World Vision Uganda Celebrates 40 Years, Launches Ambitious 5-Year Strategy

World Vision Uganda has reached a significant milestone, celebrating 40 years of dedicated humanitarian and development work across the nation. The anniversary served as a platform to not only reflect on its impactful past but also to launch an ambitious five-year strategic plan.

This new strategy, set to run from 2026 to 2030, has a clear objective: to contribute to the sustainable well-being of more than five million vulnerable children and their families. The organization’s journey began in 1986, initially responding to the urgent needs of communities affected by the Luwero Triangle conflict.

Over the decades, World Vision’s operations have broadened considerably. Their work now encompasses critical areas such as health and nutrition, child protection, education, economic empowerment, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). They have also extended their support to communities grappling with conflict and displacement, including those affected by the LRA insurgency in Northern Uganda, food insecurity in Karamoja, and refugee populations in West Nile and Southwestern regions.

The anniversary event drew a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, donors, faith leaders, civil society representatives, and community members. Children who have directly benefited from World Vision’s programs were also present, sharing powerful testimonies of how their lives have been positively transformed.

During the celebration, World Vision Uganda Board Chair Michael Segwaya pledged the organization’s unwavering commitment. “One promise I want to share is that as we embark on the next forty years, we will stay. When it is difficult, we will stay,” he stated, emphasizing their dedication to remaining a steadfast partner for Uganda’s children, even in challenging circumstances.

National Director Jeremiah Nyagah highlighted the collective effort involved. “As we celebrate 40 years of transformation in Uganda, we give thanks for the millions of children, families and communities whose lives have been transformed through the collective efforts of government, donors, faith leaders, communities and development partners,” he remarked. He added that the new strategy reinforces their focus on reaching the most vulnerable.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, the guest of honour, lauded World Vision’s substantial contributions to Uganda’s socio-economic development, acknowledging a partnership that has existed since the organization’s inception. She noted improvements in areas like poverty reduction, child marriage, and education in World Vision’s operational zones as positive outcomes that align with the government’s broader development agenda.

The organization’s renewed strategy signifies a forward-looking approach, aiming to build upon four decades of experience to address ongoing challenges such as poverty, food insecurity, and limited access to essential services. World Vision Uganda reaffirms its commitment to prioritizing vulnerable children and communities as it looks towards a future of continued impact.

This report is based on information from Nile Post.