M-LISADA (Music, Life Skills, & Destitution Alleviation) Organization is a government approved NGO and registered home for vulnerable children.
M-LISADA (Music, Life Skills and Destitution Alleviation) is a registered non-governmental organisation (Reg. No. S.5914/8530) based in Nsambya, Kampala District, Uganda.
For over 29 years, M-LISADA has been committed to protecting, educating, and empowering vulnerable children, youth, and women across Uganda.
Founded in 1996 by Bosco Segawa in the Katwe Slum of Kampala where he and other vulnerable children were living, the organisation began as a grassroots initiative driven by resilience and hope. Facing extreme hardship, Bosco and his peers turned to music as a pathway for survival, healing, and transformation. What started with eight vulnerable children in Katwe has grown into a nationally recognized organisation delivering sustainable, community-based impact.
Through a holistic and child-centered approach, M-LISADA remediates the impacts of vulnerability by promoting safety, access to education, psychosocial well-being, life skills development, and long-term self-reliance. Our work is rooted in dignity, accountability, and the belief that lasting change begins within communities.
M-LISADA (Music, Life Skills and Destitution Alleviation) was founded in 1996 in the Katwe slum of Kampala, Uganda, by Segawa Bosco and eight other vulnerable street-connected children.
Having lost both parents before the age of eleven, Bosco was left responsible for caring for his three sisters. Like many children in Katwe, he survived by collecting recyclable materials and performing small jobs on the streets of Kampala to provide basic necessities for his family.
A turning point came when Bosco encountered a brass band performance by students from St. Peter’s School. Inspired by the music and the confidence of the performers, he recognized music as a pathway to hope and possibility. Determined to learn, he and his peers approached the school and persistently requested training. Despite initial rejection, their commitment convinced Teacher Ssendawula to mentor them after school and on weekends. Using borrowed instruments, they began building not only musical skills but also discipline, confidence, and unity.
Later that year, the group met Christopher, a social activist from Germany who was deeply moved by their resilience. Recognizing that music had become both their lifeline and their tool for empowerment, he proposed the name M-LISADA — Music, Life Skills, and Destitution Alleviation.
In 1997, the group delivered its first major public performance at Rainbow International School in Kampala. International support soon followed, enabling the purchase of their first set of instruments officially branded with the M-LISADA name.
As the initiative grew, M-LISADA rented a small single-room space in Katwe that became a refuge for vulnerable children. At times, up to 40 children shared the modest space, which served as the organisation’s base until 2008.
Recognizing the transformative power of creative expression, M-LISADA expanded beyond brass band music to include acrobatics, and later, cultural dance. These additions created inclusive opportunities for girls who were often discouraged from playing instruments to participate, build confidence, and develop life skills in a supportive environment.
In 2007, following a performance for Chellaston Academy in the United Kingdom, supporters mobilized resources to purchase land for M-LISADA’s current home in Nsambya, strengthening the
organisation’s stability and long-term vision.
In 2009, a public appeal by one of the children seeking educational support inspired the launch of M-LISADA’s formal Education Sponsorship Program, marking a significant step toward structured academic empowerment.
Expansion continued in 2013 with the introduction of a brass band outreach program in Kalangala District. Construction of the Kalangala Centre began in 2014 and was officially completed in 2016, extending services to island communities.
M-LISADA also initiated psychosocial support interventions at Kampiringisa Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre, recognizing the need to support vulnerable youth in detention and promote rehabilitation and social belonging.
To further amplify cultural expression and global engagement, M-LISADA established Dance of Hope, an international platform showcasing Ugandan traditional dance while giving children an opportunity to share their stories globally. In 2018, Dance of Hope toured the United States, performing in 45 schools across 15 states.
In 2019, as part of its long-term sustainability strategy, M-LISADA established Passion Primary Boarding School. The school was designed to provide inclusive, high-quality education tailored to the diverse and complex needs of vulnerable children, while strengthening the organisation’s sustainability through structured educational services and community partnerships.
