When We Count the Early Years, We Change the Next 80
Early Years Count Uganda is an independent national NGO dedicated to ensuring every child in Uganda gets a fair start in life, from pregnancy to age 8, through policy advocacy, evidence generation, and multi-sector partnerships.
To ensure that even the most disadvantaged families in Uganda are able to provide a good start for their children, thereby enabling every child in Uganda to achieve their full development potential
A Uganda in which every child achieves their full development potential.
To catalyze transformative progress in overcoming systemic barriers to early childhood development (ECD) in Uganda by strengthening policy implementation, generating and using evidence, building strategic partnerships, and institutionalizing EYC as a recognized ECD thought leader.
Our Story
Early Years Count Uganda was founded in 2023 by Lydia Mubiru in response to a critical gap in Uganda’s early childhood development landscape. Despite growing evidence that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life shape their entire future, ECD remained underfunded, fragmented, and low on the national agenda.
EYC was created to change that — to elevate early childhood as a national priority and ensure that evidence, not assumption, drives how Uganda invests in its youngest citizens.
Registered under NGO Bureau number INDR162325469NB, EYC Uganda works with over 120 partners across 4 districts—including government institutions, local governments, civil society organizations, researchers, frontline workers, communities, and development partners—to influence policy, strengthen local government capacity, and generate the data that makes change possible.
Our Journey
Early Years Count Uganda is founded as an independent national NGO to strengthen early childhood development systems across the country.
EYC launches its 2024–2026 Organizational Strategy and begins embedding technical advisors within government. The Network for ECD Actors in Uganda (NECDA) is incubated, quickly growing to over 100 members.
EYC supports the production of Uganda’s first National ECD Situation Analysis and pilots the Local Government ECD Scorecard in four districts to guide planning and accountability.
Uganda’s National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy is launched, a first dedicated ECCE budget line of UGX 5 billion is secured, and Scorecard indicators are adopted into Ministry of Local Government inspection tools for all districts.
Our Values
Equity
We prioritize the most disadvantaged children and families, ensuring no child is left behind.
Evidence
Our decisions and programs are grounded in data, research, and what works best for young children.
Partnership
We believe meaningful change happens through collaboration with communities and government.
Accountability
We hold ourselves and our partners to high standards of transparency, learning, and results.
Work With Us
Whether you are a government partner, a development organization, a researcher, or a community leader, there is a place for you in the movement for better early years in Uganda. Get in touch to explore how we can work together.
