MTN Uganda takes a stand against gender-based violence during 16 Days of Activism

Every 11 minutes, a woman loses her life at the hands of a partner or family member. One in three women globally will experience violence in their lifetime. These stark realities demand urgent action to address gender-based violence (GBV), a crisis that devastates lives, families, and communities across the globe.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, a milestone that underscores both the progress achieved and the critical work that remains to create a safer, more equitable world.

In Uganda, GBV continues to impact millions of women and girls, with alarming statistics revealing the magnitude of the issue. A 2021 report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics showed that 95% of women and girls in the country have experienced violence—whether physical, sexual, emotional, or economic. Intimate partner violence remains particularly prevalent, with 43% of ever-partnered women reporting domestic violence within the past year. Meanwhile, online violence is rising rapidly, with nearly half of Ugandan women facing harassment or exploitation in digital spaces.

In response to this pressing issue, MTN Uganda has joined the 2024 global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign with a steadfast commitment to creating meaningful change. The company is implementing targeted initiatives to raise awareness, support survivors, and empower communities to take collective action.

This year, MTN Uganda’s efforts are focused on creating awareness through community outreach programs, promoting digital safety tools, and forging partnerships with local organisations to foster safer and more inclusive environments for all.

Recognising the importance of engaging all segments of society, MTN Uganda is actively involving men and boys as allies in the fight against GBV. The company believes that dismantling harmful norms and stereotypes is essential to cultivating a culture of respect and equality. By amplifying the voices of positive male role models, MTN Uganda hopes to inspire communities to stand united against GBV.

“Ending gender-based violence requires us all to recognise its connection to broader social injustices and commit to dismantling those systems,” said Nompilo Morafo, MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer. “It demands that we not only speak out against violence but actively work towards a world where every woman and girl is safe, empowered, and free to reach her full potential. MTN is proud to stand in solidarity with organisations and individuals working tirelessly to create a world free from violence. Together, we can amplify the voices of survivors, challenge harmful norms, and build a more equitable future for all.”

Echoing this commitment during the awareness campaign at Smart Girls Foundation, a Not- for-Profit-Organisation that trains and support young girls and women, Bryan Mbasa, Senior Manager, MTN Foundation, called on all stakeholders to take action: “This is not just our responsibility—it is our calling. Let us be the change to end gender-based violence. Every action, big or small, contributes to the movement that’s been 25 years in the making. Speak up, support survivors, and demand change. Together, we can create a future free from violence.”

The 16 Days of Activism campaign serves as a powerful reminder that everyone has a role to play in ending GBV. Whether through participating in local initiatives, sharing resources, or advocating for stronger protections, every effort counts. MTN Uganda invites individuals and communities to join this vital cause by standing with survivors and saying #NoExcuse for violence in all its forms.

For more information about MTN Uganda’s campaign and how to get involved, visit www.mtn.com/16-days-of-activism.  Together, we can create a safer, more equitable world for all.

The MTN Uganda Foundation is a not-for-profit legal entity that was inaugurated in July 2007 as a vehicle through which MTN Uganda implements its corporate social investments (CSI). The Foundation strives to improve the quality of life in communities where MTN Uganda operates in a sustainable way. Its purpose is to bring about meaningful, measurable, and sustainable change that helps disadvantaged and rural communities to become self-sufficient. With a focus on innovative technology, we aim to uplift communities towards independence in this bold new digital world. The Foundation invests resources for social redress, thus economic empowerment, education, health, and humanitarian response. The Foundation implements projects that are highly enabled by ICT solutions.

MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the National Telecommunications Operator (NTO) licence granted by the Uganda Telecommunications Commission (UCC). Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices, and MTN Mobile Money (conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Services are delivered through a network of over 170,000 MoMo agents, 292,000 MoMo merchants, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. For the full year period ended December 31, 2023, MTN Uganda had 19.5 million subscribers, 12.1 million MoMo users, and 8.2 million active data users.