Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda/Board Elections 2025/Drake Tamale
Thank you for your interest in running for the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda Board Elections 2025.
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Candidate details
Name:Drake Tamale
Username:Tamdra
Motivation and Contributions
Why are you running for the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda Governing Board? What unique contributions would you bring to the board? What do you hope to learn through this role?
It's clear to me that the usergroup is going through important fundamental changes that will strategically align it for great things now and in the future. These changes need a steady and tested hand to ensure we navigate them smoothly. I am standing to provide my input in ensuring this process succeeds.
Wikimedia Experience
Please describe your involvement with the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda and the wider movement, including: Contributions to Wikimedia projects, Participation in User Group activities..
I started volunteerig with the usergroup in 2021 with the GLAM project and went through training supported by AfLIA, I have since made contributions since then not only through GLAM but with other projects such as WikiLovesMonuments, WikiLovesEarth, Wiki4Education. I have also led the Wiki4Education project for the previous two years as a consultant. I have sat on the Wiki Loves Folklore project for the past 3 years.
Strategic Priorities
From your perspective, what should the Wikimedia Community User Group Uganda prioritize over the next 3–5 years? Why do you consider these priorities the most important?
1. Recruitment and Retention:
This is the basis of our survival; once we master the art of getting volunteers with the right mindset and keeping them glued to the usegroup activities, the future will be assured.
2. Training:
My experience shows that most volunteers fail to actively keep participating, mostly due to lack of the necessary set skills to contribute to a given project; once we put resources in their continuous training, there is hope for improvement.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation:
It's important to ensure that activities carried out benefit the intended audience and the right feedback is received for targeted improvements where possible. This ensures improved service delivery.
4. Equity:
We have volunteers from wide and diverse backgrounds; realizing this and targeting responses to all will improve our movement, ensuring harmony and general user satisfaction.
5. Quality assurance:
We should overemphasize the importance of quality versus quantity, this is what shall surely sell us and make others notice our contribution to the Wikimedia ecosystem.
Relevant Experience
Please describe any relevant skills and knowledge you have in areas such as, Governance, management, finance, leadership, or similar fields.
I have worked in the NGO world for the past 10 years. I am a member on the BOD of a human rights-based NGO where I serve as the secretary to the BOD. I have served as the national treasurer to the Uganda Library and Information Association twice and the Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL) where I currently serve in the treasurer position. All these are elective positions to which I have been entrusted and served admirably.
When it comes to governance, finance, and leadership in the NGO world, I have worked and lived through it and will be able to bring these to the usergroup's service given a chance to serve.