Since its founding, M-LISADA has directly supported more than 3,400 vulnerable children, youth, and women, while impacting thousands more through community-based empowerment, education, and protection initiatives.
From a small group of determined children in Katwe to a nationally recognized organisation, M-LISADA remains rooted in resilience, dignity, and the belief that vulnerability can be transformed into opportunity, belonging, and self-confidence.
M-LISADA serves vulnerable children, youth, and women experiencing systemic social and economic disadvantage.
We focus on individuals whose circumstances expose them to heightened risks of poverty, exclusion, and exploitation, and who see limited access to social opportunity.
We support children who are orphaned, abandoned, or living without consistent parental guidance and protection. Many face uncertainty, instability, and limited access to safe environments necessary for healthy development.
We work with children and youth who have endured physical, emotional, or economic exploitation, as well as neglect and harmful living conditions. Our interventions prioritize protection, healing, and long-term social inclusion.
We engage households struggling with chronic poverty, unsafe housing, food insecurity, and limited access to essential services. Economic vulnerability often increases children’s exposure to risk and reduces access to education.
We provide support to children and young people who live or work on the streets, where they are exposed to violence, drug abuse, substance abuse, exploitation, and social exclusion.
We assist displaced children, youth, and women who face compounded vulnerabilities due to conflict, instability, and displacement, helping them access protection, education, and community support.
We work with children and families who face barriers to quality education, healthcare, and social services, which are essential foundations for long-term wellbeing and self-reliance.
Transformed lives of the new generation of Uganda and beyond.
We envision a society where vulnerable children, youth, and women are empowered, protected, educated, and equipped to lead dignified, self-reliant lives contributing positively to their communities and nation.
To protect, heal, empower, and support vulnerable children, youth, and women through music, life skills development, education, and community-based interventions.
Through a holistic and child-centered approach, we address the root causes of vulnerability by providing safe spaces, psychosocial support, access to quality education, creative arts engagement, and pathways toward sustainable independence.
At M-LISADA, our work is guided by strong institutional values that shape our culture, decisions, and relationships:
At M-LISADA, our strength lies in the dedication, experience, and lived passion of our leadership team. United by a shared commitment to serving vulnerable children, youth, and women, our leaders guide the organization with integrity, vision, and accountability.
Effective governance is central to achieving sustainable, rights-based impact.
M-LISADA’s work with vulnerable children, youth, and women is anchored in strong institutional leadership, ethical oversight, and transparent accountability mechanisms. Our governance framework ensures that protection, empowerment, and inclusion are not only program priorities, but organizational commitments upheld at the highest level.
The Board of Directors comprises professionals with diverse expertise in education, psychology, social development, governance, finance, and community leadership. Collectively, they provide strategic direction, policy oversight, and uphold a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the organization operates with integrity, efficiency, and measurable impact.
Guided by principles of equity, inclusion, human dignity, and child rights, the Board safeguards the interests of vulnerable children, youth, and women from low-income and marginalized communities. It ensures that institutional systems, risk management processes, and resource stewardship align with national priorities and international development standards.
Through its oversight role, the Board strengthens organizational sustainability, promotes evidence-based programming, and supports innovation in education, vocational training, and music-centered empowerment interventions.
In the forthcoming financial year, the Board is guiding the organization toward reaching over 8,855 vulnerable children, youth, and women through structured programs in education, vocational skilling, and music-driven transformation, contributing to long-term social inclusion and community resilience.
Effective governance is central to achieving sustainable, rights-based impact.
M-LISADA’s work with vulnerable children, youth, and women is anchored in strong institutional leadership, ethical oversight, and transparent accountability mechanisms. Our governance framework ensures that protection, empowerment, and inclusion are not only program priorities, but organizational commitments upheld at the highest level.
The Board of Directors comprises professionals with diverse expertise in education, psychology, social development, governance, finance, and community leadership. Collectively, they provide strategic direction, policy oversight, and uphold a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the organization operates with integrity, efficiency, and measurable impact.
