The legal status of the Buganda Kingdom is provided for in the 1995 Uganda Constitution under Chapter 16; articles 246 (1) and 246 (3).

The Kingdom of Buganda as a cultural institution registered the Buganda Development Agency to enhance development and service delivery in the region.

BDA was registered as a Company Limited by guarantee with the Registrar of Companies on 13th February 2003.

Buganda Development Agency (BDA), as the legally registered technical arm of the Buganda Kingdom, is responsible for coordination and  support of all Kingdom undertakings including Ministries and NGOs to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the Kingdom 10 year Buganda Development Strategy (BKDS), which was launched by Sabasajja Kabaka in 2001.

The major objective of the BKDS is to enhance the standards of living of the people of Buganda and Uganda as a whole.

Although BDA is supposed to be a body cooperate, and self-sustaining and independent body, for this reporting period (2006 June 2007), BDA was still housed and supported under the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and Investments.

We hope that in the consecutive following years, BDA will be able to become a self-sustaining corporate body, and able to fulfil its functions and responsibilities.

I wish to thank all those who have supported Buganda development Agency in any way.

This includes our development partners, more specifically, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) with whom BDA together with the Kingdom Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry, fisheries and environment have successfully implemented the Environmental Management and Capacity Building project (EMCBP II), in the districts of Kampala, Mukono and Kalangala; Chara Trust UK, who provided water tanks to communities  in the peri urban areas of Kasubi, and Abaagala Uganda UK who supported Bbowa Vocational and Senior Secondary School. We hope that these relationships will continue.

We also call upon other partners who wish to promote development in our communities to join us in the struggle to fight poverty, ignorance and other community ills which prevail among our people

BUGANDA DEVELOPMENT AGENCY UPDATES AS AT SEPTEMBER 2008.

1) INSTUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING:

a) In October 2007, during the Tabamiruka convention, BDA received three computers donated by Mr. Mugenyi Wangi from Seattle U.S.A, two labtops donated by Mr. Kaleebu from Seattle and a three in one (Printer, copier and fax machine) donated by Ms. Barbara Kakoma from Boston USA, to help the secretariat in the implementation of Kingdom development activities.

These computers have helped the secretariat tremendously.  BDA assisted Kabaka Foundation (Nkobazambogo) with one computer to help them in their operations as well.
b) During the same conference, Mr. Mutebi from Boston pledged and opened a website for Buganda Development Agency, which Mr. Wangi pledged to pay for its subscription for a period of one year. The website was opened and can be accessed by visiting www. Bugadev.net.

We thank Mr. Wangi, Mr. Kalebu, Mr. Mutebi  and Ms. Kakoma for their good spirit and love for the Kingdom and request other Baganda living in Diaspora to emulate them.

c) Internal Institutional changes: Buganda Development Agency is in the process of reviewing its internal structures and governance. This is being done by reviewing the Board, and legal status of organization. The major objective is to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the organization.

2) ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTATION.

Development Partnerships

2.1  BDA / Care for Uganda (Abaagala Uganda) Development Partnership

BDA has continued looking for development partners who can assist the Kingdom by putting up development projects that can assist the communities. In July 2007, BDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Care for Uganda ? Abaagala Uganda. This is  UK based charity organization.

Care for Uganda has assisted in sponsoring over 250 vulnerable children by paying their school fees, scholastic materials and other home requirements, and is still sponsoring more children.

Care for Uganda in collaboration with BDA has also constructed a  vocational training center at Bbowa – Bulemezi county, Luwero District. This Center will help communities and the Youth to acquire vocational skills. This was in response to Sabasajja Kabaka’s appeal to promote vocational skills among the Youths in order to create self-employment and reduce on poverty among the communities.

In January 2008, a team of 22 people from Care for Uganda – UK came to Buganda Kingdom to officially launch the vocational center. The team paid a visit to the Katikkiro of Buganda Owek. Eng. J. B. Walusimbi and informed him about their development agenda, and their love to support the Kingdom’s development initiatives.

The 22 team members  from Care for Uganda – UK when they paid a coutrsey call to the Katikkiro of Buganda  at Bulange Mengo.

On February 5th 2008, the Bowa Vocational Center was officially launched by the Kingdom Minister of Education Owek. Masagazi Masaazi, who represented the Owek. Katikkiro of Buganda. Several Ministers attended the occasion.

Care for Uganda / Abaagala Uganda was represented by a team of 22 people from U.K led by Rev. Andy Picher and Rev. Tim.

 Construction of this center is still going on.
    
 BDA on behalf of Buganda Kingdom extends sincere appreciation to Care For Uganda/Abagala Uganda for fully sponsoring this initiative.

The official launch of Bbowa Vocational center on February 5th 2008.

2.2  The Gold Star Partnership between Wales U.K and BDA - Bowa Communities.
Buganda Development Agency is spearheading the formation of an integrated development partnership between the County of Wales in the UK and Bbowa. Once in place, the two communities will work together to implement the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) within the communities which include the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achievement of Universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowermrnt of women, reductiona of child mortality, combating HIV / AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and promotion of global partnerships for develeopment.

In Aug. 2008, BDA hosted Mr. Jon Townley, a representative from the Welsh Government. Mr. Townley is also the head of the Wales for Africa Self Sustainable Development Program. He visited the Bowa vocational center, held discussions with BDA and Bbowa Goldstar partnership communities committee which is chaired by the county chief of Bulemezi (Kangawo) Owek. Gideon Kisitu.

This visit was in support of the upcoming integrated development partnership.

Mr. Jon Townley the head of the Wales for Africa Self Sustainable Development Program on his visit to BDA.

2.3 The BDA Community support Micro Credit Project

BDA in collaboration with the Kingdom’s Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and Investments has started a micro –credit project in Kyadondo County. The project is implementing through organized groups and so far three groups have benefited from the project. These are CAWOCO –U in Kiwatule village, Mazima women’s group at Bwaise and Munakukaama women’s group located at Kasubi. Over 30 small and medium entrepreneurs have so far benefited from this revolving project. BDA implements this project by lending  money to the group members and training  them in business skills, loans and savings management.

BDA has also helped the beneficiaries to open up individual Bank accounts with Diamond Trust Bank- old Kampala Branch. The purpose is to help them develop the culture of formal savings with banks, which can benefit them more in the future for self sustenance.
 

Some of the members of Mazima womens group – Bwaise  being sensitized in loans and savings  management by officers from BDA and Ministry of Planning.

2.4 Capacity Building for the youths

Between July 13th and july 20th 2008, BDA in collaboration with the Kingdom Ministry of youths trained 40 youth in self empowerment skills. The training which is called “Getting Connected” took place at Bulange Mengo, at Kiwatule church and at Kawanda Training center; and was facilitated by Mr. Andy Pudduck and Ms sheilla from Getting Connected UK and with assistance from Care for Uganda. We thank them for their support.
The main objective of this program was to create a sense of self-respect, assertiveness and responsibility among the youths through self discovery. The program will continue in January 2009.

Some of the participants of the Getting connected training at  Ntinda Kiwatule catholic church.