to over 120 urgent cases, providing legal guidance, safe shelter connections, medical referrals, and psychosocial support to survivors and defenders at risk, all coordinated through our collective network..

Community-Based GBV Prevention Structures:

We trained and mentored 350 community members (including local leaders and cultural gatekeepers) as human rights monitors and GBV first responders. We established 15 local safety committees that work voluntarily to prevent violence, resolve conflicts, and refer cases to authorities before they escalate.

Advocacy for Stronger Protection Laws

We documented cases of GBV and gaps in service delivery, producing reports that we presented to police, local councils, and health providers to improve response services and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.

Rights-Based Livelihoods Program (2021–2023):

We supported 25 women’s producer groups (over 400 women) to organize, access market information, and engage in sustainable income-generating activities such as processing local products, crafts, and agriculture. Crucially, we integrated rights education into these groups, ensuring women understood that economic empowerment is a fundamental human right and how to fight for fair wages and fair trade.

Access to Resources & Property Rights:

Through legal awareness and community mediation, we successfully supported 65 women to resolve inheritance disputes and claim their rightful property, which is vital for economic independence.

Inclusive Outreach & Accessibility Project (2022–Present):

From the beginning, our collective has prioritized inclusion. We have specifically reached out and supported 120 women living with disabilities, elderly women, and women from minority ethnic groups, ensuring they participate fully in our activities, leadership, and decision-making. We provide materials in local languages and use accessible methods to ensure no one is left behind.

Mainstreaming Inclusion in the Movement:

We have organized learning forums for other civil society actors on how to adopt inclusive policies and practices, advocating that the human rights movement must reflect the diversity of the communities it serves.

Testimonials

Ms. Akankwasa Ruth
Community Member and Women Leader, Kyotera District

“HERI changed our lives and our community forever. Before they came, many of us did not know we had rights to our land or our own bodies. Through their training and patient guidance, we gained knowledge, confidence, and power. They do not just come to speak to us; they listen to us, they understand our culture, and they ensure that even women like me living with a disability are included and respected in everything they do. HERI is not just an organization; they are our sisters and our protectors.”

Mrs Kamashazi Sylvia
Programs Manager, Regional Human Rights Network

“Working with the team at HERI has been one of our best partnerships. They are knowledgeable, very practical, and deeply rooted in the grassroots. We have collaborated on issues of civic space and land rights defense, and I have seen firsthand their commitment to inclusivity and high standards of work. They understand the challenges rural women face better than anyone else because they are part of these communities. Their approach is participatory, transparent, and always focused on real impact. HERI is a credible, reliable, and highly effective voice for women’s rights in Uganda.”

Ms. Kemigisha Sarah
Women Human Rights Defender & Activist

“As a Women Human Rights Defender working in a high-risk area, safety and solidarity are everything to me. HERI has been our strongest pillar. When we faced threats or when digital attacks happened, HERI was there immediately providing rapid response, legal guidance, digital security training, and psychosocial support. They understand exactly what defenders go through because they are defenders themselves. Their work to protect us and expand civic space is unmatched. They are brave, they are professional, and they truly stand by their promise: Defending Rights, Embracing All Voices.”

Hon. Ashaba Shaniita
District Councilor & Community Leader

“HERI has shown us that development and justice must include everyone. In our district, they have done incredible work bridging the gap between the community and the government. They advocate for policies that protect women, the environment, and indigenous heritage, but they do it with respect and dialogue. I am particularly impressed by their work on climate justice and sustainability, showing rural women as key custodians of our environment. They are accountable, they are grassroots-led, and their results speak for themselves. HERI is a model of what an organization should be.”

Ms. Mahoro Jane
Beneficiary and Community Paralegal

“I will never forget the day HERI stood with me when I needed help most. I faced violence and injustice, and I thought I had nowhere to turn. But through their rapid response system, I received legal support, safe shelter, and counseling. They did not judge me; they empowered me. Today, I am not just a survivor; I am a leader in my community, helping other women. HERI does not just give temporary help; they build permanent strength and independence. Their work on GBV prevention and support is saving lives and restoring dignity.”