Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda/About us
| Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda | |
|---|---|
| |
.svg) Uganda | |
| Location |  Uganda |
| Country code | 256 |
| Approval date | June 25, 2018 |
| Staff | 10 |
| Volunteers | 198 |
| Official language(s) | English |
| Other language(s) |
|
| Key people | |
| Mobile number | +256(0) |
- CH Wikimedia CH
- GB Wikimedia UK
- KR 위키미디어 한국
- US-NYC Wikimedia New York City
- CAT Amical Wikimedia
- ESP-WE Wikiesfera Grupo de Usuarixs
- H-GAPS H-GAPS User Group
- NGA-HA Hausa Wikimedians User Group
- NGA-IG Igbo Wikimedians User Group
- US-NE New England Wikimedians
- WJ WikiJournal
- WK? Whose Knowledge?
Who we are
[edit]The Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda (WCUGU) is a nonprofit organisation that brings together volunteers passionate about promoting free, inclusive, and locally relevant knowledge through Wikimedia platforms like Wikipedia, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons.
Founded as a grassroots initiative in 2014, WCUGU was officially recognized by the Wikimedia Foundation in June 2018 and later registered as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in February 2020.
Our community includes over 500 contributors from across Uganda, working to enrich Wikimedia projects with content that reflects Uganda’s culture, languages, history, and voices.
Mission
[edit]The Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda exists to empower individuals and communities in Uganda to take an active role in the creation, development, and sharing of free, locally relevant knowledge. Through open collaboration, we aim to close knowledge gaps, improve digital literacy, and increase inclusive representation of Ugandan culture, languages, and perspectives across Wikimedia platforms.
Our mission is grounded in the principles of open access, volunteerism, diversity, and sustainability, with a focus on enabling grassroots participation, strengthening institutional partnerships, and advocating for policies that support the open knowledge ecosystem.
Objectives
[edit]- To represent the Wikimedia Foundation to the Uganda Wikimedia contributing community
- To promote Wikimedia projects and free content in general and to encourage the use of Wikimedia resources in education.
- To recruit technically and non-technically minded people to participate to Wikimedia projects.
- Organisation of conventions, conferences, meetings, workshops, contests, etc.
Our Legal Status
[edit]WCUGU is a registered Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) under Ugandan law. This legal recognition strengthens our ability to:
- Enter formal partnerships
- Secure funding
- Implement large-scale projects
- Advocate for open knowledge policies at national level
Our Governance Structure
[edit]Our work is guided by a structured governance system to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accountability:
- Board of Governors: Provides strategic oversight and leadership
- Executive Director: Oversees daily operations and strategic implementation
- Core Staff: Leads community programs, partnerships, finance, communications, and M&E
- Volunteers: The heart of our movement, driving grassroots engagement and content creation
Our Guiding Principles
[edit]Our governance is shaped by these principles:
- Transparency — Open decision-making and operations
- Inclusivity — Active engagement of diverse voices
- Accountability — Clear responsibilities and regular feedback
- Efficiency — Effective use of resources for maximum impact
Our Journey: Key Milestones
[edit]| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Grassroots founding, launch of Luganda Wikipedia and Wiki Loves Monuments |
| 2018 | Official recognition by the Wikimedia Foundation |
| 2020 | Formal registration as a Non-Governmental Organization in Uganda |
| 2014 – 2024 | Initiation and expansion of key projects: WikiGap, GLAM, Wiki Loves Africa, Wikipedia for Education, and Wiki for Refugees |
| 2025–2029 | Implementation of Strategic Plan to scale up content, community, advocacy, and sustainability |
Organizational Structure
[edit]The organizational structure of the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda is designed to ensure transparency, efficiency, and effective governance.
- Board of Governors – The top-level decision-making body responsible for strategic oversight. Elected by voting members and serving two-year terms.
- Executive Director – Oversees day-to-day operations, implements strategic plans, and reports to the Board.
- Program Managers – Lead program implementation and coordination.
- Finance & Administration Officer – Manages budgeting, compliance, and office operations.
- Project Leads – Manage specific projects in line with WCUGU’s strategic goals.
- Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Officer – Tracks progress, gathers data, and reports on impact.
- Community Manager – Builds community, supports members, and manages membership engagement.
- Communications & Partnerships Team – Handles advocacy, media, partnerships, and public outreach.
- Volunteers – The backbone of WCUGU. Contribute content, organise events, and support various initiatives.
Organisation Chart Representation
[edit]Below is a simplified textual representation of WCUGU’s organisational chart:
Board of Governors
|
Executive Director
------------------------------------------------
| | |
Program Managers Finance & Admin Communications &
Officer Partnerships Team
| | |
Project Leads M&E Officer Community Manager
|
Volunteers
(Adapted from Strategic Plan 2025–2029, p. 28–31)
Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda
(WUCUGU)
wikiuganda@gmail.com
+256 767 937 760
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