General Overview

This annual report covers the period from July 2024 to June 2025, during which the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda deepened its impact as a champion of open knowledge, focusing on cultural heritage preservation, gender equality, and broad-based knowledge sharing. The user Group mobilised diverse contributors, fostered strategic partnerships, and enriched the Wikimedia ecosystem with high-quality, freely licensed content. This overview introduces the year’s key activities, achievements, and lessons learned.

Wiki Loves Folklore 2025

The Wiki Loves Folklore 2025 campaign in Uganda saw significant growth in both participation and content contribution compared to the previous year. This year’s campaign focused on amplifying Uganda’s rich heritage through common contributions, more community /volunteer engagement through photo walks, and writing articles in both English and Luganda.

The campaign made tremendous acheivement of: 2,223 image uploads, 56 videos, and 03 audios and 23 New Wikidata Items Created hence increasing the cultural preservation and curation of Uganda's heritage through photography and media.14 Luganda Wikipedia articles were translated, promoting digital inclusion and local language preservation, 30 editors participated, with many gaining skills in photography, article creation, and uploading of images on Wikimedia Commons, which was as a result of intentional engagement from the core organising team.

However, during the implementation of Wiki Loves Folklore, we experienced budget constraints that significantly limited the scope of photo hunt activities.

Below are some of the winning photos from Wiki Loves Folklore 2025 in Uganda

Ennanga
Oyster nuts (Ebinyeebwa ebizungu)
Grinding millet grains using stones in central Uganda
A group of Kumam People welcoming their guests for an Introduction ceremony.
Annet Nandujja performing Kiganda dance with her group The planets.

Wiki Loves Africa 2025

The Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda proudly participated in Wiki Loves Africa 2025, an annual photographic, video, and audio contest. This year marked our 11th time organizing the local chapter of the contest since its inception in 2014, and the theme, "Farm to Plate," provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase the fascinating journey of food from cultivation to consumption across Uganda.

A key highlight of this year's campaign was the conduction of "photo hunts" which involved volunteers traveling to farms or markets, to harvest or purchase ingredients to prepare and document various food items. This hands-on approach directly supported the creation of rich, authentic content aligned with the "Farm to Plate" theme. Following the submission period, a dedicated jury meticulously reviewed all entries. The top ten photos were then advanced to the international contest. We were delighted to award prizes, in the form of shopping vouchers, to the creators of the top three photos, the best photo story, and the best video.

The campaign successfully generated a significant amount of new, freely licensed content, with a total of 2,379 photos and 17 videos uploaded to Wikimedia Commons.

Below are some of the winning photos from Wiki Loves Africa 2024 in Uganda

Coffee sundrying
Kabonge showing the catfish from lake Victoria
Well decorated cut fruits
A man in his cocoa garden
A woman in her sweet potato garden
Cooking Matooke

WikiGap 2025

WikiGap 2025 in Uganda was a significant initiative aimed at bridging the gender gap on Wikipedia by enhancing the representation of Ugandan and African women across various fields. Participants were invited from 8 institutions, including Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Kabale University, Bishop Stuart University, Victoria University, and Mbarara University of Science and Technology. The event spanned from March to April, 2025 and featured a blend of in-person and online activities with efforts to create and improve articles about Ugandan and African women in leadership, academia, science, arts, sports, etc.

The project conducted a three-day intensive training focusing on Wikipedia editing, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons, mentoring of new editors by pairing them with experienced Wikimedians to foster skill development and holding of a social Media Campaign to raise awareness about the gender gap on Wikipedia and encourage public participation.

The total number of individuals who actively contributed to the campaign were 33 (15 women and 18 men), 107 new Wikipedia articles were created, over 112 existing articles were improved, 700 new Wikidata items were created and 31 articles were translated on Luganda Wikipedia. See Dashboard:

Limited representation of women in Wikipedia content and among contributors was solved by targeted outreach and training programs to encourage women's participation and content creation and the poor quality and reliability of newly added content were solved by implementing mentorship programs and peer reviews to maintain high standards.

