The MUST–IUC UCoBS Project (University as a Facilitator of Community-Based Sustainable Solutions to Demographic Challenges in Southwestern Uganda) recognizes that a motivated, well-aligned, and skilled team is central to delivering sustainable development outcomes. In line with this belief, the UCoBS program continues to invest in its human resources as strategic assets for achieving project goals and long-term impact.
Group photo taken during the retreat in Bunyonyi, Kabale
Throughout 2025, the UCoBS team recorded significant milestones, including sustained support to 14 PhD scholars, publication of four research papers, issuance of two micro-research awards, graduation of two master’s students (Mr. Bukenya Hakim for subproject 2 and Mr. Tinkasiimire Rodgers for subproject 1), signing of two strategic MOUs, and delivery of five boot camps. The program also strengthened cross-project collaboration through eight synergy engagements, developed a tourism plan for the Bwindi region, and improved community livelihoods—most notably by providing solar home kits to 20 Batwa households. In addition, 40 citizen scientists and nine field-based agricultural officers were trained to enhance food production and preservation, while Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) awareness initiatives, ICT boot camps for secondary schools, and tech-preneurship programs were successfully implemented.
Left, photo taken after a team-building activity
To consolidate these achievements and prepare for the next phase of implementation, the UCoBS team convened a three-day Team Retreat from 16–18 December 2025 at Lake Bunyonyi Safaris Resort in Kabale District. The retreat brought together the local coordinator, project manager, team leaders, members of the local steering committee, project support unit staff, and project assistants.
The retreat aimed to provide a reflective and restorative space for team bonding, learning, and strategic alignment. Beyond offering a moment of rest in one of Uganda’s most iconic natural landscapes, the retreat fostered collaboration, strengthened interpersonal relationships, and reinforced the program’s shared mission and values.
Team-building activities
A key highlight of the retreat was a structured team-building program, facilitated by a professional trainer, Mr. Martin Izaara Muhumuza, which combined interactive challenges with reflective learning, including icebreakers and warm-up tasks such as Pint on the Pizza, Centre Ball pass, Octopus race, centre ball pass and others. A set of competitive but lesson-embedded team-building games were conducted, such as beanbag toss, gutter ball roll, most cones collected, balloon burst, water bottle rope carry, and race on a board, to mention but a few. Through these activities, participants reinforced essential lessons on teamwork, communication, leadership, planning, adaptability, and shared responsibility principles that directly translate into effective program delivery.
The team is engaging in some team-building games
Take home key points:
- Conflict is not always necessary and it should be avoided as much as possible
- If we focus on building the capacity of individual team members, then we shall all win as a team
- One member’s inefficiency, slowness and carelessness becomes the weight that the whole team has to carry along and it drags them behind
- Reassigning of tasks is important; if some members cannot perform well on a given task, assign them to another task they can do well.
- Good planning before execution is very important and contributes a lot to the performance of the team. Poor planning translates into poor performance
- A well-communicated task is a well-executed task and the opposite is true
- Every member’s contribution matters
- Dropping the ball should not mean dropping out of the race. Pick up the ball and aim at completing the task
- Speed does not always translate into efficiency; it is important to pay attention to the details
…and many other lessons learned at an individual level.
Re-Orientation to the UCoBS management Manual
Photos taken during the re-orientation to the UCoBS management manual
The retreat also included a re-orientation session on the MUST–IUC UCoBS Project Management Manual (2023), led by the acting Local Coordinator, Dr. Medard Twinamatsiko. This session ensured a shared understanding of operational guidelines, accountability frameworks, and payment structures, while identifying areas for improvement to strengthen efficiency and compliance.
Sharing of sustainable best Practices for a long-term international partnership project, ensuring an integral process and positive impact
Dr. Asiimwe taking the team through the sustainable best practices for long-term international partnerships, sharing
In addition, the team benefited from an expert session led by Dr. Stephen Asiimwe on sustainable best practices for long-term international partnerships, emphasizing shared vision, trust, transparency, mutual respect, cultural understanding, and continuous learning as critical pillars for sustaining impactful North–South collaborations.
Above, are photos taken during the sharing
Due to his long working relationship under the Global Health Collaborative at MUST and his experience with international partnerships. The talk was very insightful, with a lot of lessons learned about principles of a healthy partnership, including aspects such as a) a shared vision and goal, b) mutual benefit, trust, and transparency, c) mutual respect, and d) cultural understanding. We also discussed major operational practices such as a) formalizing of the framework of operation, b) effective communication, c) flexibility and adaptability, d) institutional commitment, e) continuous evaluation and improvement, f) aligning with global goals, g) dissemination of outcomes to win stakeholders’ confidence, and h) collaborative innovation.
Farewell ceremony for the former Project manager and welcoming of the new manager
Left, right: The outgoing manager and current project manager, farewell gift to Ms. Annah Amwikirize
The retreat further provided an opportunity to formally appreciate leadership transitions within the project, including a farewell to the former project manager, Ms. Annah Amwikirize, and the welcoming of the new leadership of Ms. Lydia Asiimwe. This moment of recognition reinforced the project’s culture of appreciation, continuity, and institutional memory.
Personal reflection, testimonies and prayer
Moments of reflection, prayer, and engagement with nature, including a boat cruise on Lake Bunyonyi, allowed participants to reconnect with the broader purpose of the project and the communities it serves.
Gift sharing, cake-cutting, and dinner
Above, photos taken during the gift-sharing session
The team prepared a gift-sharing moment, which we called “Who is my secret Santa?” Prior to the event, every member was handed a randomly selected name of another team member to whom they were to give a Christmas gift, making it exciting and enjoyed by everyone ; after all, isn’t Christmas about giving?
Conclusion
Overall, the UCoBS Team Retreat 2025 was a strategic investment in people, partnerships, and performance. The experience strengthened team cohesion, refreshed commitment, and positioned the program to deliver more effectively on its mandate in the 2025/2026 financial year and beyond. The project remains committed to nurturing a motivated team as a cornerstone for achieving sustainable, community-centered impact.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
