Rainbow Shadows Uganda (RSU) is based in Western Uganda’s Mbarara District and is dedicated to supporting trans-diverse individuals and the broader LGBTIQ+ community by advocating for their rights, improving their well-being, and providing essential services. Their project, “Scaling Up Community-Led Organising Through Dialogues (EKYOOTO),” expands their existing community dialogue platform to ten districts. Through structured conversations, RSU seeks to strengthen community solidarity, reduce internalized stigma, and create action plans that promote LGBTIQ+ rights.
The mission of RSU involves empowering marginalized LGBTI+ people through safe spaces, emergency assistance, and psychosocial support. Through its efforts, RSU cultivates open discussions that address discrimination, mental health challenges, and community-driven solutions to improve LGBTIQ+ well-being.
With the EKYOOTO project, RSU plans to train dialogue facilitators to organize and lead dialogue sessions across Western Uganda. These facilitators will help participants navigate issues of identity, stigma, and discrimination while promoting healing and collective action. The project also contributes to sustainable organizing efforts within the LGBTIQ+ community, ensuring that communication remains a key tool for empowerment long after the project ends.
