URDT Institute

URDT Institute URDT Institute is a vocational training institution based in Kagadi District.

It was established in 1993 to deliver vocational skills and youth leadership development using a Visionary Approach to training

URDT Institute is set to commence the skilling of young women this week across 20 districts and four refugee settlements...
02/03/2026

URDT Institute is set to commence the skilling of young women this week across 20 districts and four refugee settlements. The initiative follows the successful verification of training centers, artisans, and participating young women across various occupations.

The training is being conducted under the SIYEP program, a women-focused initiative through which URDT Institute will build the capacity of 50,000 young women aged 15–35 years by 2030. The program targets inclusive participation, with 7% refugees and 5% differently abled young women. Participants will be equipped with both soft and hard skills to support their transition into dignified and fulfilling work, including linkages to existing government and financial opportunities as well as market access.

In the first year, the program aims to train 5,000 young women across 545 training centers using a satellite model of skilling. The training emphasizes value addition and the integration of ICT to enable participants to compete effectively in an increasingly technology-driven economy.

The second year of implementation will begin in June 2026 and will target a significantly larger number of young women compared to the first year.



URDT Institute has finalized the verification of training centers, artisans, and young women who will participate in the...
26/02/2026

URDT Institute has finalized the verification of training centers, artisans, and young women who will participate in the first Year 1 cohort of the SIYEP program.

Last year, URDT Institute, together with six other organizations, partnered with the Mastercard Foundation and joined the SIYEP program under a consortium led by AFARD to skill over 200,000 young women across Uganda.

URDT Institute is mandated to skill 50,000 young women across 20 districts and four refugee settlements over five years.

The verification exercise was conducted to confirm the activity and readiness of the training centers to begin the program. Training will commence in March 2026, equipping young women with both soft and hard skills.

Day one of the pause and reflection meeting for member partners at the head offices of Agency For Accelerated Regional D...
19/02/2026

Day one of the pause and reflection meeting for member partners at the head offices of Agency For Accelerated Regional Development (AFARD) in Nebbi District was successfully completed last evening. The sessions reflected on the dissemination of the labor market and livelihood assessment report, the baseline report, and finance and procurement performance.

It's remembered that URDT Institute in partnership with Mastercard Foundation is implementing the Sustainable Inclusive Youth Employment Pathways (SIYEP) program from 2025 to 2030. The program is being implemented in a consortium arrangement, led by Agency For Accelerated Regional Development (AFARD), together with other 6 partners under the Young Africa Works Strategy.

Under this programme, URDT Institute is mandated to provide soft and hard skills training to 50,000 young women across 20 districts and four refugee settlements.

The engagement focused on reviewing partner performance for the reported quarters, advancing the Year Two Schedule C rollout, and consolidating feedback and clarification questions. A financial performance snapshot was also presented, and key risks were identified and documented.

The project manager at URDT Institute, AKINYI PRILLA, acknowledged the support from the lead partner Mastercard Foundation. She went ahead to explain the URDT-I's Satellite Approach to skilling that involves training young women in community based training centers (workshops and farms) owned and managed by Artisans/Agribusiness Practitioners. She also presented the progress of implementing the Year 1 planned activities.











Strengthening Inclusive, Ethical, and Accountable Program ImplementationOn 10th February 2026, URDT Institute hosted a V...
10/02/2026

Strengthening Inclusive, Ethical, and Accountable Program Implementation

On 10th February 2026, URDT Institute hosted a Validation Workshop on Gender, Safeguarding, and Accessibility Audit Analysis at its main campus, bringing together teams from URDT Institute, the Agency for Accelerated Regional Development (AFARD), and the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU).

The engagement focused on validating findings from previous accessibility assessments, identifying and prioritizing key disability inclusion gaps, and developing a practical, time-bound action plan with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

The workshop also reviewed and refined the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the placement of Disability Inclusion Facilitators (DIFs) at URDT Institute, strengthened partner coordination and ownership, and established partner-level committees to champion disability inclusion.

Participants were reminded to scale proven implementation models while fully complying with the CF Safeguarding Code of Conduct, with zero tolerance for non-compliance and a strong emphasis on the protection and ethical engagement of young women. In addition, partners emphasized transparent, community-based selection committees, standardized tools, strengthened documentation, and community-level sensitization to ensure accountable, inclusive, and equitable program delivery for all youth, including the most marginalized

70 Young People Complete Computer Skills Training at URDT InstituteA total of 70 young people has successfully completed...
10/02/2026

70 Young People Complete Computer Skills Training at URDT Institute

A total of 70 young people has successfully completed a two-month short course in
hashtag
skills at the URDT Institute, marking a significant milestone in youth skills development in the region.
The training, conducted at URDT campuses in Kagadi Town, equipped participants with practical skills in Microsoft programs, internet use, artificial intelligence (AI), as well as hardware and software maintenance. The program targeted young people, many of whom used their school holidays to gain relevant digital skills.
Among the beneficiaries was Juliet Kansiime, a 16-year-old student of Fountain of Hope Secondary School, who enrolled after hearing a radio announcement on KKCR FM about the free computer skills course.
“I decided to join the training to expand my understanding of computers,” Kansiime said. “I was trained in hardware and software maintenance, Microsoft programs, internet use, and AI. These skills have greatly improved my computer expertise.”
After completing the course, Kansiime can now confidently use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and other applications for research and academic work. She is also skilled in Microsoft Access and PowerPoint, which she says will support her studies and research.
“Only URDT can do this for young people in this region,” she added, applauding the URDT Institute management, particularly Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, for supporting the girl child and empowering youth through skills development.
Kansiime and many other graduates expressed commitment to sharing information about the program with their peers to encourage wider enrolment and participation in future cohorts.
According to Edward Arua, the lead facilitator of the short course, 40 of the 70 trainees were young women, drawn from various primary and secondary schools across Uganda.
“The skills we provided are intended to equip young people with basic knowledge to navigate the fast-growing digital world,” Arua explained. “They can now conduct research, manage technology-related projects, and use these skills to earn a living.”
Robert Katabazi, the Director of Education and Training at URDT, noted that the training aligns with URDT’s mission of enabling young people to access dignified work.
He encouraged the facilitators to apply the two-generations approach, which involves actively engaging parents in the training and ongoing support of young people. He noted that this could be implemented in the next cohort to enable parents to better understand, guide, and support their children’s development initiatives.
In his remarks, Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe the chairman board of URDT Institute commended the resilience and commitment demonstrated by the young people throughout the training period. He encouraged the administration to organize the trainees to consistently participate in morning Foundation Courses.


