Local Coalition Accelerator - Uganda

📍Launch of the Two-Generational ECCD Model The launch was held on 31 July 2025 at Golden Tulip Kampala, organized by the Local Coalition Accelerator Uganda (LCA Uganda) with support from the Conrad @hiltonfound The event officially introduced LCA’s Two-Generational Model for Early Childhood Care & Development (ECCD), outlined its strategy and goals, and rallied diverse stakeholders to commit to enhancing early childhood outcomes and family well-being. Core Objectives Announced •Advance developmental outcomes for children aged 0–5 through quality ECCD. •Strengthen livelihoods of vulnerable families—including refugees—through cash assistance and business training. •Establish LCA as a professional body with a fully staffed, independent secretariat. Key Targets Highlighted •Capacity-building: 85 practitioners trained; 8 coordination forums held to influence ECCD policy. •Centre upgrades & child reach: 22 centres improved to meet quality standards; 520 children enrolled, with 70% projected to demonstrate literacy, cognitive, and socio-emotional improvements. •Livelihoods: 138 youth trained; 150 Self-Help Groups supported; 520 households receive cash grants, with 94% of SHGs able to provide low-interest loans. •Institution-building: 13 member organizations provided with capacity support; secretariat formed and 60% of organizational development plans completed. Expected Impact Shared The initiative aims to improve children’s school readiness, boost household economic resilience, and establish a sustainable, professional LCA Uganda capable of leading ECCD efforts in Greater Kampala and beyond. Participants The event brought together representatives from government agencies (@OPMUganda , @KCCAUG , @MoGLSD ), development partners, local authorities, LCA’s 13 member NGOs, civil society, community leaders, and media. The event closed with a call for partners to align funding, share evidence, and advocate for inclusive ECCD—ensuring every child and caregiver has the opportunity to thrive. @ipfug @Wezesha_impact @unwomenuganda @REALUGANDA1 @relonuganda

Happening Now: @videaug1 has joined other CSO actors in #TheLeadersTalkAfrica consultation meeting to review the “Protection of Sovereignty Bill,2026” & prepare a formal submission to @Parliament_Ug We value dialogue & public participation regarding this matter. #RejectTheBill

Joel Peter Namugera and Wilfred Oketcho of @oc_advocates outline key problematic areas of the #ProtectionOfSovereigntyBill: ⚠️ Vague, overly broad definitions — including a "foreign agent" definition that captures NPOs largely funded by international donors ⚠️ The foreigner clause extends to Ugandans living abroad and sending remittances to family back home #CivicSpace #Uganda #SovereignityBill

Just in⏰: @CommunitiesOrg part of "The Leaders Talk Africa" breakfast meeting by @civicadvisory. The focus is on analysing and preparing a formal submission regarding the #ProtectionofSovereignty Bill, 2026, in response to the public notice issued by the Parliament of Uganda.

Join CIVICUS and CAPAIDS Uganda on April 29th, 2026, for the launch of a landmark report: "The Status of Locally-Led Development in Uganda." Based on insights from seven sub-regions, this webinar will dive into: ✅ Progress and persistent gaps in Locally-Led Development (LLD). ✅ Practical recommendations for a more resilient civil society. ✅ Trends and challenges in Uganda’s current civic space. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Naomi Ayot, Reylynne Dela Paz, and Jockas Matte. 📍 Register early: civicus.zoom.us/meeting/regist… #LocallyLedDevelopment #UgandaCivilSociety #CIVICUS #CAPAIDSUganda

We are delighted to recognize the participation of @NaluwaoozaRobinah, Executive Director of @SetHerFree1 (SHF), @MwangaikeJohn, Public Secretary, and Dr. @NekesaSarah, Executive Director of @esauganda02 and Treasurer on the @LCAUganda Steering Committee.

Legal Spotlight: Termination vs. Dismissal During today's governance session, the spotlight turned to the Employment Act of Uganda. Understanding the legal difference between Section 65 (Termination) and Section 2 (Dismissal) is vital for any ED looking to mitigate legal risk. Termination of employment, outlining scenarios where a contract is ended by the employer with notice, expiration of a fixed term/task, or by the employee due to employer misconduct. While dismissal is defined as the discharge of an employee from employment at the initiative of his or her employer when the said employee has committed verifiable misconduct The Challenge: Familiarize yourself with the Employment Act, 2006 (Uganda), and the Labor Disputes Regulations (2012). Ensure internal HR policies and safeguarding standards are not just filed away, but continuously studied and applied. #LCAUganda

The LCA Uganda governance training ended today with a powerful sense of momentum. Sarah Nekesa, ED of ESAU and a member of our Steering Committee, officially closed the session, marking a significant step forward for our member organizations. A massive thank you to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for investing in our leadership capacity, and to the Internal Risk Management Group for delivering such a crucial and timely program. Onward to better governance and greater impact! #LCAUganda

What does it take to lead an NGO in Uganda today? Our latest LCA training for EDs session dived into the vital roles of Executive Directors and their Boards—covering everything from strategic leadership to building a healthy workplace culture. A major talking point was the shift toward hiring fundraising consultants to navigate a changing donor landscape. Mathias Onama @onamamathias of CAPAIDS Uganda @CapaidsUganda offered a crucial reminder for any organization taking this route: "The organization needs to have a fundraising strategy and policy in place to guide the whole process. #LCAUganda

Governance training for Executive Directors & Steering Committee members of @LcaUganda Themed “Governance in Organizational Safeguarding & Risk Management: Creating a Risk‑Intelligent Organization,” this session strengthens leadership’s role in risk oversight.

