JICA Volunteer Program in Uganda Marks 25 Years

In 2026, JICA celebrates the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) program in Uganda.

Since the first JICA volunteer was dispatched to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala in July 2001, more than 800 volunteers have served across Uganda over the past quarter century. Working alongside Ugandan communities, they have contributed to addressing local challenges in a wide range of sectors, including health, education, agriculture, community development, and sports promotion, while strengthening the bonds of friendship and mutual trust between Uganda and Japan.

The journey over the past 25 years has not always been smooth. The global COVID-19 pandemic and outbreaks of Ebola posed significant challenges, restricting travel and limiting activities. Yet even during these difficult times, the partnership between Uganda and Japan remained strong. Through online platforms, local counterparts, returned volunteers, and JICA stakeholders maintained exchanges and preserved the spirit of cooperation.

JICA volunteer activities in Uganda began in the health sector. From the first volunteer nurse to midwives, public health nurses, pharmacists, and other professionals, volunteers have worked in medical facilities and communities, contributing to human resource development and improved healthcare services.

In the education sector, volunteers have supported both higher education institutions, including Nakawa Vocational Training College, which JICA has been supporting since the 1960s, as well as primary and secondary schools throughout the country. In agriculture, the promotion of rice cultivation has become one of the most significant areas of cooperation. Through JICA technical cooperation projects and the activities of JICA Volunteers, efforts have been made to improve rice cultivation techniques, strengthen agricultural extension services, and develop human resources, thereby contributing to increased farmers’ incomes and enhanced food security.

The experience and knowledge that JICA Volunteers gained through their activities in the field continue to be put to use in a wide range of sectors both in Japan and abroad after their return. They remain active as key contributors to international cooperation and to addressing social challenges.

In recent years, JICA volunteer activities have also served as a foundation for collaboration with Japanese schools and sports organizations.

One notable example is the “Handmade Reusable Sanitary Pad and Sports Uniform Donation Project,” implemented through a collaboration among Mynavi Sendai Ladies of the WE League, Sakurazaka High School in Ishinomaki City, and the JICA Uganda Office. Students at Sakurazaka High School produced reusable sanitary pads using collected fabric and donated them to Ugandan girls facing challenges in accessing menstrual hygiene products. Mynavi Sendai Ladies also donated official team uniforms. Online exchange sessions between Ugandan and Japanese students further promoted mutual understanding of each other’s cultures and daily lives.

The initiative was highly recognized as an innovative effort linking gender equality, international exchange, education, and sports. It received the “MOST IMPRESSIVE WE ACTION DAY” Award for the 2025–26 WE League season.

Building on these achievements, the JICA Uganda Office is also exploring collaboration with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to expand opportunities for youth development and international exchange through baseball. By utilizing networks developed through JICA volunteer activities, the partnership aims to promote people-to-people connections, capacity development, and mutual understanding through sports.

Sports possess a unique ability to transcend linguistic and cultural barriers. The spirit of “learning together and growing together,” which has long been central to JICA volunteer activities, continues to create new value through sports-based cooperation and exchange.

Former volunteers continue to apply their experiences in Uganda to address social challenges even after returning home.
At the 4th JICA Volunteer Social Contribution Awards held in 2026, former Uganda volunteer Ms. Aya Tsuboi received the Grand Prize for her sustainable water management initiative. Inspired by her experience in Uganda, she developed a prepaid fee collection system for community wells. Today, the system has been installed at more than 300 wells across Uganda and has improved access to safe water for approximately 100,000 people.

This example demonstrates how experiences gained through volunteer service can lead to innovative solutions that continue generating social impact far beyond the period of assignment.

Today, JICA volunteers continue to work alongside communities throughout Uganda in fields such as education, agriculture, youth development, and sports. Their commitment to co-creating solutions and generating new value with local communities remains as strong as it was 25 years ago.

The history of cooperation between Uganda and Japan since 2001 has been built on trust, partnership, and shared aspirations. The 25th anniversary is not only a celebration of past achievements but also the beginning of a new chapter of collaboration.

Together with current and former volunteers, schools, companies, local governments, sports organizations, and the people of Uganda, JICA will continue to strengthen partnerships and expand opportunities for cooperation in the years ahead.

The bridge connecting Uganda and Japan will continue to grow through the power of human connection.