Our Story
Our Background
Bukedi Rural and Urban Community Initiatives (BRUCI) is a national organization that was founded in 2022 and legally registered in 2024 with the aim of empowering rural and urban people for self-reliance. It all started by the founder members reflecting on the recurring and rampant challenges they always faced around their communities. The founders interpreted these challenges as need to do something that can enable the communities to be self-reliant rather than wait for aid from others. BRUCI is an indigenous organization head-quartered in Tororo District in eastern Uganda with a mandate to operate in any part of Uganda.
Our Target Beneficiaries.
Our key beneficiaries include; vulnerable children, adolescents, youth, vulnerable adults (women and men), persons living with sickle cells, HIV, Key population, persons with disability in hard to reach and underserved communities.
Our Approach
BRUCI employs the bottom-up and holistic empowerment approach termed as “Neighborhood Assembly (NA)” that is community led, focusing on individual behavior change amongst vulnerable communities and groups for sustainable livelihood transformation. A Neighborhood Assembly is a peoples’ democratically elected parliament operating at a local community (village) level. It is a local community parliament by the people and for the people. A NA brings many benefits to the community which includes leaders taking responsibility for community development and also a good way to start and maintain good community leadership, extending from the local community level to the national level. NAs transform the community in a simple but coordinated ways where involvement and participation are important and initiated by an individual or an organization. It helps to build peoples’ knowledge and capacities which and community; region or country needs in order to challenge or question what their leaders do and how they represent the community interests and concerns.
We also use other approaches like Enabling Rural and Urban Innovation (ERUI), Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs), Community Model Gardens (CMGs) Managed Tree Nurseries for indigenousness, Community Events (cultural, sports, talk shows, dialogues, Parliaments etc.) on peaceful coexistence, Mobile Health Clinics and Gender Action Learning System (GALS) among others. We deliver grassroots programs i.e. capacity building for grassroots structures, youths and leaders in some of the hard to reach and underserved areas in collaboration with local governments, other CSOs, CBOs, NGOs, religious and cultural leaders to enhance capacities at both institutional and community levels for inclusive and effective service delivery. We strongly believe in partnerships and networking to achieve our objectives since we contribute and complement the work of government and other development actors in realizing the set broader development agenda at national and international levels.
BRUCI conducts research to generate information for evidence-based advocacy to engage government in the formulation, review and implementation of policies and programs in favor of marginalized groups like women, children, persons with disabilities among others. BRUCI partners with MGs to implement projects that address community challenges and make a difference in the lives of the people. Reflection meetings between the implementing organizations are organized for peer review and to come up with collective actions and voice.
BRUCI advocates for a conducive environment for civil society to operate. It amplifies voices from the grassroots through the media, publications, BRUCI website and networks at the national, regional and international levels. BRUCI is a member of Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA) and as undergone the Quality Assurance Mechanism (QuAM) as a credible and effective organization in Uganda.
BRUCI aims at building an empowered, courageous and vibrant citizenry that demands for a Uganda that is democratic, accountable and with efficient institutions that serve its people. BRUCI is a member of regional and international partnerships that foster mutual learning, sharing of best practices and documentation of experiences.
BRUCI impacts the Civil Society in three broad spheres that are interconnected. At community level working with indigenous groups where real-life issues are felt, contested and prioritized, and solutions are negotiated. The second sphere is the public sphere where we advocate, engage and seek to understand the nexus between policy and practice. Here we amplify our ideas, lessons and challenges that arise from the community level work and thus contribute to building a strong network of partners to contribute to the broad democratic and citizen wellbeing agenda. The third sphere is the policy sphere where we work intentionally to engage with targeted public officials as a way of building pro-people policy and regulatory frameworks that allow indigenous organizations to thrive.
BRUCI is governed by Annual General Assembly that comprises of all BRUCI members and led by the Board of Directors comprised of five eminent members that serve for a period of three years. The BRUCI secretariat that comprises of 15 staff is led by the Executive Director, who coordinates BRUCI’s interventions and reports to the board on a quarterly basis.
