Overview

Solidarity for Rural Development Organisation (SORUDEO) is a Self-Help rural community based development-oriented organisation, non-political, non-governmental, non-profit making and non-denominational organisation.

The organisation is rural base and all its initiatives does not discriminate on the basis of religion, politics, ethnicity, race, color, creed, national origin, age, disability, marital status, gender, language or any reason whatsoever. Everyone regardless of any status must be treated equally with respect and dignity. We endeavor to develop a family of humanity in the rural areas.

SORUDEO is committed to improve the lives of the vulnerable communities in the rural areas through poverty reduction, economic growth and social transformation. The Organisation creates programs and projects with the community and for the community that improve the lives of those in need like rural women, people with disabilities (PWD), the sick like sicklers or HIV/AIDS patients, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). We have realized that women are the engine of development and children are our future.Therefore, to have a sustainable development and peace in any society, first develop women. And to educate children is to have a prosperous future.

We are committed in achieving our set organizational aim and objectives in line with our vision and mission.

History and Background

SORUDEO started in 2011 as a small self-help village farmers group to eliminate food insecurity under the name "Solidarity Farmers Association-(SOFA)". In 2015 the organization was intensively reorganized and transformed into "Solidarity for Rural Development Organization (SORUDEO) to eliminate hunger, poverty and violence in the rural areas through sustainable agriculture, education, healthcare, environmental conservation, social and economic rural development. We are committed and passionate to unlock the potentials of the rural communities and help them to discover that the answer to their hunger, poverty and violence is within them. Our initiatives and innovations are driven and owned by the poorest, the oppressed and the disadvantaged to give them strength to improve their own lives sustainably.

The organization was founded by Reverend David Okullu with the help of ten other open-hearted and passionate members who experienced the wrath of the two decades of war in Northern Uganda. Northern Uganda suffered the wrath of political insurgency for 22 years and still suffers high rate of food insecurity, poverty and violence.

After participating in the US Professional Fellows Program in 2015 which was sponsored by American Government and hosted by ITD in Amherst-Massachusetts and Smith College-Massachusetts; thereafter acquiring incredible experiences, knowledge and encouragement from the American Government, friends and the people he visited in USA, Reverend David Okullu came back home to Uganda and decided with the help of ten open-hearted and passionate people, to transform SOFA into Solidarity for Rural Development Organisation (SORUDEO) as anon-profit development organization which has a global focus of creating share prosperity among rural community.   

We are indebted to Safe Passage-USA for their inspiration and many professionals in Uganda who put their heads together as volunteers in the formation of SORUDEO, including University professors, lawyers, teachers and University students. We are calling more people to join us as active supporters in the struggle to develop the rural areas.

Guiding philosophy

The philosophy and experience of SORUDEO is based on the reality that "all people are created equal and unique individually; and that we all have a right to a good: life, health, education, productive environment, economic progress and other basic human needs".

Motto

The motto of SORUDEO is "Together We Achieve".

Legal Status 

According to the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, as at 15th February 2006, Article 29 Section 1, Solidarity for Rural Development Organisation(SORUDEO) is accepted legally in Uganda because it has been registered as a Community Based Organisation (CBO) with Kitgum District Local Government, officially operating in Kitgum district under Registration Number 11174; and also registered with Kitgum NGO Forum-KINGFO. SORUDEO has also been duly registered and incorporated as a national NGO with the government of Uganda through National NGO Board under Registration Number 11609; S.5914/12001.