country programs
About Youth Crime Watch of Uganda
Youth Crime Watch of Uganda helps schools and communities in Uganda start and sustain their crime watch programs. Services include:
- Background information about Youth Crime Watch
- YCW awareness presentations
- YCW implementation training for your site
- Technical assistance getting your site started
- Technical assistance once your site is up and running
Standing (l to r): Saka Yassin, Luguza Henry, Kiwalabye Frank,
Kayanja Henry, Kaweesa Muhamed, Mpalanyi Tonny, Nabagirinya Sophie.
Seated: Kamusiime Caroline, Nasimbwa Mercy, Tabajwa Howard, Nannono
Ruth, and Sarah
K. the Kawempe community youth representative. In the middle
is Luguza Henry's son, Tabajwa Howard.
News from Uganda
December 2009: Holiday events focus on children and youth
YCW Uganda has put together a few holiday events. The following photos show some highlights:
Dance group in Kannyanya
Volleyball club in Kampala
January 2009: Learning from South Africa
YCW Uganda director Kawalabye Frank completed a six-day visit in South Africa (January 21-27, 2009), where he met with representatives of several crime prevention and rehabilitation programs active on the ground there. The trip was made possible by funding from USA for Africa and the cooperation of the South African non-profit group Khulisa. Kawalabye returned energized and inspired with several ideas from the South African experience. He sees a particular need in Uganda for work setting up a system of rehabilitation for offenders.
October 2008: New site in Mbogo Mixed Senior Secondary School
Youth Crime Watch of Uganda conducted implementation training at the Mbogo Mixed Senior Secondary School. Ddungu Adrian, chairman of YCWU presented the site certificate to the elected president of the group and its core members, Baluku, Echeru, Nakyanzi Shamin, Mugume, Nakabili Jamilah, Hala. Photos below:
Ddungu Adrian, chairman of YCWU, with members of the Mbogo core group.
YCWU coordinator Kayondo Samuel presenting to the Mbogo group.
YCWU vice chairman Mrs Lindah Donah Kaleh giving the students some tips.
Echeru was selected to lead the Mbogo crime watch.
Ddungu Adrian presents the certificate and congratulates Mr.Lumu, the selected advisor for Mbogo Site.
The Mbogo crime watch group.
October 2008: New site at St. Peters Naalaya
Youth Crime Watch Uganda conducted an introductory session at St. Peters Naalaya last week. YCWU staff met with students in a general assembly, introducing program basics of Youth Crime Watch and the Watch Out Help Out philosophy. The team plans to return for followup training in the near future.
The St. Peters Naalaya group
Sept 30, 2008:
Youth Crime Watch of Uganda recented hosted Mrs. Marcia Thomas, Executive Director of USA for Africa, a US-based nonprofit organization. Mrs. Thomas visited YCWU's Kanyanya Komamboga project site and made a contribution to the program, for which YCWU is very grateful.
Dr. Hilda Tadria, head of the African Women's Development Fund, accompanied Mrs. Thomas on the visit and was moved to commit to run a future joint program with YCWU reaching out to schools which are identified as being at risk for violence and crime.
A Ugandan, Dr. Tadria holds a degree in sociology from Makerere University, an MA in social anthropology from Newham College, Cambridge, UK, and a doctorate in social anthropology from the University of Minnesota, USA. She has worked in gender and development, institutional management development, and social development research at the World Bank, UNDP, UNIFEM, the Ugandan government and other international agencies such as the Canadian International Development Agency and NOVIB. She was an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Makerere University, and was a Senior Consultant, Women in Development at the Eastern and Southern Management Institute based in Tanzania. She also served as the country resident representative in Zimbabwe for the Institute. In the early 90s she was a Program Officer with the African Capacity Building Foundation. She was a private consultant for five years till her appointment as the Special Advisor on Gender to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa based in Addis, Ethiopia. While she was lecturing at Makerere University she founded the women's NGO known as Action for Development (ACFODE). She has extensive field research experience in participatory and qualitative research methodologies both at rural community level and corporate organisational level. She has published a number of papers on Gender and Development.
YCWU looks forward to future cooperation with Mrs. Marcia Thomas and Dr. Hilda Tadria and values their interest in the Youth Crime Watch program in Uganda.
Mrs. Marcia Thomas addressing YCWU members at Kanyanya Komamboga. Dr. Hilda Tadria looks on.
YCWU members pose for a group photo with Mrs. Thomas and Dr. Tadria.
One of the group's projects, an innovative cabbage patch which saves space.
Summer 2008: Building foundations, healing old wounds
Representatives of Youth Crime Watch of Uganda attended a conference in South Africa, following which they were able to interview girl soldiers who had been lured into the war. They travelled to northern Uganda for a week-long development trip, laid down stategies for starting a Youth Crime Watch program in Kitgum, a town that has been hard hit by rebel activity. After meetings with various people, they hope to launch the program soon and are currently identifying sponsors.