We also use other approaches like Enabling Rural and Urban Innovation (ERUI), Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs), Community Model Gardens (CMGs) Managed Tree Nurseries for indigenousness, Community Events (cultural, sports, talk shows, dialogues, Parliaments etc.) on peaceful coexistence, Mobile Health Clinics and Gender Action Learning System (GALS) among others. We deliver grassroots programs i.e. capacity building for grassroots structures, youths and leaders in some of the hard to reach and underserved areas in collaboration with local governments, other CSOs, CBOs, NGOs, religious and cultural leaders to enhance capacities at both institutional and community levels for inclusive and effective service delivery. We strongly believe in partnerships and networking to achieve our objectives since we contribute and complement the work of government and other development actors in realizing the set broader development agenda at national and international levels.
BRUCI conducts research to generate information for evidence-based advocacy to engage government in the formulation, review and implementation of policies and programs in favor of marginalized groups like women, children, persons with disabilities among others. BRUCI partners with MGs to implement projects that address community challenges and make a difference in the lives of the people. Reflection meetings between the implementing organizations are organized for peer review and to come up with collective actions and voice.
BRUCI advocates for a conducive environment for civil society to operate. It amplifies voices from the grassroots through the media, publications, BRUCI website and networks at the national, regional and international levels. BRUCI is a member of Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA) and as undergone the Quality Assurance Mechanism (QuAM) as a credible and effective organization in Uganda.
BRUCI aims at building an empowered, courageous and vibrant citizenry that demands for a Uganda that is democratic, accountable and with efficient institutions that serve its people. BRUCI is a member of regional and international partnerships that foster mutual learning, sharing of best practices and documentation of experiences.
BRUCI impacts the Civil Society in three broad spheres that are interconnected. At community level working with indigenous groups where real-life issues are felt, contested and prioritized, and solutions are negotiated. The second sphere is the public sphere where we advocate, engage and seek to understand the nexus between policy and practice. Here we amplify our ideas, lessons and challenges that arise from the community level work and thus contribute to building a strong network of partners to contribute to the broad democratic and citizen wellbeing agenda. The third sphere is the policy sphere where we work intentionally to engage with targeted public officials as a way of building pro-people policy and regulatory frameworks that allow indigenous organizations to thrive.
BRUCI is governed by Annual General Assembly that comprises of all BRUCI members and led by the Board of Directors comprised of five eminent members that serve for a period of three years. The BRUCI secretariat that comprises of 15 staff is led by the Executive Director, who coordinates BRUCI’s interventions and reports to the board on a quarterly basis.
Our Core Programme areas.
1) Democracy and Human Rights.
2) Disaster Risk Reduction and Environmental Protection.
3) Community Health and Education.
4) Smart Agriculture and Economic Empowerment.
5) Resilient and Sustainable Livelihood.
6) Research, Innovation and Capacity Building.
2) Disaster Risk Reduction and Environmental Protection.
3) Community Health and Education.
4) Smart Agriculture and Economic Empowerment.
5) Resilient and Sustainable Livelihood.
6) Research, Innovation and Capacity Building.
Our Cross cutting Themes.
Gender is a key cross cutting theme we integrate in our programs. BRUCI economically empowers
women through Enterprise Development Grant to build assets and take leadership roles in
strengthening household resilience, Gender Mainstreaming and Youth Empowerment.
Vision
A self-reliant, sustainable and holistically transformed Community.
Mission
Building an empowered community through capacity building, economic empowerment, smart agriculture, linkages and networking for sustainable livelihoods and community-centered development.
Our Objectives.
• To encourage communities to develop social and economic development services of people of Uganda.
• To plan and co-ordinate training on technical assistance for purpose of improving management capabilities and effectiveness of communities
• To facilitate communication and promote co-operation between communities social groups, private, informal sector and government on matters of mutual concern relating to the socio-economic development in Uganda.
• To conduct civic and voter education.
• To promote and encourage independent research and dissemination in areas of general development and advocacy for the interests of citizens and their groups who might otherwise be vulnerable.
