Uganda Muslim Rural Development Association (UMURDA)

Uganda Muslim Rural Development Association (UMURDA) is an indigenous Faith-Based NGO that was founded in 1992 in Namakoko village in Nankoma Subcounty in Bugiri district. It was established at a time when there were wrangles of leadership among the Muslim community in Uganda giving no room for development among the Muslims. UMURDA started implementing development activities impacting on all and thereby demystifying religion and development reflected from the composition of its membership and staff. UMURDA has a total membership of 440 persons (259 Males and 181 Females). UMURDA is registered with the Ministry of Internal Affairs Reg. No S 5194/2271, mandated to operate in Uganda. Currently,... read more Uganda Muslim Rural Development Association (UMURDA) is an indigenous Faith-Based NGO that was founded in 1992 in Namakoko village in Nankoma Subcounty in Bugiri district. It was established at a time when there were wrangles of leadership among the Muslim community in Uganda giving no room for development among the Muslims. UMURDA started implementing development activities impacting on all and thereby demystifying religion and development reflected from the composition of its membership and staff. UMURDA has a total membership of 440 persons (259 Males and 181 Females). UMURDA is registered with the Ministry of Internal Affairs Reg. No S 5194/2271, mandated to operate in Uganda. Currently, it operates in the districts of Tororo, Bududa, Mbale, Sironko, Pallisa, Butaleja, Manafwa, Namisindwa, Busia, Kibuku, Mayuge, Kapchorwa, Bukwo, Namutumba Bugiri, Mayuge Namayingo, Iganga, Kamuli, Otuke, Katakwi, and Mpigi. Vision is to have: "a healthy, skilled and informed self-reliant rural community" The mission is: "to build capacities of rural communities" to influence change for sustainable development through training, information sharing, and advocacy. The goal is; "To mobilize and organize the target groups," to enable them to identify their needs as well as assist them to organize Programmes to address the identified problems of Poverty, Ignorance, and Disease (PID). Objectives of UMURDA Establish a reputable, well managed and self-reliant Islamic Organisation with the capacity to effectively and efficiently deliver quality services impacting on all. Provide capacity development services that empower individuals, communities, organizations, and Institutions in various capacity gaps. Provide services that promote access to safe water for drinking, proper sanitation and Hygiene and water for production. Contribute to the reduction of HIV/AIDS transmission and improve standards of living of persons affected and infected. Create awareness about Environmental Degradation, Climate Change, mitigation and adaptation measures, wildlife protection and Integrated Water Resources Management Provide services that promote mainstreaming of Primary Health Care, Nutrition, Gender, Human Rights, Child protection, ethics, integrity, Governance, participation, Socio-Accountability fight against the killer diseases and Adult literacy in developmental programmes. Provide services that promote the economic empowerment and participation of special interest groups such as women, youth, Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs), elderly and People with Disabilities (PWDs). To do anything incidental or conducive to the above objectives. UMURDA Values/Code of conduct UMURDA's Vision, Mission, Goal, and Objectives rotate on the following values: - 1. Unity in diversity: - Recognition that society has a diversity of beliefs and conflicts need to look at ourselves as one. 2. Community participation:- A belief that leadership originates from the community 3. Teamwork: - At all levels of staff, community and stakeholders to share successes and failures that apportioning blame. 4. Spirit of voluntarism: - This is inborn and cannot be acquired and it involves sacrifices at all levels. 5. Accountability: - In terms of value doing the right thing at the right time. 6. Transparency:- That all beneficiaries and stakeholders cherish the work done Overview of priority programmes Below is an overview of the priority programmes of UMURDA: 1. Organizational and Institutional capacity strengthening of UMURDA. i. UMURDA's capacity improved to design and implement Programmes for rural communities in Uganda. ii. Improved functionality of the administrative systems to effectively deliver UMURDA's mandate. iii. Improved UMURDA's systems for research, monitoring, and evaluation and learning to inform program delivery and development. iv. Right human resource recruited at the right time. v. Strategic alliance established and strengthened with key stakeholders including mandated institutions such as the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), government, donors and the private sector. vi. Increase resource base of UMURDA through social hybrid enterprise for financial sustainability as donor funding is reducing drastically. 2. Water and Sanitation. i. Water Supply- Self-Supply, sensitization of WATSAN partners, springs Protection, Borehole drilling and repair, Canzee pump construction, Rain Water Harvesting, and Management. ii. Hygiene and Sanitation- Handwashing campaign, Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), Children Hygiene and Sanitation Training (CHAST). iii. Environmental Management- Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Catchment management, Environmental protection, Climate Change Mitigation, and Adaptation Measures. 3. Health, nutrition, and livelihood i. Community structures and health systems strengthened to respond to barriers in health service delivery and health seeking behaviors. ii. HIV/AIDS prevention, Home Based Care (HBC) and Promotion of Support Groups (PSGs). iii. Child protection. iv. Malaria and TB Control, Nutrition v. Prevention from Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) and ultimately eliminate Mother to Child Transmission (eMTCT) 4. Education: i. Islamic Holiday Studies- Training Imams to teach Muslim Children during holidays at Mosques. ii. Islamic Madrasa for women- Teaching women Islam at Mosques to promote Islamic holiday studies. iii. Adult Literacy- Functional Adult Literacy (FAL), Integrated Community Learning for Wealthy Creation (ICOLEW)-Literacy, Numeracy, Business Skills, Village Savings and Loan Association and Vocational Training. iv. Early Childhood Development- Education to Caregivers on nutritious food for children below the age of 8, mobilizing children for immunization and supporting established Early Childhood Development Centers. v. Life-Skills Training- Training of OVCs in various skills of but not limited to: Tailoring, Motorcycle, and vehicle repair, hairdressing, brick-laying and carpentry, masonry, agriculture, catering and plumbing. vi. Capacity Building- Training of existing Community Structures such as WASH Community Based Organisations (CBOs), Village Health Teams (VHTs), Religious Leaders, Local Government Structures such as Youth and Women Councils. vii. Awareness Campaigns for Vulnerable Groups- Awareness campaigns and advocacy for the Elderly and People with Disabilities (PWDs), youth and women. 4. Cross-Cutting Activities: Human Rights, Accountability, Gender, Advocacy, and lobbying.