GLAM July 2024 - June 2025

Between July 2024 and June 2025, GLAM-Wiki Uganda focused on three strategic pillars: sustained mentorship, intentional stakeholder engagement, and high-quality, contextually relevant contributions across Wikipedia, Wikidata, Commons, and Wikisource. Archival and information-science students and other thematic groups received hands-on training—in transcription, public-domain law, open-source licensing, and the Women in Wikisource initiative that linked Wikimedia tools directly to their academic and professional goals.

Deepening partnerships with the Community Libraries Association of Uganda (COLAU) and the Uganda Community Museums Association (UCOMA), the project trained staff from both organizations to upload to Commons and enrich Wikidata, embedding institutional ownership and ensuring long-term sustainability. The GLAM-Wiki Showcase 2025 united cultural, academic, and Wikimedia stakeholders, while targeted content drives and mapping efforts filled gaps in Uganda’s library, museum, and press heritage—creating articles, adding metadata, and uploading freely licensed archival materials.

Key achievements included over a dozen thematic mentorship cohorts, formalized partnerships, and a countrywide mapping of libraries and museums. The press history initiative expanded coverage of historical and contemporary newspapers and preserved Uganda’s journalistic legacy in open repositories.

Challenges such as low visibility, shallow online engagement, misaligned skills, and non-localized project templates were met by launching the 2025 Showcase, prioritizing in-person sessions, grounding training in locally relevant themes, and pairing participants with mentors. These adjustments have laid a foundation for a resilient, locally driven GLAM-Wiki community in Uganda.

GLAM-WIKI Uganda & Partners showcase 2024
Exterior of the Uganda Railway Museum
Interior view of URA Museum at URA Building
Bookshelves at Sepi Mukombe Mpambara Public Library, Kabale.jpg

Wiki Loves Earth 2024

Wiki Loves Earth (WLE) is a global photography contest promoting free documentation of protected natural sites via Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. In 2024, the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda held its fifth local campaign from May to July, encouraging Ugandans to upload high-quality images of national parks, reserves, and landscapes under free licenses to boost visibility of Uganda’s natural heritage.

Participants photographed sites like Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kazinga Channel, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Nyakasura Falls, and Amabere ga Nyina Mwiru. The images highlighted Uganda’s biodiversity—chimpanzees, leopards, sunbirds, giraffes, waterfalls, and crater lakes. The top 10 national photos were submitted to the international contest.

The campaign promotes free access to visual content, enriches Wikimedia with local imagery, supports youth engagement, digital literacy, and environmental awareness, and advances open licensing aligned with Creative Commons values.

Over 900 images were uploaded. Highlights among the top 10 winners include: an alpha male chimpanzee by Giles Laurent, an aerial view of Lake Bunyampaka by Jim Joel, and Rothschild’s giraffes by Timothy Akolamazima. These represented Uganda in the global WLE 2024 competition and emerging photographers like James Wasswa, Ainembabazi Leviticus, and Sagiomhza gained recognition for their powerful visual storytelling.

Challenges faced include many rural Ugandans were unaware of the contest or Wikimedia Commons, so organizers used a virtual launch, social media, and WhatsApp groups to raise awareness and guide participation. Technical challenges like uploading and licensing were addressed through hands-on training and limited access to protected areas was solved by organizing photo hunts to places like Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Park, though funding remains tight. To improve photo quality, professionals shared tips and encouraged curated submissions.

Aerial Picture of A heard of Buffalo
071 African blue flycatcher at Kibale forest National Park Photo by Giles Laurent.
077 Alpha male chimpanzee checking his arm at Kibale forest National Park Photo by Giles Laurent

Wiki Loves Monuments 2024

The Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda successfully organized Wiki Loves Monuments 2024, marking the eighth consecutive year of the contest in Uganda since 2017.

