Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda/2023 - 2024 Annual Report

This annual report summarizes the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda's activities and accomplishments from July 2023 to June 2024. The group focused on cultural heritage preservation, gender equality, and knowledge sharing through various initiatives and programs.

Wiki Loves Monuments 2023

Wiki Loves Monuments 2023 in Uganda marked the seventh consecutive year that the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda organized the contest in Uganda since 2017. This year, the User Group collaborated with the Content Partnerships Helpdesk Team to streamline the process for volunteers to identify monuments lacking photos using Wikidata. A total of 214 images were uploaded by 8 participants, with volunteers receiving support for travel expenses to visit remote upcountry locations, allowing them to capture photos of monuments and sites that had never been documented before. This partnership led to the creation of an automatically generated monuments list, showing monuments that have photos, those missing photos, and their coordinates, which enabled better guidance for volunteers and optimized the use of time and resources.

However, some challenges were encountered with the Wikidata list, including incorrect featured images and issues with automatic updates for new uploads. To address these problems, volunteers need better guidance on ensuring their contributions are correctly reflected, and the team plans to collaborate with the Content Partnerships Helpdesk Team to find solutions in the coming year.

Below are winning photos from Wiki Loves Monuments 2023 in Uganda

Nyabyeya Polish Refugee Camp
Uganda Matyrs Basilica Namugogo
Gaddafi Mosque in Uganda
Namirembe Cathederal

Wiki Soccerthon 2023

The Wiki Soccerthon 2023 program focused on documenting and increasing content about Ugandan football on both the English and Luganda Wikipedias. WikiUganda volunteers formed a team to generate content and engage with football communities, resulting in 2.62k total edits by 17 editors. The project successfully initiated discussions with potential partners like the Uganda Premier League secretariat and Oldies League Association. Participation in the Oldies League Football finals with OpenStreetMap Uganda provided valuable firsthand information and media.

Additionally, the project garnered media coverage and sparked a new initiative, Wiki for Boxing. Challenges included formalizing partnerships for content donation and aligning project timelines with partner schedules, leading to the exploration of a Wikimedian in Residence program for 2024.

Dashboard

Soccer in Uganda
Wiki Soccer Poster
Wiki Soccer Partner and Branding

WikiForHumanRights 2023

The WikiForHumanRights 2023 campaign in Uganda successfully engaged 47 participants, including 18 women, in creating and improving Wikipedia content on human rights, climate change, pollution, and biodiversity. The campaign resulted in the creation of 59 new English Wikipedia articles, 45 Luganda Wikipedia articles, 221 Wikidata items, and the upload of 93 photos to Wikimedia Commons. This content significantly increased the visibility of environmental and human rights issues on Wikipedia.

The campaign also recognized the achievements of participants, with a special focus on the contributions of female editors. The best female contributor, Atyang344, highlighted the importance of environmental protection and shared her positive experience as a first-time Wikipedia editor.

Despite these successes, the campaign faced challenges in the limited coverage of women's involvement in climate change and environmental activism in Uganda. As a solution, increased partnerships with the media are being pursued to enhance the coverage of these topics in print media. The campaign's impact was further amplified through active promotion on social media platforms, including highlighting the stories of successful contributors on Twitter and Instagram.

Outreach Dashboard

Wiki For Refugees 2023

The #WikiForRefugees 2023 Campaign successfully brought together urban refugees and stakeholders in Uganda to collaboratively enhance information on Wikipedia regarding refugee livelihoods and settlements. The program consisted of intensive training, an edit-a-thon focused on improving existing articles and creating new ones, and the generation of multimedia content for Wikimedia Commons.

Notable achievements include a collaborative session with Wikimedia Botswana at the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum 2023 in Nairobi, where the project's impact on digital inclusion was highlighted. The project also expanded its partnership with RELON (Refugee Led Organization Network), leading to the creation of 109 content pages across various Wikimedia platforms.

