Ugandan activists advocate for ecofeminism as climate action

• Ugandan women-led organizations argue that women are disproportionately affected by climate disasters and demand inclusion in formal decision-making processes.
• Ecofeminism serves as a framework to challenge patriarchal structures, capitalism, and extractivism as the root causes of global environmental crises.
• Government policies face scrutiny for contradicting environmental pledges, particularly due to large-scale fossil fuel projects and the suppression of climate activists.

Origins and Evolution of Ecofeminism

• Termed in the 1970s by Françoise d’Eaubonne, who linked the oppression of women to the exploitation of nature under patriarchal systems.
• The movement gained global momentum through initiatives like India's Chipko movement and Wangarĩ Maathai’s Green Belt Movement in Kenya, bridging ecological restoration with social justice.

Ugandan Grassroots Advocacy

• Rights 4 Her: Emphasizes the intrinsic link between women and the earth, advocating for resilient cities and inclusive climate decision-making.
• Girls for Climate Action: Campaigns for 30 percent of national climate finance to be allocated to women, girls, and vulnerable communities, while centering Indigenous knowledge in mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Political Representation

• While the Ugandan legal framework mandates that one-third of government seats be held by women, actual parliamentary representation is 34 percent.
• Representation gaps persist compared to the national demographic, where 51 percent of the population is female according to the 2024 Census.

Human Rights and Climate Contradictions

• Critics point to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) as a major contradiction to the government's climate commitments, citing reports of forced evictions and violence near project sites.
• Freedom House classifies Uganda as "not free," citing a restrictive legal environment that enables the intimidation, detention, and silencing of climate activists and NGOs.