Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda/Board Elections 2025/Macholi Chris Benard

Thank you for your interest in running for the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda Board Elections 2025.

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Candidate details

Name: Macholi Chris Benard

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Motivation and Contributions

Why are you running for the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda Governing Board? What unique contributions would you bring to the board? What do you hope to learn through this role?

I am running for the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda governing Board to foster a community that champions sustainable creation, and utilization of open knowledge resources in Uganda with focus on improve the community development and growth, content creation and strategic governance so as to we can empower more people to contribute content thereby achieving part of the strategic plan 2025-2029 of the User Group.

As a board member, I will advance my knowledge and skills in navigating complex governance challenges, advocacy, leadership and capacity to serve a broader diversified community, contributing to a mission-driven organization. Furthermore, it will enhance my reputation as a leader in the nonprofit.

Wikimedia Experience

Please describe your involvement with the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda and the wider movement, including: Contributions to Wikimedia projects, Participation in User Group activities..

I joined Wikimedia Community in 2022 as a volunteer through Wikimedia User Group and over the period of 3 years, I have not only volunteered but mentored, trained and recruited new editors, motivated and supported many editors, I have organized, led, and co-led Wiki Events targeting diversified group of people.

I have contributed to several wiki projects namely Wikipedia, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons, Wiki Voyage, Wiki Source as an editor and also a trainer/mentor.

Additionally, I have collaboratively organized, led and co-led several projects in the User Group such as Wiki For Refugees, Wiki For Human Rights, Wiki Loves Folklore, Wiki Gap, WikiEDu, Wikipedia Pages Wanting Photos, Wiki For Boxing, GLAM Wiki.

Strategic Priorities

From your perspective, what should the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda prioritize over the next 3–5 years? Why do you consider these priorities the most important?

Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda should prioritize community development through partnerships with organizing having similar interests, volunteers’ engagement that is to say recruiting and retaining volunteers, strategic leadership that is to say creating a conducive environment through putting in place relevant policies and procedures to govern the members.

Relevant Experience

Please describe any relevant skills and knowledge you have in areas such as, Governance, management, finance, leadership, or similar fields.

In my role as a QHSE officer, I have developed the experience in ensuring regulatory compliance, and policy development which shall be vital in ensuring that we develop policies which shall make everyone member express thoroughly.
For the two years spent as a COT on different projects within the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda, I have been able to develop the budgeting, financial planning, and accountability skills thus being able to develop, and manage budgets, and ensure the financial resources are used thoroughly to meet the campaign budget.