Bridging the Justice Gap: Actionable Solutions for Domestic Violence Survivors in Uganda

Domestic violence survivors in Uganda continue to face barriers in accessing timely, fair, and effective justice. This report presents findings from people-centred research conducted across eight districts in Uganda, exploring the lived experiences of survivors and the challenges within justice pathways. The report highlights practical, evidence-based solutions for strengthening survivor-centred justice service delivery and improving justice outcomes for survivors of domestic violence.

Despite ongoing reforms within Uganda’s justice sector, many domestic violence survivors still struggle to access timely, fair, and effective justice. Reporting abuse, case follow up, and obtaining resolutions can be overwhelming, costly, and emotionally draining. For many survivors, justice processes often feel disconnected from their everyday realities and needs.

This report presents findings from the project “Actionable people-centred research on gender-based violence in Uganda,” which explored the lived experiences, needs, and justice journeys of domestic violence survivors. Fieldwork was conducted across 8 districts in Uganda, engaging survivors, justice practitioners, community actors, and service providers.

Using a people-centred justice approach, the research identifies practical and actionable solutions for improving survivor-centred justice service delivery in Uganda. The report highlights key barriers survivors face, emerging best practices, and opportunities for creating more responsive, accessible, and effective justice pathways for survivors of domestic violence.