Empowering Girls and Women | Challenging Norms, Shifting Power, Building Resilience
Alliance for Community Transformation Uganda, also known as ACT Uganda, is a registered community-based organization based in Lamwo District, Northern Uganda. We started small — with conversations with girls who were out of school, young mothers with no income, and families trying to rebuild after war. Over the last seven years, we have directly and indirectly reached over 5,000 young people, young mothers, children, and families in Lamwo.
Lamwo had returned from war, but barriers for girls had not. Child marriage was still seen as a solution to poverty, menstruation was still treated as shame, violence in the home was still private, and a girl without income had no choice.
Our approach is simple: do not just treat the wound; ask why the wound keeps happening. If a girl drops out because she has no pad, we teach her brother, father, and teacher why menstruation is not shame. If a young mother has no income, we connect her to skills, savings, and a market.
ACT Uganda challenges harmful social norms, addresses power imbalances, and increases access to real services that keep girls safe. We work with men and boys, cultural leaders, families, schools, and communities because empowering a girl requires shifting the power around her.
Community dialogue session, Padibe East Sub-county
Legal & Institutional Status
A registered community-based nonprofit organization founded in 2018 and officially registered in 2019.
Geographic Focus
Based in Lamwo District, Northern Uganda.
Founded
2018 — with official registration completed in 2019.
Our Vision & Mission
A resilient, violence-free and gender-just community in Lamwo District where young people, children and young mothers are healthy, educated, empowered and free to realize their full potential.
To serve and transform the lives of young people aged 10–24 years in and out of school, children facing abuse and exploitation, and low-income young mothers and their families in Lamwo District by challenging harmful social norms, addressing power imbalances and increasing access to livelihood and vocational skills, health including menstrual health and SRHR, education, protection from violence, and climate resilience.
Our Core Values
Locally led, community-based
Why ACT Uganda exists
For ACT Uganda, transformation means changing the conditions that keep girls unsafe, out of school, and without choices. We respond to poverty, harmful gender norms, violence, limited health information, and climate shocks by building power and opportunity with communities.
Our work is rooted in Lamwo. We do not simply work in the community; we are part of the community, and we are here to stay.
In seven years, ACT Uganda has reached 5,000 lives. We are just beginning.
Community livelihoods and market activity, Lamwo District