Board Chairman’s Speech
March 16th, 2023
(The protocol will be reviewed as appropriate)
- The Guest of Honor, the Patron of Kulika Uganda, His Grace the Most Reverend Paul Ssemogerere,
- The outgoing Trustees, Mr. Peters Musoke, and Dr. Makuza,
- Members of the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors,
- The political and cultural leaders
- Our funding Partners, (Malteser International, GIZ, Pelum Uganda, Bio vision Africa Trust to mention a few)
- Our business partners (Centenary Bank, Save the Children)
- Past and present beneficiaries
- Distinguished Guests,
- Ladies and Gentlemen,
Warm greetings from Kulika Uganda!
On behalf of the Board of Directors and on my own behalf, I welcome everybody to the Kulika Uganda Training Centre at Lutisi. Thank you for accepting our invitation to attend this historic function during which we will inaugurate our Patron, celebrate the service of two distinguished Trustees and show case some of the work we do.
We heartily thank the Archbishop for accepting our invitation to serve Kulika Uganda in the capacity of Patron.
- Once more, can we give a round of applause to our new Patron!
Governance
Our Guest of Honour, at the helm of the organisation is a Patron, who is supported by 3 Trustees. The following are the current Trustees.
- Deogratias Yiga
- Brother Vincent Barigye
- Josephine Kiiza.
The Board of Directors are composed of 6 members as follows:
- Alastair Taylor – Board Chairperson
- Julian Omala – Member and Chairperson Finance Committee
- Ambrose Obi – Member and member of the Finance Committee
- Jane Kisakye – Member and member of the Programs Committee
- Evarist Baguma – Member and member of the Finance Committee
- Magdalene Amujal – Board Secretary/Executive Director
The Board is supported by 2 Committees:
Programs and Fundraising Committee
- Jane Kisakye – Chairperson
- Betty Ikalany – Member
- Christopher Ssewagudde – Member
Finance, Risk, Human Resource and Administration Committee
- Omala Julian – Chairperson
- Ambrose Obi – Member
- Evarist Baguma – Members
Management and Staff
There are 8 Management staff headed by the Executive Director and in total Kulika Uganda employs 29 staff members.
Kulika Beneficiaries – Key farmers and scholarship beneficiaries
Dear Patron, the organization has a wealth of social capital formed by Key Farmer Trainers and scholarship beneficiaries. These help us to carry our work in different areas in the country. The Key farmers underwent training in ecological organic agriculture and are now practicing on their farms, and the scholarship beneficiaries received education support from Kulika scholarship fund. Both categories are represented in this ceremony
- (key farmers and scholarship beneficiaries are introduced by show of hands)
Our Guest of Honor, I would like to give you an insight into the beginnings of Kulika Uganda
The Beginnings of Kulika Uganda
Kulika Uganda started in 1981. It was founded by Patricia Brenninkmeyer who had been a social worker in Uganda. She saw the need around 1979 and 1980 to give opportunities to bright students to study when much of the academic and institutional infrastructure of the country was non-functional. Patricia had special interest in children and their feeding. This led to the development of the agricultural programme to feed the children, and educational scholarships, to empower them.
Community Development
The initial academic program was the provision of postgraduate scholarships, but this was soon followed by the implementation of a community development program, mainly concerned with the promotion of ecological Organic Agriculture for food security and income. This has since expanded through training communities in sustainable livelihoods, and thereby enabling them to provide for themselves through acquisition of skills and knowledge to improve food and income security. In doing this Kulika Uganda is actively contributing towards the realization of the global sustainable development goals. To date over 20,000 farmers have benefited from this community development program.
Education
Kulika has supported students to study at vocational tertiary institutions, and at University levels, for certificate, diploma, Bachelors, Masters and PHD levels, in Uganda and abroad. Many are now contributing to the development of this country in different capacities, and some are present in this gathering. To date over 1,500 learners have benefited form this support.
Our Guest of Honour and Patron, with the Vision of Improved quality of life and environment for all communities reached, Kulika’s work inspires communities, households and individuals with confidence, knowledge, and skills to harness their resources and be productive for lasting changes in their lives.
