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Ugandan activists make the case for ecofeminism

June 1, 2026

The concept of ecofeminism, coined by French feminist Françoise d'Eaubonne in 1974, links the oppression of women with environmental exploitation under patriarchal systems. This framework has gained renewed urgency globally, particularly in Uganda where grassroots organizations like Rights 4 Her and Girls for Climate Action advocate for women's inclusion in climate decision-making, arguing that women are disproportionately affected by climate disasters yet excluded from solutions. These groups demand that climate finance and policies center women's and Indigenous knowledge while dismantling patriarchy, capitalism, and extractivism.

Who is affected

  • Women in Uganda, particularly those in informal settlements facing flooding and environmental threats
  • Girls and young women experiencing climate change impacts
  • Rural women working on ecological restoration
  • Ugandan communities near the Lake Albert oilfields and East African Crude Oil Pipeline project who have been forcibly evicted
  • Environmental and climate activists facing threats, office closures, and detention
  • Women politicians targeted by tech-facilitated violence
  • Girls affected by child marriage (43% married before age 18)
  • NGOs facing legal restrictions and intimidation
  • Indigenous communities whose knowledge is marginalized

What action is being taken

  • Rights 4 Her supports Ugandan women through advocacy, research, and education
  • Girls for Climate Action addresses environmental challenges by centering young women's experiences
  • The Ugandan government is working with the United Nations Development Program on environmental challenges
  • The East African Crude Oil Pipeline project is currently under development
  • Environmental activists are investigating the effects of the pipeline despite facing restrictions

Why it matters

  • This matters because it highlights the intersection of gender inequality and climate crisis, demonstrating how women bear disproportionate impacts of environmental disasters while being systematically excluded from decision-making processes. The ecofeminist framework challenges the root causes of both environmental destruction and gender oppression—patriarchy, capitalism, and extractivism—rather than seeking superficial representation. Uganda's situation exemplifies how authoritarian governance, contradictory climate policies like fossil fuel development, and restrictions on civil society create barriers to meaningful climate action. The suppression of activists and marginalization of women's knowledge prevents community-driven solutions that could build genuine resilience, making this a critical justice issue with implications for sustainable development and human rights.

What's next

  • Girls for Climate Action calls for 30 percent of climate finance to be set aside for women, girls, and vulnerable communities
  • Organizations demand inclusive climate decisions with women's participation in decision-making
  • Activists push for dismantling systems of patriarchy, capitalism, and extractivism

Read full article from source: Global Voices

Ugandan activists make the case for ecofeminism