Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Makerere University info@usaaug.org 0772 525 487
Our History
The Beginning - 2006
The Uganda Sociological and Anthropological Association was born from a recognition that Uganda's sociologists and anthropologists scattered across universities, research institutions, government agencies, and development organizations; had no shared professional home. No body to represent their interests. No platform to advance their work. No collective voice.
That recognition crystallized within the Management and Staff of the Department of Sociology at Makerere University. In the spirit of professional solidarity and national service, they convened a gathering of colleagues – and on the 8th of August, 2006, at Hotel Africana in Kampala, the Uganda Sociological and Anthropological Association was officially inaugurated.
An interim Executive Committee was elected on that historic day, charged with giving the association its first roots.
Legal Foundation
USAA is duly registered in accordance with the Companies Act (Cap. 110) of Uganda as a company limited by guarantee - Registration Number 138538. It is also recognised as a Non-Governmental Organisation. This legal grounding has provided the institutional structure necessary for the association to operate with credibility and accountability.
Growing an Institution
In the years since its founding, USAA has steadily developed its governance structures, formalized its membership categories and guidelines, established its standing committees, and built its Memorandum and Articles of Association - the constitutional document that governs the association's affairs.
Today
USAA is an active, registered professional body with a growing membership drawn from academia, research, government, and development practice. The association has established its Secretariat at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Makerere University, and continues to expand its reach - engaging members here and in the diaspora.
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."