We are thrilled to announce the Local Leadership Lab project, a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower communities to resist, survive, and overcome socio-economic inequities. Rooted in the belief that sustainable development must be locally designed and led, the Local Leadership Labs prioritize community-driven solutions that address unique, context-specific challenges.
At the heart of this initiative is CIVICUS Global Alliance dedicated to strengthening and advocating the support eco-system of Locally-Led Development. In Uganda, CAPAIDS Uganda spearheads this transformative effort as the National Convener, ensuring that Locally-Led Development discourse resonates with the Country’s diverse communities and needs.
The Local Leadership Labs are firmly committed to promoting locally owned and locally-led initiatives that are not only relevant but also context-specific. By working directly with local actors, we aim to craft solutions that are deeply embedded in the cultural, social, and economic realities of each community.
The Theory of Change that drives the Local Leadership Labs emphasizes a locally-owned and led approach. We believe that real, lasting change can only occur when local communities take charge of identifying, designing, and implementing solutions that fit their specific contexts. Our approach integrates principles of constituency accountability, safe and inclusive dialogue spaces, and locally-led processes to create sustainable impact.
The project will be implemented in three key stages, with learning and influencing activities integrated throughout the project duration:
The initiative has mapped out a wide range of local actors, identifying:
This diverse group represents the rich fabric of grassroots initiatives working to drive positive change. The project’s geographical reach spans the entire country, with focus areas in Acholi, East Central, Elgon, Karamoja, Lango, Teso, and West Nile regions.
The Local Leadership Lab project is a unique opportunity to support community-led transformation, driven by those who understand their communities best. By partnering with local actors and focusing on sustainable, tailored solutions, we aim to create resilient communities capable of navigating complex socio-economic challenges.
Together, we can foster locally-owned change that makes a lasting impact.
🚗 A Powerful Reminder of Community Strength in Bwesumbu!
As our team set off to travel from Bwesumbu Subcounty, Kasese after a meaningful co-creation workshop, the weather suddenly shifted. Heavy rain poured down, and almost immediately, we found ourselves facing one of the very challenges the community had highlighted earlier in the day, the poor and slippery road conditions that make movement extremely difficult during the rainy season.
In that moment, something extraordinary happened. Community members quickly came together with genuine care and a deep sense of solidarity. Using the local techniques and practical skills they have developed over years of navigating these roads, they guided our team through dangerous sections and demonstrated how to get a vehicle safely out of thick mud.
Their support was more than an act of kindness; it was a living example of the solutions they spoke about during the workshop. It reminded us that locally led solutions aren’t based on scientific theories, but on lived experiences, and this community proved that with every step they took to help us overcome the challenge.
With patience, teamwork, and collective effort, the community helped our team move forward safely, turning a difficult situation into a powerful reminder of resilience and shared strength. This moment truly reflects what the Local Leadership Labs (LLL) stand for: communities leading with knowledge shaped by experience, and creating change grounded in reality.
Sub-Regional Consultations:
West Nile
Acholi and Lango
Karamoja
Eastern
Western
South Western
Central
NOTE: To Review Regional Data, you need to
CLICK on the Choices above.
Wrong shortcode initialized
Central Sub Region (24 Local Actors)
CBO: 9 • Civil Society: 2 • National NGO: 12 • DLG: 1
Karamoja Sub Region (23 Local Actors)
CBO: 11 • Civil Society: 4 • National NGO: 7 • DLG: 1
Western Sub Region (21 Local Actors)
CBO: 8 • Civil Society: 7 • National NGO: 2 • DLG: 3
West Nile Sub Region (25 Local Actors)
CBO: 14 • Civil Society: 2 • National NGO: 7 • DLG: 2
South Western Sub Region (23 Local Actors)
CBO: 5 • Civil Society: 5 • National NGO: 10 • DLG: 3
Eastern & East Central Sub Region (24 Local Actors)
CBO: 10 • Civil Society: 4 • National NGO: 7 • Private Sector: 1 • Religious: 1 • DLG: 1
Acholi & Lango Sub Region (24 Local Actors)
CBO: 7 • Civil Society: 2 • International NGO: 1 • National NGO: 12 • DLG: 2
| Date | Organization | Region | District | Sub-county | Community | Total | Male | Female | Refugee | People With Disabilities (Female) | People With Disabilities (Male) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-06 | Nabulwa Rural Initiative for Development | Eastern | Mbale | Northern Division | Namakwekwe Ward | 87 | 21 | 66 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025-11-07 | Wilmat Development Foundation | Eastern | Bugweri | Ibulanku | Ibulanku | 66 | 14 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025-11-10 | Local Sustainable Communities Organization | South Western | Kabale | KAMUGANGUZI | Nyangoye | 50 | 29 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025-11-11 | Western Ankole Civil Society Forum | South Western | Bushenyi | Kyabugimbi | Kyabugimbi | 30 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025-11-13 | Great Lakes Peace Centre | Western | Kasese | Bwesumbu | Kasangali and Kaswa | 45 | 30 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025-11-14 | SOPHGENYI FEEBLE CARE INITIATIVE | Western | Hoima | Bulindi | Bulindi | 26 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| 2025-11-17 | RiamiRiam Civil Siciety Network | Karamoja | Moroto | Nadugent | Nadugent | 43 | 18 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025-11-18 | Nakere Rural Women Activists | Karamoja | Kotido | Lokyoto | Losilang | 54 | 16 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025-11-20 | Lango Civil Society Network | Northern | Lira | Amiyaabil | Tegomola | 119 | 58 | 61 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| 2025-11-21 | Sisters Of Hope | Northern | Lira | Ayago | Agali | 81 | 2 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025-11-24 | Just Empowerment and Development Association (JEDA) | Central | Wakiso | Mende subcounty | Kakunyu | 57 | 20 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2025-11-25 | Community Development and Child welfare Initiative (CODI) | Central | Luwero | Bamunanika Subcounty | Buweke | 84 | 25 | 59 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025-11-27 | Feminature Uganda | Westnile | Arua City | Anzu ward | Odramackaku Town board | 38 | 30 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025-11-28 | Integrated Child Service Consult | Westnile | Arua District | Arivu subcounty | Egara B | 30 | 21 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Regional Community Co-convening Dialogue:
West Nile
Acholi and Lango
Karamoja
Eastern
Western
South Western
Central
By Naomi Ayot Oyaro and Tais Siqueira KAMPALA Uganda / SORIA Spain, Jul 31 2025 (IPS) – In Uganda, local communities are routinely sidelined in development processes, despite knowing most about
Participants at the DISSEMINATION OF POSITION PAPER; Status on Locally Led Development in Uganda and co-creation for local solutions. CAPAIDS Uganda successfully convened a pioneering High-Level Meeting centered on Locally
