Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda/Board Elections 2025/kwera faith
Thank you for your interest in running for the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda Board Elections 2025.
To help us learn more about you and your candidacy, please complete the form below:
Candidate details
Name:Kwera Faith
Username:Kyakwera
Photo:
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 because I am deeply committed to the growth and sustainability of the Wikimedia movement in Uganda and I aim to contribute to decision-making that will ensure the community's sustainability and growth for 10+ years, while aligning with the vision and mission of the Wikimedia Foundation. With my extensive experience in organizing Wikimedia projects, fostering community engagement, and building partnerships, I believe I can contribute meaningfully to strengthening our user group and expanding our impact. My leadership experience in various community projects as a coordinator and COT member has given me firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities within the community.
Therefore the unique contributions i will lend to the community are -
Strategic Leadership & Growth: My experience as a Business Development and Partnerships Manager, as well as my leadership roles in youth engagement in the EAC and Wikimedia initiatives, equips me with the skills to drive strategic growth for the user group.
Strong Network & Partnerships: Having built relationships with stakeholders in different sectors, I can leverage these connections to foster collaborations that benefit the community.
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..
Since joining the Wikimedia community User group of Uganda movement On Feb 20th 2020, I have actively contributed to several Wikimedia projects, including:
Wikipedia: I have created and improved numerous articles, particularly in areas that promote visibility for underrepresented topics, such as women in leadership, sports, and culture in Uganda.
Wikimedia Commons: As a jury member for Wiki Loves Earth, WikiLoves Monuments, and Wiki Loves Africa and Folklore I have played a role in evaluating contributions and ensuring high-quality media representation of Uganda’s cultural and natural heritage.
Wikisource: I was enrolled in the Wikisource campaign and have served as a Wikisource coordinator and organizer, working to digitize and make freely available historical and literary works.
WikiData: I have contributed to structuring and organizing metadata to enhance knowledge accessibility.
Wiki for Boxing: As the lead for this initiative, I worked on documenting Uganda’s boxing history and notable athletes, ensuring that the sport gains digital recognition since its inception in the early 1950s.
Participation in Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda Activities.
Core Team Organizer for Wiki Gap 2022 to 2024: I played a key role in organizing this event to bridge the gender gap on Wikipedia by creating and improving articles about women.
Wiki Folklore 2023 to Date Team Lead: I led efforts to document Uganda’s folklore, traditions, and cultural narratives on Wikimedia projects.
Organizer of Wiki at 10 & AGMs: I have been involved in planning and executing annual meetings and milestone celebrations for the user group.
Engagement in Partnerships & Advocacy: I have worked to establish relationships between Wikimedia Uganda and external partners, including government institutions like the Ministry of Water and Environment where I presented a document exploring collaboration opportunities on human rights and environmental issues. Other partners i have brought to partner include Golola Moses of Uganda with whom we suggested championing and marketing the usergroup through Tourism.
other partners include Moses Muhangi of Uganda Boxing Federation(UBF) and NBS Sport for wiki for Boxing this entailed enabling the user group to curate and access files for boxers through Diversity and sport and through this engagement we have seen Boxing as a sport be documented through our deliberations considering it was the first sport in Uganda.
Wikimedia Commons Organizing Team (COT): I have supported organizing photo contests that highlight Uganda’s heritage and natural environment.Through these contributions, I have actively promoted Wikimedia’s mission of free knowledge while strengthening the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda’s presence and impact.
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?
Over the next 3–5 years, the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda should prioritize strengthening local engagement through outreach and capacity-building while forging strategic partnerships with educational institutions, government agencies-like the ministries for example, the ministry of Tousim, Water and Natural Resouces UWA, etc and cultural organizations like ewaffe cultural site to preserve and disseminate Uganda’s rich heritage
Relevant Experience
Please describe any relevant skills and knowledge you have in areas such as, Governance, management, finance, leadership, or similar fields.
I bring a gentle blend of governance, management, finance, and leadership expertise to the table, underscored by my role as President of the Tony Elumelu Foundation in Uganda since 2019 to date. where I drive entrepreneurial initiatives and foster strategic partnerships across Africa. In addition, serving as the Ambassador for EAC Women in Uganda has deepened my commitment to gender inclusivity and empowered me to leverage my business development acumen to create sustainable, impactful programs.
My extensive experience in implementing national and regional large-scale projects with the EAC hence, managing budgets with precision, and leading diverse teams has not only honed my decision-making and strategic planning skills but also positioned me to contribute effectively to board-level governance, ensuring that initiatives align with both community needs and broader organizational goals. For more information about me please visit my Linken'd page on:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwera-faith-293b079b/