Trustees’ Annual Report
Buganda UK Charity Number: 1194037 Reporting Period: 1 February 2024 to 31 January 2025
Introduction
The trustees are pleased to present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 January 2025. These statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed, and the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts under the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
Objectives and Activities
Buganda UK exists to promote and protect public health, particularly among individuals of Ugandan, African, and Caribbean descent, and to advance the history, culture, and heritage of the Ganda people for the benefit of the wider public.
Our activities are designed to:
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Foster cultural pride and identity among youth and families.
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Address health inequalities and social isolation.
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Provide platforms for education, employment, and community development.
Achievements and Performance
During the year, Buganda UK continued to deliver impactful programs aligned with our charitable objectives. Highlights include:
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Cultural and Community Events: We hosted several cultural gatherings and seminars, including a flagship event in North London that brought together community leaders, professionals, and youth to explore themes of selfdevelopment, heritage, and health. These events fostered dialogue across generations and backgrounds, reinforcing our commitment to unity and empowerment.
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Health and Wellbeing Initiatives: We expanded our health awareness efforts with workshops on mental health, loneliness, and lifestyle diseases. These sessions were delivered both in-person and online, ensuring accessibility for vulnerable groups, especially senior citizens who face cultural barriers to mainstream services.
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Youth Engagement and Skills Development: Our youth seminars focused on employability skills such as CV writing, entrepreneurship, and creative
expression through music, dance, and sport. These programs encouraged young people to embrace their cultural identity while building confidence and career readiness.
Collaborative Outreach: We deepened partnerships with faith groups and community organisations to support isolated individuals, particularly elders. These collaborations helped us extend our reach and tailor support to cultural sensitivities.
The Buganda Bereavement Fund was established to provide compassionate support to families within the Ugandan and wider African diaspora in the UK during times of loss. Bereavement often brings both emotional and financial strain, and the fund steps in to offer practical assistance and solidarity when it is most needed.
Its impact has been significant. By helping cover funeral and related costs, the fund provides financial relief to grieving families, allowing them to focus on healing and remembrance. It also ensures cultural dignity , enabling families to honour loved ones with ceremonies that respect traditions and values, thereby strengthening identity and belonging. Beyond financial aid, the fund fosters unity and solidarity , pooling community resources so that no family faces bereavement alone. It has also built networks of emotional support , where members rally around bereaved families with comfort and companionship.
The initiative has deepened trust and cooperation within the community, showing how shared responsibility can transform hardship into resilience. More broadly, the Bereavement Fund has become a symbol of unity, compassion, and cultural pride , reinforcing Buganda UK’s reputation as a pillar of care and solidarity. It demonstrates the power of collective action, reminding the community that together they can overcome challenges and support one another in times of sorrow.
The Kabaka’s Birthday Run is a vibrant annual event celebrating the birthday of His Majesty Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. This year’s run was held in North London and drew over 100 participants , with strong representation from the youth.
Dedicated to the campaign against HIV/AIDS , the run raised awareness and funds to support ongoing efforts in tackling the disease. Alongside the sporting activity, a medical health camp was set up, where qualified professionals offered free advice on lifestyle conditions such as blood pressure, diabetes, and other common ailments .
The event not only promoted health and wellbeing but also strengthened community bonds, bringing together Ugandans in the diaspora and friends of Buganda in a spirit of unity, culture, and shared purpose
Buganda Bumu European Convention – September 2024
This was held in North London in September 2024, brought together Ugandans from across Europe and friends of Buganda for a landmark cultural and community gathering. The event featured traditional music, dance, and storytelling alongside
educational forums on health, business, and youth empowerment. Distinguished speakers, including community leaders and professionals, inspired attendees with messages of unity and progress.
The convention strengthened cultural pride and identity, provided practical knowledge on health and entrepreneurship, and fostered collaboration among diaspora organisations. It also offered vital networking opportunities, built support systems across European communities, and engaged young people in leadership and cultural education. Overall, the convention reinforced Buganda UK’s role as a hub for heritage, wellbeing, and development, while raising the profile of its initiatives and attracting new members and sponsors.
