Ugandan North American Association

Ugandan North American Association
Abbreviation	UNAA
Formation	1990
Type	Nonprofit organization
Purpose	Ugandan diaspora networking, cultural promotion, and community engagement
Headquarters	United States
Region	North America
Membership	Ugandan diaspora in North America
Website	unaaonline.org

Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Ugandan diaspora organization based in North America. A World Bank working paper on Ugandan remittance corridors describes UNAA as having been established in 1990 and notes that it organizes an annual convention bringing together Ugandans living in the United States and Canada.^[1]

UNAA has been the subject of coverage in Ugandan national and international media regarding its conventions, governance, and role in diaspora engagement.^[2]

History

UNAA was established in 1990, with objectives that include networking, information-sharing, and convening an annual gathering of Ugandans in North America.^[1]

In 2015, the Ugandan newspaper New Vision reported that UNAA had established a Board of Trustees with oversight responsibilities alongside its elected leadership structures.^[3]

Activities and advocacy

UNAA’s activities primarily center on community networking, cultural exchange, and economic engagement among Ugandans in North America. Media reports describe UNAA conventions as featuring cultural performances and exhibitions, business and investment forums, professional and youth networking sessions, and community awards and recognition ceremonies.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

Annual convention

UNAA organizes an annual convention in the United States, typically held over the U.S. Labor Day weekend.^[1]

Funding and public debate

According to a Daily Monitor investigation, government financial support associated with UNAA increased from US$20,000 to US$100,000 following discussions at a 2014 conference in San Diego, California.^[2]

Recognition and public presence

UNAA has been mentioned in several North American institutional publications. In 2004, the Harvard Gazette reported on an award sponsored by UNAA.^[7]

In 2010, the University of St. Thomas reported that UNAA honored its president with a recognition award.^[8]

A 2019 University of California profile referred to UNAA in describing community engagement by Ugandan diaspora members in the United States.^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Endo, Isaku; Namaaji, Jane; Kulathunga, Anoma (30 November 2010). Uganda’s Remittance Corridors from United Kingdom, United States, and South Africa: Challenges to Linking Remittances to the Use of Formal Services (PDF) (Report). World Bank Group. p. 16. doi:10.1596/978-0-8213-8430-5. ISBN 978-0-8213-8430-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
^ ^a ^b "Money, politics tear apart diaspora associations". Daily Monitor. Nation Media Group. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
^ "Uganda American body gets board of trustees". New Vision. 21 April 2015. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026.
^ "Meeting of Ugandans in North America Stresses Development and Economic Opportunity". Voice of America. 1 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025.
^ "Uganda Diaspora Talks Politics, Culture". Voice of America. 6 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025.
^ "Ugandans in North America Strengthen Diaspora Ties and Investment Links at 37th UNAA Convention". Business Times Uganda. 4 September 2025. Archived from the original on 12 September 2025.
^ ^a ^b "Newsmakers". Harvard Gazette. 3 June 2004. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025.
^ ^a ^b "Ugandan North American Association Recognizes UST President". University of St. Thomas. 14 September 2010. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025.
^ "UC women empowering their communities". University of California. 28 March 2019. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019.

[WorldBank2011-1] Endo, Isaku; Namaaji, Jane; Kulathunga, Anoma (30 November 2010). Uganda’s Remittance Corridors from United Kingdom, United States, and South Africa: Challenges to Linking Remittances to the Use of Formal Services (PDF) (Report). World Bank Group. p. 16. doi:10.1596/978-0-8213-8430-5. ISBN 978-0-8213-8430-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.

[MonitorFunding-2] "Money, politics tear apart diaspora associations". Daily Monitor. Nation Media Group. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2026.

[NewVisionBOT-3] "Uganda American body gets board of trustees". New Vision. 21 April 2015. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026.

[VOA2009-4] "Meeting of Ugandans in North America Stresses Development and Economic Opportunity". Voice of America. 1 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025.

[VOA2010-5] "Uganda Diaspora Talks Politics, Culture". Voice of America. 6 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025.

[BTU2025-6] "Ugandans in North America Strengthen Diaspora Ties and Investment Links at 37th UNAA Convention". Business Times Uganda. 4 September 2025. Archived from the original on 12 September 2025.

[HarvardGazette-7] "Newsmakers". Harvard Gazette. 3 June 2004. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025.

[UST2010-8] "Ugandan North American Association Recognizes UST President". University of St. Thomas. 14 September 2010. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025.

[UC2019-9] "UC women empowering their communities". University of California. 28 March 2019. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019.

[note_n11-10] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah Part of the National Council of Churches

[note_n0-11] Not in communion with the rest of the Catholic Church

[note_n6-12] Those are traditions and denominations that trace their history back to the Protestant Reformation or otherwise heavily borrow from the practices and beliefs of the Protestant Reformers.

[note_n3-13] This denomination is the result of a merger between Lutheran, German Reformed, Congregational and Restorationist churches.

[note_n1-14] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah ^ai ^aj ^ak Part of the National Association of Evangelicals

[note_n4-15] This refers to the denomination's heritage and not necessarily to the language in which the services are conducted in.

[note_n5-16] This is a reformed synod within the United Church of Christ that is distinct in heritage, doctrine and practice from the rest of the denomination.

[note_n2-17] Outside the Anglican Communion

[note_n8-18] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f This is more of a movement then an institutionalized denomination.

[note_n10-19] Denominations that don't fit in the subsets mentioned above.

[note_n7-20] Those are traditions and denominations that trace their origin back to the Great Awakenings and/or are joined together by a common belief that Christianity should be restored along the lines of what is known about the apostolic early church.

[note_n9-21] The Holiness movement is an interdenominational movement that spreads over multiple traditions (Methodist, Quakers, Anabaptist, Baptist, etc.). However, here are mentioned only those denominations that are part of Restorationism as well as the Holiness movement, but are not part of any other Protestant tradition.

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