Overview

The Rural Smiles Foundation, with support from the Digital Defenders Partnership (DDP) under the Africa Regional Protection Fund 2025, is implementing a transformative project aimed at strengthening digital safety, inclusivity, and resilience among civil society organizations (CSOs) and human rights defenders (HRDs) in Uganda.

This initiative focuses on improving the security posture of rural activists, trans and gender-diverse advocates, and local organizations through digital protection training, platform enhancement, and capacity building.

Background

In Uganda, many grassroots defenders and community-based organizations face increasing digital and physical threats due to their advocacy for human rights, gender equality, and freedom of expression.
Rural activists, in particular, often lack access to the resources and technical capacity needed to protect themselves online.

To address this gap, Rural Smiles Foundation launched the SpaceUG Platform, a secure digital hub designed to support reporting, coordination, and response mechanisms for HRDs and CSOs. With the new DDP grant, this platform will be upgraded and complemented by targeted trainings and tools to create a sustainable, community-driven digital defense network.

Project Objectives

1. Enhance Digital Security Capacity
   Strengthen the technical and operational security skills of HRDs and partner organizations through hands-on digital safety trainings.

2. Upgrade the SpaceUG Platform
   Integrate encrypted communication, anonymous reporting, and referral systems for defenders at risk.

3. Support Safer Digital Environments
   Provide Digital First Aid Kits and emergency tools to defenders and organizations to prevent and respond to online threats.

4. Promote Inclusion and Diversity
   Ensure marginalized defenders are meaningfully included in Uganda’s digital protection ecosystem.

Key Activities

• Platform Enhancement:
  Development of secure backend architecture, encrypted messaging, and whistleblower modules within the SpaceUG system.
  Conduct of a comprehensive security audit to ensure data protection and system resilience.

• Capacity Building and Trainings:
  Three regional workshops on digital safety and emergency response for HRDs and CSOs, facilitated by digital security experts.
  Provision of Digital First Aid Kits (VPN licenses, encrypted drives, power banks, and safety guides).

• Translation and Accessibility:
  Localization of training materials into local languages and inclusion of sign language interpretation to enhance accessibility.

• Community Support & Coordination:
  Continuous mentorship and technical assistance to HRDs, fostering a peer-to-peer learning and support model.

Expected Results

• At least 30 HRDs and CSO staff trained in advanced digital safety and incident response.

• Upgraded SpaceUG platform offering secure reporting and coordination features.

• 30 Digital First Aid Kits distributed to community defenders.

• Stronger network of rural defenders linked to national and international protection organizations.