About Uganda Change Agent Association

Uganda Change Agent Association (UCAA) is an indigenous nationwide association of the grassroots men and women who have organized themselves into branches countrywide.

UCAA was established in 1992 by 75 Ugandans (change agents, development workers) who had undergone The Change Agent Training conducted by Quaker Service Norway (QSN). It was registered as an NGO on 11th October 1993 under registration number S5914/646 that has been renewed regularly as required by the law. The Association is also registered as a non-profit limited liability company under the Uganda Companies Act.

Uganda Change Agents Association (UCAA) was founded in 1992 by 75 Ugandans (change agents, development workers) who had undergone The Change Agent Training conducted by Quaker Service Norway (QSN). To date, UCAA has a membership of over 4,000 trained Change Agents who have organized themselves into 230 branches throughout Uganda. These members of UCAA (Change Agents) are working voluntarily with over 5,000 self-help development groups (SHDGs) with a membership of over 69,000 rural men and women.

The UCAA programme is designed to promote change agent methodology to poor men and women so that the communities and individuals are empowered at the grassroots level to attain self-reliance in their own development. This is a self propelling drive that ensures that after being "conscientised"-i.e. critically made conscious of themselves, attitudes, behaviors and the social, political and economic environment in which they operate, rural men and women are able to demand for their rights and therefore able to participate in the decision making processes, initiate Income generating enterprises and sustain themselves.

UCAA facilitates self-reliance focused development, through participatory development processes and experiences. This way helps the communities to manage and sustain their own self-reliant social, political and economic development processes. UCAA ensures capacity building sessions, advocacy and networking for the communities. UCAA also supports and encourages delegates' assemblies, institutional strengthening and community mobilization for income-generating for self-help groups and savings schemes. The UCAA processes are targeted to particularly benefit poor men and women from all parts of Uganda.
UCAA believes that it is only an empowered community that can successfully fight corruption, demand good leadership and accountability and ensure peace and stability.

Over the years, UCAA major activities was Human resource development for Rural Development Workers and Community Leaders (Local Councilors and leaders of development groups) through the Change Agent Training which provides them with communication and facilitation skills, analytical skills (poverty analysis, gender issues, development theory, child advocacy, feasibility and viability analysis), leadership skills, groups fund management and bookkeeping skills and supporting the Change Agents as they carry out their development work in field. The Change Agent Training has its foundation in personal (human) development processes (conscientisation).

Currently, UCAA provides capacity building to rural men and women in the communities through conducting trainings and dialogue forums in the areas of sustainable livelihoods, Governance rights and Conflict Transformation, Education and Skills Development and ensures good governance, gender equality, unity and participation, economic opportunities, services and livelihood through partnering with other organizations. Some of the trainings provided include: Village savings and Loan Association (VSLA), Village Change Agent Training (VCAT), leadership Skills, Entrepreneurship and enterprise selection skills, Advocacy skills, improved agricultural practices, women land rights and gender issues.

Our Vision

An empowered and self reliant society living in harmony with dignity.

Uganda Change Agent Association envisions poor rural communities in Uganda empowered and self-reliant, living in harmony with dignity. UCAA’s desire is to increase local capacities and provide opportunities through the change agent process for self-reliance with improved income as well as improving their access to basic services.

Our Mission

To promote the participation of marginalized communities in the decision-making, promotion and protection of their rights for sustainable development.

Uganda Change Agent Association works towards improving the quality of life of the most rural and impoverished communities through providing an environment that catalyzes sustainable development processes at community level, providing voice and space to the most marginalized groups to exercise their rights in the decision-making process, support people to access and develop the capabilities, services and opportunities needed to live a healthy, productive and otherwise fulfilling life, while sustainably using the natural resources they depend on. 

Our Beliefs

UCAA is committed to uphold and abides by the following fundamental beliefs and values in pursuance of her endeavors for the attainment of its missions and vision:

UCAA beliefs that:

• The rural impoverished marginalized communities have capacity to reverse the situation if given the opportunity to work together/ in a participatory way.
• Together we can develop local capacities, strengthen governance systems, and make markets work for the poor.
• The marginalized can become productive, if empowered with knowledge, skills and initial support/ capital.
• That change can only be positive if we influence positive change of attitude and self-reliance.

Our Values

The core values that guide UCAA work are derived from set of values compass:

• Independence and neutrality: UCAA works entirely on the basis of its mandate by focusing on issues concerning the most vulnerable and marginalized persons.
• Inclusion – of the community and people we work with: - respecting and working together with the community and people, so that they are empowered to participate in planning and implementation, as well as make right choices for sustainability and ownership.
• Gender equality – believes that all women and men are equal before and under the law; have equal dignity (worth) of the person and opportunities in economic, political, cultural and social life.
• Social - accountability and transparency – we hold ourselves accountable to the highest level of ethical behavior and responsibility for our actions, while maintaining integrity in our performance without anticipating reward. We shall also advocates for transparency and accountability from all duty bearers for improved service delivery and equitable development
• Mutual respect – for the equal rights of human person: UCAA uses change agent methodology for awareness and rights-based approach to its work to ensure that all vulnerable and marginalized persons can enjoy their rights and life opportunities without any kind of discrimination.
• Volunteerism: we commit to selfless services through our action and conduct towards humanity with Love and dedication to changing the conditions that enslave and reinforce marginalization of the poor rural women & Men
  
• Empowerment and participation: we appreciate each other's contribution and encourage ourselves that together we can achieve our goals as Agent of change and should have the opportunity to shape processes of development

Our Principles

UCAA is guided by the following principles:

• Equal opportunity
  Innovation and continuous learning
  Selfless service oriented for humanity
  Empowerment and self-Reliance
  Transparency and honesty
  Non- discrimination