Uganda: An Empowered Community Fights Forced Eviction

In Jinja, Uganda, the small slum community of Kimaka is fighting for its survival. A powerful factory owner has laid a contested claim to a portion of the land on which they live and is threatening to evict the residents. Stories like these rarely end well for the urban poor, who lack representation and the means of fighting for justice. The slum settlement of Kimaka has been able to mobilize through participation in Jinja’s Municipal Development Forum. Made up of community representatives, the forum provides a platform where representatives are able to share complaints and problems voiced by their community members. As such, the Forum has not only united communities but the city as a whole, in an unprecedented way.