Challenges identified include the need for increased access to laptops for training sessions with refugees and further digital literacy training to enhance editing skills. Potential solutions involve partnering with organizations like Map Uganda, Internet Society, Amara Hub, and Imagine Her to provide devices and conduct comprehensive training programs.

Outreach Dashboard

Annual General Meeting 2023

The Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda successfully held its 2023 Annual General Meeting at Emperor Hotel on October 28th, 2023, with 35 community members in attendance. The event featured a recap of the organization's journey since 2014, introductions fostering community spirit, and a thorough review of the past year's activities, including achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. Collaborative discussions on a 5-year strategy and future plans ensued. The AGM concluded with a celebratory cake-cutting ceremony, commemorating the community's accomplishments

Participants enjoying every moment at the AGM]]
Our team of committed volunteers and engaged participants
Our team of committed volunteers and engaged participants

Participation in Wiki Indaba 2023

The Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda participated in Wiki Indaba 2023, held in Agadir, Morocco, from November 3rd to 5th. Representatives Alvin Ategyeka and Geoffrey Kateregga presented on "Unleashing the Power of Volunteerism and Community Growth," sharing insights from the Ugandan community's experiences. The conference provided a valuable opportunity for networking, learning from other African Wikimedia communities, and engaging in discussions to further the African agenda within the movement.

Participation in Wikimania 2023

The Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda was represented at Wikimania 2023 by Alice Kibombo, Geoffrey Kateregga, and Sandra Aceng. Their participation allowed for the exchange of knowledge and experiences with other user groups, the sharing of the Ugandan community's work, and the establishment of connections within the broader Wikimedia community. Alice Kibombo's presentation, "Rethinking diversity and inclusion: A Ugandan experience," highlighted the group's unique perspective and contributions.

Luganda Wikipedia June 2023 - July 2024

The Luganda Wikipedia community made significant strides from 2023 to June 2024, focusing on content creation, promotion, and volunteer recruitment. Collaborating with GLAM, they organized Wikisource training for content generation, commemorating International Mother Tongue Day. They successfully trained new recruits, including Ssuubi Solomon, recognized as the best new editor for LG-WIKI in the Wiki GAP 2024 campaign. Additionally, the community strengthened leadership structures, training two new organizers in March 2024.

The community saw an increase in active editors and conducted sensitization campaigns on social media and at universities, attracting new members. Participation in the Wiki GAP 2024 campaign yielded impressive results, with 292 articles created and 420 translated, surpassing the 2023 figures.

A key challenge remains the limited access to computers for many volunteers, hindering their participation in edit-a-thons. The community is exploring solutions like providing borrowable computers to address this issue.

Outreach Dashboard

Wiki4Education June 2023 - July 2024

The Wiki4Education program in Uganda successfully engaged 29 new teachers in the 2023-2024 period, providing them with training and resources to integrate Wikipedia into their classrooms. Two laptop computers were acquired to support training sessions, and swag items were distributed to raise awareness. The program also fostered sustainability by engaging and upskilling two volunteers.

Initially, virtual training during school holidays proved effective, but scheduling conflicts arose in the second term due to teachers' other commitments. This led to a shift towards physical training sessions tailored to each partner's unique schedule, resulting in smaller training groups and multiple sessions. Additionally, the program faced challenges with teachers' varying levels of computer literacy, necessitating additional time for basic computer skills training.

WikiGap 2024

The WikiGap 2024 campaign in Uganda successfully engaged 108 participants across multiple universities and locations to address gender disparities on Wikipedia. This initiative led to the creation of 38 new Wikipedia articles, 11 new Wikidata entries, and 277 Luganda translations. Comprehensive planning and organization facilitated training sessions, workshops, and mentorship opportunities for participants. Top contributors were recognized with prizes in various categories.

Challenges encountered included time management, incomplete articles, and access to restricted information. Recommendations for future improvements encompass restructuring the WikiGap team for enhanced content creation, adjusting budget allocations, and sustaining mentorship programs.

