"Every child I met deserved better than what they had. I couldn't look away — so I decided to act."
— Agnes Laker, Founder & Executive DirectorAgnes Laker was born in Gulu District, northern Uganda, in the aftermath of decades of conflict that had shattered communities and left a generation of children without access to education, healthcare, or hope.
After earning her degree in Community Development from Makerere University and spending eight years working with international NGOs, Agnes noticed a persistent gap: large organisations delivered programmes from above, but the communities themselves were rarely at the centre of decision-making. Solutions were designed in boardrooms thousands of miles away, not in the villages where they were needed most.
In 2014, Agnes made a bold decision. She left her position at a major international NGO, withdrew her savings, and returned to Gulu — not with a grand plan, but with a simple conviction: that lasting change must be led by the people it serves.
What began as a volunteer effort to support a single family of orphaned children has grown into NISS Project Uganda — an organisation that now works across 8 districts, employs over 40 staff, and has touched the lives of more than 15,000 people.
It was a single encounter that set everything in motion — one that Agnes says she will never forget.
In March 2014, while visiting a remote village in Gulu District to conduct a needs assessment for her then-employer, Agnes met a 9-year-old girl named Sunday. Sunday had lost both parents to HIV/AIDS and was living with her elderly grandmother. She had not attended school in over a year because the family could not afford the $2 monthly contribution required by the local UPE school.
"She was sitting outside the school gate, watching other children through the fence," Agnes recalls. "When I asked her why she wasn't in class, she said, 'My grandmother says there is no money.' Just like that. No anger, no tears — just acceptance. That broke me."
"I realised that all the reports, all the strategies, all the five-year plans I had been writing meant nothing if one child was sitting outside a school gate because of two dollars."
Two simple statements that guide every decision we make, every programme we design, and every community we serve.
To empower vulnerable Ugandan communities through sustainable, community-led programmes in education, health, livelihoods, and environmental stewardship — ensuring that every person, regardless of background, has the opportunity to live with dignity, health, and hope.
"We don't deliver solutions — we build the capacity of communities to create their own."
A Uganda where every individual — especially women, children, and marginalised groups — has the knowledge, resources, and opportunity to thrive, contribute to society, and break the cycle of poverty for future generations.
"We envision communities so strong that they no longer need us."
These aren't just words on a wall — they are the standards we hold ourselves to every day, in every community.
We approach every person with empathy and genuine care. Every decision starts with the question: "What is best for the people we serve?"
We are honest, transparent, and accountable — with our communities, our donors, our partners, and ourselves. We do what we say we will do.
We don't impose solutions. We listen, involve, and empower communities to lead their own development. Sustainability means they can continue without us.
Every programme is designed with the long term in mind. We measure success not by what we do today, but by what communities can sustain tomorrow.
We actively reach the most marginalised — women, children with disabilities, the elderly, and those in remote areas. No one is invisible in our programmes.
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of programme quality and impact measurement. Good intentions are not enough — results matter.
Uganda is a country of extraordinary potential — and extraordinary need. Despite progress in many areas, deep structural challenges keep millions trapped in poverty.
While large international organisations bring resources, they often miss the nuance of local context. NISS was born in the communities we serve. Our team members come from the districts they work in. We speak the local languages, understand the cultural dynamics, and — most importantly — we stay. We don't parachute in and out. We build trust over years, and that trust is the foundation of every result we achieve.
From the conflict-affected north to the lush west, we operate across 8 districts that represent the full diversity of Uganda's challenges and opportunities.
8 Districts · 42 Communities · 15,000+ Lives
Headquarters · Education, Health, Livelihoods
Health, Education, Child Sponsorship
Environment, Livelihoods, Conservation
Education, Girls' Empowerment
Livelihoods, Agriculture, Health
Operations, Partnerships, Advocacy
Education, Youth Programmes
Health, WASH, Livelihoods
From 12 children in 2014 to 15,000+ lives touched today — our growth has been steady, intentional, and community-driven.
Every great story needs more people to join it. Here are three ways you can become part of the NISS Project Uganda story.
Your financial support directly funds classrooms, clinics, scholarships, and seeds for families who need them most.
Give NowFor as little as $39/month, you can transform a child's life with education, healthcare, and the knowledge that someone cares.
Sponsor NowJoin us on the ground in Uganda or contribute your skills remotely. Teachers, health workers, photographers — all are welcome.
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