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← Bakiga Community Project UK

2024-12-31-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year From 01 01 2024 To 31 12 2024

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name

Bakiga Community Project UK

Other names charity is known by

Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
**year **		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (ifany)
1 CraigSmith Director
2 Claudia Smith
3 Tom Mak Treasurer 15/1/24 – 31/12/24
4 HilaryMak
5 Hermanus Pieters
6 AndyRitter
7
8
9
10
12
13
14

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

~~ae~~ Name Dates acted if not for whole year

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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser
Name
Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Organisation (“CIO”) How the charity is constituted

Appointed for a term of 3 years by a resolution passed at a properly Trustee selection methods convened meeting of the charity trustees. (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

The charity supports, raises funds for and helps to monitor the work of Bakiga Community Project, a Ugandan non-governmental organisation (“NGO”) set up by Craig and Claudia Smith to carry out the development work amongst disadvantaged communities in Kabale district, Uganda.

The trustees have a very good understanding of Africa. They know the culture within which the NGO works and many of the issues that can often arise. They have either lived there for a period of time or travelled and visited the work of the charity. This helps us to effectively manage and monitor the work that is being carried out in Uganda.

Annual visits are made to Uganda to check on the work of the NGO.

In all decisions, the trustees have abided by their duty in section 4 of the 2006 Act to have due regard to guidance on public benefit published by the Commission.

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Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

The objects of the CIO are: 1.To develop the capacity and skills of the beneficiaries of Bakiga Community Project, Uganda, in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their communities needs and to enable their disadvantaged community to participate more fully in society. 2. The advancement of the Christian religion in Bakiga, Uganda, in particular but not exclusively by: a) missionary, evangelism and outreach work; and b) religious education

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The UK trustees met twice during 2024 to monitor the progress of the work in Uganda and the use of transferred funds. Minutes of these meetings are available. The trustees discussed the potential land transactions in Uganda, providing governance and oversight to the process. The trustees also gave advice through more informal communication on new developments, including lodge improvements and water project expansion . The charity supported Craig and Claudia’s visit to Uganda in August 2024, during which they visited springs and tanks, met with local Summary of the main communities, and held meetings with the Ugandan Board and staff. They activities undertaken for the also worked closely with managers Emmy and George, mentoring them public benefit in relation to and reviewing developments at Bakiga Lodge. This work enabled Craig these objects (include within and Claudia to quality assure the water development work that took place this section the statutory during 2024 and provide further guidance for future developments of the declaration that trustees have NGO in Uganda. had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity In 2024, the NGO constructed 40 springs and 4 community tanks, serving Commission on public an estimated 16,000 people. A new engineer, Geoffrey, was taken on to benefit) help maintain progress while Enock recovers from an accident. Hilary continued his work mobilising communities and collecting data, which now supports a live public map of the NGO’s water developments. The charity also supports UK community education about rural African communities and the challenges of accessing clean water. This is carried out through talks and school assemblies. The NGO’s work creates permanent employment for around 20 Ugandans, including managers, water engineers, hospitality staff, and carpenters, providing livelihoods and reducing poverty.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

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Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main
achievements of the charity
during the year		 The charity continues to ensure that the work of the Ugandan NGO
provides sustainable benefit to beneficiaries and that all resources are
well managed. This includes:
Regular trustee meetings where key risks and opportunities are
considered, NGO progress and accounts are monitored and scrutinised.
-
Weekly monitoring of Ugandan accounts and lodge bookings,
handled from the UK.
-
UK admin is undertaken in support of the work of Bakiga Lodge.
This includes handling emails, queries and bookings.
-
Daily communication with the Ugandan NGO managers.
- Support for the NGO through funding subscriptions such as
QuickBooks and online lodge management software (Innstyle).
- UK charity funded the visit by Craig and Claudia in August 2024
to monitor the work of the Ugandan NGO.
- Support with the construction of 40 springs and 4 community
water tanks, benefiting approximately 16,000 people.
- Launch of a public live map of water developments, improving
transparency and demonstrating the NGO’s impact.
- Expansion of the NGO’s staff team with the addition of Geoffrey,
a new engineer.
- Further training and mentoring of Ugandan project managers.
- Successful continuation of recycling initiatives for plastic bottles
from the lodge.
- Ongoing discussions and planning for sustainable tree planting
alongside water projects.
Bakiga Lodge:
2023/24 lodge income rose 27%, yielding a record profit.
Staff performed excellently, and service standards were praised by
guests and tour operators.
New mains power connection improved energy stability, supplemented
by solar. Wifi was extended and functioned well.
A new chef, was appointed, with plans for an upgraded kitchen. Training
on hygiene and food safety was carried out by visiting UK supporters.
Plans were made for redeveloping Cabin 11 and for further lodge
expansion, including a potential high-end wing, dependent on land
transactions.

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Section D Achievements and performance

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Section E Financial review ~~eee~~

Brief statement of the

charity’s policy on reserves

The trustees are of the view that no reserves should be retained within the charity as at the current time there are no potential liabilities or employee related costs that will need to be met should the charity decide to stop its activities. Any surplus funds will be distributed by the trustees when there is a requirement. The trustees will monitor the need to have a reserves policy should commitments be made that are dependent upon ongoing support for a period of more than 12 months.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

None.

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

In 2024, the UK charity made grants totalling approximately £4915 to support the NGO development work. These funds were used for the construction of springs and tanks. Additional funds supported lodge operations and sustainability measures. The principal sources of UK charity income continue to be donations from individuals and supporters in the UK.

~~ee~~ Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration ~~eee~~ The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) ~~aT~~ Full name(s) Craig Smith Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Director etc) ~~tTee~~ Date 23/09/2025 ~~—~~

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BAKIGA COMMUNITY PROJECT UK

Income and Expenditure Statement For the 12 Months to 31 December

Incoming resources
Received
Gift aid
Resources expended
IT systems
Travel
Administrative costs
Water tank
Vehicles
Transfer between funds
Total funds carried forward
Balance Sheet
As at 31 December
Current Assets
Debtor
Bank account
Net Assets
Represented by:
Unrestricted income funds
Restricted income funds		 2024
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total
£
£
£
12,568
-
12,568
-
-
-
12,568
-
12,568
(1,115)
-
(1,115)
(2,218)
-
(2,218)
(370)
-
(370)
(3,430)
-
(3,430)
-
-
-
(7,133)
-
(7,133)
-
-
-
5,435
-
5,435
2024
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total
£
£
£
900
-
900
16,668
-
16,668
17,568
-
17,568
17,568
-
17,568
17,368
200
17,568		 2023
Total
£
20,180
1,909
22,089
(1,027)
(863)
(543)
(1,500)
(16,000)
(19,933)
-
2,155
2023
Total
£
900
11,232
17,568
-		 12,132
17,568
-		 12,132
11,932
200
12,132