Organizational Structure
Bake for Life and BISS Bakeries
BISS Bakeries Uganda was initiated by Bake for Life Holland. Bake for Life is an in the Netherlands registered NGO with ANBI status and an CBF certificate. Bake for Life aims to create work and income for the vulnerable in Uganda through baking. “Baking the difference”. The first projects of Bake for Life, over 20 years ago, were the start of large-scale bakeries baking bread and related products that are sold to the community. These bakeries employ people with disabilities wherever possible in the baking processes. The bakeries are run in Uganda by The Little Sisters of St. Francis, who are (literally) sisters to BISS Bakeries Uganda. Besides 5 bakeries, 4 in Uganda and 1 in Kenya, The Sisters run the Bake for Life College in Tororo. The College is a commercial school that offers the opportunity for any person interested in learning baking and catering (contact BFL College). Bake for Life also trains her new staff at the college. Bake for Life Uganda is an independent legal entity in Uganda, which manages the Bake for Life Bakeries and the Bake for Life College. BISS Bakeries Uganda is also an independent legal entity in Uganda, as well as a fully registered and certified NGO.
BISS Board
Karel Wiltink
Lukas Den Admirant
Michael Wandera
The directors and volunteers of BISS Bakeries do not receive any payment for work performed. They may receive compensation for expenses incurred, if this remains below the limit of the attendance fees. The NGO currently employs eight Ugandan employees and a Dutch project manager. The salaries are lawful and can be found in the audit.
The Programs Manager of BISS Bakeries Uganda is director Lukas Jan den Admirant. He leads the management team of four that has: Wabwire Fredrick (Accountant), Wafula Joseph (Operations Manager) and Nadunga Caroline (Financial and Administrative Officer). Transactions are handled by the director and the Financial and Administrative Officer via a both to sign policy. The accountant works as the controller creating a three-point check and balance. BISS is audited by an external party annually. The largest part of the funding currently passes through the account of Bake for Life Holland, whom BISS Bakeries reports to. Funds are transferred based on an annual budget. Bake for Life is been having the initiative when it comes to fund raising. Though the past years BISS has been increasingly active in fundraising activities, together with Bake for Life as well as direct funding as part of the long-term strategy of being independent as an NGO.
Funding
The greatest part of the BISS budget is funded by Bake for Life Holland. Annually, BISS and Bake for Life Holland agree on a contribution of Bake For Life and on the activities this contribution is going to sponsor. Since 2014, Bake for Life Holland has been responsible for the great growth of the BISS Bakeries Program. Bake for Life Holland is run solely by volunteers, whose target is to raise funds for the three Bake for Life Projects in Uganda and Kenya. The money is raised via several activities that generate general donations or donations directly towards specific projects (either from BISS, BFL Uganda, BFL College). One of the latest fund-raising activities is the Red Dirt Bakery Tour. This amazing bicycle adventure in Uganda, takes you through all the three Bake for Life Holland projects in Uganda in a 6-day tour of 350KM, ending at Sipi Falls.
Other loyal sponsors to Bake for Life are Royal Kaak, Bakkerij Wiltink, Bbrood, among others.
From 2021 – 2023, BISS Bakeries’ activities has been increased thanks to additional budget from Stichting Onesimus. BISS Bakeries hopes to create a long-term relationship with Stichting Onesimus to collaboratively create more jobs in Uganda.
Thanks to Bbrood Uganda, BISS Bakeries is able to collect donations locally via donation boxes in the Bbrood shops. Other ways of local funding are being achieved via partnerships and shared fundraisers with local NGO’s. BISS Bakeries seeks more and more local collaborations, which will help in two ways: financially, but also the partners will be part of the selection process of new participants.
BISS Bakeries Uganda has the capacity to do fund raising through the networks it has built throughout the years. With the ANBI status that BISS is currently trying to acquire, BISS will be a more attractive organization to donate to for companies in the Netherlands, because the Dutch companies are allowed to deduct the donations from the profit for the tax authorities.
Currently, most funding is going through Bake for Life Holland, which has already the ANBI status. As a long term perspective, making BISS a self-sustaining NGO, it makes sense for BISS to have its own ANBI status.
Partnerships
Child Care Africa has been carrying out activities to help children in Karamoja, one of most challenged regions in Uganda when it comes to food security and children’s education. Since 2022, CCA and BISS Bakeries have been starting bakeries together in Kaabong and Amudat, with other parts of Karamoja yet to follow. The bakeries are sponsored by a group of Dutch entrepreneurs.
In 2023, BISS bakeries is starting 6 bakeries together with Wilde Ganzen Foundation. The project was launched end of 2022, after receiving of the funding of Wilde Ganzen and Bake for Life who collaborated to start 6 bakeries for people with a disability(PWD) or caregivers to PWD’s. The project ends in November 2023.
Together with Rotary Clubs from the Netherlands (Rotary Voorst) and Uganda (Rotary Club of Kampala, the Rotary District, among others), BISS Bakeries is going to start a number of bakeries. The project is expected to be launched in 2024, after Rotary International has also submitted her contribution.