How We Are Funded
Diversity and Transparency of Funding
The Debunk Media Initiative is run by a dedicated team of fact-checkers committed to fighting the spread of fake news.
Debunk Media Initiative is a non-profit organisation, based in Kampala, Uganda, and registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee under registration number 80020003378899. As a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) and its Code of Principles, Debunk Media Initiative is committed to being transparent about our funding.
Our Journey and Funding Milestones
Initially launched as a Kickstarter initiative by a team of five Media Challenge Initiative Fellows during the Covid-19 pandemic, Debunk pivoted to become the first-ever fact-checking organisation in Uganda on November 22, 2021. We launched Debunk in 2021 with just one funder, the Digital Human Rights Lab, after winning the Digital Human Rights Lab’s Innovation Program. This program funded the development of the Debunk Fact-Checking Bot prototype.
Since then, our commitment has been to build a strong financial structure and increase our financial supporters. In 2022, we won the Innovators’ in Residence program, which provided 100% revenue and enabled us to set up the necessary organisational structures. With these structures in place, we have been able to roll out the fact-checking bot, conduct fact-checking training in different universities, and translate fact-checks into at least three local languages.
In 2023, we successfully obtained funding from Africa Check as part of the Google News Initiative. We ensure that funders have no influence over the conclusions we reach in our fact-checks. Our work is independent of any financial support that we receive, and the funders do not interfere with our operations.
Our Support Network
Our work is further supported by the MCI Media Hub, a collaborative space that supports disruptive media innovators with an enabling environment to accelerate ideas and solutions for journalism.
Our Funders Since 2020
We are grateful to all our supporters who have contributed to our growth and impact. Below is a breakdown of our income by year since 2020:
Note: The income breakdown chart or table will be added here once available.
