Uganda Rural Development and Training Institute has intensified efforts to strengthen the involvement of district and refugee settlement stakeholders in increasing the participation of young women in its skilling program through equipping District Commercial Officers with the URDT Methodology, also known as the Visionary Approach, and financial literacy.
A training workshop held on 21st April 2026 in the Centre for Reflection, at URDT campus in Kagadi district, brought together 20 District Commercial Officers, four commandants from four refugee settlements, representatives from three financial institutions including Pride Microfinance, Centenary Bank, and ENCOT Microfinance, as well as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Kagadi District.
URDT Institute, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and in a consortium of seven partners led by Agency for Accelerated Regional Development (AFARD), is implementing the Sustainable Inclusive Youth Employment Pathways (SIYEP) Program across 20 districts and four refugee settlements. The program aims to build the capacity of 50,000 young women aged 18–35 with both soft and hard technologies that will enable them to transition into dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.
Speaking during the opening session, the Chairman of the URDT Institute Board, Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, emphasized mindset change as one of the key pillars for enabling communities to choose the life they truly want. He noted that collaboration and collective action are essential in creating meaningful transformation within communities.
“There is a need for all stakeholders to work together in creating lasting change for our communities. Mindset change is central because people must first believe they can shape their own future,” he said.
Dr. Musheshe also encouraged participants to carefully shape the language they use while mobilizing communities to participate in development programs. He stressed the importance of helping communities understand that although many programs are designed by government and development partners, true ownership must remain with the people themselves.
He further explained that the increasing school dropout rates, partly generated by limitations within the previous education system, prompted URDT to focus on young women who dropped out of primary or secondary school, those who completed school but failed to secure employment, and others unemployed for various reasons.
He added that involving District Commercial Officers was a strategic decision aimed at strengthening partnerships with local governments so that they can jointly design and implement programs that transform the lives of young women in communities.
The workshop also featured an introduction to the Visionary Approach by Mr. John Tusiime, Head of Community Engagement at African Rural University, who oriented participants on the methodology designed to empower individuals and communities to define clear life goals and become creators of their desired future.
He explained that the approach focuses on vision creation, mindset transformation, financial discipline, and practical business management skills, enabling young women to build sustainable enterprises and actively participate in economic opportunities within their communities.
“The Visionary Approach was designed to help rural communities move from reacting to circumstances to intentionally creating the future they want. It has already equipped thousands of youth and community members with practical skills in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and income generation,” Tusiime said.
Participants described the training as timely, especially as many young women are nearing completion of their three-month skilling programs. Some district officials shared testimonies of supporting youth groups previously trained by URDT Institute and pledged to deepen their involvement by linking young women to financial services and entrepreneurship support.
They noted that the Visionary Approach had awakened a renewed sense of responsibility and optimism, expressing confidence that they would implement the knowledge gained to advance district development and improve the livelihoods of young women across their communities.
