NOAH MUWANIKA
President & CEO – Ohio Ugandan American Association
ABOUT - OHIO UGANDAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
Ohio Ugandan American Association (OUAA) is community-based and registered 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit in the state of Ohio. It’s a non-religious, non-ethnic and non-partisan association originally founded to address the needs of the expanding Ugandan and African immigrant community.
The organization aims to promote the social, cultural and economic development of members with roots or other ties to Uganda in the State of Ohio
As an organization, OUAA fosters the socio-economic and educational development of its members by offering a platform that connects the Ugandan Diaspora in the state of Ohio. The organization provides various resources by enriching community members lives through: programs, services, and events that educate, entertain, foster business relationships and good citizenship.
OUAA aims at Bridging generations within the community in order to close the generational gap and disconnect
WHAT WE STAND FOR
We are dedicated to promoting and preserving the culture and heritage of all people of Ugandans/African descent in the United States (OHIO). We work to provide a supportive environment through education, networking opportunities and other services that help people adapt and thrive. We celebrate the contributions of Ugandan Americans in the United States and help new immigrants integrate better into the larger American society. We strive to leverage the transformative power of collective action to create solid partnerships that use advocacy and philanthropy to promote inclusive and lasting socio-economic progress in our community and beyond. OUAA does not discriminate on the basis of creed, color, gender, gender expression, ethnicity, marital status, age or disability.
A recap of some activities that OUAA has done to to raise the organization’s profile in the community where the organization operates while attracting and building relationships.
OUR ENGAGEMENTS OVER THE YEARS
We encourage Continual observation of the changing trends and habits among the community and tracing the possible causes for these changes. This in turn helps us to comfortably approach the cause for which we are in existence.
We have a mandate to educate Ugandan-Americans about the Ugandan culture and norms. OUAA also seeks to educate the Ugandan Community about the African-American experience and culture.
We strive for excellence
OUR CORE VALUES
OUR VALUE PROPOSITION
OUAA members of all ages and careers come together to support each other and the community they love.By pooling their resources, members can increase the impact of their giving.We are the definitive source for ideas, tools, and resources for the diaspora.
We foster community wellbeing through exceptional programs that enable the association community to consistently produce superior results.OUAA network engages and collaborates with other associations, government and industry partners in a diverse, global, welcoming community.
- Trust
- Inclusiveness
- Respect
- Adaptability
- Quality
We have the positive feedback
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I become a member of OUAA?
Membership is open to those who support the goals of the Association and pay a yearly membership fee. The membership fees is $50 per year . Our website gives you an explanation of the different categories of membership. The information can be found at : https://ouaaonline.org/membership. You can fill out and submit an application on the OUAA website.
How do i confirm that i paid OUAA membership fees ?
Once the membership fee is received you will be added to the OUAA Membership and Community Matters platforms on WhatsApp. These platforms will give you current information on membership happenings and the greater Ohio Uganda American Association. The WhatsApp application can be downloaded to your smartphone from the Play Store for Android phones or the App Store for Iphones free of charge.
If you are making a payment through a vendor, please include your name as a reference. Otherwise we will not know who the payment was made for. Using the WhatsApp application, please text your transaction number, your name and date of the transaction to 054 404 5862. Another alternative is to email your transaction information to treasurer@ouaaonline.org
Upon receipt of your payment, you will receive a OUAA Membership receipt.
What do you know about the Uganda Culture?
Uganda culture is very diverse. The culture of Uganda is comprised of variety of ethnic groups. Over 50 culturally diverse population make the potion of Uganda. These various ethnic groups have their own beliefs, culture, traditions, norms and more. The Bantu tribe carries the biggest potion of ethnicity in Uganda with majority living in the central region, eastern region and southern region of Uganda. The north is mainly made up of Nilotics like the Itesots, Langi, Karamojongs, Lugbaras, Acholis and more.
Research books about life in Uganda at your local library. Search the internet about Ugandan Culture. Join OUAA and other cultural organizations to interact with the members. Plan a visit to Uganda to see first hand what the country is like. Search Youtube posts about moving to Uganda. There are many out there with various views on people’s experiences with visiting and living in Uganda. Also check out “The truth about living in Uganda” on Youtube. Many examples will be there.
What languages are spoken in Uganda?
The languages of Uganda are numerous and diverse, adding up to as many as 41 languages in total. What makes it easier to find common ground is the fact that none of the ethnic groups make up the majority of the country’s population.
So far English is the national language of Uganda and Kiswahili comes in as an official language too. For the past years, there has been a debate about making Kiswahili the national language but this bill still hangs in balance. These two languages are the most popular in Uganda followed by “Luganda” , the native language of the Baganda. Sad thing is a big percentage of people in rural areas are not fluent in English but speak Kiswahili more.
Does OUAA hold events for the public or for only its members?
The Ohio Ugandan American Association (OUAA), holds various events throughout the year. Our major event is the annual Independence ceremony where we celebrate “The Good Among Us” This event usually highlights ordinary Ugandan-Americans who are making a difference in their respective field / community. The ceremony usually take place during the month of October to coincide with the Uganda Independence celebration.
Meanwhile, since we are a non-profit “Community Association” majority of our event are open to the public and free of charge.
Need Assistance Should An Event Occur?
Are you seeking legal counsel, financial, event coordinator or other support service? Do you need a reliable mechanic? The list goes on….
Having easy access to a list of helpful contacts you can relate to will make life a lot easier through your time in Ohio. We have, therefore, began to put together a list of service and product providers prioritizing those linked to the Ugandan and Afro-community, whenever possible, based on referrals from members of our community.
If you do not find the service you are looking for, do feel free to send an email to info@ouaaonline.org, and we can then do our best to link you up with suitable professional assistance. Meanwhile if you do have a service or product that you wish to let our community know about, please feel free to reach out to us for a potential listing.
Partners
Volunteers
Members
Projects
Get To Know The Community Team
OUR EXECUTIVE
Noah Muwanika
OUAA President
Dora Nabatanzi
OUAA Vice President
Diana Dushime
OUAA Executive Secretary
JOSEPH BOMBOKKA
OUAA Chief Finance Officer
The goal of the OUAA is to unite all citizens, descendants and friends of Uganda in the USA (OHIO) through various activities and events, and to increase the visibility of Ugandans in the USA whilst contributing to the overall development of the Ugandan community.”
“We achieve more together than we could alone and believe” the key to teamwork lies in first seeing everyone as an equal partner and cultivating lasting relationships.