YOLIDA is an indigenous Non-Governmental, Not-for- profit organization that is an initiative of concerned citizens of Bunyangabu. The drive to action was ignited by the passion to create change through engaging beneficiaries to participate for their own health and livelihoods having understood and interpreted the vulnerabilities of the communities of Bunyangabu.
YOLIDA is fully registered with the Uganda National bureau of NGOs. It has a working permit to operate countrywide. YOLIDA is a member of the Uganda National NGO forum (UNGOF), the Uganda social protection platform (USPP), Uganda national AIDS service organization (UNASO) and also a member of The community of practice of improving the lives of Young people living with HIV in Rwenzori region (CoP-Rwenzori).
Background YOLIDA was registered in 2014 and launched its programs on 30th June 2015. The vision to action was initiated through an interpretation of the needs of both the young and older persons but also through local surveys that were conducted by YOLIDA among the communities of Bunyangabu. The population of Bunyangabu in 2012 was estimated to be 173,000 according to Uganda bureau of statistics (UBOS). Much of this population is concentrated in the hard-to-reach mountainous areas and other villages with difficult geographies. Teenage pregnancy was estimated at 47% of the young girls less than 18 years, the HIV prevalence at 8.4 in 2012 where the Orphans burden was high.