About us

Ngenge Development Foundation is a nationally-registered, rural, community-based, not-for-profit organisation in Kapchorwa District in eastern Uganda. It was founded in 1994 by the people of Ngenge with the aim of improving the living conditions of displaced persons, the homeless and the marginalised in Kapchorwa and elsewhere. The foundation is member-owned, with a current membership of 220 associations of women, youth groups and smallhold farmers (women, men, boys and girls). The foundation’s General Assembly - represented by an Executive Committee of Nine (9) members headed by the chairperson – are the foundation’s policy makers. It has a secretariat with nine (9) staff (5 females and 4 males) headed by an Executive Secretary.

Kapchorwa district is located on the Mt. Elgon ranges, eastern Uganda. It is bordered by Kenya in the east, Sironko district in the south and west and Nakapiripirit of Karamoja in the north. Kapchorwa district covers a total land area of 1,738.7 sq kms. The district has a population of 193,000 people. 52.8% (608.36sq) is covered by Mt. Elgon National Park. Administratively, the district is divided into three counties (Kongasis, Kween and Tingey) 16 sub-counties, the town council, 68 parishes and 590 villages.

In the past, Kapchorwa district witnessed upheavals due to political polarisation. The local populace was divided into ‘camps’ and this immensely affected the implementation of both local and central government programmes. This continues to haunt Kapchorwa district to this day. The polarisation has been very pervasive and has had far-reaching effects on the local economy. The social and culture livelihoods of the local people have not escaped these divisions.

Some government policies have created internal displacement of ordinary people in the Benet and Greater Ngenge area. Policies like the creation of forest games reserves in Benet, Chepsukunya and Kapkwata have caused internal displacement. Other policies such as disarmament effectively encouraged arms trafficking and created even more insecurity. Raiders obtained firearms and used them for cattle rustling during various violent regime changes and ongoing conflicts in neighbouring countries. To this day some policies have continued to disadvantage the displaced, the homeless and marginalised.

Insecurity arising from conflicts with neighbouring districts inhabited by cattle raiding communities i.e. the Karamojong and Pokot continues to affect the people of Kapchorwa.

The implementation of decentralisation is ongoing. At the initial stages of its implementation, Kapchorwa district lacked skilled human-power, especially technicians and the like. Ngenge Development Foundations believes leaders are not fully sensitising the local people on their roles and responsibilities. For instance, the development of sub-county development plans has not been participatory and inclusive of grassroots stakeholders.

The weaknesses of the decentralisation policy include little awareness of roles and responsibilities, poor management of funds and inadequate personnel. Service delivery remains poor. Local governments may not appeal to competent people. Matters are made worse by political interference at some levels.

Agriculture was and is the mainstay of the people of Kachorwa District. However, as in the past, little information on markets for produce has continued to bog this sector. Other problems include mono-culture, low prices for produce, high costs of agricultural farm inputs, poor infrastructure for storage and transport, inadequate or an absence of advisory services and poor land use management.

The control of proceeds from farms was and is still a major issue of contention. This is largely under men, meaning women are sidelined when it comes to determining the appropriation of farm proceeds.

People in Kapchorwa district continue to suffer food shortages due to drought, population growth etc.

There is little economic diversity and this can be attributed to inadequate awareness and exposure to productive activities and stagnant cultural and economic situations in rural communities. For instance, livestock–rearing management is still a key activity of the local people despite the continued cattle rustling phenomena.

Subsistence modes of agriculture due to land limitation caused by insecurity are a common situation and this has greatly affected economic growth in the district. This has not helped improve the living standards of the people of Kapchorwa District.

In terms of marketing agricultural produce, there is a lot of exploitation of poor subsistence farmers by go-betweens. This situation has been worsened by the absence of proper roads to deliver produce to better markets where higher prices can be fetched.

Kapchorwa District is blessed with a good climate, fertile soils and hardworking people who are driven by a desire to achieve maximum benefits. Despite the low prices for produce, there is a market that needs to be exploited for maximum benefits

Vision

The Kapchorwa Development Foundation has one aim – to empower the local populace to create a community with no suffering at any level.

Mission

To contribute to the improved quality of life of displaced, homeless and marginalised people.