In November 2025, KWDT organized the 1st Justice Forum on Fisheries and Human Rights in Kalangala district, held in light of World Fisheries Day. The forum created a meaningful platform for fisher communities to engage directly with duty-bearers on the rights they are entitled to — and too often denied.
Why a Justice Forum?
Fisher communities in Uganda's island districts — Kalangala and Buvuma — face a unique set of challenges. Geographical isolation, limited legal literacy, and structural exclusion from policy processes leave women and small-scale fishers particularly vulnerable to exploitation, land grabbing, and regulatory decisions made without their input.
The forum brought together women fishers and farmers from 12 African countries to discuss how the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality and Women and Girls' Empowerment can truly work for those on the frontlines of food production.
Key Issues Raised by Community Members
Participants surfaced a range of interconnected concerns during the forum's open dialogues:
- Arbitrary enforcement of fishing regulations without community consultation
- Women's exclusion from Beach Management Unit (BMU) leadership positions
- Limited access to credit for fish processing equipment and storage
- Lack of legal support when land rights are violated
- Climate-related fish stock changes affecting seasonal incomes
From Principles to Practice: CFS Guidelines at the Landing Site
One of the forum's distinctive contributions was translating the language of international human rights frameworks into practical tools that community members can use in their daily advocacy. KWDT facilitators worked with women's groups to map their rights under the CFS Guidelines against the reality they face — identifying specific duty-bearers responsible for each gap.
This process of "bringing international instruments to the grassroots" has been central to KWDT's advocacy model since its collaboration with FIAN Uganda began. When women understand that their right to participate in fisheries governance is recognized in international law, it changes how they engage with local authorities.
Moving Forward
The forum concluded with a community action plan, including commitments to document human rights violations in fisheries, establish legal aid referral pathways, and engage the district fisheries office in quarterly consultations with women's groups.
KWDT will use the forum's findings to inform national-level advocacy ahead of Uganda's review of its National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in 2026.