About ARDHI
Who we are, why we exist, and the values guiding our work.
Who We Are
Ardhi Law and Policy Initiative is a policy advocacy organization dedicated to impacting communities and shaping laws that create lasting change. We work across Uganda to build resilient societies by advancing climate-smart agriculture, sustainable waste systems, disaster preparedness, inclusive health access, and land governance rooted in justice.
Founded out of a deep desire to turn lived experience into systemic change, ARDHI bridges community needs with bold policy action that safeguards people’s rights and future.
Our Case for Change
Ardhi Law and Policy Initiative was born from a crisis; the Kitezi landfill landslide which exposed deep systemic failures in land, food, health, and environmental governance. Communities were left without protection, rights, or support. That tragedy revealed what we already knew: these challenges are interconnected, and when one system fails, people’s lives and dignity are at risk.
We exist to make sure such neglect never happens again. Ardhi Law and Policy Initiative bridges the gap between community realities and national policy, turning grassroots needs into systemic solutions. By focusing on our five pillars; agriculture, waste, disaster preparedness, health, and land governance. We work to ensure that resilience is built from the ground up, and that every Ugandan has the right to thrive in a just and healthy environment
Our Vision & Mission
Thriving, resilient communities with fair access to land, food, health, and a safe environment empowered to protect today and shape tomorrow.
ARDHI advances climate-smart agriculture, resilient waste systems, disaster preparedness, health access, and equitable land rights through community action and policy change that lasts.
Our
Guiding Values
We champion policies that safeguard natural resources for current and future generations.
We advocate for laws and systems that uplift marginalized communities and ensure justice for all.
We uphold transparency and ethical practices to build trust in every action we take.
We forge purposeful partnerships to amplify collective impact and drive lasting change.
Who We Serve
How We Drive Change
Our five pillars tackle Uganda’s most urgent challenges. Each one acts at two levels: impacting communities with direct action, and shaping policies for systemic change.
Fueling Change: Every contribution builds resilient communities.
Your support powers advocacy that protects lives and land.
Evidence to Action: Turning community voices into policy reform.
Partnering with leaders to shape laws that protect people and the planet.
Empowering Voices: From grassroots innovation to national impact.
Training, legal aid, and advocacy so no one is left behind.
Collaboration that multiplies impact.
Working with NGOs, institutions, and the private sector for systemic change.
Shaping the Narrative: Spotlighting urgent challenges and solutions.
Partnering with journalists to amplify community stories and drive accountability.
Founder's Story
I have never believed that real change comes from the top it begins with the people who live through the challenges every day.
As a lawyer, land economist, and lecturer, I spent years teaching others how systems should work. But it took a tragedy to show me how deeply those systems fail when they do not serve the people they are meant to protect.
When the Kiteezi landfill collapsed in a devastating landslide, it was more than an environmental disaster it was a painful reminder of how fragile our systems are. The slide buried homes, destroyed livelihoods, and took lives.
At first, it felt distant. Then I received a call: my own errand rider had lost his wife in that tragedy. Suddenly, policy failure wasn’t theoretical anymore it was personal.
That moment changed everything. It revealed how issues like poor waste management, unsafe settlements, weak land governance, and the absence of disaster preparedness are all connected and how those failures always fall hardest on the most vulnerable.
That is when I founded Ardhi Law and Policy Initiative to bridge the gap between policy and people, to move from the classroom to the community, and from theory to tangible action.
Today, Ardhi is driven by one mission: to build systems that protect, empower, and include everyone. We work to turn waste into opportunity, strengthen land rights, advance climate-smart agriculture, and expand access to clean water, healthcare, and resilience.
My purpose is to rebuild trust in the systems that should protect us and to ensure that justice lives not in documents, but in people’s daily lives.
We are not just shaping policy.
We’re rewriting the story of resilience one life, one lesson, and one community at a time.
How We Create Change
Ardhi Law and Policy Initiative works across five interconnected pillars to secure rights, protect the environment, and impact communities.
Transforming waste into opportunity through recycling, youth empowerment, and circular economy solutions.
Resilient Waste Management
Building resilience with early warning systems, inclusive evacuation plans, and community-first disaster response.
Disaster Preparedness & Response
Linking environmental health to human health advancing clean air, safe water, maternal health, and youth wellbeing.
Health & Wellbeing
Protecting land rights for women, youth, and vulnerable families through legal aid, policy advocacy, and community training.
Inclusive Land GovernanceJoin Us in Building Resilient Communities
Together, we can impact communities and influence policies that secure a fair, sustainable future.
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We promote climate-smart farming, strengthen food systems, and support communities to reduce hunger and malnutrition.
Agriculture and Food Security