The URDT Institute overall riding philosophy, mission and vision are based on the foundation of the mother institution Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme (URDT) presented below;

URDT-I believes in a visionary approach using a creative process. According to the philosophy:

1. Using the creative rather than the responsive orientation in the development process can bring about lasting change. In the latter, people react or adapt to circumstances. Often, the level of emotions determine action. On the other hand, in the creative orientation, the aspirations or visions one holds are the motivating force behind change; young people create their own circumstances through consciously taking action to realize that which truly matters to them.
2. In the context of popular participation, URDT-I mobilizes young people at the individual or collective levels to look at what they want to create for themselves, analyze the processes, think through the processes which will enable them to attain their goals, and commit themselves to work together irrespective of their differences and evaluate the impact of their actions.