Napak District, Uganda – November 6, 2024
In a significant step toward community development, Share An Opportunity Uganda (SAO U) held an inception meeting with Napak District leaders to establish a shared vision for the organization’s upcoming five-year program. Held at the district headquarters, the meeting brought together district officials, sub-county representatives, and local leaders to discuss SAO U’s plans and to gain insights on Napak’s most pressing needs.
During this Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), represented by the CFO, expressed strong support for SAO U’s initiatives, seeing the inception meeting as vital for creating local awareness. He encouraged SAO Uganda to hold similar introductory meetings at the sub-county level, ensuring that all local government officials understand the program’s objectives. “The district is ready to offer support to SAO Uganda, as this partnership will greatly benefit our communities,” he stated.
LCV Chairperson of Napak echoed this sentiment, recognizing SAO Uganda’s work as essential to addressing Napak’s core challenges. With a high illiteracy rate of 81% and a 77% dropout rate among school-aged children, the district is in need of targeted interventions to uplift educational outcomes. He noted that SAO Uganda’s earlier assessments in May 2024, which highlighted these statistics, were instrumental in prioritizing Napak for the program. “We are pleased to welcome SAO Uganda, and I urge all district officials to support their mission wholeheartedly,” he said. He emphasized the value SAO Uganda’s mobile court initiative will bring, making legal services more accessible to the people of Napak.
SAO Uganda’s Acting National Director, Emmanuel Sakira, outlined the organization’s history and mission, explaining the planned activities in Napak. The Director noted that these planned activities would tackle specific community challenges in education, health, economic development, and social cohesion. SAO Uganda’s goal is to establish local offices within Napak’s sub-counties, further strengthening their commitment to proximity and community engagement.
During the presentation, district leaders were given a summary of findings from SAO’s earlier assessments. In addition to education gaps, these findings revealed health challenges, with some residents traveling as far as 60 kilometres to the nearest health center.
Hon. Asiimwe Amos Bingyi, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) pointed out that improving access to healthcare is critical for the district’s well-being, adding, “Our community needs closer access to health services, and we are hopeful that SAO’s initiatives will bridge this gap.”
The meeting also emphasized Napak’s need for economic empowerment. The RDC stressed the need to shift the community’s view of livestock from mere subsistence to income generation. He recommended exchange learning visits for locals to see how livestock can contribute to sustainable livelihoods. The community’s traditional dependence on cattle could be leveraged to create steady sources of income and improve overall household resilience.
In discussions, Napak officials highlighted the importance of aligning SAO Uganda’s activities with the district’s existing localization plan and sanitation efforts. They encouraged SAO Uganda to work closely with local leaders, sharing project plans and budgets to ensure integration within Napak’s annual development agenda. Questions around the SHG model, youth group facilitation, and climate-smart technologies sparked meaningful dialogue on how best to adapt SAO’s models to Napak’s unique context.
As the District Council Speaker acknowledged SAO U’s commitment to establishing local offices, particularly in sub-counties, which would facilitate on-the-ground implementation. He also emphasized the need for SAO Uganda to focus on nutrition support and to keep open communication with district leaders.
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