Rethinking Private Sector Engagement
Beginning in 2023, CivLegacy Foundation embarked on a research journey across Gulu, Arua, Jinja, and Mbale to investigate how local businesses in Uganda give back to their communities. This study aimed to unearth the motivations, mechanisms, and collaborative practices that shape private sector philanthropy, a powerful but often overlooked contributor to national development. The validation convening in Jinja, hosted at the Source of the Nile Hotel, brought together business leaders and civil society organizations to reflect on findings, align on shared goals, and reimagine a more localized and enduring approach to development.
Voices from the private sector revealed a commitment that goes beyond token charity, ranging from medical outreach and temporary patient accommodation to skills training and menstrual health innovations. However, the convening also laid bare the real challenges of resource limitations, community ownership, and the need for stronger partnerships. Rather than being deterred, participants leaned into these complexities, envisioning new ways for businesses to actively support CSOs in sustainable ways. The convening marked a quiet yet profound shift: one toward homegrown, trust-based solutions powered by those who live and give within the communities they serve.