Support Martha, Ugandan climate defender, with surgery

What do you do as a climate activist in a country, where your activism costs you everything?

UPDATE: We reached the initial amount for the surgery, but have raised the goal in order to secure funds for potential complications afterwards and general livelihood support.

In Uganda the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is about to be built through Uganda and Tanzania. The construction of the 1.443 km pipeline is already having irreversible consequences for hundreds of thousands of people in the countries.

Students Against EACOP and XR Justice Movement Uganda are two student-led climate movements, who have been protesting against the pipeline since 2022.

But it comes with huge costs to criticize what the Ugandan president himself is calling his oil.

One of the founders of the movements, Martha Amviko, has been one of the most active voices in the fight against EACOP. She has been imprisoned for this three times. She graduated as a teacher last year but has been unable to find a job because her face has been associated with climate activism. At the same time, her family has disowned her both socially and financially because, "Who will marry her now?".

Now her climate activism is also becoming a challenge to her physical health. Half a year ago she was diagnosed with cysts on her ovaries. Her condition worsened in prison, where she spent weeks after being arrested at a peaceful protest against EACOP. Now surgery is needed. Since August last year she has had to try to continue her activism despite living with heavy pain.

The reason for this is that she has not been able to find the 2000 USD for the surgery.

What is keeping her from the streets are not the threats, intimidation or personal costs she has faced, it is a treatable health condition.

One of the most active climate activists in Uganda shouldn’t be stopped by a disease that can be treated by a simple surgery. If you agree, you can donate here and help her collect the necessary money for the surgery.

This donation will not change the system of repression against climate activism. But while these activists are fighting for system change, we need a network of support to keep us all going. We hope you want to be a part of this safety network.

Since a fundraising here can't be made in Uganda, it's facilitated by climate activists in Denmark.