Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Makerere University info@usaaug.org 0772 525 487
About USAA
Who We Are
The Uganda Sociological and Anthropological Association is more than a professional body – it is a movement to place social science at the heart of Uganda's development story.
For nearly two decades, we have worked to build a credible, unified, and active community of sociologists and anthropologists across Uganda. We believe that development without social understanding is development that fails. Our association exists to ensure that social and cultural insight is never an afterthought in Uganda's progress.
- Protecting Professional Ethics and Standards
- Advancing Member Interests
- Facilitating Knowledge and Learning
- Promoting Research and Publication
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USAA Membership
Become a Member
Uganda is a country whose development challenges are, at their root, social and cultural challenges. Poverty, health inequities, urban migration, conflict, land disputes, gender inequality – none of these are purely technical problems. They require the kind of deep, humanistic, analytical understanding that sociology and anthropology provide.
Yet for decades, social scientists in Uganda have operated without the professional infrastructure that other disciplines take for granted – without a unified body, without formal accreditation, without a collective voice that speaks to government, employers, and the public.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about USAA, membership, events, or services?
The Uganda Sociological and Anthropological Association (USAA) is a non-profit professional association for sociologists and anthropologists within Uganda and the diaspora. It was founded in 2006 and is registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee under the Companies Act (Cap. 110). USAA brings together professionals in academia, research, and development practice to advance the discipline and serve its members.
USAA was officially inaugurated on 8th August 2006 at Hotel Africana, Kampala, in a general meeting convened by the management and staff of the Department of Sociology at Makerere University. An interim Executive Committee was elected at that founding meeting.
No. USAA is an independent, non-profit professional association. However, we work closely with relevant government ministries and bodies, particularly in advocating for the formal regulation and recognition of the sociology and anthropology profession in Uganda.
The USAA Secretariat is located at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala. You can also reach us by email at info@usaaug.org.
Member Testimonials
What Members Say About USAA
"Before joining USAA, I felt professionally isolated - doing important work but disconnected from a wider community of peers. That changed the moment I became a member. The network alone has opened doors I didn't know existed, from research collaborations to conference invitations. USAA has given my career a community."
"As someone working in the NGO space, USAA has been invaluable. It gave me the professional credibility that employers and partners recognise, and connected me to academics whose research directly informs my field work. It is the bridge between theory and practice that I always needed."
"I joined USAA fresh out of university and it immediately changed how I saw myself professionally. Having a membership certificate, access to workshops, and a network of experienced sociologists gave me confidence at a stage when I had very little. USAA invests in you before your career fully takes off."
"As a student, I wasn't sure a professional association was for me yet. But USAA welcomed me completely. The events, the mentorship connections, and simply being in spaces with working sociologists and anthropologists has shaped how I think about my future. I feel like I already belong to the profession - not just studying it."
"I have worked in social policy for over fifteen years, but joining USAA gave my expertise an official professional home. When I engage government colleagues or international partners, my USAA membership signals that I am part of a recognised, regulated profession. That recognition carries real weight."