A key initiative this year involved volunteers travelling to upcountry locations to capture previously unrepresented cultural heritage sites on Wikimedia Commons. Notable sites documented include: Kooki Cultural Heritage sites in Rakai District, Bukooli Cultural Heritage sites in Busoga, Mise and Ngwati caves,Ruhengu and Rutorere Caves, Ham Mukasa Residence and Victoria Nyanza Sailing Club, Minera and Ihimbo hot springs, Nyabugoto rock, and Walusii hills.

The campaign resulted in the upload of 730 images to Wikimedia Commons, 21 contributors actively contributed to the project and recruited 10 new contributors. This significant contribution expands the visual record of Uganda's rich cultural heritage.

The campaign still faces several challenges such as: long distances required to reach many sites, the discovery that some historical sites no longer exist, restricted access to some sites due to private ownership, however, these are familiar hurdles, and the organizing team had pre-established strategies to address them effectively when possible.

Below are some of the winning photos from Wiki Loves Monuments 2024 in Uganda

Cemetery Of The Polish Refugees Exiled In Uganda 1945
Bachwezi's convenant cave
Mise Cave. A cultural site site found near Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa, Uganda.
Ham Mukasa Country Residence. 02.jpg
Back view 2 of Rukarango tilting rock.

Wiki Soccerthon 2024

The Wiki Soccerthon Campaign 2024 was aimed at enhancing the online presence of Ugandan football by creating and improving Wikipedia articles and uploading images to Commons on notable figures, clubs, and events, fostering community involvement through training, edit-a-thons, and outreach activities to encourage contributions to Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons and building the skills and knowledge of the volunteering participants in researching, writing, and editing Wikipedia content.

Key takeaways include the significance of mentorship programs, strengthening data partnerships, expanding content in local languages, and utilizing real-time metrics to inspire contributors. These lessons provide a solid foundation for future initiatives. The campaign achieved its goals to create 300 Wikidata items, 50 new Wikipedia articles, and 1000 media files uploaded on Wikimedia Commons. Dashboard

Three edit-a-thons conducted, engaged 47 editors, welcomed 18 new contributors, eight match-day events and 16 clubs are documented with strategic collaboration with sports journalists and sports websites, including Voice of Bugerere.

Wiki Soccerthons 2024 Uganda - Matchday
Wiki Soccerthons 2024 Uganda - Matchday
AFCON2025Q
Bright Stars FC vs Express FC

WikiForHumanRights 2024

WikiForHumanRights 2024 in Uganda took place from 11 May 2024 to 30 June 2024. The campaign was open to individuals, organisations, and experts in the fields of environment and human rights. It focused more on expanding topics important to human rights and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16.

The campaign was a hybrid one, which included a virtual launch for the campaign, and a physical edit-a-thon. The total number of participants was 38, new editors were 8, returning editors were 30, male editors were 18, and female editors were 12. Outreach Dashboard

WikiForHumanRights 2024 in Uganda in-person event
WikiForHumanRights 2024 in Uganda in-person event
Participants at the WikiForHumanRights 2024 in Uganda in-person event
People trying to navigate through the floods to access the house that was on the other side

Wiki For Refugees 2024

The WikiForRefugees 2024 in Uganda aimed to bridge information gaps and amplify refugee voices through Wikimedia platforms. The project executed various planned activities, including the organisation of Refugee-Centric, Wikipedia Workshops in Bidi Bidi refugee Settlement, Yumbe District in the West Nile Region of Uganda. The campaign focused on Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, and Wikipedia. The workshops equipped refugees with essential skills in Wikipedia editing and content creation, directly addressing the barriers they often face in accessing and contributing to information.

The project facilitated refugee content creation, ensuring multilingual accessibility through translation efforts. Awareness campaigns mobilised volunteers, fostering collaboration with local NGOs, empowering refugees, and enhancing global understanding of their experiences. 33 individuals (17 new editors and 13 retained editors) actively contributed to the Wiki for Refugees campaign, 249 New Wikimedia Commons Uploads, 230 New Wikidata items created, 55 Wikipedia edits made and 02 New Wikipedia Articles created.

