our

solution

Musana is not a charity. Musana is a Community Development Organization that is breaking the cycle of poverty and dependency in Uganda. Our vision is to see rural communities in Uganda develop using sustainable solutions that give hope and dignity to the most vulnerable.

our vision is built upon

empowerment &
sustainability

We recognize the interconnected needs of vulnerable communities and take a holistic approach to build pathways out of poverty. Musana believes in empowering local people to drive sustainable economic and social growth of their own communities through social enterprises focused on education, health, and economic development.

what is

community
development

A process where community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to community problems. Community development projects build stronger and more resilient communities.

what is a

social
enterprise

A business created to make social change in a financially sustainable way. Social enterprises generate income opportunities that meet the basic needs of the business and allow profits to be reinvested into their social mission. Because social enterprises do not need to depend on donations, they can sustain themselves long-term. This allows our model to be replicated in other communities, generating greater impact than most nonprofits and charities.

why does our model focus on social enterprises?

To empower people to “be the change” they want to see in their communities

To see schools and hospitals become free of dependency by generating 100% of their operating budget

To improve the standards of social services while also providing affordable options

To create self-reliant communities that reinvest profits into supporting the most vulnerable individuals and families of their communities through scholarships and free health services

To transform lives with sustainable solutions

our

model

WE INVEST IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES SO THEY CAN BECOME SELF-RELIANT AND SELF-SUSTAINING
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our

values

Local Ownership

Our projects are envisioned and implemented by local men and women who empower and drive the community to take a leadership role in “being the change”. We believe in putting local ownership above western standards and ideas. The more a community owns their programs, the more impactful and sustainable they will be.

Accountability

We fight corruption through strict checks and balances, and internal controls, to ensure that every dollar is spent with integrity and efficiently supports the development of the community. Musana emphasizes that every dollar spent is checked and double checked by multiple stakeholders, ensuring there is no waste or misuse of valuable resources.

Sustainability

We aim to generate 100% of our operating budget through locally-generated funds from our social enterprises. Our intention is that every service we provide is capable of running solely on support from the community. The community does not need foreigners to “give” them what they need year after year. They simply need capital to kickstart their programs. From there, they are able to provide quality goods and services to build revenue streams to support themselves and their community.

Social Entrepreneurship

We promote an innovative social business mentality by creating enterprises focused on health, education, and skill development. Charity has played a devastating role in killing local initiatives and local economies. The more “handouts” and “free” passes given, the less a community develops. Our enterprises support the greatest needs in the community, but are profit driven to ensure local buy-in, sustainability, efficiency, and productivity. The community loves supporting our businesses because they know that the profits go to serving their struggling neighbors with access to quality services.

our work