The World Giving Report 2025 – Uganda Edition

The World Giving Report 2025 – Uganda Edition, a collaborative effort between CivLegacy Foundation and the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), offers deep insights into the giving patterns, motivations, and perceptions of Ugandan citizens. This landmark report draws on a global survey of over 55,000 people in 101 countries, including nearly 1,000 in Uganda. It captures the essence of generosity as a lived practice in Ugandan society, shaped by cultural values, religious teachings, and a communal ethos that prioritizes care, compassion, and support.

Uganda ranks among the most generous nations globally. In 2024, a striking 79% of Ugandans reported giving money, far above the global average of 64%. Furthermore, Ugandans donated an average of 2.04% of their income, nearly double the global average of 1.04%. Volunteering is also a significant feature of civic life, with 44% of Ugandans engaging in volunteer work, again outpacing the global average of 26%. On average, Ugandan volunteers contributed 16.5 hours in 2024, making their commitment to service not just symbolic but substantial.

Where and how Ugandans give reveals a strong preference for informal channels. The majority of donations are directed towards people in need (48.5%) and religious organizations (39%), with only 12.5% going to formal charities. This pattern suggests that most Ugandans prefer to give where the impact is direct and visible, often motivated by personal connections, religious beliefs, or immediate community needs. Religious giving remains a powerful driver, rooted in spiritual obligations such as tithing and the value of “love for neighbor.”

Interestingly, while Ugandans see themselves as individually generous, many underestimate the country’s overall generosity, ranking themselves 62nd globally in perception, despite ranking 6th in actual giving metrics. This disconnect underscores the need for more storytelling and public education about Uganda’s vibrant generosity ecosystem.

Volunteering plays an equally critical role in shaping civic participation. Most volunteers focus their energy on supporting vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Other key areas of volunteer engagement include education, environmental protection, and poverty relief. These trends reflect a strong desire to serve others and address urgent social challenges through personal effort and time.

The report also explores the barriers to giving. The most common reason Ugandans refrain from donating is financial constraint (63%). A smaller portion (18%) prefer to give non-monetary support such as food or gifts. Notably, only 3% cited mistrust in charities as a barrier, indicating that trust, while important, is not a primary obstacle. Rather, affordability and awareness shape giving behavior. In fact, people are more likely to give when they understand the impact of their contributions (52%), have more financial resources (39%), or believe in the strength of the sector’s regulatory frameworks (34%).

Public perceptions of civil society are generally positive. Local and regional charities are seen as essential pillars of their communities, even though international charities are rated as the most trustworthy. Overall, Uganda scores 12.4/15 in public valuation of the charity sector, higher than both the continental and global averages. However, views on government influence are mixed. Only 14% see government involvement as very positive, while 36% believe the government is openly critical of the sector. In response to this climate, Uganda has initiated quarterly dialogues between civil society actors and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to foster better collaboration.

Most people learn about charitable organizations through their religious communities (22%) or word-of-mouth (17%), with fewer citing mass media or social media. This highlights the importance of leveraging trusted community networks and cultural spaces to build awareness and inspire action.

In conclusion, Uganda is a nation rich in generosity, both in statistics and in spirit. The findings of the World Giving Report 2025 call for a more inclusive, visible, and context-sensitive philanthropic sector. Organizations must deepen trust, communicate their impact effectively, and align their work with the values and priorities of local givers. As CivLegacy Foundation and CivSource Africa continue to promote a giving culture that is Afrocentric, feminist, and community-led, this report provides a timely blueprint for shaping the future of giving in Uganda.

To explore more insights from the report, visit: Uganda Giving Report 2024.