The Mifumi Project

Who We Are

Key Achievements of Mifumi

Bride price campaign and referendum: 1999 - 2001

Mifumi was instrumental in establishing a 2 year campaign project on domestic violence and bride price violations. The organizaiton succcessfully lobbied government and was given the mandate to hold the first social referendum in Uganda in December 2001 which resulted in a successful verdict with 60% saying YES to the reform of bride price. The campaign received notice from the President, the Lord Chief Justice, MPs, religious, political leaders among others. The referendum pushed the campaign into the public domain exciting debate and has served to strengthen its position in the Domestic Relations Bill. We are now pushing for reform in the law.

Feel Free : African Network for the Reform of Bride Price : Launched 2002

Mifumi established the Feel Free network across Africa, Europe, Latin America and Internationally to push for the reform of bride price. With over 100 member organisations and individuals, the network has a large constituency of grassroots women and children in Uganda tackling domestic violence and bride price. An international conference to this effect was held in Kampala in February 2004. Read section below.

Kampala Declaration on Bride Price

The Kampala Bride Price Conference held in February 2004 was organized by MIFUMI in cooperation with GTZ (The German Technical Co-operation). As a result, the Kampala Declaration on Bride Price within the context of Coalition and Action to Safeguard women and children in the home was drawn by representatives from 13 countries world-wide, appealing to national governments, regional bodies, and International bodies to abolish or reform bride price in accordance with obligations undertaken by them as state parties or signatories. Unfortunately, in September 2004, the government instead declared that issues associated with bride price be addressed by customary courts.

Strengthening Traditional and Local Justice for Women and children: 2002 - 2004

Mifumi established a project to address women and children's rights under customary law and issues of social justice with the jurisdiction of local councillors. Under this project the a dedicated Domestic Violence police unit was constructed and officially opened in October 2003. Local communities have debated local justice issues and 53 bye-laws passed at the sub-county level.

Feel Free: Young People heading for healthy relationships: 1999 - 2001

Mifumi established the Young Persons project where young people examine issues around domestic violence, conflict management, and gender relations. The organization developed and published the Feel Free educational resource pack currently being used in several countries in Africa and Europe. To date training has been delivered to over 200 teachers and 1000 youth in Uganda.

Women and children's Social movement to resist violence and demand justice

Mifumi established a project to address women and children's rights under customary law and issues of social justice with the jurisdiction of local councillors. Under this project the a dedicated DomeMifumi has supported the development of over 30 grass roots women and children's groups providing training on domestic violence and advocacy work. Over half of these groups currently receive funding from MIFUMI. The intention is to create a women and children's movement that will demand rights and resist violence. We currently work with groups in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa as well.

Mifumi Sexual and Reproductive Health Centre

Mifumi established a Community health centre with a modern unit and facilities including out patients, maternity and antenatal services, a mini theatre, a laboratory and 8 flats for staff. We currently treat over 20,000 patients per year. The organization also graded roads to improve access to Mifumi village, as well as extended electricity and piped water to the rural village.

Mifumi Primary School

With the support of Trinity Trust in New Jersey, UK, Mifumi established a modern primary school with 14 double stream classes, an administrative block, library and computer laboratory in Mifumi rural village. The school currently also benefiting from government support within context of UPE, promotes girl child education with emphasis on using it as a model for countering violence and abuse of young persons.

Work with Health

MIFUMI is currently researching on DV and Health with the intention of developing a protocol to strengthen capacity of health professionals to address DV. Collaboration of the MIFUMI with the Director District Health Services (DDHS) Tororo, led to the abolishment of payments for Police Form III by DVBP survivors.

Work with Police, Court, Probation

The MIFUMI Project is one of the very few organizations in Uganda that work closely with the Uganda Police and other interagency institutions in pursuing DVBP cases. In the period 1999-2005: 2462 survivor cases reporting to MIFUMI Advice Centers were referred to, or reported to Police; 563 cases reporting to MIFUMI Advice Centers were referred to, or reported to Probation; 148 cases were referred to courts from Police and Probation in close collaboration with MIFUMI. There is also increased evidence of the referral of cases from Police and other interagency institutions to MIFUMI. For more statistics resulting from a baseline of MIFUMI's work for the period 1999 to 2005, click here.

DV Training Manual

MIFUMI developed a training manual on DV and the delivery of DV services which it has been using since 2003.