The Bonga Programme – Unlocking the Potential of Karamoja’s Youth

In the remote and resource-scarce communities of Karamoja, too many young people, especially girls, grow up facing poverty, limited education, and few opportunities for a brighter future. The Bonga Programme, implemented by the Karamoja Peace and Development Agency (KAPDA) with the support of partners such as the Stromme Foundation, is transforming that reality.

Bonga means “to speak out” and that is exactly what we inspire our young participants to do: find their voice, claim their rights, and shape their future.

What We Do

The Bonga Programme targets out-of-school adolescent girls, boys, and vulnerable youth between 13–24 years, as well as school-going children through in-school Bonga clubs. Through a blend of life skills training, vocational skills development, and income-generating activities, we help youth break cycles of dependency and build self-reliance.

Our approach combines:

• Life Skills & Leadership Training – Building confidence, communication skills, problem-solving, and rights awareness.

• Vocational Skills Development – Tailoring, beadwork, bakery, agriculture, and retail trade.

• School-Based Bonga Clubs – Gardens, debating clubs, music, drama, sports, and peer mentorship.

• Income-Generating Activities (IGA) – Collective ventures like kitchen gardens, tailoring shops, bakeries, and retail outlets.

• Village Savings & Loan Associations (VSLA) – Encouraging financial literacy, savings, and access to small loans.

Our Impact

• Over 940 adolescent girls and boys have acquired practical skills to earn a living.

• Communities now have access to locally made clothes, baked goods, and fresh vegetables, reducing reliance on distant markets.

• School attendance, especially for girls, has improved thanks to mentorship, reduced absenteeism, and support with sanitary materials.

• Youth-led enterprises generate weekly incomes of UGX 40,000–50,000, boosting household resilience and food security.

Stories of Change

• Christine, a young woman with a disability, gained mobility support and life skills, enabling her to participate in community activities with confidence.

• Faridah, once with no means to support herself, now runs a successful tailoring business that provides for her child and inspires other girls.

• Morunyang Bonga Forum turned a bakery project into a thriving business hub, meeting community needs for essential goods and creating jobs for youth.

Why Bonga Needs You

Karamoja’s youth are brimming with talent and determination. But without resources, training, and mentorship, many risk falling into cycles of poverty, early marriage, or migration in search of work.

Your partnership can help us:

• Expand Bonga centres to reach more remote villages.

• Provide startup kits for vocational graduates.

• Support school clubs with learning materials, sports gear, and garden tools.

• Fund market linkages so youth products reach wider audiences.

When you invest in the Bonga Programme, you invest in a generation ready to lead change, uplift their communities, and inspire others to dream bigger.

Contact us today to explore partnership opportunities:
info@kapdaug.org | www.kapdaug.org