The group hopes to take part in the upcoming World Forum Against Drugs to take place in Sweden and present a talk there on prevention methods and strategies.
April 2008: YCWU completes crime prevention training
Participants pose with Commissioner of Police in charge of Community Policing and other officers outside
the Central Police Station.
The YCWU group participated in crime preventionn training conducted by the Ugandan Police Force. The course lasted one month and covered various topics of crime prevention from a variety of angles. Participants received a certificate of completion at the close of the course. Photos below.
Youth Crime Members with assistant
superintendent of police Mr. Kayima Emeriano, course coordinator.
Luguza Henry, Kagame Lawrence Nkoyoyo Davis and ASP Kayima following a session.
Kayondo Samuel, YCWU spokesmen speaking at the certification ceremony.
Assistant
superintendent of police Mr. Kayima Emeriano, course coordinator.
The commissioner of police in charge of community policing was the chief guest at the final ceremony.
He urged all members who attended the course to put to proper use all that
they had learned.
Executive member Ddungu Adrian receiving a
certificate from the guest of honor, in the middle is the Regional Police
Commander Kampala Extra region Mr. Edward Ochom who was also present at the
ceremony.
Nakirunda Florence examines her certificate.
January 2008: YCWU certificate renewed
Youth Crime Watch of Uganda is pleased to announce that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has renewed thier NGO certification for a further thirty six months. The group was praised for the good work that they have been doing.
New Year's Eve 2008: Campfire
YCWU has organized a youth campfire to welcome in the new year. They expect youth from across Uganda to attend.
July 2007: Fraud Alert from the U.S. Embassy in Kampala
YCWU has sent in this fraud alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Kampala. The sham targets African non-profit organizations, luring them to put forward cash on phantom aid deliveries. Activities of this nature are a recurring problem. Keep your wits about you.
May 2007: Uganda projects update
The pictures above are from the Youth Crime Watch of Uganda team. Clockwise from top left: (1) One of YCWU's early projects was raising chickens... they now have 220. (2) Another self-improvement project taught youth useful skills such as brick-making, which requires few resources; just water, soil and the akatiba tool. (3) Young YCW participants enjoy a meal together at a recent event. (4) YCWU organized a celebration for all of its participants and the community, at which YCWU members performed. The group is growing daily and many parents are pleased to have it for their children. Future plans may include expansion into the war torn areas of the north. We wish the Uganda program continued good spirits and all the best!
March 2007: Uganda counts ten sites
Youth Crime Watch of Uganda has made its latest count of active Youth Crime Watch sites. The program has taken root in the following locales:
- Kanynya Komamboga
- Munaku lubya
- City Secondary School in Lubaga
- Rise and Shine High School
- Umcat School of Journalism
- Kasubi Zone 1
- New Shepherd Primary School
- Trans Africa High School
- Kawempe
- Kazo Secondary School
YCWU continues to press for development of programs. We are confident that they will overcome all obstacles to thrive and make a difference.
January 2007: Pool and drama
In diverse outreach efforts, Youth Crime Watch of Uganda has reached out to young people with crime prevention messages, civic education, and positive reinforcement. The below photos show some recent activities.
Students at St. Charles Lwanga Primary School
rehearse a sketch about domestic violence. The performance will
be staged throughout the region.
Frank Kiwalabye presents a trophy to the winner
of a pool tournament at Kyebando. Pool was identified as a channel
for reaching out to the youth of the village. The new pool club
will compete at the national level.
October 2006: Discussing ways to stop kidnappings
In their monthly meeting, YCWU's Executive Board discussed ways to combat the rising kidnapping problem in some areas. The meeting was chaired by Kamusiime Caroline. Plans were made to partner with local leaders and police to make a coordinated effort.
August 2006: Program update
Since the beginning of the year, YCWU has sought to forge relationships with organizations friendly to the Youth Crime Watch concept. Meetings with the community liaison officer at the central police station and with the public affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kampala are among some of the steps the organization has taken on the road to establishing a firm foothold for YCW in the country. One highlight was the granting of an official NGO certificate in April (story below).
Henry Luguza with some of the core group members of Kazo secondary school after giving them some advice on how to run an essay competition in their school.
We reported in January 2006 on the formation of a drama club in the Kanyanya program. The club, which started with 20 members, has grown to include 43 people. Also in January, we reported the start of a community project to raise hogs. This project now has 22 hogs, from the original 1.
June 2006: Community Cleanup
Students at Kawempe Mbogo School joined forces with Nabagirinya Sophie for a community cleanup project. Local leaders supported the project and donated brooms. The youth made a "clean sweep" through the market area, leaving behind a number of smiling faces. Their hard work was much appreciated. Way to go!
Nabagirinya Sophie (bottom, left) at
the community clean up with students from
May 2006: Public Education
YCWU held a workshop on the role of youth in the modern world at St. Charles High School in Lubya. Many young people attended the event and the program got a number of new sign-ups. YCWU also took part in a talk show on the topic of AIDS prevention.