URDT Institute has engaged district stakeholders and artisans/agribusiness practitioners from Rwenzori sub region, as we...
31/01/2026

URDT Institute has engaged district stakeholders and artisans/agribusiness practitioners from Rwenzori sub region, as well as leaders and artisans from Rwamwanja and Kyaka II Refugee Settlements, to reflect on lessons from the previous project and officially introduce the Sustainable Inclusive Youth Employment Pathways (SIYEP) Program
URDT-I is implementing a five-year skilling program targeting 50,000 young women aged 18–35 across 20 districts and four refugee settlements. Implemented under the Young Africa Works Strategy, the SIYEP Program focuses on preparing and transitioning young women into dignified and sustainable employment through inclusive, market-relevant, and quality skills development.
Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, Founder of URDT Institute and Chairperson of the Board, recognized district leaders, technocrats, and artisans/agribusiness practitioners as key partners in ensuring program ownership, quality delivery, and long-term sustainability. He reaffirmed URDT-I’s commitment to continued engagement in 24 districts and four refugee settlements and to strengthening partnerships with artisans it has previously worked with.
The meeting highlighted positive trends in youth employment and strong commitments from district technical staff to support program implementation, monitoring, and supervision. District officials also pledged to link young women to relevant government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP).
The SIYEP Program will prioritize the mandatory integration of ICT in training through e-learning and digital marketing. It will focus on non-traditional, gender-non-defined occupations, value addition, design and technology, mindset change, and safeguarding to ensure the safety and empowerment of young women.
District technical staff appreciated URDT-I’s continued support and the introduction of the SIYEP Program in the same localities. The program will further strengthen collaboration among artisans, engage local leaders and families, promote group formation and savings, and enhance partnerships with other actors to ensure steady and sustainable progress.
They have also expressed their readiness by upgrading and developing their training centers to meet the recommended standards and are eager to incorporate ICT and technology into their training programs

NOTICE ⚠️ URDT Institute is seeking passionate, skilled, and committed professionals with strong expertise in Disability...
19/01/2026

NOTICE ⚠️ URDT Institute is seeking passionate, skilled, and committed professionals with strong expertise in Disability inclusion and Internal Auditing to join the SIYEP team.
Send your CV on [email protected]
or find us on urdtinstitute.ac.ug

Happy new year 2026 to you all mostly the Youth. URDT Institute wishes you the best in this coming year
31/12/2025

Happy new year 2026 to you all mostly the Youth. URDT Institute wishes you the best in this coming year

URDT Institute (URDT-I) is implementing the Sustainable Inclusive Employment Pathways (SIYEP) Program (2025–2030), a fiv...
08/12/2025

URDT Institute (URDT-I) is implementing the Sustainable Inclusive Employment Pathways (SIYEP) Program (2025–2030), a five-year transformative initiative under a consortium of seven partners led by the Agency For Accelerated Regional Development (AFARD).
Designed to advance gender-inclusive economic development, the SIYEP Program focuses on empowering rural, disadvantaged young women with market-relevant technical, vocational, entrepreneurship, and soft skills, positioning them for meaningful participation in the labor market.
URDT-I will train 50,000 young women, including 7% refugees and 5% young women with disabilities, using innovative approaches such as community-based training and the Satellite Model.
Through targeted skills development, business support services, and improved access to capital and market information, the Institute aims to transition 45,000 participants into work and support 35,000 to secure dignified and fulfilling employment.
The program’s sustainability strategy anticipates that 90% of participants will engage in self-employment, while 10% will access wage employment, contributing to long-term resilience, income growth, and enhanced agency for young women across rural Uganda.

On this Day, URDT reaffirms its commitment to creating a healthy, informed, and empowered society. We continue to promot...
01/12/2025

On this Day, URDT reaffirms its commitment to creating a healthy, informed, and empowered society. We continue to promote awareness, prevention, testing, and support for all. Together, we can end stigma, save lives, and build a future where every person has access to the health and dignity they deserve

The URDT Institute, in partnership with the Kyegegwa District Local Government, with support from the United Nations Dev...
28/11/2025

The URDT Institute, in partnership with the Kyegegwa District Local Government, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU) through the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development under the Spotlight Initiative, on 8th September distributed push-up kits worth over UGX 10 million to five youth groups in Kyegegwa District. The distribution was conducted under the project “Skilling and Empowering Youth, Women, and Victims of GBV and HIV in Kyegegwa District”. Using the satellite training approach and leveraging local artisans and agribusiness practitioners, URDT Institute is equipping young women and men with market-relevant vocational and soft/employable skills to enable them to access decent jobs

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