Mastercard Foundation Board pays visit to Uganda Rural Development and Training Institute.

On Monday, 16^th June 2025, a distinguished delegation from the Mastercard Foundation Board visited Uganda Rural Development and Training Institute (URDT-I) under the Skilling Youth for Entrepreneurship and Dignified Employment Program in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement. The visit underscored the progress achieved through the partnership and its positive impact on the Settlement, URDT and Uganda over the past five years. The delegation was welcomed to the Settlement by the Settlement Commandant, Ms. Chali Thopius; UNHCR focal person, Mr. Kodjo Koumou Ketevi; Refugee Desk Officer, Ms. Kebirungi Jolly; Deputy RDC for Kikuube District Local Government; Mr. Peter Bisoborwa, Founder and Vice Chancellor, Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme (URDT) and African Rural University (ARU), Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe; the Project Manager, Skilling Youth for Entrepreneurship and Dignified Employment program, Ms. Akinyi Prillah; the Epicentre Manager also a graduate of ARU, Ms. Nansimbi Mary Gorret and representatives from Mastercard Foundation partners including; War Child Canada and GOAL Uganda

The high profiled delegation was led by Ms. Reeta Roy, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Mastercard Foundation and Mr. Gilbert Engulu, Program Agriculture Partner (Uganda).

The visitation kick started with a stakeholder engagement meeting at OPM Boardroom where the Camp Commandant, Ms. Chali Thopius gave an overview of the settlement and the impact of the Skilling Youth for Entrepreneurship and Dignified Employment project under Young Africa Works Strategy where a total of 3,985(2,644F, 1,341M); and a total of 2,401 youth are in work.

Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe also welcomed the visiting team and shared about the overview of URDT-I under the Satellite Approach in the 20 districts and 04 refugee settlement where the skilling project is being implemented.

Muhoya Lumbu gifting one of the delegates at his carpentry workshop in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement

Thereafter, the team visited a graduate of URDT-I; Mr. Lumbu Muhoya, the CEO of Kazi pa Kazi carpentry workshop who gifted the Mastercard Foundation team members with souvenirs. The visit of the Mastercard Foundation board team is a testament of the strengthened partnership between the Foundation and her partners and the commitment and resilience to enable 30 million young people into Dignified work by 2030.