(left) Henry
Luguza at the workshop at S
April 2006: It's Official! Uganda's Youth Crime Watch awarded
NGO status
The Youth Crime Watch of Uganda organization has been awarded status as a recognized Non-Governmental Organization. Recognition by the NGO Board is an important milestone in the life of the organization. An official certificate presented to YCWU sanctions its operations in the Kampala district.
April 2006: New sites opening in Uganda
With its expanding network of local sites, YCWU is meeting the needs of young people across the country with regards to crime, health, education, and more. "We believe that these issues are only addressed effectively," says YCWU president Kiwalabye Frank, "if some one listens, understands and responds to young people's views rather than imposing their own."
A new site was launched at City Secondary School in Lubaga Division, Kampala. A student assembly was called to open the program and seven members were nominated to form a core group. The school principal Mr. Serunkuuma A. Samuel was elected as the advisor at this site. He pledged to do his part to help make the school a safe place. The new site will focus its efforts on three YCW components: crime reporting, education and action projects. Kayanja Henry, YCWU spokesman, deserves much credit for the work he did bringing this site together.
A site was launched at UMCAT School of Journalism, the first Uganda YCW site at an institution of higher education.
There is a new site at New Shepherd Primary School. The school provides a room for its YCWU members to meet every Saturday.
A site will launch soon at Munaku Zone in Kasubi, where youth recently joined hands in a village community cleanup project. The exercise lasted for five hours.
A site will launch soon at Rise and Shine High School in Ntinda, a surburb of Kampala, where the headmistress welcomed Youth Crime Watch members and has promised her support for the program.
On a sad note, YCWU regrets to announce the passing after a long illness of Mr. Katabila Lameck, advisor to the Kanyanya program and an active Youth Crime Watch supporter. Mr. Katabila will be missed.
February 2006: Report from Kanyanya
YCW Advisor advisor Mr. Katabila Lameck of the Kanyanya program sent through the following items of interest.
- Dec 2005: YCW advisor received a report that a group of youth had been smoking marijuana. The Core Group met and decided to take action. The youths were confronted and advised to stop the habit. They formed a football (soccer) club and one member donated a soccer ball. Now they have a better way of spending their free time.
- Dec 2005: A case of violent behavior by a group of young soccer fans who fought whenever their team lost - YCW met with them to advise them how to behave.
- Jan 2006: A drama club was formed to give the youth an opportunity to stage shows and utilize their talents instead of sitting idle. The club now has 20 members with rehearsals every evening at the community center.
- Jan 2006: A new action project - making bricks - is another way for local youths to generate income. With encouragement from Core Group members the village council passed a resolution to stop the habit of card playing during working hours.
- Jan 2006: An action project raising hogs and goats was started. The group will start with one pig and distribute its piglets among the members. Muslim group members will raise a goat.
Congratulations to Mr. Katabila Lameck and his group for their successes so far.
October 2005
Working with limited resources, the Youth Crime Watch of Uganda has begun a commendable effort to launch youth driven programs in their area. The program sees youth as its greatest asset as well as its inspiration and guiding force. "Our strength as an organization is due to the fact that we surround ourselves with such great youths. It is our duty to serve the youths and the community," states a recent update from the region. As a part of its efforts to establish the program officially, YCWU has approached local authorities, including the US Ambassador, to discuss ways of moving forward.
YCWU has established a headquarters in the center of the city of Kampala at Kalungi Plaza, William Street, where the executive committee meets (see photos below). At its most recent meeting, the committee lauded the extraordinary efforts of YCWU President Kiwalabye Frank and VP of Development Luguza Henry.
Executive Committee of Youth Crime Watch Uganda: Standing, from left to right are Kaweesa Muhammed (Treasurer), Kiwalabye Frank (President), Mpalanyi Tonny (Student Advisor), Luguza Henry (Vice President for Development); Sitting, from left to right are Nabagirinya Sophie (Vice President of Finance), Nakajiri Rashida (Secretary), Namutebi Immaculate (Student Advisor), Obby Jerremy N. (Student Advisor), and Ssaka Yasin (Student Advisor)
"Joining our hands together, we can reduce the rate of crime, violence, and drug abuse among the youth in our community and the world at large." - YCWU Executive Committee
Recently established youth sites include a site at Kanyanya Komamboga, where the local council chairman was chosen as advisor and youth are mobilizing around various service projects. There is a youth site at Kawempe, a site at Kasubi Zone 1, and a site at Trans African High School in Nabweru South, in the capital city of Kampala, where the headmaster (also YCW advisor), Mr. Katamba, has done an incredible job motivating youth. YCWU promises more school sites in the near future. Our hats go off to you!
The community of Kanyanya in traditional dress celebrate the formation of the youth site.
Kasubi community youth singing on stage at the launch of their community's youth site.
