Uganda Community Based Association for Child Welfare
(UCOBAC)
UCOBAC is an Non-Governmental Organization whose mission is to attain improved welfare of vulnerable children in Uganda through capacity building of relevant actors, advocacy and networking using community-based initiatives.
UCOBAC was formed in 1990 at a time when there was an estimated number of 1 million orphans in Uganda due to the effects of war, AIDS and other disasters. The government's capacity to deal with the problem was limited and the best solution was seen to be community-based coordination and support.
UCOBAC seeks to further the abilities of community-based NGOs and other child welfare actors to identify, target and meet the needs of Uganda's most vulnerable children, especially those living with HIV/AIDS and those orphaned by AIDS using community-based approaches. UCOBAC is currently working in 20 rural districts in Uganda.
A UCOBAC beneficiary being filmed with her goats, given to support income-generation
UCOBAC contributes directly to achievement of "improved protection for children in especially difficult circumstances." The main areas of intervention include:
- Advocacy and Networking: Creating awareness of the rights of children (including through radio programs that feature testimonials of children themselves)
- Capacity-building: Training programs on child development, AIDS, income-generating activities, and provision of soft loans for income-generating activities
- HIV/AIDS: Home-based care using trained community volunteers; provision of material support (mattresses, mosquito nets, etc); spiritual counseling; education for the infected on nutrition; Tuberculosis Direct Observation Treatment Support (TB Dots)
Governance is an important aspect of all of UCOBAC’s work. Policy makers are involved in all of their campaigns so that they can hear directly from children and the policy changes that are needed based on their needs and experiences.
UCOBAC members performing a drama on AIDS and property grabbing
Home-Based Care Alliance
UCOBAC is currently partnering with Kamokya Christian Caring Community to organize the Home-Based Care Alliance in Uganda. The Home-Based Care Alliance, an initiative of GROOTS International, is being has been piloted in Kenya by GROOTS Kenya, with support from the New Field Foundation. GROOTS Kenya is now in the process of supporting a transfer of the Alliance to Uganda through peer exchange.
The goals of the HBC Alliance are to valorize the currently unrecognized contributions of home-based caregivers, to shift resoures and decision-making power to those providing a major unpaid response to HIV/AIDS at the local level, to form a broad network for peer learning, and to serve as a platform for advocacy and negotiations with government, donors and other decision-makers in the field of AIDS.
Commission on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor
With support from The Huairou Commission, UCOBAC sponsored a Grassroots Academy to bring the voices of poor women into the Commission on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor National Consultation in Uganda.
Download UCOBAC’s final report on the Legal Empowerment process, including recommendations and emerging issues here.
Contact:
Solome Mukisa
UCOBAC
PO Box 7449
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: 256-41-222-926
ucobac@utlonline.co.ug
