comm-UNITY!

Tshaka Mayanja, renowned Ugandan musician who has transformed lives through his gift, describes himself as a mystic man. As he takes us through his musical journey in this episode, it is evident that it has not been a one man journey. It is filled with generosity that he has shown as well as received. He shares with us different stories on platforms he has founded like the Jazz Safari Festival, an...

Sinza, a fictionally animated character who through educational videos teaches children and her wider community about health and nutrition issues, sits at the helm of The Sinza Project. In episode 1 of this season, we are joined by Rita Kayeny, Executive Director at Sinza and Sonia Abiyinza, Managing director at Sinza. They walk us through the organizations origin and mission, highlighting the way...

We travel to Kapchorwa for this season finale, and meet Mr. Joshua Cheptegei, Ugandan long distance runner and current 5000 & 10,000 metres world record holder. Kapchorwa, he tells us, literally means 'home of friends'. Generosity lies in their geography and in their DNA. And he shares anecdotes of ways his community propelled him towards his dream and ways in which he is doing the same for ch...

As we draw closer to the end of the season, we sit down with Pastor Moses Mukisa, founding pastor of Worship Harvest Ministries. Through wise and gentle words he brings to light not just the importance of generosity,  but the importance of a justice driven generosity. One that builds bridges, transforms rather than sustains dependence and builds relationships.  These and other principles...

Ms. Doreen Nawejje, CEO of Women and Children with albinism Uganda, joins us in episode 7 as we delve into her journey with the organisation and the role generosity has played in her immediate and extended community. She is an artist and teacher who describes herself as positively living with albinism, and moved by the example of her own parents, sibling and grandmother, has dedicated her life to...

Barbara Kasekende, Corporate Social Invrstments Manager at Stanbic Bank Uganda, aims to do two things everyday; learn something new and impact a life. It is her perspective on impact, tied to generosity, that drives her to give back to the community, particularly young people. She shares with us how she uses her platform at Stanbic Bank, to implement programs that provide holistic education to you...

Ruth Bahika, child psychologist and Founder, Director at Grace Villa (a sanctuary for at risk girls in Kabale) shares with us the journey that led her to start the home and the generosity that has kept it running for the past 7 years. Grace Villa has been built and run on the generosity of community. And this has come out of people’s innate desire to give, which is strengthened by various examples...

Wetsemba Miriam, documentary photographer and Jim Joel Nyakaana, travel and documentary photographer take us behind their lenses in episode 4 of this season. Commissioned by CivSource Africa, they travelled across various regions within Uganda, to document expressions and symbols of generosity. Both share with us what they saw and learned from the communities they visited. They both underscore tha...

“I was standing on the shoulder of giants”, says Mrs. Pheona Nabasa Wall, President of The Uganda Law Society, as she describes how generosity played a part in her campaign for the position.  Ms Wall joins us in episode 3 as we continue to delve into the beauty of generosity. She shares stories of the individuals and organizations that took up her cause as their own during her campaign. She h...

Mr. Shem Opolot, Co-founder and Managing Director of The Good Currency joins us in this episode as we delve into the eco-system of sustainable giving and volunteer work that the platform seeks to support and be a part of in various communities. He shares the foundation on which the Good Currency was built, the mechanisms on which it functions, and their primary goals.   Mr. Opolot emphasizes...

Our first guest of Season 3 is Mr. Jackson Twesigye Kaguri, founder and CEO of Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project, 2012 CNN Hero, 2015 Global Citizen Award Winner and author. He shares with us the triumphant and intimate story that led to the founding and growth of the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project to what it is today. As he weaves story and lesson together, he continuosly reminds us that generosity is built...

Her Royal Highness the Nnabagereka of Buganda, who is the Queen consort of Kabaka Ronald Mwenda Mutebi II, the King of Buganda, joins us in episode 10 as we wrap up the second season of comm-UNITY! The Nnabagereka is an icon who is highly regarded in society for her leadership in various areas including the Nnabagereka Development Foundation, which she founded in 2000. Through the Foundation, she...