Financial Review
Buganda UK recorded total receipts of £32,104, primarily from member contributions (£24,516), sponsorships and donations (£6,357), and fundraising activities (£1,232). Total payments amounted to £35,900, with the largest expenditures being venue hire (£24,212) and catering/services for events (£5,096). Other costs included printing and stationery (£1,721), insurance (£280), and professional services (£364).
The charity ended the year with a net deficit of £3,796, and a cash balance of £131.75 Af
Despite the deficit, the trustees are confident in the charity’s resilience and remain committed to prudent financial management and sustainable growth.
Reserves Policy
The trustees aim to maintain sufficient reserves to cover at least three months of core operating costs. While current reserves are below this threshold, steps are being taken to diversify income streams and reduce overheads.
Plans for the Future
In the coming year, Buganda UK will:
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Launch new initiatives focused on youth leadership and cultural education.
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Expand health outreach programs, particularly targeting mental health and chronic illness.
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Strengthen fundraising and sponsorship efforts to support financial sustainability.
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Enhance digital engagement to reach wider audiences and streamline operations.
Structure, Governance and Management
Buganda UK is governed by a board of trustees who meet when called upon to oversee strategy, compliance, and delivery. The charity operates through volunteer-led teams and engages professionals for specific services as needed.
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and UK accounting standards. They confirm that the charity has complied with its legal obligations and that the financial statements give a true and fair view of the charity’s affairs.
Signed
Geoffrey Kibuuka
| Buganda UK Charity No 119 |
Buganda UK Charity No 119 |
Buganda UK Charity No 119 |
Buganda UK Charity No 119 |
4037 | CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts and payments accounts | ||||||
| For the period from | 01/02/2024 | To | 31/01 | /2025 | ||
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||||
| U A1 Receipts |
estricted funds E to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - 0 - - - 0 - - - - - - - - - 0 - - - - - - - 0 |
ndowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - 0 - - - 0 - - - - - - - - - 0 - - - - - - - 0 |
Total funds to the nearest £ - 24,516 6,357 1,232 - - - - 32,104 - - - 32,104 24,212 5,096 364 195 1,721 77 - 280 450 3,505 35,900 - - - 35,900 3,796 - - - 3,796 - |
Last year to the nearest £ |
||
| - | - | |||||
| Member Contributions | 24,516 | 24,453 | ||||
| Sponsors | 6,357 | 3,300 | ||||
| Stalls and fundrasing | 1,232 | 1,630 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| b total(Gross income for AR) | 32,104 | 29,383 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). | ||||||
- |
||||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 29,383 | ||||||
Rents and Venue hire |
24,212 | 10,470 | ||||
| Events Cateringand Services | 5,096 | 12,712 | ||||
| Professional Services | 364 | 751 | ||||
| Travel | 195 | 300 | ||||
| Printing& Stationary | 1,721 | 653 | ||||
| Volunteer expenses | 77 | 550 | ||||
| Advertising | 0 | 425 | ||||
| Insurance | 280 | 122 | ||||
| Video andpromotional material | 450 | 700 | ||||
| Charitable activities Sub total |
3,505 | 2,397 | ||||
| 35,900 | 29,080 | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see tab | ||||||
- |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| 29,080 | ||||||
| -3,796 | - | - | 3,796 - |
303 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 0 | - | - | - | - | ||
| -3,796 | 0 | 0 | 3,796 - |
303 |
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories Details Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment fund
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Natwest Current Account - - 0
Metro Bank Account 131.75 -
Lloyds Bank - - -
Total cash funds 131.75 - 0
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) OK OK OK
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment fund
Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets - - -
-
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
Fund to which Current value
Details asset belongs Cost (optional) (optional)
B3 Investment assets - -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Fund to which Current value
Details asset belongs Cost (optional) (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the ch - -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Fund to which Amount due When due
Details liability relates (optional) (optional)
B5 Liabilities Creditors 3,796 -
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-
-
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Signed by one or two trustees on b Signature Print Name Date of approva
Robert Ssebaggala 28-Nov-25
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Buganda UK On accounts for the year 31/01/2025 Charity no 1194037 ended (if any)
Set out on pages
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
- I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/01/2025.
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”) .
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Date: 28/11/24
Signed: Name: Joseph Mary Ssennoga Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 37 Fallowfield Stevenage, United Kingdom SG2 9PL
1
October 2018
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
October 2018
IER