A two-day workshop and an Edit-a-thon were held in the Bidi-Bidi Refugee camp (Yumbe district), attended by 29 new volunteers (refugees) and 04 trainers and three online follow-up training sessions were also conducted. See Results

The campain partnered with 04 non-Wikimedia entities including: Hello World, which offered training space with laptops for the two-day edit-a-thon, The Reliable Refugees Story Teller Association, Platform Africa, and the Open Knowledge Community in South Sudan which provided community and participant mobilisation for the training and edit-a-thon.

Participants encountered a challenge of limited access to digital gadgets, limited understanding of Internet usage and a poor Internet connection due to remoteness of the settlement but we ensured comprehensive support to refugees in Wikimedia campaigns and projects through partnerships and collaborations..

Outreach Dashboard

Wiki For Refugees 2024 Editathon in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement at Hello World Hub, WAHDA ICT Training Centre
Wiki For Refugees 2024 Editathon in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement at Hello World Hub, WAHDA ICT Training Centre
Wiki For Refugees 2024 Editathon in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement at Hello World Hub, WAHDA ICT Training Centre

AGM 2024 & 10-Year Anniversary Celebration

The year 2024 marked a special milestone for the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda as it marked 10 years of existence.

The group’s work began in 2014, led by dedicated local volunteers. The user group officially became an affiliate of the Wikimedia Foundation in June 2018 and later registered as a Non-Governmental Organization in February 2020. These milestones have shaped the group’s growth and impact in the free knowledge movement in Uganda.

On 27th July 2024, the user group held an Annual General Meeting (AGM) together with a celebration to mark a decade of Wikimedia work in Uganda. The event had a great turnout, with over 60 participants, including guests from the partner organizations such as Touch the Slum, OpenStreetMap Uganda, and Dan Church Aid.

The strategy plan (2025-2029) was presented and discussed, covering membership, program areas, and strategic objectives moving forward. The event was covered by different media outlets such as Bukedde (Event news link), Daily Monitor, and New Vision, The Black Examiner (Event news Link) with one of the most inspiring moments being the awards ceremony in which founding members and contributors with the best/most edits in various categories were recognised. It was a joyful reminder of the commitment and hard work that fuels our community.

10th Anniversary cake for Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda (Wiki Uganda)
Members cutting cake at 10th Anniversary for Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda (Wiki Uganda)
AGM and Ten year Anniversary Celebration
AGM and Ten year Anniversary Celebration

Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos 2024

Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos 2024 in Uganda campaign was the second edition which ran from July to August 2024. Editors used hashtags that included: #WPWP (global campaign hashtag), #WPWPUG (which was used by editors with 500+ edits), and also #WCUG2024 (which was used by editors without 500 edits, mostly new editors).

The editors used some existing images on Wikimedia Commons, and they also uploaded 1,336 images, 4,426 edits were made on Wikipedia, 33 editors participated in the campaign (17 females and 16 males). Dashboard. However there was a challenge of editors making entries were made, and some were of poor quality.

Luganda Wikipedia 2024

The overall aim of the Luganda Wikipedia community is to promote access to free knowledge in the local language (Luganda).

Since July 2024, the community has had remarkable progress by expanding its content base, raising public awareness, attracting new contributors, and equipping volunteers with essential Wikimedia skills.

Two targeted outreach sessions were held at Makerere University where 25 new members were registed and equipped with the necessary Wikimedia skills. One Edit-a-thon was conducted to support members to apply their skills and make meaningful contributions to Luganda Wikipedia. 44 editors participated, 19 volunteers were retained,174 new Wikipedia articles were created and 367 existing articles improved. Dashboard.

The project faced faced difficulties in doing consistent editing due to limited access to essential digital devices, eg, computers, and this was solved by training volunteers how to use the mobile interface.

