Philanthropy highlights blog

What does it take for Africa to reclaim its own narrative of generosity? On 8 October 2026, Makerere University, in partnership with CivSource Africa, launched the Ukarimu Centre for Advancing African Philanthropy, creating a multidisciplinary platform dedicated to researching, documenting and strengthening African traditions of giving.

In this article, Makerere University's College of Humanities and Social Sciences explores the Centre's vision, the voices that shaped its launch, and its ambition to connect African knowledge, research, policy and practice while positioning the continent as a producer of philanthropic knowledge.

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What does it take to build an institution that endures for generations? Drawing lessons from Nsambya Catholic Church’s 130-year legacy, Makerere University’s century-long journey and a thought-provoking exercise at the September 2026 philanthropy partners’ convening in Nairobi, this reflection explores the foundations of institutional resilience and sustainability.

Robert Ninyesiga examines how Ukarimu Centre is being built with a century-long vision, grounded in strong governance, meaningful partnerships, African values and collective responsibility, reminding us that institutions designed to endure must be built with intention and sustained through collaboration.

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What does it take to sustain a promise for 25 years? At Nyaka’s 25th anniversary celebration in August 2026, alongside the launch of founder Twesigye Jackson Kaguri’s third book, Legacy for My Village, the power of community-led development, collective generosity and enduring partnerships came into focus.

In this reflection, Robert Ninyesiga explores how Nyaka’s journey demonstrates the strength of African-led philanthropy, where communities become the foundation of lasting change and legacy is measured in generations.

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What Six Conversations on Decolonisation in East Africa Made Difficult to Ignore

After six conversations on decolonisation in East Africa, one question remained difficult to avoid: where does power actually sit? The Reclaiming the Frame series moved beyond language and localisation to deeper questions of authority, resources, knowledge, accountability and who gets to make decisions, challenging participants to move from discussing alternatives to testing what genuine shifts in power could look like in practice.

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What if one of the strongest sources of community support has been hiding in plain sight?

A CivLegacy Foundation study of businesses in Arua, Gulu, Jinja and Mbale found that 94% were already giving back to their communities through financial contributions, in-kind support, volunteering, partnerships, training and awareness-building. The findings point to a significant opportunity to strengthen collaboration between businesses and civil society and make local giving more intentional and sustainable.

Read More: Discover what the study reveals about the growing potential of business philanthropy in Northern and Eastern Uganda.

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Local giving is already happening, but what would it look like if civil society and businesses worked more deliberately together?

A dialogue in Jinja brought together civil society organisations, private-sector actors, media and other stakeholders to explore how local philanthropy can move beyond scattered acts of giving towards stronger partnerships, better coordination and shared responsibility for community development.

Read More: Explore the conversation and the ideas emerging for strengthening locally driven philanthropy.

#AfricanPhilanthropy #OmutimaOmugabi

A study by CivLegacy Foundation examining local businesses in Arua, Gulu, Jinja, and Mbale found that 94% were already contributing to their communities through financial support, in-kind donations, voluntary service, partnerships, training, and awareness-building.

The findings challenge the perception that philanthropy is primarily driven by international organisations and highlight the significant role local businesses play in supporting schools, community-based organisations, NGOs, orphanages, and vulnerable communities. The study also calls for stronger collaboration between civil society and the private sector to make local giving more intentional, sustainable, and responsive to community priorities.

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At a roundtable dialogue held at The Mansion Hotel in Jinja City, CivLegacy Foundation and FABIO Uganda brought together civil society organisations, private-sector representatives, the media, and other development actors to explore how local philanthropy can be strengthened through partnerships, Corporate Social Responsibility, and structured sponsorships.

The conversation examined the barriers affecting collaboration between businesses and civil society, including communication gaps, limited accountability, competing funding requests, and differing priorities. Participants called for stronger coordination, regional philanthropy hubs, shared learning spaces, and sustained engagement to ensure that local giving contributes meaningfully to resilient, community-led development.

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At the 10th East Africa Philanthropy Conference in Addis Ababa, leaders challenged the sector to move beyond replacing lost aid and begin building systems that create, retain, and grow African-owned wealth. The conference explored how endowments, pooled capital, community foundations, local investment vehicles, and collective giving can strengthen institutions long after individual grants have ended.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of strategic foresight in preparing philanthropic institutions for future disruption. Wealth creation gives African philanthropy assets to own, while foresight helps protect those assets through changing political, economic, and funding environments. Together, they offer a pathway from dependency towards resilient, locally governed development.

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As international aid contracts, communities and civil society organisations are being forced to confront long-standing questions about power, dependency, and who gets to define development priorities. Session Five of Reclaiming the Frame explored how this moment of disruption can create space for locally led approaches rooted in community knowledge, ownership, and collective giving.

The conversation called for partnerships that strengthen local agency rather than dictate it, while reminding local leaders to exercise power with humility, accountability, and inclusion. Even amid uncertainty, communities continue to organise, collaborate, and build alternatives that position them not as beneficiaries of development, but as its authors.

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The future of development financing will depend on more than securing larger grants or funding individual projects. At the Uganda Philanthropy Forum, philanthropy practitioners, civil society leaders, government representatives, researchers, development partners, and private-sector actors explored how stronger ecosystems can support resilient and locally rooted development.

