About GBVAP
A Ugandan organisation founded by survivors, social workers and lawyers to make the response to gender-based violence faster, kinder and more likely to end in justice.
Our Mission
To meet every survivor of gender-based violence with safety, dignity and a plan, and to walk with them until their case is closed.
Our Vision
Communities where violence is reported, survivors are believed, and the systems that should protect them actually do.
How we work
One case worker, six services, and partners in every district we serve.
Intake & Assessment
Walk-in, referral or the 24-hour line. A risk assessment and safety plan on the first day.
Support
Counselling, medical referral and shelter, for as long as they are needed.
Justice
Paralegal support from the first police statement to the courtroom.
Recovery
Livelihood support and follow-up visits after the case is closed.
Our Story
GBVAP began in Kampala as a small group of social workers and paralegals who kept meeting the same survivors at the same police desks, with no one coordinating their care. The first hub opened as a drop-in centre with two rooms and a telephone.
The northern hub in Gulu followed, serving districts where post-conflict trauma and violence at home are tightly bound together. Both hubs now run full case management with counselling, shelter referral, legal aid and livelihood support.
Survivors sit on the board. Their names do not appear on this website, and neither do the names of anyone we support.
Our Team
Case workers, counsellors, paralegals and the board.
Leadership
Sarah Nakato
Executive Director
Social worker and founder. Set up the first drop-in centre in Kampala.
Grace Achan
Northern Hub Coordinator
Runs the Gulu hub and its district outreach.
Staff
Isaac Mwesigwa
Head of Legal Aid
Advocate. Leads the paralegal team and court accompaniment.
Ruth Namara
Senior Counsellor
Leads individual and group counselling across both hubs.
Where We Are
Two hubs, with outreach to surrounding districts.
Northern Uganda Hub
Case management, shelter referral and legal aid for the northern districts.
Central Kampala Hub
Drop-in centre, counselling and livelihood support.