Closing the gap between the law and the people it serves
The Mshauri Initiative for Digital and Civic Literacy works where Uganda's transparency laws are least used, in villages, sub-counties and district offices.
Our Story
MIDCIL was founded to close the gap between Uganda's progressive Access to Information Act and its limited use at the local government level. Many citizens still cannot freely and safely request and access public information about budgets, expenditures, projects and public funds, while duty bearers often lack the capacity or systems to respond effectively.
We combine digital literacy, practical digital security, civic education and low-cost technology to empower communities, especially youth, women, journalists, grassroots community-based organizations and marginalized groups, to demand transparency without exposing themselves to unnecessary risks.
Our approach is deliberately original and non-duplicative: we build on existing national frameworks while focusing on local governments, hybrid online and offline methods, and sustainable mentorship networks that stay in the district after we leave.
Core Focus
- Popularizing and operationalizing the Access to Information Act at local level
- Citizen-led monitoring and accountability for public resources
- Digital security and online safety to protect users
- Building capacity of local political leaders (LC1 to district) in digital literacy and ATI compliance
- Constructive collaboration between citizens and duty bearers
Our Values
- Citizen Agency & Empowerment
- Digital Safety & Inclusion
- Transparency & Accountability
- Innovation with Low-Cost CivicTech Tools
- Scalability from Pilots to National Reach
Team & Governance
Our work is guided by a core team of digital literacy and security trainers, civic educators, lawyers and community organizers, supported by local mentors in different districts.
Meet the Board · Meet the Team, coming soon