L.E.A.D Uganda exists to give hope to kids who had no future, to heal their pain, and make their dreams come true.

The AIDS pandemic and the conflict in the north have devastated whole regions of Uganda, amplifying poverty and despair. 1.9 million orphans saw their parents die of AIDS, one million children grew up in IDP camps, tens of thousands were abducted by rebels and forced to become child-soldiers and sex-slaves.

Most educational aid pays school fees for them to attend overcrowded village schools where 80% drop out before 7th grade. Even fewer graduate from high school and only a handful make it to college. Those who suffer most are girls.

In contrast, L.E.A.D Uganda places forgotten children in the best schools where they acquire the skills to help their communities. When educated at top schools, they excel.

“L.E.A.D Uganda is preparing morally upright,
academically very strong,
and responsible leaders for this country.“

—Dr. John Muyingo,
Minister of Higher Education & Sports

We have more students in top schools than any NGO in Uganda.

• 90% of our children attend elite schools where more than half earn “A” averages.

• Our students receive scholarships to universities in Uganda, India and the U. S.

• L.E.A.D Uganda student Joseph was the 1st poor child ever elected Head Boy at Uganda’s elite primary school.

• Katongole, a former quarry boy, received a full scholarship to study pharmacy at Uganda’s leading university. He was elected to the Student Guild as a freshman.

• Sanyu, who was head of her household at 10, looking after two younger siblings, is now a straight A student at one of Uganda’s leading high schools. Village elders told Sanyu, “You are the hope of the village.”

• Amos, an orphan from a refugee camp in northern Uganda, received the highest score in Mpigi District on his national 7th grade PLE examination. He was honored by the Government.

“You’ve got these kids who arevery disadvantaged,
either because of poverty, or because of the war, or because of AIDS.
At L.E.A.D Uganda they can  go to the best schools.
The chances are very good that they will be
among the leaders of this country.”

— John Nagenda, Senior Advisor,
Media and Public Relations to
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda

How L.E.A.D Uganda Works

(1) We find children with the potential to become entrepreneurs and innovators. We identify smart children affected by AIDS, war, and poverty. We locate AIDS orphans, former child soldiers, child laborers, youth in refugee camps, street kids, and victims of abuse with the help of community leaders and teachers, and staff visits to the communities. Once identified, children and their guardians go through a rigorous selection process.

(2) We enroll our children  at the best schools so they gain the skills to become leaders. We furnish them with everything they need to succeed: books, academic tutoring, clothing, medical care, leadership training, and discipline. We give our kids skills because we want them to grow into self-reliant adults who can compete with anyone in the world.

(3) We give our traumatized scholars a disciplined, loving family, a clan, because the clan is the glue of African society. Our children feel inadequate, depressed, and alienated because their families and clans have been decimated. We treat the children like we care for our own children, not as objects of charity. L.E.A.D Uganda’s clan gives them stability and a place to stand in the world.

(4) We heal their pain, so they can feel whole again. Healing their pain is crucial. Our children have been traumatized by war and AIDS. Healing can be a long process, especially for those youngsters affected by war. The Ugandan staff nurtures and counsels them. We foster close ties with their L.E.A.D Uganda brothers and sisters. The family culture we have created is a vital part of the healing process.

(5) We are their extended family. We mentor them like aunts and uncles. We base our intense, mentoring approach on a successful formula employed by Friends of the Children, a mentoring program in the United States that helps abused and neglected children by putting caring people from the community into their lives. Mentoring in an extended family context provides the children with discipline, builds their confidence, helps them set goals, and encourages them to blossom into leaders.

(6) Our students are stakeholders, not clients or victims. We call them student-members. They are part of a strong, vibrant clan with 100-plus siblings, and aunts and uncles on two continents.

“I remember asking the assembled students, ‘Raise your hand if you are an orphan.’ Every hand shot up. ‘I don’t see any orphans here.’ Puzzled faces looked back at me. ‘Look around you, are those your brothers and sisters’  ‘Yes’ they replied. ‘Do you see Mummy Monica? Is she your mom?’ ‘Yes,’ ‘If you have brothers and sisters, a mom and a dad, and uncles and aunts, then how can you be an orphan?’ This was met with broad smiles.” —Stephen Shames, L.E.A.D Uganda founder

(7) We keep them in the community, not in an orphanage, because we believe leaders must stay in touch with their tribes and communities. Every child in Africa has someone. We search out our student’s relatives. In some cases, it takes years to re-integrate them into their kinship group. Though they left as outcasts, they return as heroes.

(8) We transcend tribal and religious differences. Our children will be able to bring the nation together because we have successfully linked Christians and Moslems; and children from disparate tribes into a strong clan.

(9) We go the distance. We do whatever it takes to help our children succeed. We’ve built a culture of success. Our student-members are the backbone of our success. Our older students mentor their younger “siblings”. They have plans to take over L.E.A.D Uganda in the coming years. The community elders are already telling them they are the “hope of the village”.

(10) We imbue them with a strong work ethic and a desire to serve. We are the Marines. We teach our children to overcome all odds.

“When I see people suffering, I feel I should do something. I aspire to be a doctor. I want to fight AIDS that takes the life of many in my country.” —Sanyu Nakyeyune, L.E.A.D student / head of household at 10-years-old, looking after two younger siblings

The solutions to Africa’s problems exist in the hearts and minds of the continent’s neglected children. They can do the job if given the education and skills. But they can’t do it without your help.

Join the movement. Sponsor a child.

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Your donation is tax deductible