Guided by principles of equity, inclusion, human dignity, and child rights, the Board safeguards the interests of vulnerable children, youth, and women from low-income and marginalized communities. It ensures that institutional systems, risk management processes, and resource stewardship align with national priorities and international development standards.
Through its oversight role, the Board strengthens organizational sustainability, promotes evidence-based programming, and supports innovation in education, vocational training, and music-centered empowerment interventions.
In the forthcoming financial year, the Board is guiding the organization toward reaching over 8,855 vulnerable children, youth, and women through structured programs in education, vocational skilling, and music-driven transformation, contributing to long-term social inclusion and community resilience.
Mr. Bosco Segawa is the CEO and Co-Founder of M-LISADA Organization. His leadership journey is deeply rooted in lived experience. As a former vulnerable child, he understands firsthand the challenges faced by children, youth, and women in underserved communities.
Driven by resilience and vision of self-reliance and social belonging, Bosco led a team of eight fellow children who also lived in Katwe to establish M-LISADA, using music as a transformative tool to address their own hardships. His passion for music began at St. Peter’s Nsambya Primary School, where he joined the brass band out of curiosity. Recognizing his determination and potential, the director(?) welcomed him into the program, a moment that would shape his life and inspire the birth of M-LISADA.
Bosco envisions a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment where vulnerable children, youth, and women can thrive, unlock their potential, and develop sustainable solutions to their own challenges. He plays a central role in strategic leadership, fundraising, partnership development, and advancing the organization’s mission of holistic transformation.
Patrick Wangira Jumah is a seasoned development professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University and a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of South Wales.
With over 16 years of professional experience, Patrick brings strong expertise in child development, project cycle management, organizational development, strategic planning, finance management, curriculum development, proposal writing, stakeholder engagement, and governance.
He has spent 12 years specializing in psychosocial support and trauma healing in fragile contexts. His work demonstrates excellence in planning, budgeting, coordinating, and implementing donor-funded projects. He is highly respected for his leadership ability and commitment to ethical and accountable service delivery.
Patrick has served in leadership roles at Cornerstone Development Africa, CaRNaC Uganda, and Mending the Soul Africa. He currently serves as National Director for CaRNaC Uganda and contributes to several civil society organizations through board service.
Since 2022, Patrick has served as Chairman of the M-LISADA Board, providing strategic oversight and governance to ensure the organization remains mission-driven, accountable, and impactful in serving vulnerable children, youth, and women.
Quennie Annette Nyati’s connection to M-LISADA began as a neighbor to the M-LISADA Dreamhouse. Through mentorship and interaction with the young adults at the home, her passion for the organization’s mission grew, eventually leading to her joining the Board of Directors.
Quennie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Management. She is deeply committed to shaping minds, transforming hearts, and nurturing human productivity.
With over 20 years of experience in Civil Society Organizations spanning grassroots community work to executive leadership and additional experience in the private sector, Quennie brings strategic depth and practical insight to M-LISADA.
Her core competencies include organizational strategy, grassroots program design, technical business development, and vocational skilling.
At M-LISADA, she serves as Board Member and heads the Education Committee, guiding the organization’s education and skilling programs to ensure quality, individual guidance, and long-term impact for vulnerable children, youth, and women.
Mr. Moses Matovu is a former civil servant and currently engaged in private enterprise. His interest in M-LISADA began after witnessing the organization’s positive impact among vulnerable children in his community.
Moved by the dedication and leadership of young people within the organization, he sought an opportunity to contribute to its growth and sustainability. His passion and commitment led to his appointment to the Board.
Mr. Matovu holds qualifications in Business Administration and Public Administration. He brings valuable experience in governance, business leadership, and community engagement, contributing to the strategic direction and oversight of M-LISADA’s programs serving vulnerable children, youth, and women.
