Uganda Rural Development and Training Institute (URDT-I) is a vocational training institution based in Kagadi District. It was established in 1993 to deliver vocational skills and youth leadership development using the Visionary Approach to training to lead to a critical mass of all-round male and female young entrepreneurs who have integrity and the capacity to improve their economic situation, become responsible citizens, and contribute to the national development agenda. The institute is registered with the Ministry of Education and Sports as a Vocational Training Institution.
Uganda Rural Development and Training Institute partnered with the Mastercard Foundation in 2020 to skill a total of 70,000 young people in vocational and soft skills for 5 years. 70% of these being female,30% refugees,5% PWDs targeting 80% to transition in self-employment and 20% as young people with employable skills.
Baguma Farouk one of URDT-I’s graduates interacting with Ismail Banduga from MCF during a monitoring field visit in Bundibugyo district
To date, a total of 70,000 young people has been skilled under the Satellite Approach in 20 districts and four Refugee settlements, Where, 43,550 are female,1,763 are young people with disability, 11,910 are young refugees. Of these, a total of 42,208 have transitioned to work. A total of 703 learning centres of excellence have been established in communities and these are community owned, managed and supervised.
Through the Satellite Approach, young entrepreneurs have exchanged new business ideas, networked and learnt new marketing skills, three graduation ceremonies for program graduates trained have been conducted,70,000 youth have been assessed by Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), over 700 trainers have been certified with Worker’s PAS (Practically Acquired Skills), over 300 best entrepreneurs have been awarded with a total of five million shillings to boast and grow their business, URDT-I’s visibility has been strengthened through strategic partnership with the local government.
