Profile

My fellow Ugandans in North America,

My name is Joan Bavuga and I am seeking Re-election for the position of Vice President of the Ugandan North American Association (UNAA).

I am a proud mother of two handsome boys. I am a licensed social worker with a Master of Social work from Eastern Michigan University. I am pursuing a Doctor of Healthcare Administration at the Virginia University of Lynchburg.

During my term as Vice President, I was engaged in numerous community programs such as National ID Registration drives in the Communities of California and Minnesota. I also promoted UNAA objectives in various events such as the Independence Celebrations in Michigan and Illinois, the Bafumbira in USA celebration in Boston, NAMCA in Dallas.

I participated at the first Uganda- US trade summit in Chicago, Illinois where I engaged potential sponsors and business partners to participate in future UNAA conventions.

As I promised during my previous campaigns, we formed a youth group called Ugandan Youth of North America with the help of Ms. Nancy Hope, the Ugandans of West Michigan association’s founder.

I also currently serve as the Secretary for Mobilization Diaspora UBUNTU Bafumbira association 2022-2025. I am a Board member of Uganda Catholic Community of Michigan, (UCCM) 2022-2025 after serving the same community as the vice President from 2017-2022.

I served the Ugandan community in Michigan (UCOM) as their vice president from 2018-2020.

I have been a member of the Uganda North America Association since 2014.

My achievements so far as UNAA Vice President:

Nationalism: All the debates I have heard and read between UNAA members partly made me realize that we all have our country at heart. However, showing our support or advocating for our country should not create division. As a professional advocator, I plan to promote the interests of all Ugandans in North America by providing a safe place that will allow everyone’s opinion to be listened to respectfully and try to find a solution that will benefit the community. With my involvement in the local communities, I have listened to the members’ concerns about what we need to see change in our organization. I encouraged those members who had left the organization and those who had failed to join the organization for different reasons that UNAA is ready to sit with the members to air their concerns.

Student exchange program: It is time for us to start thinking about our children and involve them in UNAA. I plan to create a viable student exchange program that will benefit both kids born here and those born in Uganda on an educational and cultural level. During the first meeting I had with the Ugandan Youth of North America, we discussed the student exchange program and are coming up with a plan on how to start it.

Economic empowerment:  Article 6:3 says, “The Vice President shall be responsible for the overall advancement and development of the Association. He/she shall be responsible for developing relationships and partnerships with other organizations. He/she shall work with UNAA Council to establish and develop local chapters or other local organs of the Association.” I will use my office to improve and develop the communities. Encourage exchange programs in different neighborhoods so we can learn or borrow knowledge from each other. And as a trained resources finder, I will use my training to find all the resources that we as a community need and deserve. Organized communities can easily get the resources that are helpful to a community with a common goal and work together to achieve that goal. I followed up on the community development fund with the Uganda embassy and made sure that the qualified local communities got their donation.

My fellow Ugandans, Joan Bavuga, is a very dedicated and solid team player. I promote and advocate for humanity. I am very responsible and dependable, with interpersonal communication skills. I understand the problems and concerns communities face because I have been a community leader for some time and can solve conflict situations with a cool head. I am an active listener, and I have patience. Communication is the key to everything I do. I talk less and listen more and respond to every phone call. I am still available to serve you, and my integrity has proven my leadership and service above and beyond self. I am asking for your support once again to finish what I promised. Please use me to serve you! May God bless you all.

Thank you.

Joan Bavuga,

Candidate for Vice President 2023-2025

PROVEN LEADERSHIP: CONSISTENT, SERVICE ABOVE AND BEYOND SELF.