Sipi Branch – Kapchorwa District, one of the active change agent branches.

SIPI branch is located in Kapchorwa district. It is one of the most active branches in Eastern region in general and Kapchorwa DCAA in particular. The branch is composed of five fully trained Change Agents who are actively involved in spreading the Self Reliant Participatory Methodology. As a branch, they are engaged with over one hundred self-help groups that they are helping to become self-reliant the biggest number so far in the region and through their efforts they have been able to link these groups to service providers within the district like with the Kapchorwa Civil Society Organizations’ Alliance and NAADS.

In 2009, SIPI branch took up the initiative to improve on sanitation within their community and also in their own home settings through sensitization and living exemplary lives and in this way they were able to gain recognition within and outside Uganda. They dedicated themselves to preaching the message of clean water and sanitation. A case to note here is Chemonges Joseph who after being identified as the best sanitation observer was able to host a visiting delegation from Denmark and Sweden in 2009. SIPI branch is operating a coffee nursery as an income generating activity for the branch.

In the year 2014, they sold seven thousand coffee seedlings and they were able to accumulate over one million Uganda shillings from this income generating activity. This income generating activity has enabled members of SIPI branch to improve their standards of living and they are even able to send their children to school using these earnings. Each of the five members in the branch got two hundred eucalyptus trees for planting in a bid to contribute to environmental preservation.

The Change Agents of SIPI branch were credited for their efforts in spreading the self-reliant participatory development methodology. They will be always remembered for their significant contribution to Uganda Change Agent Association.