- ActionAid
- Focus areas of our work
- How we work
- Countries we work in
- Examples and results
- The organisation
Uganda
In Uganda MS ActionAid Denmark supports local democracy and fights corruption from the grass root level. Trade justice and support to small scale producers is also part of our program.
An unequal and divided society towards democracy
In the beginning the interface meetings between the local authorities and the citizens in Koboko district were met with suspicion by particularly the politicians and the public servants. They were unsure of the motives of KOCISONET who together with ActionAid Denmark is behind the meetings. But gradually, as local schools were improved and wells drilled, the atmosphere of the meetings became positively constructive.
"All we want is to improve the standards of service delivery of the district", says Grace Akandru from KOCISONET, a network of local organizations in Koboko district.
To promote the democratization of the state and a more equal socio-economic distribution of resources, the Ugandan Government began a process of decentralization in the early 1990s. Management of public affairs has to a wide extend been transferred to local authorities and enhanced citizen involvement in local decision making, but extensive gaps in the public service delivery remain an unresolved challenge.
Primary school tuition has been free in government schools in Uganda since 1997, and as a result enrolment increased from 2.2 million pupils in 1986 to 5.2 in 1997. Today more than 6.6 million pupils attend Primary Schools but there are still too few schools and too few teachers to provide quality education particularly in the rural areas were 120-160 pupils per teacher is not uncommon. Public healthcare is also free in Uganda, but lack of health clinics, health workers and a system where up to 75% of the free medicine are sold illegally makes it an unreliable service especially for poor people who cannot afford to pay for private healthcare.
How we work
MS ActionAid Denmark supports civil society to build local democracy and engage in planning, budgeting and implementation processes at local level. We collaborate with 25 national and local partner organizations and networks and support:
- Civil society networks and partner organizations which represents the interest of ordinary citizens
- Interface meetings during which local politicians, public servants and citizens discuss and account for service delivery on sub-county and district level
- Accountability and dialogue meetings for staff and users of health clinics and schools to improve standards.
- Civic education about democracy, human rights and participation. We use the radio, forum theatre and local meetings as communication channels
- Citizens who volunteer to be civic educators and monitors - particularly woman and young people
Other engagements
Anti corruption. We engage in civil society efforts to up root Uganda’s rampant corruption, and support civic education and anti corruption campaigns including Uganda’s annual anti corruption week. Via regional anti corruption networks we monitor the level of accountability particular in the health and education sectors.
Trade justice. On a national level we support civil society’s policy work for trade justice and increased economic benefit for small scale farmers.
Learn more
Read more about our work in UgandaDocuments
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:: Anti-Corrruption MS Uganda works in cooperation with Anti Corrution Coalition Uganda (ACCU) and International Anti-Corruption Theatrical Movement (IATM) to fight corruption in Uganda. |
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:: Building Local Democracy MS Uganda facilitates its partners to politically empower citizens to participate and influence local government. |
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:: Anti-Corrruption MS Uganda supports partners to desgin and implement civic education components related to the fight against corruption, especially in the education and health sectors. |
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:: Trade Empowerment MS Uganda aims at supporting people at the grassroot level to utilise trade and trade polices as a means to earn a decent living and to establish sustainable livelihood. |
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:: Democracy as a way of life programme It requires the involvement of all citizens - young and old, rich and poor, the leaders and those being lead. |
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:: Education for Peace 'Education for Peace' is educating Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan on democracy, human rights and constitutionalism. |
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:: MS and the MDGs - MShikamano With this number of MShikamano, MS East Africa wants to highlight the contributions from our partners towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MFGs). |
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:: Southern Sudan MS works in Southern Sudan to promote an understanding of democratic values and principles after 20 years of civil war. |
ActionAid International Uganda
Plot 2514/2517 Kansanga, Gaba Rd
Box 676 Kampala, Uganda
Phone: + 256 (0) 41 510 363
Phone: + 256 (0) 392 220 0002/3
web: www.actionaid.org/uganda
Mail: aaiuganda.info@actionaid.org
Press: Jacob Rosdahl
Communications Advisor
Mobile: +256 788 750 435
Mail: Jacob.Rosdahl@actionaid.org