The Governance training for all Executive Directors of LCA Uganda member organizations continues. Special appreciation to the Internal Risk Management Group for conducting this training. Drawing from her extensive experience in Karamoja, Robinah Muganda, Executive Director, Set Her Free, posed a challenging question to the room: How does a leader manage "unfunded priorities"? As the training delved into the pillars of governance, it became clear that failing to address these gaps isn't just a management hurdle—it’s a major reputational risk that every organization must learn to navigate. #LCAUganda #IRMG

How do you handle 'Mandate Drift' when governance falters? Cindy Okullo @cindyokullo, representing the ED of @ACODEVU, tackled this vital question today. She emphasized that staying true to an organization's core mission requires intentional maneuvering by leadership—a masterclass in best practices for organizational management. This is a special training by the Internal Risk Management Group for the Executive Directors and Steering Committee members of the LCA Uganda. #LCAUganda

Happening Today! LCA Uganda, With funding from Conrad Hilton Foundation in partnership with the Internal Risk Management Group, is proud to host an exclusive governance training for the Executive Directors of our member organizations, a major decision-making body. Following our recent session on Safeguarding and PSEAH for senior staff, today’s training shifts the focus toward leadership’s role in risk oversight. Themed "Governance in Organizational Safeguarding and Risk Management: Creating a Risk-Intelligent Organization," this session is specifically designed for LCA Uganda member EDs and the Steering Committee members. These efforts allow LCA Uganda to be better stewards in implementing the 2 Generational Model for Early Childhood Care & Development in Uganda, including in humanitarian responses. We are honored to have Henry Owora & Judith Mandera from IRMG facilitate this vital conversation. #LCAUganda

Bridging access to finance 💰 is critical, but ensuring it is sustainable is where the real work lies. We’re focused on creating pathways where individuals can not only access financial services, but use them effectively, build resilience, and grow over time. Sustainable financing is not a moment, it’s a journey. #HopeHubUg #HopeFinance #SelfHelpGroups

@alexei_sid @SetHerFree1 @CapaidsUganda @Agabaabooki @RobinahSarah @irmghub @hiltonfound You are right, @alexei_sid, the two processes go hand-in-hand.

Zero, tolerance policies are essentially binary decision rules — they say "if X happens, we do Y, always." That's fine for certain ethical boundaries. But calling this "risk matrix formulation" misses the point. The real question isn't how to label severity after something happens, it's how to design systems and processes that reduce the likelihood of violations before they occur. What specific decisions about prevention, detection, or resource allocation is this matrix informing? If it's just documenting consequences, that's policy enforcement, not risk management.

Integrating Policy with Practice During the IRMG Training on Safeguarding, under the discussion on Risk Matrix formulation, Agaba Robert, Head of Programs at Set Her Free @SetHerFree1, emphasized that a "zero-tolerance" policy is only effective when supported by clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). He noted that while policies set the standard, SOPs provide the essential roadmap for handling cases consistently and safely. Furthermore, Robert advocated for a participatory approach to risk management, stating that controls are most effective when co-created with all staff. Involving the entire team ensures that mitigation strategies are informed by diverse perspectives and benefit from collective ownership. #LCAUganda #IRMG

Many thanks to @LcaUganda for organising a successful 3-day Safeguarding Training Sessions. The beauty about this training is that everything learnt can be applied in so many areas of life. Many thanks to @irmghub facilitators. Hope we can have you again soon.

The benefits of teaming is for the members with skills to share with coalition, that happened at the risk management training. We thank the members who shared their rich experience on risk management, governance and teaming.

Risk Matrix Formulation & Management Justine Engole, Senior Program Officer at the Epilepsy Support Association Uganda @esauganda02, led a session on formulating a comprehensive risk matrix. He emphasized the importance of identifying and prioritizing programmatic risks to ensure organizational safety. Justine guided the team in framing risks with precision, ensuring each entry clearly identifies the perpetrators and victims, the location of occurrence, and any witnesses. This structured approach allows for a clearer assessment of vulnerability and more effective mitigation strategies. #LCAUganda #IRMG

Day 3 concludes ✅ The @LcaUganda Safeguarding Training has successfully wrapped up! Grateful to all participants & partners. Together we strengthen safeguarding & accountability. #Safeguarding #LCAUganda #IRMGImpact #Accountability #Partnership #CommunityTransformation