URDT

Co-Founders

Mwalimu Musheshe, Sr., Chairman & CEO
Mwalimu was raised in a rustic village and has been a social activist since youth. Early on, Musheshe recognized the importance of education for himself, and the need for agricultural training for subsistence farmers. His pursuit of education was interrupted many times by political conflict. Finally, he achieved a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Engineering from Makerere University in 1983. Then he studied leadership and strategic planning in the United States and Canada. More recently, he received his MSc in Development Management from The Open University, U.K.

In 1987, Musheshe became the Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Uganda Rural Development and Training. Recognized as a visionary and selfless leader, Musheshe is an Ashoka Fellow. He is on the Board of Directors of the National Environment Management Authority of Uganda, and is Chair of the Hunger Project, Uganda Chapter, and Chair of the East Africa Community Project.

Silvana F. Veltkamp
Silvana Franco Veltkamp was born in North Africa, Tunis, and raised in Italy. In her teens, Silvana spent a year living and studying in Mogadishu, Somalia. This experience cemented her love and concern for Africa, thus giving rise to her lifelong commitment to its people.

Veltkamp worked for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome and Beirut. In the U.S., she founded Educational Resources Associates, Inc.

In 1981, with her husband, Johan, and Eustace Rutiba, Silvana co-founded the African Food and Peace Foundation. In 1987, she co-founded the Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme with Musheshe and Rutaboba. Silvana served as Executive Director of the African Food and Peace Foundation from its inception in 1981 until 1997, when she left the U.S. to return to Italy. Now Silvana serves on the Board of Directors of the Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme.

Ephrem Rutaboba
Ephrem Rutaboba was Technical Officer for Uganda Food and Peace Project, forerunner to URDT. He was responsible for water supply and sanitation programmes, construction of houses and roads, and the maintenance of organizational vehicles. When URDT became a reality, Ephrem became their Technical Officer from 1988 to 1992, and then Programmes Administrator from 1992 to 1997, responsible for community mobilization and training, construction of the URDT Institute, water supply, sanitation, health, agriculture, training and the financial management of the organization.

Rutaboba is now an entrepreneur serving development in Rwanda and continues on the Board of Directors of Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme.

Staff

Jacqueline Akello, IDP Co-Coordinator
Jacqueline joined URDT in 2003. She is a graduate of the Political Science & Social Administration programme at Makerere University. She holds a postgraduate diploma in Computer Science. Previously, Jacqueline worked as a Research Supervisor for K2-Research in charge of Northern Region - Uganda for two years, and volunteered in the women empowerment struggles with ISIS-WICCE and Action For Development. She said, "The main purpose of the IDP programme is to enhance URDT's own organizational capacity by creating a learning environment resulting in improved delivery of services."

Annette Businge, Head of Appropriate Technologies
Annette is the head of the Appropriate Technologies team. She said, "We have continued to increase our knowledge and skills in the areas of technology, gender and development for trainers and we have rolled out this training to Girls' School teachers, Functional Adult Literacy instructors and Community-Based Technicians."

Odembos Maloba, Human Rights Officer
Odembos joined URDT in 2001 as the Human Rights Officer. Before this time he studied Mass Communications at the universities of Nairobi and Berlin and trained in human rights at the International Law Institute of Uganda in 2000.

Richard Kisembo, Acting Principal, URDT Institute
Richard is in his second year as acting principal of the URDT Institute. Reflecting on 2004 he said, "The Institute continues to increase its student numbers - particularly in journalism, with secretarial studies continuing to be the most popular course."

Anthony Lwanga, KKCR Programme Manager
Anthony joined URDT in 1997 as a documentalist. He has also worked in the URDT Resource Centre & Library. In 2000, when KKCR was launched, he took on the role of Programme Manager. Anthony also played an important role in establishing the Girls' School "Knowledge is Power" programme and the Rural Communication Development Programme, which continues today as KKCR. Anthony said, "The essence of community radio is to give the local people a voice, influence decision-makers, create awareness of their rights/place in society and improve their standards of living. Participation of the people in KKCR programming has contributed to achievements in the district."

Rhene Nanziri, Microcredit Programme Officer

Janet Nyamahunge, Head Teacher, Girls' School (Secondary)
Janet is the Head Teacher at the URDT Girls' School (secondary level). She holds a diploma in secondary education from Nkozi National Teachers College. To Janet, girls' education is the key, as she asserts, "You educate a girl, you have educated the nation."

John Tusiime, URDT Co-Coordinator
John joined URDT in 1995 as a Natural Resources Management Officer in the agriculture department. He has been the URDT Co-Coordinator since 1997. He has been a contact person for Kyakabugahya Village, an opinion leader for Kagadi Sub-County and a Council Member of Kagadi Sub-County Technical Committee.

Joseph Musse Wasibi, Land Rights Officer
Joseph first joined URDT in 1996 as an Agriculture extension officer. From 1998 to 2000 he was the coordinator of the NNDP programme. In February 2000 he was seconded to head the Land Rights Office of the Uganda Land Alliance in Kagadi. He is an executive member of the ULA board.

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