Celebrating 10 Years of The Uhuru Institute: A Journey of Growth and Impact
Today, The Uhuru Institute is not only a beacon of hope and dignity for many but also a testament to the power of community, cooperatives , collaboration, persistence, and vision
KAMPALA, December 17, 2024 – As The Uhuru Institute for Social Development [TUI] celebrated their 10th anniversary on November 21, 2024, I was drawn to reflect on the incredible journey I was very fortunate to be a part of. For three years from its inception, I had the privilege of helping lay the foundational stones for what has become a vital force for change in our community.
When I first joined the Institute, it was a budding vision, a dream that became a passion project that CEO Leonard Okello and I carried in our hearts and briefcase, with the potential to drive social transformation. I felt deeply connected to the various ideas that I was part of dreaming, researching, co-creating, initiating, studying, and loving to life, its mission to promote sustainable development, reconstruct cooperatives, build social justice, and empowerment were and still tug heavily at my heart.
As a part of the founding team, [It was just me and Leonard then], my role was not just limited to contributing ideas but to actively building structures that would support this mission in the long run.
I worked alongside various dedicated teams to develop the Institute’s networks, strategic framework, shape its programmes, and create systems that would ensure sustainability. It was a collaborative effort that required not only love, creativity and problem-solving but a deep understanding of the local context and the needs of the communities we aimed to serve.
From studies around the state of cooperatives in Uganda, to understanding how social enterprises work, to developing community outreach strategies to securing funding and partnerships to learning about the legal and policy frameworks, every step of the process was about ensuring that the Institute could grow and evolve into a resource that would truly make a difference. And this it has become! What a proud midwife I am !
As I look back on those formative years, I am proud of the solid foundation we helped co-create, one that has enabled the Institute to thrive and expand its reach over the last decade. Today, The Uhuru Institute is not only a beacon of hope and dignity for many but also a testament to the power of community, cooperatives , collaboration, persistence, and vision.
Congratulations to the entire Uhuru Institute team, past and present, upon reaching this incredible milestone. Your dedication to social change has been a constant inspiration. I’m honoured to have been part of the story, and I look forward to seeing how the next 10 years unfold.
Congratulations to you Leonard Okello, carrying a vision this big, this long is no mean fit, I hope you do get all the flowers you deserve!
#SocialDevelopment #Impact #CommunityBuilding #Leadership #UhuruInstitute #Celebrating10Years
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