Strengthening Constitutional Governance in East Africa
About Us
The Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG) is a regional watchdog based in Kampala, Uganda. We operate across the East and Horn of Africa, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan through our partners.
Our core mission is simple: to strengthen constitutional governance by bridging the critical gap between what the law promises (policy) and what actually happens on the ground (practice).
In our day-to-day work, we grapple with many questions. For example, what is the true cost of a government that ignores its own laws? It’s not just a political issue—it’s the face of a mother denied justice, a young person silenced, or an entire community left behind because their rights were not secured. At CCG, we fight for the fundamental human dignity protected by the law.
VISION
Building a center that empowers citizens to fully utilize their constitutional rights and obligations so as to meaningfully participate in their governance; ensure that governance is grounded in the Constitution, citizens are empowered to defend their rights and institutions respect the rule of law.
MISSION
To promote constitutional governance through carrying out constitutional literacy campaigns and advocacy across East Africa.
CUSTOMER VALUE PROPOSITION
To empower citizens, institutions and leaders with knowledge, skills and platforms needed to uphold constitutionalism, strengthen democracy, and promote accountable governance - ensuring stability, justice and inclusive development.
WHY OUR WORK MATTERS
Imagine a society where citizens don't know their fundamental constitutional rights, and the rule of law is absent. Anarchy and instability would quickly take root.
We believe that governance is the foundation of human welfare. Poverty, despair, and corruption are often not failures of charity, but systemic failures of law. When a constitution is ignored, human rights vanish, and vulnerability fills the vacuum.
Promoting true constitutionalism requires dedication, resources, and creativity because our goal is to build a critical mass of informed citizens. We are committed to this long-term effort by focusing heavily on young people, who make up the largest, most crucial segment of the population.
Our Five Flagship Programs for Change
We carry out our mission through five dedicated programs designed to promote democratic values, constitutional knowledge and active participation in governance.
Hope Initiative Clubs
Established since 2011, these clubs serve as our foundational vehicle for promoting constitutional literacy among youth in formal education across 26 universities in Uganda. The impact is clear: our alumni have gone on to become more than 200 elected leaders, serving from the grassroots level all the way up to Parliament. We do not only produce leaders for public or elective office, our impact is equally felt in other spaces including community work, private sector, and the Civil Society sphere. [Read some of their stories here:
Civic Space TV
Ready to hear the real stories? Civic Space TV is our dynamic digital platform on YouTube where we amplify citizens' voices and host essential, informed dialogue on the critical governance issues shaping our communities. It’s where the conversation about change happens. [Watch and subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@CIVICSPACETV]
The Katiba Heritage Virtual Museum
Step inside history! This dedicated digital museum serves as your definitive repository of constitutional knowledge. Although it is still a work in progress, here, you can trace Uganda’s full constitutional journey—from the moment of independence right up to the present day—through essential documents, commentary, and educational aids. It’s where history meets the rule of law. Take a Tour of the museum right here. https://katibaheritagelimited.org/
Katiba Leadership Academy & Secondary School (KLASS)
Katiba is the swahili word for Constitution
The Katiba Academy is being built as the ultimate virtual space offering specialized training programs. Its core focus is on cultivating a deeper, lasting constitutional culture among key societal actors and leaders. We invite you to journey with us as we finalize this premier online academy!
Annual Conference on the Constitution
This is where theory meets action. We convene annual strategic, high-level gatherings—the most crucial forums of the year—to ignite and drive evidence-based policy discussions on Uganda's constitutional development. Why does this matter to you? Because these aren't just academic talks; they are the direct catalyst for legal and governmental change.
By bringing together the country's top experts, policymakers, and civic leaders, we ensure that constitutional principles are not just debated, but actively translated into real policy reform. Join us at the table where the future of the rule of law is defined. You can also watch our 2024 Conference here https://youtu.be/qiMv6UT62_0 and the 2025 conference here https://youtu.be/hHIzaowAdbY
Our work is further integrated with cross-cutting issues essential to justice and stability, including Human Rights, Elections, Gender, Climate Justice, and Strategic Interest Litigation.
Through constitutional literacy, civic education, policy advocacy, research and capacity building, we empower citizens to actively participate in shaping their own governance and upholding the rule of law across all sectors of society.