In a collaboration with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Norec) partnered with the SDI Secretariat to facilitate a transformative youth media exchange in Uganda.
This initiative saw me, Xola Mteto as the Know Your City (KYC) TV Coordinator, participate in a five-month exchange in the second half of 2024. I was based at the AcTogether office in Kampala. The exchange aims to support youth-led media groups with hands-on learning and strategic campaigns.
The exchange focused on two key objectives:
- KYC TV Learning by Doing Exercises: Youth media groups received training in KYC TV revitalization, videography, social media management, and communications skills. These skills were applied to create impactful media products showcasing their work.
- Strategic Campaigns: Participants planned and initiated both on-the-ground and online campaigns to address pressing community issues.
I travelled extensively across Uganda and witnessed the remarkable impact of the SDI Ugandan Federation’s work. This blog describes some of the inspiring federation’s initiatives I visited.
The National Slum Dwellers Federation of Uganda savings groups and projects
Mbarara Savings Groups – River Rwizzi
Mbarara has about 30 savings in the western region of Uganda. During the Norec exchange we documented the savings groups efforts to conserve and restore the River Rwizzi which is the second-longest river in Uganda, after the Nile. The river plays a crucial role in supplying water for the entire city of Mbarara and the entire western region. But climate change has been one of the main reasons for the river’s deterioration as well as the proliferation of water Hitchen, an invasive species which grows along the river’s edges.
In 2016, a bridge connecting the Kansanyarazi community to the city of Mbarara broke due to flooding. The National Slum Dwellers Federation of Uganda savings groups, which live along the river, explained how they responded to the challenge of the bridge collapse. They used their savings to fix the bridge which helped workers, school goers and traders who travel daily to the city. They also and developed locally made tools to scoop out growing Hitchen in the river.
Watch a short video about the project >
SDI Youth Savings groups and youth projects
I was excited to see the growth of SDI Youth-Led groups in three regions in Kampala central namely, Mbale and YesWeCan, Brotherhood, Balisaka Madda and the Tshinawataka Biogas center. All these savings groups are organised around SDI’s core rituals. With support from the SDI and Safe and Inclusive Cities, youth groups from different regions received funding to strengthen and scale up their efforts.
Baliska Madda Group: Turning Waste into Sustainable Energy
The Baliska Madda youth groups proves that through innovation, the youth can create their own solutions for many of our burdens. Comprising of 15 men and 15 women in Nakawa, Uganda, Baliska Madda meets weekly to save for their own projects to transform their settlements.
When COVID-19 disrupted waste management and charcoal transport, the group turned this crisis into an opportunity. They collect plastic and organic waste, process it through carbonization, and use a briquette machine to create clean-burning fuel. Each mini briquette burns for 5–6 hours, providing an affordable cooking alternative to charcoal or electricity.
This initiative not only cleared waste and reduced flooding, but also provided income during the pandemic, helping members support their households. Today, their briquettes meet the growing demand for clean energy, showing how youth-led innovation can solve environmental and economic problems while strengthening community resilience.
Watch a short video about the project >
Youth-Led Urban Farming: The rise of urban farming in Kampala Central
In the bustling streets of Kampala Central, where the hum of traffic and rhythm of city life dominate, I witnessed a quiet revolution taking root. Amidst the concrete and chaos, a growing movement of young people is transforming idle spaces into thriving urban farms.
Watching the young farmers at work was truly inspiring. While urban farming itself is not new, in Kampala it has taken on a unique character, fuelled by the energy and innovation of the city’s youth. This youth-led movement is more than a trend—it’s a testament to their resilience and creativity in the face of adversity. With limited access to arable land and rising unemployment, these young farmers are turning underutilized spaces into productive food sources, redefining sustainable living in an urban environment.
Brotherhood Youth Group
The Brotherhood Youth Group is a collective of 28 young individuals based in Tshinawataka, Kampala Central, which addresses food insecurity and community challenges through three core activities:
Urban Farming: The group utilizes limited urban spaces for farming, growing vegetables (e.g, sukuma wiki, tomatoes, onions) and spices in repurposed containers and sacks. The urban farmers refrain from using pesticides and other toxic agricultural chemicals. This initiative reduces reliance on distant markets, cuts transportation costs, and provides fresh, affordable produce directly to the community. Similar urban farming practices in Kamwokya slums have shown success in boosting nutrition and income.
Community Clean-Ups: Focused on waste management and environmental conservation, the group organises clean-up drives. These activities align with youth-led initiatives in Kampala’s suburbs, where waste recycling—such as eco-briquette production—helps combat pollution and generate income.
Outside Catering: The group offers catering services using produce from their urban farms. This creates livelihoods while strengthening local food systems. By localising food production, they aim to reduce costs and improve access to nutritious food—an issue faced in both rural and urban Uganda.
Watch a short video about the project >
Biogas project
The Bio-Gas Centre, launched in 2023, is a transformative model for sustainable urban living, addressing multiple environmental and social challenges in one integrated solution.
Harnessing renewable energy through biogas for cooking and solar lighting, educes reliance on fossil fuels and curbs greenhouse gas emissions. The center’s rooftop urban farming initiatives promotes local food production and fosters biodiversity in an otherwise concrete environment. The multifunctional design; combining sanitation, housing, and green technologies; enhances climate resilience by reducing waste, improving air quality, and promoting water conservation.
Overall, the Bio-Gas Centre serves as a holistic approach to mitigating climate change, empowering communities while promoting a cleaner and more sustainable urban future.
Watch a short video about the project >
Personal and Professional Growth
Through the Norec exchange program, I gained firsthand insight into living and working abroad. This experience strengthened my global competencies, particularly through collaboration with a national NGO such as ActTogether Uganda, which deepened my understanding of the daily challenges local affiliates face.
Visiting grassroots communities reinforced this idea, where I met passionate federation members—women, men, and youth—who are making a real difference in their communities. I learned that lasting progress happens when communities are directly involved in decision-making, with those affected by the issues playing a key role in driving change.
Cultural Understanding
My cultural awareness expanded significantly during this exchange. Learning some words and phrases in Luganda (the most widely spoken language in Uganda), was a highlight. I discovered linguistic similarities between Luganda and my native language (isiXhosa), which bridged communication gaps and enriched my connection to local communities.
Insights into Ugandan Politics and Regional Dynamics
I deepened my knowledge of Uganda’s political history and its role as a strategic player in the Great Lakes region. Through networking and observation, I gained perspective on the country’s evolving trajectory and its potential to influence socioeconomic and political developments in the region.
Technical Skill Development
The exchange honed my ability to communicate more effectively in multilingual settings. Facilitating presentations to various audiences taught me to navigate language barriers creatively. Additionally, co-planning, co-leading, and co-facilitating initiatives with the national federation sharpened my skills in collaborating with international teams. Participating in grassroots campaigns underscored the importance of strategic communication in mobilizing communities and building solidarity among activists, leaders, and movements.
Conclusion
This experience reaffirmed the power of collective action and the value of listening to local voices. The lessons I’ve learned—from cross-cultural adaptability to inclusive leadership—will continue to shape my approach to advocacy and global collaboration.
