Emily Nabakooza is a recent UQ Peace Fellow graduate who is using her fellowship knowledge and leadership skills to improve conditions for women and girls in Uganda.
Emily graduated from UQ in 2019 and founded Assisi Centre for Social Justice and Peace in Uganda. Assisi Centre focuses on youth-oriented social change and promotes an equal, just and peaceful Ugandan society for all. In particular, the centre seeks to address the root causes of violence against girls and women and help them realise their full potential in a society that often limits their choices.
The centre’s initial interventions focused on reducing COVID-related hunger and malnutrition among highly vulnerable communities. The program reached more than 1,000 community members and provided women food vendors with the opportunity to revitalise their businesses and thus support their families with essential necessities.
Emily’s work has been supported by the Rotary Club of Canberra and District 9705 from the beginning, and most recently by the Rotary Club of Dalkeith, WA, through a District 9455 Grant of $8000. The grant has enabled the construction of water, sanitation and a menstrual hygiene facility at three of the centre’s partner schools.
In January this year, the centre also enabled 50 Ugandan teen mums to resume their education journeys after conceiving babies during lockdowns as a result of sexual violence. For this incredible achievement, Emily and two of her staff were brutally attacked on several occasions over the past four months, resulting in hospitalisation and lengthy recoveries.
“I have suffered significant and potentially lasting physical and psychological harm as a result of the attacks,” Emily said.
“What I need the most at this time is protection of my physical, social and psychological wellbeing and integrity.
“I am being threatened and spied on until this day and so it is impossible to go about minding my business anywhere in this part of the country without looking over my shoulder.
“I need to feel safe and to be in the right mind to continue with my work. I need my voice back to continue advocating for social justice in my country in the best way I can.”
While Emily will continue her leadership role at the centre from a distance, at this stage she is unable to frequently interact with the communities she is assisting.
“Our work will not stop,” she emphasised. “We will explore every option to safely continue serving communities.”
For more information on Assisi Centre for Social Justice and Peace, visit www.acesjp.org