The conversation highlighted the importance of financing models built around institutional purpose, community priorities, trust, collaboration, and long-term sustainability. By connecting philanthropy, businesses, government, faith institutions, diaspora networks, and community giving, development financing can become a system that strengthens institutions rather than continually reshaping them around short-term funding opportunities.

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CivLegacy Foundation and the First African Bicycle Information Organization convened civil society, private sector, media and local government actors in Jinja to explore stronger locally led partnerships. The dialogue highlighted local donor mapping as a vital strategy for identifying who is giving, understanding their priorities and connecting their investments to community needs. Participants noted that many businesses already support social initiatives, but limited information, fragmented engagement and repeated funding requests often result in missed opportunities and donor fatigue. Civil society organisations were encouraged to approach companies as strategic partners rather than only as sources of funding, while also aligning shared interests and complementary strengths. Proposals included establishing a shared regional donor database and strengthening coordination among organisations to support sustainable local resource mobilisation.

Read more about how intentional donor mapping can transform scattered giving into lasting and impactful partnerships.

CivLegacy Foundation and the Gulu NGO Forum convened civil society and private sector actors in Gulu City to explore opportunities for advancing social justice through collaboration. The meeting highlighted that lasting partnerships depend on aligning interests, recognising the distinct strengths each sector brings and identifying areas of mutual benefit. Participants discussed the mistrust and misconceptions that have often limited cooperation, while reflecting on how businesses can contribute resources, expertise, visibility and practical support to community initiatives. The dialogue encouraged civil society organisations to move beyond transactional requests and approach businesses with proposals that connect social impact to clear business interests. It also emphasised the need for trust, transparency, continuous communication and long-term partnerships that support both community development and economic growth.

Read more about how shared interests can strengthen collaboration between civil society and the private sector.

Philanthropy in Africa does not begin with institutions. It lives in neighbours showing up for one another, families sharing what they have, and communities taking responsibility together through long-standing cultures of care. In one Kampala suburb, residents recently came together to repair a road that had long been dismissed as a government problem. Some brought cement and gravel, others offered labour and tools, while a few pooled money to bring in extra support. What emerged was more than a repaired road. It was a powerful reminder that giving is often local, relational, and deeply rooted in collective responsibility. Across the continent, this same spirit appears in rotating savings groups, diaspora support for community projects, and informal giving circles that respond quickly to everyday challenges.

Read more to explore how African philanthropy continues to thrive through shared care, reciprocity, and community action.

In February 2025, CivLegacy Foundation convened stakeholders in Gulu for a powerful validation and collaboration convening on local business philanthropy, spotlighting how businesses in Gulu, Arua, Jinja, and Mbale are already supporting communities through corporate social responsibility, financial contributions, and in-kind giving. Against a backdrop of shrinking donor funding, the convening called for a stronger shift toward African-led philanthropy, deeper collaboration between civil society and the private sector, and more intentional, structured local giving that can drive long-term social impact and sustainability across Uganda.

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Reflections from Peace Connect 2025

Peace Connect 2025 brought together civil society activists, community defenders, peacebuilders, and Indigenous groups in Nairobi for a gathering rooted in care, reflection, and collective response to a year marked by funding shocks, shrinking civic space, and escalating conflict. In these reflections, Josephine Atuhaire explores the shift toward community-led pathways for resilience, including community philanthropy, mutual aid, and local accountability, while questioning donor-driven measures of success and calling for power, decision-making, and risk to move closer to communities. With wellbeing intentionally centred through rest, counselling, and space to process, the gathering became a lived reminder that collective care is possible and that peace remains within reach when shaped and resourced by those closest to the work.

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Makerere University and CivSource Africa have established the Ukarimu Centre, a first-of-its-kind academic and practice hub in Eastern Africa dedicated to researching, teaching, and amplifying African philanthropy. Based at Makerere University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences and supported by CivLegacy Foundation, the Centre will generate African-led research and learning that elevates everyday giving, strengthens locally grounded philanthropy, and informs policy and practice across the region.

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In September and October 2025, more than 400 delegates gathered at Mestil Hotel, Kampala for the 2025 National Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Convention, a national platform for learning, reflection, and joint action across Uganda’s civil society ecosystem.

Read the full story for key highlights, insights from speakers and delegates, and the emerging priorities shaping civil society sustainability.

The WINGS “Acting Together to Lift Up Philanthropy” Training of Trainers offered a powerful lens for understanding and strengthening philanthropic ecosystems. It aligned well with CivSource Africa’s 5Cs, adding a complementary focus on capacity, capability, connection, and credibility. A key highlight was the Kumu mapping exercise, which revealed hidden champions and immediate collaboration opportunities within the network. The training also reminded us that real impact is measured not only in outputs, but in trust built, alignment strengthened, and pathways opened, insights now shaping our work at CivSource Africa and CivLegacy Foundation. Read more

CivLegacy Foundation is proud to celebrate our own Josephine Atuhire, Programme Support for Philanthropy, whose commitment to strengthening giving ecosystems continues to shine on regional and global stages. Josephina participated in and completed the inaugural #LiftUpPhilanthropy Training of Trainers course convened through WINGS, joining 26 participants from 20+ countries to deepen practical skills in ecosystem mapping, facilitation, and strategy for building stronger philanthropic systems. The course marks an important step in growing a global community of ecosystem builders equipped to support more connected, locally grounded, and resilient philanthropy movements. The reflection piece captures key insights, lessons, and what comes next for this growing network. Read more