Episode 6 : Strategic Litigation III Court Wins vs. Movement Wins

Episode 6 : Strategic Litigation III Court Wins vs. Movement Wins

Winning in court is not the same as winning in real life. In this final segment of our deep dive into strategic litigation, Pepe reflects on the complex realities of seeking justice within legal systems that were never originally built for marginalized communities. Drawing from over three decades of activism and firsthand experience as a plaintiff in landmark Ugandan cases, this episode challenges us to look beyond court rulings—like the technical victory against the 2014 Homosexuality Act—and confront the severe backlash, political grandstanding, and real-world safety risks that legal battles can trigger. We break down why true liberation cannot be outsourced to courts alone. For strategic litigation to be holistically effective, it must follow community power rather than lead it. It must be community-led, trauma-informed, and structurally funded to support the immense mental, emotional, and physical tolls placed on plaintiffs. Tune in as we discuss how to shift public narratives through authentic storytelling, sustain grassroots power, and build an intentional strategy that prioritizes protecting people, not just precedent. How do you think we can better protect the individuals at the center of movement-defining legal cases? We want to hear from you. Reach out to us across our social media platforms to share your reflections, and let us know how we can continue to improve the podcast as we build our legacy together. Legacy Pulse is proudly powered by Kuchu Times Media Group. Share Your Thoughts!

Episode 5 : Strategic Litigation II : Our successes, shortcomings and hope in the courts.

In the second part of our conversation on strategic litigation, we discuss what our successes and shortcomings have been over the years and where we go from here.

Episode 4 : When we look back, do we see our freedom in court?

"Strategic litigation." It sounds like a "sexy" term , but for the queer community in Uganda, it’s been a high-stakes rollercoaster of survival, resistance, and bold defiance. In this episode of The Legacy Pulse, our host Pepe Onziema takes us behind the scenes of the legal battles that defined a movement . We’re moving past the "passion" of just hanging out in bars and straight into the courtrooms where history was written in rainbow ink . * Colonial Receipts: Why are we still carrying laws from 1894? Pepe breaks down how pre-colonial freedom was swapped for criminalization . * The 2008 "Christmas Present": Remember when Justice Stella Arach-Amoko gave the community a win that shook the country? . * Tabloid Wars & Heartbreak: The harrowing story of the Rolling Stone "Hang Them" headline, the emergency injunction, and the heavy price paid by the late, legendary David Kato . * Exporting Justice: Did you know SMUG took the fight all the way to Springfield, Massachusetts? We’re talking about holding Scott Lively accountable for "crimes against humanity" on his own turf . * The Big Question: Are we just winning on "technicalities," or is the courtroom actually the door to our liberation? . From raiding workshops in Entebbe to nullifying the 2014 Anti-Homosexuality Act , this episode is a deep dive into what happens when you refuse to be a "second-class citizen" . "We rise, you beat us, we rise." — Pepe Onziema

Episode 3 : What does it mean to care when the world stops caring? / Josephine Mukwaaya

"Love in the Time of Scarcity: HIV, Care & Survival" What does it mean to care when the world stops caring? In this deeply moving episode, host Pepe Onziema welcomes Josephine Mukwaaya, executive director of COPTEC, for an intimate conversation about love, survival, and service in Uganda's HIV advocacy movement. Josephine opens up about: * Living with HIV and caring for others living with HIV—what love looks like when you're both caregiver and community member * Growing up and coming into her truth: The journey that led her to this work * Leading COPTEC in crisis: How organizations continue providing life-saving care and support when funding dries up and resources disappear * The reality of service provision now: What happens to communities when the world moves on but the needs remain urgent * Finding joy and purpose in spaces of scarcity and struggle This is a conversation about resilience, about the labor of love that keeps communities alive, and about what thriving looks like when survival itself requires collective care. "Care is not charity. Care is how we keep each other alive." The Legacy Pulse continues interrogating liberation—one story at a time.

Episode 2 : Leading with Heart: Building Liberation Together / Godiva Akullo

What does liberation look like for queer lives in Uganda? In this compelling second episode, host Pepe Onziema sits down with lawyer, feminist, and fiery lesbian Godiva Akullo to explore the complexities of thriving—not just surviving—as LGBTIQ+ people in a hostile society. From teaching law to fighting back in courtrooms, from chosen family to the power of love, Godiva and Pepe dig deep into: * Feminism as lesbian ideology and reconciling multiple identities in the fight for liberation * The law as a tool: Can courts ever truly protect us when they're built on colonial legacies? * The transformative power of chosen family and the bonds that hold us when blood relations fail us * Leading with heart in activist spaces—and what it takes to build collective resistance * Living freely now: What queer liberation really means when the future feels uncertain This is a raw, unflinching conversation about heartbreak and healing, courage and rage, and the radical act of claiming your right to exist fully, unapologetically, and joyfully. "I want my legacy to be that I have managed to live my life as a free lesbian." — Godiva Akullo Listen in as The Legacy Pulse continues interrogating liberation.