Luganda Wikipedia Training 2024
Luganda Wikipedia Training 2024
Luganda Wikipedia Training 2024
Luganda Wikipedia sensitision, Makerere University (Dr Medadi Ssentanda with Lg Wiki organizers)

Wiki4Education 2024

Wiki4Education 2024 in Uganda ran from March 2024 to the end of November 2024. It consisted of a small share of old members and had mostly new volunteers from 3 institutions, which were identified, and partnerships explored. These included Imani Academy, UNELTA, and Ashinaga Uganda. The project targeted volunteers of all categories, from primary teachers to tutors at institutions of higher learning.

The project achieved increased number of participants to 98, among whom 68 were new editors, and 30 of those were among retained members, a new laptop computer was purchased and made available for project use, trained and mentored 02 event organizers. Team's online contributions included 509 photos uploaded on Wikimedia Commons, and 660 new articles created.

Limited skill set by participants, especially in the use and application of digital devices remains a major challenge, short holidays in the Ugandan academic system, which limit available training time for editors and unresponsive partners who had been expected to be a part of the project.

Participants at the Award ceremony for WikiEdu Participants in 2024 in Uganda
Certificates Award to WikiEdu Participants in 2024 in Uganda
Lead trainee Drake Tamale with Participants at WikiEdu Training at Goethe Zentrum in Kampala Uganda

Art and Feminism 2024

Art+Feminism 2024 in Uganda was led by the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda to close the gender gap on Wikimedia platforms by amplifying the visibility of women in the arts.

The campaign blended storytelling, digital literacy, organizing, and feminist advocacy under the theme “Bridging the Gender Gap on Wikimedia.” It focused on Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, and a national storytelling competition. See fliers, A, B, C

Core activities included the National Storytelling Competition (April–May), where artists submitted poems, essays, comics, photos, illustrations, and videos exploring feminism and resistance to gender backlash. A virtual Edit-a-Thon in November focused on improving articles about women artists and feminist movements. The campaign concluded with a Workshop & Awards Ceremony, celebrating contributors and announcing competition winners.

The initiative led to increased documentation of Ugandan female artists and feminist voices across Wikimedia. Over 30 participants—including artists, journalists, and students—were trained. Collaborations were formed with groups like Whose Knowledge?, She Laws Foundation, Defend Defenders, and Touch the Slum. The campaign supported Luganda-language content for broader accessibility.

Impact by the numbers include: 33 editors, 5 new editors, 2,119 articles improved, 212 articles were created (35 in English, 11 in Luganda),166 Wikidata items were created and 96 media files were uploaded to Wikimedia Commons and the project also published an Art+Feminism 2024 Magazine.

Challenges included limited feminist content in local languages and fear of online backlash. These were addressed through Luganda translations, culturally relevant topics, and integrated training on digital safety and mental health. The campaign also tackled underrepresentation by hosting storytelling competitions and edit-a-thons focused on women in the arts.

Art+Feminism 2024 event in Uganda

User Group Strategy Process and finalisation

As the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda expands, a clear strategic direction became essential.

Through a participatory process, a five-year strategic plan outlining the mission, vision, goals, and focus areas was developed, with guidance from affiliates like OFWA, Wikimedia South Africa, Brazil, and Ivory Coast.

To enhance the strategy, the group partnered with Dream Evaluation Network Africa (DENA), which contributed key elements such as a fundraising strategy, monitoring and evaluation tools, KPIs, clear targets, and a practical implementation framework.

By the end of 2024, the strategic plan was finalized and shared with the community. A major milestone was the creation of a multi-year budget, approved by the Wikimedia Foundation to support the 2025–2027 funding cycle.

With the strategy in place, the group’s activities are now more focused, aligned, and impactful—marking an exciting new chapter for the community’s growth and influence.

Wikidata Birthday Celebrations

To mark Wikidata’s 12th birthday, the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda hosted two key events: a virtual launch and a hybrid cake-cutting celebration. The virtual launch in October 2024 welcomed 25 participants and featured Wikidata introductions, editing tutorials, a Q&A, and a live edit-a-thon aimed at building skills in structured data contribution.

