Building a Bitcoin Circular Economy in Uganda
Bitcoin holds the power to transform lives by empowering the unbanked and providing a decentralised financial system that serves communities directly. In Uganda, we are bringing this vision to life by establishing a Bitcoin Circular Economy, starting in Kampala and Bugiri District.
Through Bitcoin Kampala, we are fostering financial inclusion, enabling local businesses to accept Bitcoin, and ensuring seamless transactions without reliance on traditional banking systems. One of our key initiatives, Save Starlight School, is using Bitcoin to sustain education for orphans, improving infrastructure, providing essential learning materials, and supporting daily meals for students and teachers.
Please watch the video bellow and make a symbolic donation
How we get started
Since July of 2023, inspired by the Bitcoin Beach experiment in El Salvador, Brindon Mwine has been leading the Bitcoin Kampala experiment, with a hand from Praia Bitcoin in Brazil. By helping the Orphans of Uganda to interact with Bitcoin, we are transforming the community and changing the lives of the forgotten ones, using the peaceful money.
The actual problem
Situated at the heart of the Orphans of Uganda community, Starlight Elementary Nursery & Primary School (SLES) serves as a beacon of learning for children from Busolo, Buwuni, and Bugiri District.
However, recent evaluations have revealed several critical issues, putting the school's future risking, forcing the director to consider closing the school due to financial strain because they cannot afford for the modifications requested by the inspector.
Notably, there is a dire need for more classrooms, qualified educators, adequate furniture, bathrooms, better sanitation facilities, and sufficient teaching materials.
The Solution
By making a detailed planing to save the school by raising donations in Bitcoin and spending it, we are keeping the school open since March 2024, and we started to address all requirements requested by the authorities.
Our master plan is to buy the property, structure the school activities, make all renovations needed, provide educational materials and offer three meals per day for all students and teachers.
Our mission is simple: use Bitcoin to drive real-world impact. By integrating Bitcoin into daily life—paying salaries, funding education, and supporting local commerce—we are proving that Bitcoin is not just a store of value but a practical medium of exchange.
Bitcoin Circular Economy Development
Since July 2023, Bitcoin Kampala has been building a bitcoin circular economy in Uganda. We’ve onboarded local vendors, schools, and orphanages to accept Bitcoin, making it a real medium of exchange. Our “Fruits and Eggs for Sats” campaign introduced kids to Bitcoin while ensuring they get proper nutrition. At Starlight Elementary School, students can now pay tuition and buy supplies using Bitcoin.
To create long-term impact, we secured land for farming, providing food security for orphans. Programs like "eggs for sats" are improving nutrition of the children, while Bitcoin education is teaching financial independence to the community.
Thanks to Bitcoin donations, we’ve funded beds, desks, school materials, and infrastructure improvements, including better sanitation and renewable energy. With ongoing projects and growing partnerships, we’re proving that Bitcoin can empower communities and create real change.
Operational Schedule
Immediate Actions (0-3 Months)
- Finalize the 2-year acquisition agreement with the current owner. (✅ 100%)
- Procure and install 100 desks and essential furniture. (⏳ 80% ready)
- Begin construction of advanced sanitation facilities. (✅ 100%)
- Hire 10 new qualified teachers and support staff. (✅ 100%)
- Launch the “Sats for Protein” and continue the “Fruits for Sats” nutritional programs. (✅ 100%)
- Commence the liquid soap-making training for children. (✅ 100%)
- Launch and promote the Bitcoin crowdfunding campaign to raise at least 1 BTC. (⏳ 92%)
Short-term Actions (3-6 Months)
- Complete the construction of 4 new classrooms and dormitories. (⏳ 30%)
- Install the Peanut husk removing machine in Bugiri town and orphanage premises. (✅ 100%)
- Purchase a maize mill to supplement the community’s food supply.
- Start training children in making & selling reusable sanitary towels. (⏳ 20%)
- Develop and launch the “My First Bitcoin” diploma program for educators.
- Begin two weekly My First Bitcoin classes at Makerere University community centre.
- Implement weekly Bitcoin education sessions for students and staff at the school.
- Set up and operate a grocery shop at the orphanage.
- Create circular economy signage for vendors in Bugiri and Kampala.
- Distribute project merchandise to outstanding vendors.
- Organize a 3-day orphanage children’s trip to Entebbe Zoo.
Medium-term Actions (6-12 Months)
- Continue enhancing educational resources and infrastructure.
- Complete full payment for Starlight Elementary School to secure long-term sustainability.
- Expand community engagement programs, including the grocery shop and peanut husk removal services.
- Repaint the whole school with Bitcoin branding after the acquisition is complete.
- Monitor and evaluate the progress of educational and nutritional programs.
- Rent a learning center near Makerere University for Bitcoin education and meetups.
Long-term Actions (1-2 Years)
- Finish construction of all school buildings.
- Install a briquette cooking system to reduce firewood costs.
- Expand fruit tree planting to improve food security.
- Fund tuition for 15 secondary school students.
- Purchase scholastic materials for primary and secondary students.
- Expand “My First Bitcoin” classes to 200+ students.
- Introduce Bitcoin education sessions during the school holidays.
- Implement vocational training, producing 500 liters of soap every quarter.
- Create and upload Bitcoin education videos on the Bitcoin Kampala YouTube channel.
- Scale up the chicken project, increasing egg production from 130 to 500+ per week.
- Implement a Bitcoin-powered local economy, onboarding 50+ vendors.
- Add meat to children’s diets once a week for improved nutrition.
- Visit Bitcoin Arusha every quarter to collaborate on circular economy efforts.
- Expand Bitcoin Arusha’s circular economy with Man Like Quicks.
- Create a Nostr page for Bitcoin Kampala.
- Host quarterly community meetups with marketing efforts.
- Participate in the Makerere Students’ Bazaar for Bitcoin education.
- Strengthen the Fruits for Sats & Eggs for Sats programs.
- Sponsor the Dance Battle Festival for Bitcoin Arusha.
- Record the song “We Are the Children of Bitcoin” with Edith, Man Like Kweks, and Bronson.
- Host at least 5 major Bitcoin events in 2025 to drive adoption.
Execution and Team Overview
Our crowdfunding campaign operates exclusively through a BtcPayServer hosted by Praia Bitcoin Brazil, accessible solely via savestarlightschool.org. This setup includes protection via a CloudFlare reverse proxy to ensure the highest security for your donations
- Official Donation Page: The campaign accepts contributions only through this dedicated page. We do not request donations via direct addresses or emails. Stay vigilant against impersonators and scammers attempting to exploit our campaign’s goodwill.
- Lightning Network Donations: Contributions made through the Lightning Network are instantly processed to a Blink Wallet specifically tied to our campaign.
- On-chain Donations: Direct blockchain contributions are securely transferred to a non-custodial wallet, personally managed by Brindon, ensuring a transparent process without any intermediaries.
Commitment to Transparency and Security
We are deeply committed to ensuring the integrity and security of the donation process. Our collaborative approach, combining Bitcoin Kampala's financial oversight with Praia Bitcoin Brazil's technical expertise, guarantees a reliable and transparent crowdfunding campaign.
For any inquiries or further information, please do not hesitate to contact us directly through our official communication channels.
Donors
If you're a Bitcoin company or an individual donor, donating over 0.01 BTC, and would like to have your logo/avatar listed in the Donors section, please get in touch via bitcoinkampala@gmail.com after you make a donation, with an invoice or a transaction ID, and a logo/avatar in .png (200 x 200 px).
Special Thanks
