Our history

Born from a Personal Story

Amani Initiative was founded in 2011 by Nixon Ochatre, then a 19-year-old university student from Maracha District in Uganda’s West Nile Sub-region.

Growing up, Nixon witnessed close friends and relatives lose their education, face violence, and fall into poverty because of teenage pregnancy and child marriage. Their stories of lost potential inspired him to act.

“I was born and raised in a small village in Maracha, surrounded by friends with whom I shared big dreams. As I advanced in my studies, I watched many of them drop out because of teenage pregnancy and child marriage. Their lost dreams inspired me to start Amani Initiative.” — Nixon Ochatre, Founder,

The Meaning Behind “Amani”

The word “Amani” comes from Lugbarati, a language widely spoken in the communities we serve. It means “Ours” — symbolizing our belief that true and lasting change happens when communities lead their own solutions. This spirit of ownership continues to guide our work — ensuring that every program we design is community-driven, inclusive, and sustainable.

From Vision to Movement

With limited resources and experience but strong determination, Nixon sought guidance from his mentor, Justice Mike Chibita, and brought together ten passionate peers as Founder Members. Together, they laid the foundation for a grassroots movement grounded in collective action and shared responsibility.

Our First Steps

In our first year, we launched three core programs that reflected our mission to empower children, women, and youth through education, leadership, and opportunity:
⦁ Our Time Is Yet To Come
⦁ Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership Course
⦁ Give Me Light And Let Me See
These early efforts became the seeds of Amani’s long-term commitment to building safer, stronger, and more empowered communities.

Our Founder Members