Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, founder of the Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme (URDT) and Vice Chancellor of the African Rural University (ARU), has been honoured with the Vice Chancellor of the Year Award by the London School of Digital Business (LSDB-UK).
The prestigious recognition was conferred during the LEAP 2025 – LSDB Educational Awards Programme, held on September 24 at the LSDB campus in London and streamed virtually to nominees across the globe. The awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the education sector, recognising outstanding academicians, pioneers, rising stars, and change-makers who are redefining the future of learning.
Dr. Musheshe co-founded URDT in 1987 with a vision-driven, value-based approach to community development, helping to empower rural communities through education and transformative projects. Building on this success, he later established the African Rural University, where as Vice Chancellor he has championed practical and contextual education through programmes such as the “Technologies for Rural Transformation” degree. ARU has gained international recognition, including a UNESCO award, for empowering women and preparing graduates to drive community transformation.
For decades, Dr. Musheshe has been celebrated for his visionary leadership in higher education, inspiring students in Uganda and across Africa with a model that integrates value-based learning, digital skills, and community engagement. His work continues to equip a new generation of leaders with the knowledge and mindset needed to foster sustainable development.
According to Dr. Mwalimu, this milestone is a result of the endless efforts of URDT and African Rural University staff, who have worked tirelessly to achieve this success. “It’s our responsibility to maintain the legacy of URDT/ARU, and we must ensure that these efforts continue effectively. I can confidently say we are on the right track,” he said.
He further noted that URDT/ARU has uniquely implemented practical approaches to developing rural communities in Uganda, making it worthy of recognition due to its impact on the community.
Other categories recognised at the LSDB Educational Awards included Woman in Leadership, Registrar of the Year, Excellence in Vocational Training, Entrepreneur of the Year, Outstanding Institute of Academic Excellence, Young Researcher of the Year, and many more, highlighting diverse contributions to global education.
