Our Mission

"We exist at the intersection of gender justice, environmental conservation, cultural heritage, decolonial knowledge production, human rights advocacy, and digital inclusion. Through radical imagination and community-centred creative practice, we build just futures for key populations and marginalised diverse communities across East Africa."

Our Origin

Built by and for
our communities

Simma Africa Creative Arts Foundation (SAF) is a humanist, feminist, womxn-led NGO established in 2018, by and for creatives from key populations and diverse marginalised communities in Uganda. SAF is also the founding organisation behind Ntare Festival of the Arts, Rewild Uganda, and co-founder of the Culture & Art Community Impact Fund Africa (CACIFA), Africa's first decentralized impact fund dedicated to arts and culture.

SAF focuses on the protection and promotion of livelihoods, rights and freedoms of refugee creatives, womxn, and Adolescent Girls and Young Womxn (AGYW) across East Africa.

We coordinate a Feminist Creative Hub, a networking coalition to share evidence and strengthen action on Gender Equality, Body Autonomy, Climate Justice, Human Rights, and Economic Justice. Our motto: "Nothing About Us Without Us."

SAF collaborates with feminist organisations, human rights activists, legal partners, and community leaders from different sectors, always led by and accountable to the communities we serve.

Simma Africa community
9+
Years of Impact

The Philosophy Behind Our Work

Art for Social-Economic Transformation

We view art not just as expression, but as an economic engine. By training womxn and youth in creative industries, from sustainable fashion to digital media, we build pathways out of poverty. Our approach integrates business skills with artistic development, ensuring creatives can sustain their practice and their communities.

Art for Mental Health Healing & Wellness

Systemic oppression and climate anxiety take a heavy toll on mental health. We create sanctuaries where art becomes therapy. Through painting, movement, and storytelling circles, we facilitate collective healing, helping communities process trauma and build the emotional resilience needed for sustained activism and thriving lives.

Art for Revitalisation of Culture & Roots

True justice requires decolonising our relationship with the earth and with each other. We use art to archive and amplify indigenous wisdom. By revitalising traditional crafts, songs, and agricultural practices, we reconnect youth with their roots and validate ancestral knowledge as vital science for our collective future.

Art for Environmental Action & Rewild Uganda

Through Rewild Uganda and the Chwezi Afroclimate initiative, SAF uses arts-based practice to drive conservation, climate advocacy, and ecological healing, centring indigenous knowledge, refugee communities, and youth as active environmental stewards across Uganda.

Nothing About Us Without Us

Participation is our founding principle. Every programme is designed with and led by the communities it serves, not imposed from outside.

Intersectional & Feminist

We see the whole person. Gender, sexuality, class, refugee status, disability, all lenses matter. Our approach centres the most marginalised voices.

Creative Justice

Arts are not optional extras, they are tools for rights, healing, and transformation. We fund and platform creatives as agents of social change.

Meet The Team

Natasha Simma

Natasha Simma

Founder & Executive Director
She/They

Innovative arts leader, environmental and human rights defender, and creative producer. Founder of Simma Africa Creative Arts Foundation, Ntare Festival of the Arts, and Rewild Uganda. Her work sits at the intersection of creative industries, gender, decolonization, community-led development, cultural activism, and regenerative economy.

Arts LeadershipGender JusticeClimate JusticeDecolonial PracticeRewild Uganda
LN

Lorista Naggawa

Programs Manager
She/Her

Seasoned programmes and M&E manager with over 10 years in NGO spaces, overseeing planning, implementation, and evaluation of all SAF programmes.

Programme ManagementM&ENGO Operations
NK

Nivin Kosta

East African Coordinator
They/Them

South Sudanese human rights activist, health and nutrition manager, photographer and environmental activist coordinating SAF's refugee programmes across East Africa.

Refugee ProgrammingPhotographyHealth & Nutrition
MJ

Marybud Joan Atenge

Legal Representative
She/They

Lawyer and advocate at Alto Advocates, poet and key population peoples rights activist. Provides legal guidance on governance, compliance and community protection.

Law & AdvocacyTrans RightsPoetry
PK

Patrick Kagwisagye

Accounts Manager
He/Him

Finance professional with 6+ years in accounting and financial management in multinational environments, ensuring rigorous financial oversight and statutory compliance.

AccountingFinancial ManagementAudit
Bob Robert

Bob Robert

Audit Preparedness Advisor
He/Him

Senior auditor with 10+ years in financial auditing, compliance and internal controls, strengthening SAF's financial governance and audit readiness.

AuditRisk ManagementCompliance
Nancy Akasi

Nancy Akasi

Advocacy Officer & Translator
She/Her

South Sudanese rights activist and translation specialist across Arabic, Swahili, Nuer, Zande and English. Drives SAF's external advocacy work.

AdvocacyTranslationCommunity Liaison
WI

Wabwire Joseph Ian

Chairperson, Board of Directors
He/Him

Artistic Director of KQ Hub Africa, creative economy consultant and arts writer. Robert Bosch Art Fellow and British Council Creative Hubs Academy Fellow.

Creative ArtsCultural PolicyImpact Investment
EM

Eva Mwebaza

Board Member
She/Her

Engineer, AI educator, music teacher and environmentalist. Brings critical technical and feminist expertise to SAF's governance and digital strategy.

EngineeringAI EducationEnvironmentalism
MS

Mary Ssebunya

General Secretary
They/Them

Educator, entrepreneur, trans fashion designer and podcaster based in Los Angeles. Brings global perspective to SAF's governance and creative direction.

Fashion DesignEducationEntrepreneurship
PE

Patricia Egessa

Treasurer
She/Her

Senior Bank Manager at Stanbic Bank Uganda, creative writer and women's rights activist. Provides critical financial oversight and governance.

BankingFinancial GovernanceWomen's Rights
DR

Dr. Remmie Male

Vice Chairperson
She/Her

Founder of Women of Valor Foundation, Continental Secretary General of CBWA, and published author. Based in Boston, MA with expansive global networks.

Women's EmpowermentBusiness IncubationInternational Networks
MJ

Marybud Joan Atenge

Board Member & Legal Rep.
They/Them

Lawyer, advocate, poet and human rights activist. Provides the board with legal guidance on governance, compliance and community protection.

LawHuman RightsKey Population Advocacy

Our Network

Funders & Partners

KQ Hub AfricaKQ Hub Africa
CBWACBWA
Slow NewsSlow News
HIVOSHIVOS
UHAI EASHRIUHAI EASHRI
French Embassy UgandaFrench Embassy Uganda
VOICEVOICE
Bavubuka FoundationBavubuka Foundation
British CouncilBritish Council
AWDFAWDF
Canada Fund for Local InitiativesCanada Fund for Local Initiatives
Fridays For FutureFridays For Future
ACP StatesACP States
European UnionEuropean Union
HEVA FundHEVA Fund
Ignite CultureIgnite Culture
CIPESACIPESA
AYANAYAN
Agri Farm UgandaAgri Farm Uganda
Nafasi Art SpaceNafasi Art Space
UKPCUKPC
Mandulis EnergyMandulis Energy
Digital Defenders PartnershipDigital Defenders Partnership
Makerere MISRMakerere MISR
ILGA World