DOUGLAS D. SEBAMALA - Founder/Creative Director
Douglas Sebamala is a Multimedia Arts Journalist, Award Winning Creative Writer, Social Change activist Playwright, Theater and Film Actor/Director. Boasting a decade's experience in media and the performing arts, he has produced or featured - on over 30 radio, theatre, film and
television production across East and Central Africa and worked for publications and broadcasts in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and Sweden. Devoting his B.A in Journalism and communication to arts advocacy, activism and human rights sensitization, Sebamala creates social change film, documentaries and critical theater; to empower marginalized communities and vulnerable key populations across East and Central Africa and the world. He writes to challenge gender inequality, sexual gender based violence, human rights abuse, discrimination and all forms of oppression or suppression of free expression. He’s written plays like Swallow (Raped For Tape), Dalliances, Walls of Tribulation, 23 Scarlets, Love Is Religion… His screenplays, 7_Hills and The Mayanjas are currently in production in Uganda (2020-2021). Sebamala performed poetry for Queen Elizabeth II of England, at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) 2007. A member of Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab (2019) in New York, winner World Bank Blog4Dev award (2018), his performance repertoire includes Strings, A Ghost Story (KIT Festival 2017), Macbeth, Grease, Leramie Project, Much Ado About Nothing, Under Milkwood, and reproductive health radio dramas, Rock Point 256 and Obulamu.
AYESIGA, E. HERBERT - C0-Founder
Ayesiga Elvis Herbert is an LGBT activist, researcher, YALI Alumni, Digital Human Rights Lab member and social worker by profession. Currently, he is the Programs Director at Icebreakers Uganda, a non-profit support organisation for LGBT persons, which is -
focused on Sexual Health Rights advocacy and community mobilisation for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention for all LGBT Ugandans. He pioneered the first research on mental health issues within the LGBT community in Uganda and the #SeeTheInvisible campaign, aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues. The campaign also ensures that those at risk receive proper, timely and effective treatment. The research titled “Invisible Scars” within the LGBT community in Uganda was launched on 31/10/2019 https://voice.global/assets/2019/11/InvisibleScars.pdf
His in-depth understanding of relevant legislation procedures and techniques has led him to push for change against stigma and discrimination based on sexuality and gender issues. His social work principles are based on social work’s core values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.
Herbert is a board of member of Men of The Night, a male sex worker organization in Uganda and Visual Echoes for Human Rights Advocacy (VEHRA), a MSM and transgender organization which advocates for equality and justice of gender and sexual minorities through sports, Visual arts and Culture.
OUR TEAM
RUTH ATWIINE - HOD Women & Gender Issues
Atwiine is certified educator with a Diploma from Pennfoster College in United States. She provides technical support to promote gender equality, women and girl's empowerment to ELESmode staff and programs, manages a portfolio of ongoing programs, and leads development of new programs with a special focus on women and gender issues. She's currently managing I'M A GIRL in Ndejje Lubugumu, providing health information, knowledge and skills to combat sexual gender based violence and challenges with personal hygiene.
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Email: womenandgender@gmail.com
TREVOR SEMAMBO- HOD Multimedia Arts Communication
In charge of film and television production, radio, broadcasting and arts communication projects, Semambo, is a graduate of Journalism and Communication at UMCAT in Kampala, Uganda. He manages teams and multimedia arts communication projects designed for empowerment of marginalised communities.
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Email: multimediawithelesmode@gmail.com
JOANNAH A. - HOD Sexual Reproductive & Health Rights
Joannah coordinates teams and manages operations and dissemination information designed for sensitization on health and human rights advocacy. She has experience in conducting research with vulnerable and marginalized populations such as adolescent girls, people living with HIV, sexual minorities and sex workers. Her experience also spans providing training, capacity building and technical assistance for research and programming
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Email: SRHRelesmode@gmail.com
- HOD Healing Center
Our Healing Center holds mental health and wellness campaigns, cathartic storytelling projects such as My Story My Healing. The Head of Department
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Email: elesmodehealingcenter@gmail.com
HOW TO PARTNER WITH US
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1. You can support our different projects with monetary and in-kind support, through infrastructural support like production equipment.
To make a financial donation write to us at: elesmode@gmail.com or donate here
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2. Join our Multimedia Skills Education Programs
ELESmode trains young and inspiring filmmakers and storytellers in multimedia arts craftsmanship, production (recording and editing) and writing skills training for creating compelling stories.
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3. Join our Advocacy Campaign
At ELESmode Production, we advocate for Human Rights through compelling storytelling and activism through social change films addressing issues of Sexual Reproductive Health, sensitization on Human Rights, LGBT Rights, Health Rights, of Women's Issues and other marginalized like people living with HIV/AIDS, Sex Workers, people with disabilities and mental health issues. Advocacy is our tool for empowerment.