Wiki Gap 2024 Event in Mbarara, Uganda
Makerere WikiGap 2024 Event, Uganda
WikiGap Busitema Event, Uganda
Gulu WikiGap 2024 Event, Uganda

Wiki Loves Africa 2024

The Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda actively participated in the Wiki Loves Africa 2024 photographic competition, themed "Africa Creates." This resulted in 419 photo submissions from 40 participants, with a notable 45% being new contributors. A jury selected the top ten photos, and the top three along with the best video received shopping vouchers as prizes.

A significant highlight was the involvement of individuals from Touch the Slum, a marginalized community in Kampala. Three winners hailed from this group, and a prize-giving ceremony was held at their premises to celebrate their achievements.

GLAM July 2023 - June 2024

The GLAM initiative in Uganda, from July 2023 to June 2024, shifted its focus towards in-depth training for a smaller group of volunteers, aiming to enhance their skills and knowledge. Several noteworthy events were conducted during this period:

Uganda Society @ 100: Collaborating with the Uganda Society to celebrate its centenary, new Wikidata items and Wikipedia articles were created, along with the addition of images of past presidents to Wikimedia Commons. (See meta page for details)
WikiSource & Luganda: In honor of International Mother Tongue Day 2025, a partnership with Luganda Wikipedia editors was established. (Details on the meta page)
Documentation of museum artifacts with BRIMS Heritage: This project resulted in a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons for BRIMS Uganda artifacts.
#1Lib1Ref Uganda May 2025: This initiative encouraged librarians to contribute to Wikipedia.

Overall, these events showcased several key wins:

Dedicated Skilling: The smaller team size allowed for focused training, such as using QuickStatements for efficient data uploads.
Measurable Outcomes: Clear goals and a focused approach enabled the measurement of tangible results.
Network Leveraging: Professional networks were utilized to establish connections with partners like BRIMS Heritage Resource Centre.
Formalized Relationships: Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were signed with partners, leading to the contribution of valuable content. (See signed MOU with BRIMS Heritage Resource Centre)
Resource Development: Existing resources were improved and new ones created to support the initiative's goals.

The shift towards specialized training and targeted collaborations proved fruitful, fostering deeper engagement and yielding measurable outcomes.

Wiki Loves Earth 2024

The Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda is actively participating in the 2024 Wiki Loves Earth photographic competition, focused on the theme "Africa Creates." The competition, running from May 15th to July 15th, aims to encourage the documentation of Uganda's numerous natural heritage sites. Participants are invited to capture and upload photos under a free license, making them accessible to all via the internet.

A key highlight of this year's campaign is a planned photo hunt to Kidepo National Park and Aruu Water Falls, aiming to increase the quantity and quality of submissions. This event will also foster collaboration and skill-sharing among photographers.

The organizers anticipate increased participation from both local enthusiasts and tourists, further diversifying the range of perspectives captured. However, they emphasize the need for greater financial support to expand the competition's reach and cover more natural sites, especially considering the growing concerns about climate change and environmental health.

Wiki Loves Earth 2024 in Uganda Photo Hunt in Western Uganda
Wiki Loves Earth 2024 in Uganda Photo Hunt in Western Uganda
Wiki Loves Earth 2024 in Uganda Photo Hunt in Western Uganda

User Group Strategy Process

In 2022, the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda embarked on a strategic planning process with the help of an external consultant. This process resulted in a comprehensive five-year strategic plan outlining the organization's mission, vision, goals, objectives, and strategies, which was shared with all members.

During the 2023 AGM, community members provided feedback on the plan, prompting a team of volunteers to revise it. With guidance from other Wikimedia affiliates like OFWA, Wikimedia South Africa, Brazil, and Ivory Coast, the strategy plan has been refined since January 2024.

As of June 30, 2024, the finalized plan is under review by another consultant to ensure its effectiveness before implementation.

Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda Strategy meeting 19th Nov 2022 01
Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda Strategy meeting 19th Nov 2022 02]]
Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda Strategy meeting 19th Nov 2022 03
Wikimedia Uganda Volunteers Strategy Plan Meeting Held on 06th January 2024 02