• To liaise with government regarding the needs and concerns of the community as a special interest sector.
• To build capacity of community groups financial literacy, mart agriculture, village savings and loans, etc.
• To advocate for policy and legal reforms within the community.
• To provide legal guidance for community members
• To carry out civic education and voter education in the community
• To carry out civic education and create civic awareness on elections, and human rights in community generally.
• To protect and promote the public interest litigation, including our collective stake as citizens in the rule of law and in society achieving the appropriate balance of rights and responsibilities.
• To support access to justice initiatives and contribute to access to justice for peoples of all walks of life in need of justice services.
• To carry out activities aimed at promoting environmental protection in the community.
• To engage in climate change activities for the prevention of or mitigation of climate change.
• To engage in farming and farmer supporting including provision of farm inputs and other materials.
• To engage in activities aimed at farmer skill development and adaptation of new technologies.
• To provide farm equipment as grants or at a fee to farmers including cost sharing of equipment.
• To engage in generation and preservation of farm technologies including traditional farming methods and development of new technologies.
• To establish and run own businesses and other income generating activities aimed at generating resources for the organization
• To engage in HIV sensitization in communities
• To carry out other activities incidental to or aimed at achieving the above activities.
• To plan and co-ordinate training on technical assistance for purpose of improving management capabilities and effectiveness of communities
• To facilitate communication and promote co-operation between communities social groups, private, informal sector and government on matters of mutual concern relating to the socio-economic development in Uganda.
• To conduct civic and voter education.
• To promote and encourage independent research and dissemination in areas of general development and advocacy for the interests of citizens and their groups who might otherwise be vulnerable.
• To liaise with government regarding the needs and concerns of the community as a special interest sector.
• To build capacity of community groups financial literacy, mart agriculture, village savings and loans, etc.
• To advocate for policy and legal reforms within the community.
• To provide legal guidance for community members
• To carry out civic education and voter education in the community
• To carry out civic education and create civic awareness on elections, and human rights in community generally.
• To protect and promote the public interest litigation, including our collective stake as citizens in the rule of law and in society achieving the appropriate balance of rights and responsibilities.
• To support access to justice initiatives and contribute to access to justice for peoples of all walks of life in need of justice services.
• To carry out activities aimed at promoting environmental protection in the community.
• To engage in climate change activities for the prevention of or mitigation of climate change.
• To engage in farming and farmer supporting including provision of farm inputs and other materials.
• To engage in activities aimed at farmer skill development and adaptation of new technologies.
• To provide farm equipment as grants or at a fee to farmers including cost sharing of equipment.
• To engage in generation and preservation of farm technologies including traditional farming methods and development of new technologies.
• To establish and run own businesses and other income generating activities aimed at generating resources for the organization
• To engage in HIV sensitization in communities
• To carry out other activities incidental to or aimed at achieving the above activities.
Core Values.
We at all times uphold full openness to our members, beneficiaries and partners.
We uphold strong moral values of honesty and truthfulness in our work, we do the right
thing at all times and are accountable to members and stakeholders.
We live up to our commitments, take ownership of our mistakes, and are accountable to
Indigenous peoples and their organizations.
We are honored to serve communities and have a moral and personal responsibility to
strive for excellence in our work. We take pride in continuously improving ourselves and our
organization.
In all we do, we work to promote gender equality. We strive to achieve gender
intersectionality in the implementation of programmes at all levels of development.
We ensure that no one is denied their rights because of factors
such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinions.
We seek to learn and grow from our interactions with others and to build self-awareness.
We believe that solutions for indigenous services are better developed by indigenous peoples. Our
role is to support them in developing services that meet their ambitions.
We conduct ourselves with respect, always caring and courteous. We are tough on issues
and easy on each other. We are mindful of our personal and mental health, for to serve others, we
must care for ourselves
Working With The Best
Our Partners
Support the Cause
Together, we can take a stand against poverty, food insecurity and social injustice in Uganda by empowering women, children and entire families.
