Creating opportunities for the people of Eastern Uganda

Samuel Watulatsu overcame a difficult childhood to become the leading light for sustainable development in Eastern Uganda, empowering the disadvantaged to become self-reliant and productive members of society.

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“I lost my dad under mysterious circumstances while I was 4 years. My mother, who had five very young children, struggled to bring us up within her limited means… [although] I was living in very difficult circumstances, I chose not to develop self pity but used my circumstances to work hard to [create] an impact.”

Samuel Watulatsu’s humble beginnings fueled his desire to develop local communities and generate new opportunities for young Ugandans like himself to become productive members of society. Facing unemployment after finishing his university education in 1996, Samuel decided to set up the Foundation for Development for Needy Communities (FDNC) in Natondome village to promote community participation and individual empowerment among the disadvantaged, especially youths, women and children. His aim is to combat a range of problems in impoverished communities, including HIV/AIDS, unemployment, malnutrition and illiteracy, through innovative programs that make full use of limited resources.

The organization has grown steadily over the years, establishing itself as a model for NGOs in the region. Its programs fall into five broad themes: Education and Training (e.g. Vocational Skills Training and Special Needs Center), Community-Based Health and Development, Human Rights (Paralegal Advisory Services), Institutional Building and The Arts (e.g. Youth Band and Dance Troupe).

Band of young musicians

One of Samuel’s proudest achievements is his award-winning FDNC Mbale Youth Band Program. He started the program in 1996 as an initiative to rehabilitate street children and engage idle youths in constructive activities. Even though the group of youths initially did not have any instruments to play, they nonetheless relished the opportunity to study music in the hope of performing one day. Finally, in 1999, their commitment was rewarded when FDNC received a donation of over 50 brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments from the U.K.-based Camberly Youth Wind Orchestra. The exuberant young band members thus began their exciting journey to become full-fledged musicians.

Soon, they were performing widely in Eastern Uganda; at private functions as well as community events to raise funds and promote awareness of problems faced by needy communities. In addition to the brass instruments, they played traditional African musical instruments and performed both African and Western tunes. The brass band accomplished its first milestone in November 2005 when they were invited to perform in the UK. Samuel traveled with the band of 22 enthusiastic young musicians (all formerly street children) as they wowed the British audience at schools, churches and community halls across the country. This created much-needed exposure for FDNC’s programs as well as its budding young talents.

Sharing his success

In April 2004, FDNC received an award from UN-Habitat under the Mashariki Innovations in Local Government Awards Programme for best practice in poverty eradication efforts and bringing opportunities closer to the under-served. Samuel was himself awarded “Youth Innovator of the Year 2007” by the President of Uganda.

“I personally derive satisfaction in sustainable development work at the grassroots level, particularly dealing with young people, awakening latent energies in people and micro-enterprise development,” says an ever enthused Samuel. As the organization continues to grow, he has, however, begun to devolve some of his responsibilities to his staff and the Board of Directors. This has enabled him to concentrate on managing the strategic direction of the organization.

"I believe that, given the necessary tools, indigenous people are the best agents to enact social change in their own communities." Samuel’s latest project is to establish a Center for Arts and Sustainable Development in Mbale Town to help build the capacities of existing NGOs in Eastern Uganda. The Center will coordinate resources and trainings; providing access to meeting space, computers, the internet, a reference library and other services currently out-of-reach for NGOs in the east. In addition, he hopes to create a forum for the exchange of ideas and the sharing of best practices in NGO management between local practitioners and foreign experts and international organizations.