Past projects summary

2002 – 2003

Lango Community Trust (LCT) was established in 2002 by a group of concerned individuals with development experience and skills.  It was registered as a UK charity in September 2003 with the sole aim of solving the problems of chronic poverty faced by rural people in Lango Sub-region, northern Uganda.

LCT is a UK based charity which involves the Lango community in the UK in supporting poor and disadvantaged people in northern Uganda. It believes that sharing of skills and resources and the identification of local solutions are key to improved and sustainable livelihoods.

Past Reports

2003 – 2004 Capacity Building assessment in Lira District

LCT had consultations with local leaders and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to map out the needs of communities and the capacity of CSOs to meet needs from December 2003 up until April 2004. The results of the consultation helped us to identify the best ways to work with local partners.

LCT carried out an assessment of the capacity of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in Lira, Uganda to effectively serve the needs of their beneficiaries and to work in partnership with UK based charities.

Eight CSOs worked in partnership with LCT to follow up the report.

LCT facilitated a workshop attended by representatives of 30 CSOs from which completed questionnaires were received and by local government officials.

Follow-up group meetings were held with representatives of CSOs that expressed interest. Also, separate meetings were held with District Administration officials and cultural leaders.  LCT has used the information gathered from the questionnaires, the workshop and group discussions and consultations with District Administration representatives.

The following issues were identified:

• The major cause of the increase in poverty and suffering in northern Uganda in particular Lira and Oyam districts based in Lango Sub-region.
• The practical needs of poor people and how to addressed them through building the capacity of CSOs and the District Administration.
• To focus on the needs of more vulnerable groups such as girls, women and the elderly through targeted intervention (including advocacy complimentary services and partnership with other organisations) aimed at meeting the needs of such groups.
• To establish the foundations for longer –term capacity development support of the CSOs in Lira and subsequently Lango Sub-region to enable them take greater control over their own development and to meeting the practical needs of their beneficiaries.

2004-2006

Education Fund and Relief support

• LCT organised an emergency relief support for disabled placed people in Lira and Oyam Districts.
• With the help of Panasonic UK LCT set up an education scholarship/grant for the first 5 most vulnerable beneficiaries from Lira, Oyam and Amolatar districts.
• Capacity Building initiatives was made with the first three districts above.
• HIV and the elderly people in Lango Subregion survey was also conducted.

2006-2012

Extension of Education grant

With more regular contributions to the educational fund by the UK community and with the support of a donation from Allan & Nesta Ferguson Trust and Panasonic to LCT, 20 more orphans out of over 60 applicants were offered scholarships to progress to Senior Secondary, “O” level, “A” level and Tertiary education.

• 17 out of 25 beneficiaries progressed to university training level like Makerere, and Masaka universities. Others continued and gained “A” level certificates at St Katherine’s High School, Lira, Aboke High School and other colleges in Kampala (See model examples or cases studies).

2012-2016

L12 Development conference                  

• In 2012, Lango Development conference was held in Lira Town to draw up a development agenda for the youth and all vulnerable groups in the Sub-region, which includes the need to maintain scholarship fund for orphans and vulnerable girls in the Sub-region.
• Lango sub-region was split into 9 districts from the three districts with the hope of increasing capacity for each district.

2018

Partnership and development agenda:

In 2016, Anne Okello one of the Trustees visited Kwania and Lira districts and found there was need to absorb 50 young orphaned children to prevent hard labour and drop-out rate from education or miss the potential to pursue their aspirations.

• Kwania Orphans Education Centre (KOEC) was formed with the help of people who are passionate to see the most disadvantage and vulnerable children to poverty start a nursery education and be able to stay in education until they progress to acquire skills at a later age.
• 50 children were admitted to the education project with the help of fund raised. These 50 disadvantaged children managed to progress to primary education and to various secondary schools in northern and southern part of Uganda. 
• 40% of these vulnerable beneficiaries were able to secure bursaries and sponsorship, leaving LCT to work with KOEC to raise fund for the 30 on the verge of dropping out to continue with vocational training in the areas of: nursing, teaching, business administration.

2019-2020

Ngetta orphans’ relief – Lira district

• In September 2019, LCT provided food relief support to Ngetta Orphanage 18 beneficiaries due climatic problems affecting food production and escalating food prices.
• LCT formed a development partnership with Youth at Work Development Initiative (YAWODI), based in Lira district.
• A focus group meeting was held in Lira to engage the community (i.e. clan leaders, youth and teenage girls).

Youth At Work Development Initiative (YAWODI) youth development project. 

• 30 youth (between the age of 16-21 years) old from Ibuje, Apac district and other parts of Lira and Oyam districts. The youth development project approach is to plant trees in order to raise income but also to combat the negative effects of cutting trees and drought problems.

Youth and tree planting

A tree nursery established in Ojwina Division, Lira Municipality.

1. i) 250 Mvule trees planted in Akalo Sub County, Kole district.
2. ii) 100 avocado fruit trees planted in Akalo Sub County in Kole district.

Youth life skills/apprenticeship training

• 3 youth were trained in Lorena stoves production (environmentally improved cooking device) at Victoria School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lira City.
• 4 youth were trained and have become team leaders.

2020-2021

Covid-19 and tackling challenges: addressing the effects on teenage girls

LCT worked in partnership with YAWODI to raise awareness against unwanted pregnancies and organised for PPE equipment as follows:

• Held four radio talk shows to engage girls, clan leaders and the community across Lango sub-region via Radio Unity 97.7 FM, and QFM 94.3 reaching over 1.5 million people in Lango during the lock down period.
• Teenage groups from nine schools visited and empowered, became more aware of sexual education and were able to challenge unacceptable behaviour or traditional barriers to their education.

2021-2023

Addressing teenage pregnancies and forced early marriages

LCT has continued to work with KOEC and YAWODI as follows:

• Education grant: Provides education grant for 5 most disadvantaged girls and 3 boys (aged 16–20-year-olds) from Lango Subregion:
• 2 male beneficiaries have completed their education; one at Makerere obtained a Diploma in Civil Engineering and one in Nursing, Lira regional hospital.
• 2 female beneficiaries are currently at UCI nursing training, Lira and 2 are pursing BA Finance and Accounting at Uganda College of Commerce Lango branch.

LCT breaking barriers and Post COVID-19 Recovery Programmes:

Every teenage girl should have the opportunity to fulfil their aspiration to attain education certificate at vocational and technical college levels. 1 out of five girls in Lango Sub-region are more likely to drop out of education level without attaining qualification due to poor background.

35 of the most vulnerable teenagers from KOEC have benefited from LCT grant to gain ‘O” and “A” level qualifications until this academic year 2023/24.  There are 20 applicants for education grant at “A” and Technical College levels.

Model Examples:

1. UCI nursing college Lira.

• Sandra Akot is a disadvantaged and the most vulnerable teenage female who was brought to the attention of LCT when on the verge of dropping out before attaining ‘O’Level certificate. LCT awarded her education grant and she has reached the final year of Nursing at UCI.  Sandra states, “I feel so privileged to benefit from LCT grant and a top-up bursary to complete my Nursing degree in December 2024.  Once I finish, I will encourage and help others to succeed as I did in nursing training”.

Winnie Aceng is also one of the most disadvantaged female teenagers who almost dropped out without obtaining a certificate until the case was brought to the attention of the committee for LCT education fund.  She felt she was being pressured to marry against her will, but now feels safe to pursue her Nursing training at UCI.  Winnie says, “I was happy when I was selected for LCT education grant.  I look forward to completing my training in summer 2025.   I intend to help vulnerable girls like me so that they too can achieve their potential”.