Nyanga Integrated Guild

Founded in 1992 by the late Dr. George Mayatsa and his family, Nyanga Integrated Guild (NIG) began as a bold response to a quiet crisis. In Mbale and surrounding communities, countless children, youth, and adults had been left behind by the formal education system. NIG was created to change that—offering life skills and practical training to help learners build a future with dignity and purpose.

Before opening its doors, NIG conducted a grassroots survey across four villages in Bumboi Parish, Nambale Mutoto Sub-County—home to the Guild’s main campus. The findings were sobering:

• 88% of school-age children were not enrolled in school
• Dropout rates reached 56%
• Illiteracy stood at 78%, even higher among women (compared to 65% nationally in 1991)

Despite these challenges, the survey revealed something powerful: a deep hunger to learn. Participants expressed a strong desire for any opportunity that could help them better understand and navigate life under difficult conditions.

The survey also uncovered the root causes behind the dropout crisis:

• Inability to afford school fees
• Loss of a family breadwinner
• Lack of community support systems

These barriers weren’t just academic—they were deeply personal and systemic.