Makerere University
Research standards, teaching and a home at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), where the Centre’s scholars and students are based.
mak.ac.ug (opens in a new tab)NewCall for papers: Reciprocity and Obligation
Research on how Africa gives, built in Kampala
The Ukarimu Centre researches, strengthens and amplifies African generosity and philanthropy. A joint venture of Makerere University and CivSource Africa.
Working with universities, funders and practice networks across Africa
01 · Why we exist
Most of Africa’s giving never shows up in the data
Across the continent, people give every day: to a cousin’s school fees, a neighbour’s hospital bill, the collection at a burial, a savings group, a mosque or a church. Very little of it passes through a charity, so surveys and policy barely see it.
The Ukarimu Centre exists to change that. Ukarimu means generosity in Kiswahili. We research how Africa gives, strengthen the people and institutions who practise it, and make the evidence open to everyone.
- Kinship
- Faith
- Neighbours & mutual aid
- Diaspora
< 1/3of household giving is captured by formal surveys, in our fieldwork across 1,400 households.
02 · Who we are
Makerere University × CivSource Africa
The Ukarimu Centre exists because a university and a philanthropy support organisation decided they could answer a question together that neither could answer alone.
CivSource Africa
Relationships with givers, funders and civil society across the region, and the practical questions they need evidence to answer.
civsourceafrica.com (opens in a new tab)- The question
Giving that the data kept missing
Scholars at Makerere and practitioners at CivSource Africa kept arriving at the same gap from opposite sides: most African giving — through kin, faith and neighbours — never shows up in the numbers funders and governments use.
- The agreement
Two institutions, one mandate
Makerere brings academic rigour, teaching and ethics review. CivSource Africa brings the networks and the practice questions. Research agendas are set jointly, so findings are credible to scholars and useful to practitioners.
- 2026
The Ukarimu Centre opens
Ukarimu means generosity. The Centre launches at CHUSS with research themes, fellowships, convenings and an open library of working papers.
- What comes next
A partnership built to grow
The founding partnership is the anchor for a wider network of universities, funders and practice organisations.
Alongside the founders
Faculties, foundations, funders and networks that shape and use the Centre’s work.
- Academic host
CHUSS (opens in a new tab)
Academic home for the Centre’s teaching, supervision and doctoral pipeline.
- Foundation
CivLegacy Foundation
Founding supporter of the Centre’s fellowship and small grants programme.
- Network
East Africa Philanthropy Network (opens in a new tab)
Regional research collaborator on comparable giving data across five countries.
- Funder
Ford Foundation (opens in a new tab)
Funder of the philanthropy data programme and its open survey instruments.
- Funder
African Visionary Fund (opens in a new tab)
Funder and practice partner on locally led resourcing.
- Civil society
Uganda National NGO Forum (opens in a new tab)
Civil society partner for public engagement and practitioner convenings.
03 · What we do
Everything the field needs to understand African giving
Research, training and public engagement from one centre, with the evidence open to everyone.
Browse researchLatest publications
Giving Without Institutions: Informal Philanthropy in Eastern Africa2026
Diaspora Remittances as Philanthropic Practice2026
Faith, Obligation and the Ethics of Ukarimu2025
Community Foundations and Local Resource Mobilisation2025
Research
Open-access publications
Working papers, reports and briefs across six themes and four countries.
2026Founded at Makerere
6Research themes
18Partner institutions
4Countries of fieldwork
12 fellows in cohort
Visiting Fellowship 2027Closes 15 Oct
Doctoral methods workshop22 Oct
Capacity strengthening
Fellowships and training
Six-month fellowships, doctoral supervision and teaching packs.
NOV12
Annual Convening 2026Makerere University
registration
Register now
Public engagement
Convenings and seminars
Two days on the state of African giving, plus a monthly seminar series.
Partnerships
Evidence put to use
Working with funders and practice networks so research reaches decisions.
Call for Papers: Reciprocity and Obligation in African Giving30 Sep 2026
Ukarimu Visiting Research Fellowship 202715 Oct 2026
Research Assistant — Philanthropy Data Programme04 Nov 2026
Small Grants: Community Philanthropy Documentation19 Dec 2026
04 · Happening now
The work, this season
Open calls, convenings and new papers. Everything here is open to researchers, students and practitioners.
Events
Convenings, seminars and workshops
In Kampala and online. Recordings are published for every public session.
All events05 · In pictures
Open the gallery Where the research happens
Fieldwork, convenings and the communities whose generosity we study.
06 · Your part
The next chapter is written with you
Whether you study giving, fund it or practise it, there is a way into the Centre’s work.
Study African giving with us
Fellowships, calls for papers, doctoral support and an open library of working papers.
See open opportunitiesPartner on the evidence
Co-design studies, support fellowships or bring your data questions to the Centre.
Partner with usJoin the conversation
Seminars, convenings and commentary on what the research means for practice.
See upcoming eventsHave a question, a story or a dataset to share?The team reads every message and replies within a week.
Contact the CentreQuarterly digest