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The findings show a society where generosity is part of everyday life, shaped more by relationships than formal systems. Support is mainly expressed through families, communities, and religious spaces, where giving is personal, direct, and rooted in social ties. A strong culture of relational giving and mutual aid emerges, with people responding to needs within their immediate circles. This reinforces a lived sense of solidarity that is responsive and community-based. Volunteering is significant, reflecting civic engagement that is hands-on and socially embedded.
Religious spaces and personal networks play a central role in shaping motivation and action. While formal charities are generally viewed positively, participation is still largely driven through familiar relationships. Trust is built through proximity and lived experience rather than institutions alone.
However, in the context of giving to institutions, there is a clear gap between willingness to give and access to giving infrastructure. Many people are ready to give more but lack enough information on how to engage, while others face time constraints. This highlights the need for stronger trust-building and easier pathways to participation to grow institutional giving beyond religious settings.
Overall, Uganda demonstrates strong spontaneous generosity, with clear potential to deepen this giving through more accessible and trusted structures. These insights reinforce CivLegacy Foundation’s commitment to research, study and elevate African generosity via the Ukarimu Centre for African Philanthropy and Social Impact. The findings also validate our quest to develop an app — OmutimaOmugabi (a heart that gives) — a platform designed to make everyday generosity more visible and impactful.
How often did you give money away in 2025, either to charity, a person or family in need, or to a religious organisation?
The average proportion of income people gave to each of the three donation routes, and overall.
What would you say are the main reasons that you gave / did not give money away in 2025?
Which cause(s) did you donate to / do unpaid voluntary work for in 2025?
Of the total value of your donations to charities in 2025, approximately how much went to each of the following?
To what extent, if at all, have charities had a positive or negative impact in your local community, or have they made no difference?
For the last charity that you gave money to, how did you first find out about them?
How trustworthy do you tend to find each of these types of charities?
How could charities encourage you to donate in 2026?
Of the xx% that did unpaid, voluntary work in 2025 that benefitted people other than their family or friends, how many shifts did they do?
Think about the opportunities you have to get involved in making positive changes to society (whether locally or further afield). Which best describes your perspective?
"The Government encourages people to give to charity." Do you...
CivLegacy Foundation (CLF) is a feminist, philanthropy support organization and Advisory firm that builds strength, shapes and facilitates the shaping of narratives and influences philanthropy. CLF is one of the operational vehicles for CivSource Africa through which CivSource Africa delivers on her mandate.
Established in 2022, CivLegacy Foundation utilizes a three-strand approach to contribute to our vision - “Philanthropy that Works and Civil Society that Thrives.” We work towards philanthropy that is locally anchored and civil society leadership that is ethical and strategic. Our advisory services illuminate philanthropists’ actions and nurture organizations to navigate complex funding and operational landscapes. Our work strengthens the resilience of civil society on one hand while nurturing a thriving philanthropic ecosystem across Africa on the other.
CivLegacy Foundation (CLF) is a feminist, philanthropy support organization and Advisory firm that builds strength, shapes and facilitates the shaping of narratives and influences philanthropy. CLF is one of the operational vehicles for CivSource Africa through which CivSource Africa delivers on her mandate.
Established in 2022, CivLegacy Foundation utilizes a three-strand approach to contribute to our vision - “Philanthropy that Works and Civil Society that Thrives.” We work towards philanthropy that is locally anchored and civil society leadership that is ethical and strategic. Our advisory services illuminate philanthropists’ actions and nurture organizations to navigate complex funding and operational landscapes. Our work strengthens the resilience of civil society on one hand while nurturing a thriving philanthropic ecosystem across Africa on the other.
