Updated: June 25, 2026
Background
Bayimba Foundation is a Ugandan arts and cultural organization that works with diverse individuals and communities through festivals, performances, training programmes, creative residencies, community outreach initiatives, and cultural exchange activities. Through its work, the Foundation engages artists, children, young people, volunteers, staff, partners, audiences, host communities, and other stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, ages, and circumstances.
These interactions create opportunities for learning, creativity, participation, and personal development. However, they may also expose individuals to risks of abuse, exploitation, neglect, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, or other forms of harm. Bayimba Foundation therefore recognizes its duty of care to ensure that all activities are conducted in a safe, respectful, inclusive, and accessible manner.
This Policy has been developed to provide a framework for promoting accessibility and disability inclusion, preventing harm, protecting rights, and responding appropriately to concerns. It reflects Bayimba Foundation’s commitment to human rights, dignity, equality, diversity, inclusion, and accountability, and aligns with national laws, international safeguarding standards, and good practice within the arts and cultural sector.
Purpose
This Policy establishes the principles, standards, and responsibilities required to promote accessibility and disability inclusion and to prevent, identify, report, and respond to abuse, exploitation, neglect, harassment, discrimination, violence, and other forms of harm that may arise in connection with Bayimba Foundation’s operations, programmes, events, partnerships, and activities.
The Policy provides a framework for creating safe, accessible, respectful, and inclusive environments for all individuals who engage with or are affected by Bayimba Foundation’s work. It affirms the Foundation’s commitment to human rights, equality, dignity, and participation, with particular attention to children, young people, women and girls, persons with disabilities, refugees, artists, volunteers, staff, and host communities.
Scope
This Policy applies across all Bayimba Foundation operations, programmes, activities, and partnerships, including:
- The Bayimba’s Centre located at Lunkulu Island, Mukono/Buikwe District, Uganda.
- All festivals, events, performances, and cultural programmes organised by Bayimba Foundation, including the Bayimba International Festival of the Arts and the Kampala International Theatre Festival.
- Training, mentorship, and capacity-building programmes delivered through the Bayimba Academy and its partners.
This Policy applies to all staff members, board members, volunteers, consultants, artists, contractors, service providers, partner organisations, visitors, and any other individuals associated with Bayimba Foundation activities. It covers conduct within Foundation programmes, workplaces, host communities, digital platforms, and any environment where individuals represent or engage with the Foundation.
Policy Principles
1. Zero Tolerance for Harm
Bayimba Foundation maintains zero tolerance for abuse, exploitation, neglect, harassment, discrimination, violence, bullying, intimidation, and all forms of misconduct. All concerns and allegations will be taken seriously and addressed promptly, fairly, and appropriately.
2. Rights, Dignity, Inclusion, and Respect
Every individual has the right to safety, dignity, participation, accessibility, and protection from harm. Bayimba Foundation is committed to fostering inclusive environments where all people are valued and treated fairly regardless of age, gender, disability, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics.
3. Best Interests and Wellbeing
The safety, wellbeing, dignity, and best interests of individuals, particularly children, young people, persons with disabilities, refugees, and other vulnerable groups, will be prioritised in all decisions and responses. Survivors and affected persons will be treated with compassion, respect, and sensitivity.
4. Prevention and Risk Management
Bayimba Foundation is committed to preventing harm by identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks through safe recruitment, training, awareness-raising, supervision, accessibility planning, and the promotion of safe organisational practices and cultures.
5. Shared Responsibility
Accessibility, safeguarding, and inclusion are shared responsibilities. All staff, board members, volunteers, artists, consultants, contractors, partners, and visitors are required to uphold this Policy and contribute to safe and inclusive environments.
6. Accountability, Confidentiality, and Continuous Improvement
Bayimba Foundation will maintain clear responsibilities, reporting mechanisms, and response procedures. Information will be handled confidentially and shared only on a need-to-know basis. The Foundation is committed to continuous learning and improvement.
Implementation
Bayimba Foundation will implement this Policy by:
- Ensuring that facilities, venues, programmes, events, and services are safe, accessible, and inclusive.
- Integrating accessibility, safeguarding, and disability inclusion considerations into the planning, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of all activities and partnerships.
- Providing regular training and capacity-building opportunities for staff, volunteers, consultants, artists, and partners.
- Promoting a culture of dignity, respect, equality, inclusion, and non discrimination.
- Establishing clear, accessible, confidential, and survivor-centred reporting mechanisms.
- Designating a Safeguarding Focal Person or Safeguarding Officer responsible for receiving, managing, and escalating safeguarding concerns. − Responding promptly and appropriately to concerns, complaints, and incidents.
- Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of this Policy and implementing improvements where necessary.
Roles and Responsibilities
Management Team
The Bayimba Foundation Management Team is responsible for providing leadership, oversight, and resources for the effective implementation of this Policy. Management shall ensure that accessibility, safeguarding, and disability inclusion are integrated into organisational systems, programmes, and decision-making processes.
Staff, Volunteers, Consultants, and Partners
All staff; volunteers, consultants, artists, contractors, and partner representatives are responsible for:
- Understanding and complying with this Policy.
- Promoting safe, respectful, and inclusive environments.
- Participating in relevant training and awareness activities.
- Reporting concerns, incidents, or breaches of this Policy promptly.
Participants and Visitors
All participants, beneficiaries, audiences, visitors, and community members are expected to:
- Respect the rights, dignity, safety, and wellbeing of others. − Comply with relevant policy requirements.
- Report concerns, incidents, or barriers to participation through the available reporting channels.
Reporting and Response
Any individual wishing to report a concern, incident, complaint, or safeguarding issue may contact:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +256 779 644 905
All reports will be handled confidentially, fairly, and in accordance with Bayimba Foundation’s safeguarding procedures and applicable laws.
Review and Revision
This Policy shall be reviewed at least every two years, or earlier where required by changes in legislation, organisational needs, emerging risks, or lessons learned from implementation. Bayimba Foundation is committed to continuously strengthening its accessibility, safeguarding, and disability inclusion practices to ensure safe, inclusive, and empowering environments for all.
Approved by:
Faisal KIWEWA
Director,
Bayimba Foundation
