In May 2019, community organizers and human rights defenders from Kampala and Wakiso travelled to Nairobi on an exchange visit. They went to learn how the Social Justice Centers in Mathare, Dandora and Kiambu were built: neighbourhood spaces run by residents, where people document abuses, support one another, and organize.
They came home and built the same thing.
In August 2019, the Lubaga Social Justice Center opened as the first center of its kind in Uganda, a network of community organizers and human rights defenders based in Lubaga, Kampala. It has since become a safe space for activists and human rights defenders and a gathering point for community members across the division. Organizers from other neighbourhoods began arriving with the same question: how do we set one up where we live?
The Social Justice Movement Working Group – Uganda grew out of that question. We are part of a wider East African network of community organizers who work with informal settlement dwellers to build collective power and carry out advocacy together.
A vibrant, community-led social justice movement that promotes human dignity, accountable governance, civic participation, equality, and sustainable peace across Uganda.
To build collective community power to identify, document, prevent, and advocate against human rights violations, inequalities, corruption, and social injustices through grassroots organizing and civic empowerment.
Every person we work with is treated as an equal, never as a case file
We take the side of communities that carry the heaviest burdens
We answer to our members and to the communities we serve
Our resources, decisions and results are open to our members
No center stands alone; an attack on one is answered by all
We organize lawfully and non-violently, without exception
No discrimination on gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, status or opinion
We reject violence, hate speech and incitement in all our actions
Decisions are shaped by the people closest to the problem
We defend constitutional rights and we work within the law
Women lead here, not just participate
Leaders are seconded by chapters and accountable to members
We are a voluntary, non-profit, non-partisan community-led network. Our Constitution sets out four organs.
All recognized members and chapter representatives. It is our highest consultative body. It reviews organizational direction, receives reports from leadership, and recommends constitutional amendments. It meets at least once a year.
Composed of the founding members. The Board safeguards our mission and values, provides strategic guidance and institutional memory, leads resource mobilization, and serves as the final appeals body. It meets at least twice a year.
The National Convenor, Secretary, Treasurer, Secretary for Publicity and Mobilizer. This team coordinates national programmes, supervises chapter coordination, prepares accountability reports, and drives advocacy campaigns. Members serve two-year terms, renewable once.
Our regional and local centers. Each chapter has a Convenor or Coordinator, Secretary, Treasurer, Secretary for Publicity and Mobilizer. Chapters run their own local activities and keep the operational flexibility to respond to the problems their communities actually face.
Every member, leader, volunteer and chapter representative commits to our Code of Conduct before acting in our name. It sets clear expectations on integrity, non-violence, financial honesty, non-discrimination, responsible communication, conflict of interest, and conduct during demonstrations. It also guarantees any member facing allegations a fair hearing, the chance to respond, impartial treatment, and the right to appeal.
Read the Code of ConductWhether you want to join a center, start one in your community, volunteer your skills, or support the work, there is a place for you here.