Sameera Mehra, head of Global Alliance Development for Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), joins us in episode 9. Sameera shares from research conducted by CAF titled: “Growing Giving in Uganda.”  This important piece of work was borne of CAF’s desire, alongside their partners, to both identify the roadblocks and the opportunities to growing individual charitable giving in Uganda. Focusing on civ...

We are joined by Mr. Keith Kibirangi, head of African Philanthropy at Save The Children UK, who quickly sets the tone for the conversation with the words “Africans are generous! Generosity begins in Africa!”. Often African ways of giving are lost in the international narrative. But Mr. Kibirango gives an indepth look into the work of African philanthropists, and the many forms of giving outside of...

Carrying on in the spirit of UBUNTU, we sit down with Dr. Stigmata Tenga, Executive Director of the African Philanthropy Network (APN), who reminds us that philanthropy is both an act of giving and an act of power. While that power has often been guarded by the Global North, Dr. Stigmata highlights the importance of shifting that power back in our own hands as Africans, dismantling systems of ineq...

Joining us in Episode 6 is our special guest Kwiz Era. He is a renown painter and illustrator and he collaborated with CivSourve Africa to illustrate a book of African Proverbs on Generosity, joins us in episode 6. He starts by sharing with us why he felt the book of African Proverbs was a project he had to be a part of. And by extension how the themes that enticed him (PanAfricanism, Local Philan...

In episode 5, we sit down with Honorable Rhoda Kalema, former Cabinet Minister and Member of the Costituent Assembly. A woman who has given so much of herself, time and resources; we trace the roots of this generosity in her life. From her faith, to the example her parents set and the culture of sharing during her school-going days, she drops gems of wisdom on what has become her way of life.

It is interesting that even though UBUNTU is deeply embedded in African culture, the dominant narrative often portrays Africans as beggars in desperate need of aid. In episode 4 we sit down with LC5 Chairman of Gulu District, Mr. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi who shares with us stories that reflect the Acholi culture of giving. It is widely believed that it is more blessed to give than to receive. And Gu...

We continue to delve into the topic of genoristy within community with special guest Nalongo Alinda Ikanzi, Head of Subject at LDC (Law Development Centre) and a Partner at Amber Solicitors & Advocates. Her own experiences of generosity have inspired and guided her acts of giving. She shares with us about leading the LDC COVID-19 taskforce, that catered to the needs of a group of students, whi...

In this episode we are joined by Mr. Ruganzu Bruno, an artist, teacher and community organizer. On the podcast, our discussion has largely been around the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have had on our communities.  We now move into chronicling and celebrating the ways we’ve been community to each other through these changes. Mr. Ruganzu takes us back in time to show how the...

We are back for season 2! Ms. Allen Asiimwe, Chief Technical Officer at Trademark East Africa, joins us in episode 1, chronicling the ways in which the trade community has been affected by and adapted to lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares stories from the ground on how the pandemic has put food security and livelihoods at risk, pushed for the integration of trade and he...

Fitness instructor and Founder of Kona Dance Workout, Mr. Felix Wamala joins us for the final conversation of the season. He shares his experience of working and staying connected to clients in a period of time where gyms are closed. And in a period of time where individuals have a lot more time on their hands and are looking for ways to remain active and healthy at home. Our discussion mostly rev...

Dr. Olive Kobusingye, Consultant Trauma Surgeon and Senior Research Fellow, MUSPH, joins us in this episode as we look at Uganda’s healthcare workforce and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected them. One of the most important points that she highlights is that this workforce is a broad community (beyond the doctors and nurses that are our most common point of contact). And this broad community of...

This week we are joined by Dr. John Mark Bwanika, Founding Partner and Director of The Medical Concierge Group Limited. We explore the various forms and the value of digital healthcare and telemedical services within the medical community. COVID-19 has forced us in many ways to rethink and reinvent the ways we do things. In this case it has shone light on technological forms of healthcare services...

Pamela Enyonu, is a mixed media artist and one of the recipients of a grant under the Kuonyesha Art Fund (a program of CivSource Africa). Pamela's work mostly revolves around themes of gender, awareness, empowerment and experiences of working African women. In this episode she shares, through personal experience and one of her own art pieces, what the lockdown has revealed within the artist commun...