Kulika Uganda’s interventions and experience of over 30 years inspires creativity and innovation, health and nourishment, and environment protection for rural transformation. The focus areas, as stated in our recently released strategic plan (2023 to 2027), are:
- Ecological Organic Agriculture and Climate change mitigation
- Youth entrepreneurship and employability by promoting vocational skilling, scholarships and infrastructure development for self-reliance.
- Research, Advocacy/Policy influencing and development.
- Networking and Partnerships
Current projects
Kulika is implementing several projects
Name of the project | Funders | District of Implementation |
Locally-driven co-development of plant-based value chains towards more sustainable African food system with healthier diets and export potential | EU/ InnoFood Africa | northeastern and central region in the Kaberamaido, Ngora and Wakiso |
Energy Solutions for Displaced Setting | MIT/DLab and GIZ | West Nile region |
Improving livelihoods through employment opportunities for vulnerable youth from refugee and host communities in West Nile, Uganda | Malteser International and BMZ (Starting 15th March 2023) | West Nile region in the districts of Madi Okolo and Terego Districts |
Mainstreaming ecological organic agriculture in agricultural systems | PELUM Uganda and Biovision Africa Trust | Central region in the districts of Luweero, Masaka, Mubende, Mukono, and Nakasongola |
Strengthening the capacity of 200 women to improve inputs, extension service, value addition of maize and soy bean production and marketing. | Erbacher Foundation/ Malteser International | Central region in the district of Wakiso |
MSC in Development Management | Open University and Scholarship Commission | National |
Female Centred Permaculture | Girls of Tommorow Foundation | Central region in the Rakai District |
Early childhood development | Kulika Uganda | Kampala, Ggaba and Natete Markets |
Key Farmer Training | Kulika Uganda | Based at the Kulika Training Centre |
Internship Program for Students from Institutions of higher learning | Kulika Uganda | Based at the Kulika Training Centre |
All these projects are contributing to the vision and mission of the organization but also underpinned by the UN development goals and the Government of Uganda National Development Plan 3.
Partners
We thank all the partners who have supported us in this journey, and specifically wish to recognize the following current partners for contributing towards the vision and mission of Kulika Uganda;
- InnoFood Africa
- Malteser International
- Pelum Uganda
- Bio vision Africa Trust
- MIT-DLAB/GIZ
- Bicton Overseas Trust
- Open University and Common Wealth Scholarship Commission
- SCOPE Uganda
What is still needed?
Our Guest of honor, as we look ahead, we continue to invite all of you to journey with us as we continue to address the challenges being faced by communities. There is still a lot to do to bring about self-reliance and improve the quality of life. Together we will make significant contributions by supporting Community Development initiatives, education and research.
Gratitude
Our Guest of Honor, allow me to thank the following.
- Patricia for supporting and watching over us as we grew into a strong, healthy organization.
- Family members (especially Mr. Thomas (MHSRP) and Fr. Paul Brenninkmeyer) for their great interest and support to the work in Uganda.
- Jane Leek, and the Kulika 1981 Trustees, for their invaluable encouragement and direction
We thank all our Partners, Networks, and Collaborators, the Key farmers and Education scholarship beneficiaries.
- Another round of applause!
Patricia Brenninkmeyer in her own words
Our Guest of Honor, I want to end with Patricia’s own words.
‘I have had the very great luxury of being able to fulfill my dreams through the hard work of utterly dependable, tolerant, versatile people who had the skills which I lack. I am immensely grateful to them’
To all of you, Patricia may not be actively involved today, but she knows everything is taken care of by dependable, tolerant and versatile people, with the skills required to ensure the vision that she started in 1981, will outlive all of us and continue for generations to come!
Launch of Kulika Annual Day and Patricia Fund:
Our Guest of Honour and Patron, as we have heard about Patricia and the seed she planted in Uganda, it is our commitment to see the seed keep growing, and plant more seeds. In that regard, today we will have the privilege of launching the Kulika Annual Day in which we shall be showcasing/exhibiting the work we do with the different partners.
We will also be witnessing the launch of the Patricia Fund for scholarship beneficiaries.
We appeal to our dear Partners to walk with us in these new interventions.
Long Live Kulika Uganda!!
Our Guest of Honour and Patron I wish to invite the Chairperson Board of Trustees to make his speech and lead us to the next phase,
Thank you very much!