Decimon Wandera is the Executive Director of M-LISADA and a seasoned education and leadership development professional with extensive experience in program implementation and organizational leadership. He previously served as National Programs Coordinator at Teach For Uganda under the global Teach For All network, as a Senior Leadership Development Officer, and as a Guest Lecturer at Makerere University College of Education and External Studies. With over 15 years of experience in community empowerment, 10 years in education management and administration, and 6 years in stakeholder engagement, program management, leadership development, and instructional coaching, Decimon brings strong technical expertise and strategic insight to the organization. He holds academic training in Psychology, Social Work, Literature, and English from Makerere University. Driven by a deep passion to see young people experience transformed lives, Decimon oversees the operational and programmatic implementation of M-LISADA’s work across the Kampala Home, M-LISADA Passion School in Luweero, and the M-LISADA Center in Kalangala. Under his leadership, programs are delivered with professionalism, accountability, and a clear focus on empowering vulnerable children, youth, and women to achieve sustainable and holistic transformation.
Uganda is located in East Africa and has a population of approximately 45 million people. It is one of the youngest countries in the world, with more than 75% of the population under the age of 30 and nearly half under the age of 18.
Despite economic growth in recent years, poverty and vulnerability remain widespread. National statistics show that millions of children live in households struggling to meet basic needs such as food, healthcare, education, and safe housing. Uganda also hosts over 1.6 million refugees, one of the largest refugee populations in Africa, placing additional pressure on communities and public services.
While primary school enrollment is high due to Universal Primary Education, completion rates remain a challenge. Many children drop out due to poverty, child labor, teenage pregnancy, family instability, or lack of scholastic materials. Youth unemployment is also high, especially in urban areas, leaving many young people without stable income opportunities.
It is within this national context that M-LISADA works, supporting vulnerable children, youth, and women through protection from violence and trauma, education support, and life skills development. Music-based empowerment serves a critical role in this support, building skills of self-reliance, interpersonal unity, and resilience.
Kampala is Uganda’s capital city and economic center. The city has an estimated population of over 1.7 million people, with more than 4 million in the greater metropolitan area. Rapid urban growth has led to significant expansion of informal settlements, where over half of the city’s residents are estimated to live.
Many families in these communities rely on informal employment and unstable daily income. Overcrowding, limited sanitation, and restricted access to essential services increase vulnerability for children and youth.
Although Kampala has better access to schools compared to rural districts, children from low-income urban households still face high risks of school dropout and poor learning outcomes. Poverty, family breakdown, and migration from rural areas contribute to the presence of street-connected children within the city.
In Kampala, M-LISADA focuses on structured support for vulnerable children and youth, promoting education participation, psychosocial wellbeing, life skills development, and music as a tool for healing and confidence building.
Luweero District is a largely rural area located north of Kampala. Many households depend on subsistence farming and small-scale trade for survival. Rural poverty levels remain significant and access to quality education and youth development opportunities can be limited.
School dropout remains a concern in parts of Luweero, particularly among boys engaged in informal labor and girls affected by early pregnancy or domestic responsibilities. Families often struggle with limited income, which directly impacts children’s access to scholastic materials and stable learning environments.
In Luweero, M-LISADA works within the community to encourage school participation, strengthen youth life skills, and support vulnerable families through structured child- and youth-focused programs.
Kalangala District is located on the Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria. Due to its island geography, transportation and access to services such as education, healthcare, and child protection systems is more limited compared to mainland districts.
Economic activity in Kalangala largely depends on fishing and small-scale trade. Seasonal income patterns and mobility can affect family stability and school attendance. Children and youth in island communities often face higher risks of school dropout and teenage pregnancy and have limited access to structured youth engagement opportunities.
In Kalangala, M-LISADA works alongside communities to support vulnerable children and youth through education engagement, life skills programs, and psychosocial support initiatives.
Across Kampala, Luweero, and Kalangala, M-LISADA is committed to:
Supporting vulnerable children to remain in school.
Strengthening psychosocial wellbeing.
Providing life skills and practical empowerment
Engaging youth through music and creative expression
Supporting women as key pillars of family stability
We believe transformation happens when communities are strengthened, children are protected, and young people are equipped with skills and hope for the future.
