Celebrating our Partners in Uganda
The Foundation began working in Uganda in 2008 with our very first partner, BRAC. Together we set out to improve access to microfinance for Ugandans living in poverty. BRAC’s holistic approach to financial inclusion integrates microfinance, health care and extension services for farmers, as well as training for adolescent girls.
In 2013, BRAC also became a partner of The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, supporting Ugandan girls in their secondary education.
Mary, a MasterCard Foundation Scholar in Uganda through BRAC, says that the Program helped her to go back to school after missing class because of her family’s struggle to pay school fees.
“The Program found me and really changed my life. I am so different from who I was before I became a Scholar,” she says. “I have learned so much from school and from the advice from my mentors, like the importance of community service. I gained confidence that I can be a good leader. I know I will have a bright future.”
Yunusu Lubega, a Ugandan farmer and a participant in our project with Opportunity International.
In our work with other partners in Uganda we have focused on the agricultural sector to expand access to finance education and skills training to smallholder farmers across the country.
Our project with Opportunity International, for example, provides financial access to increase crop yields, productivity, income and food security for smallholder farmers, as well as access to branchless and mobile banking for rural clients like Yunusu Lubega.
Yunusu used to invest his savings by purchasing cows, but found it difficult to liquidate those savings when needed. Now he manages his money through mobile banking and doesn’t have to give up a day’s work to travel to a bank branch.
Much of our agricultural programming in Uganda is focused in the north of the country, such as our project with Technoserve, which provides skills training for rural youth so they can better grow their businesses and connect to markets.
Barbara Nantongo, a tomato farmer, acquired new skills through Technoserve’s training program. Since then, Barbara has expanded her tomato business and now sells to a bigger market.
The Foundation values our work with all our partners in Uganda. Together we have reached 1.5 million people with access to education, skills and business training and/or financial services.
As we celebrate our 10th Anniversary we would like to thank all the organizations that have partnered with us over the last decade.