From October to November, a Wikidata edit-a-thon engaged 39 editors via the Outreach Dashboard, resulting in the creation of 212 new Wikidata items. The celebrations wrapped up with a hybrid cake-cutting event, attended by 37 people in person and 10 online. Highlights included a Wikidata quiz (29 participants) with a shopping voucher for the top scorer, and a bottle-throwing game with fun prizes. The events sparked learning, collaboration, and enthusiasm for Wikidata editing. Special thanks to Wikimedia Deutschland for funding the initiative.

Board elections 2025

In early 2025, the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda held its first fully elected board cycle to select five members for the 2025–2027 term. Voting members were Ugandan citizens with at least 100 edits per year and active participation in WCUGU activities and they chose their representatives via a secure secret ballot on the OpaVote platform.

The nomination and application window ran from January 25 to February 8, followed by a candidate forum on February 15 where all 11 contenders presented their governance visions. The voting period spanned February 16–21, overseen by an independent Elections Committee chaired by Alvin Ategyeka, with Joseph Njoroge Njai as observer and Sharon Atyang as an abstaining member. Results were tabulated and announced on February 22–23. Erina Mukuta, Geofrey Kateregga, Micheal Kaluba, Baluku Brian, and Faith Kwera were elected to serve two-year terms. Their selection highlights WCUGU’s commitment to transparent, member-driven leadership and strengthens the group’s governance foundation. This transition positions the community for sustained growth, enhanced member engagement, and robust governance in the years ahead.

Wikimedia Summits 2024

Wikimedia Summit 2024 was held in Berlin, Germany, on April 19 to 21, bringing together representatives from Wikimedia affiliates, the Wikimedia Foundation, and the broader movement to discuss strategy and collaboration. Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda was represented by Erina Mukuta.

The summit provided an opportunity to connect with other affiliates, share experiences, and contribute to discussions shaping the future of the Wikimedia movement.

Wikimania 2024

Wikimania 2024, the 19th Wikimedia conference, took place in Katowice, Poland, as a hybrid event (in-person and online) from 7–10 August 2024. Uganda was represented by Geoffrey Kateregga, Alice Kibombo, Sandra Aceng, and Alvin Ategyeka.

During the closing ceremony, members of the Wikimedia User Group Uganda joined other Wikimedians on stage to officially welcome participants to Wikimania 2025. Wikimedia Uganda members are part of the organizing team for Wikimania 2025.

Wikimania Steering Committee Meeting with Wikimania 2025 Local Organizing Team at Wikimania 2024
Wikimania 2025 Organizing Team at Wikimania 2024
African Wikimedians at Wikimania 2024

Wiki Indaba Conference 2024

Uganda Wikimedians participated in the October 4–6, 2024, Wiki Indaba in Johannesburg, South Africa. Geoffrey Kateregga and Alice Kibombo were on the Wiki Indaba Core organising Team of the conference.

Other volunteers who attended physically include: Brian Baluku, Shafik Mubiru, Sandra Aceng, Divine Nanteza, Faith Kwera, Carol Nankinga, and Ssemmanda Will.

Their participation allowed for the exchange of knowledge and experiences with other user groups, the sharing of the Ugandan community's work, and the establishment of connections within the broader Wikimedia community. More photos of participants.

Wikisource Conference in Bali

In February 2025, Divine Gabriella Nanteza (a Wikisource volunteer since June 2022) attended the “Preserving Heritage Digitally” conference in Bali for Wikisource’s 10th anniversary. Representing Sub-Saharan Africa, she presented a structured onboarding course for newcomers—highlighting global demand for accessible entry points—networked with editors from Indonesia, India, and France, and explored the new Wikisource Reader app to improve content access.

Inspired by the worldwide commitment to digitizing cultural heritage, Gabriella has since shared her learnings and tools with Ugandan volunteers to strengthen local participation. She thanks Alice (GLAM project lead), Geoffrey and the User Group admins, and the entire Ugandan Wikisource community for their support and the honor of representing them internationally.

Wikisource Conference 2025, Day 2, Denpasar; February 2025. Divine presenting