25 startups to benefit from UGX 500M MTN Changemakers Initiative

MTN Uganda’s corporate social responsibility arm, MTN Foundation has selected 25 projects for the inaugural MTN Changemakers Initiative.

This initiative, designed to create a lasting impact on the lives of millions in Uganda focusing on youth, women, persons with disabilities, and communities in need, aligns with the company’s 25-year celebration of transforming Uganda’s communities.

MTN Foundation has committed UGX 500 million to these selected projects, aligning with its core focus areas of economic empowerment, education, health, water, and the environment.

The 25 projects span five sub-regions, ensuring widespread support and positive change across the country: Northern Sub-region (West Nile, Lango, Acholi, and Karamoja); Eastern Sub-region (Busoga, Teso, Bugisu, and Bukedea); Greater Central Sub-region (Luwero, Mpigi, Masaka, and Mukono); Central Sub-region (mainly Kampala); and the Western sub-region (Kigezi, Bunyoro, Ankole, and Tooro).

Ms. Sylvia Mulinge, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Uganda, congratulated the winners for their outstanding proposals, emphasizing their potential to positively transform their communities.

“We, at MTN, believe that Ugandans are doers, and their actions inspire us. Therefore, extending our support to them will enable them to exceed their expectations and realize their dreams for the betterment of their communities,” she said.

Ms. Mulinge also extended congratulations to all applicants, highlighting MTN’s commitment to supporting entities dedicated to community transformation.

She emphasized MTN’s commitment to improving the lives of communities, recognizing that a transformed community significantly contributes to the country’s economic growth and development.

Ms. Mulinge expressed MTN’s openness to further partnerships with various organizations to realize community goals and dreams.

Brian Mbasa, Senior Manager at MTN Foundation, provided details on the project implementation timeline.

“The project will run from 1st November, 2023 to 31st December, 2023. Following this, we will profile the implemented projects in the first quarter of 2024,” he said.

Ashiraf Komoire, the founder of Skool Bike, expressed his excitement about the support from MTN, which will significantly contribute to the expansion of their bike rental initiative for students.

“Presently, we have a fleet of seven bikes available for rent, primarily serving students from Kololo Secondary School at a rate of Shs2,000 per day. With the support from MTN, we are enthusiastic about broadening our services to benefit more students who have to trek long distances to school,” Komoire stated.

Launched in July, the MTN Changemakers Initiative aims to empower local individuals and organizations committed to making a profound difference in their communities.

Over the past decade, MTN Foundation has invested UGX 30 billion in over 250 projects across various focus areas, including health, education, water and sanitation, and youth empowerment, changing lives and making communities stronger nationwide.

MTN Change Makers beneficiaries 

SN	Changemakers	Project	Thematic Area	Location
1	Kololo Senior Secondary School	Skool Bike Uganda	Education/ Youth Empowerment	Kampala
2	Primetime Students Development Services	Prime-Time	Youth Empowerment	Kampala
3	Faces Up Uganda	Skills for Now and the Future	Youth Empowerment	Kampala
4	Special Children’s trust	Equipping Down Children’s centre	Health	Kampala
5	Mokindye – Mosojjo Village	Cleon water supply	Water and sanitation	Kampala
6	Rotary Club of Kampala West	Nokisungo WASH Project	Water and sanitation	Mukono
7	Bego-kwo-bego	BKB Water, Sanitation	Water and sanitation	Wokiso
8	Nottingham Trent Skilling Centre	Tusitukire Womu Dev Ass	Youth Empowerment	Wokiso
9	Gejjo women Foundation	Menstrual Hygiene management	Health	Mpigi
10	Rotaract Club of Masako	Masako prison Literacy project	Youth Empowerment	Masako
11	ST Joseph’s AID society	Beds For Vulnerable Children	Education	Kyankwonzi
12	Nob Twetungire group	Skilling women in Tailoring	Youth Empowerment	Mbararo
13	Nyakobale Lower Deaf Unit	Skilling pupils in Tailoring	Youth Empowerment	Rukungiri
14	Blessed Damion Sec School	Water Harvesting	Water and Sanitation	Masindi
15	Sauls Rescue Mission Uganda	Safe Water for a Safe Community	Water and sanitation	Kyegegwa
16	Okarowok clean and safe drinking water	Borehole for safe drinking water.	Water and sanitation	Oyam
17	Safe Water Uganda	Improving the available water spring wells to protected pipe wells	Water and sanitation	Gulu
18	Tocau Karamojo	Provision of ICT facilities	Youth Empowerment	Nabilotuk
19	Lions Club of Nebbi	Renovation of the Erussi secondary school girls’ dormitory	Youth Empowerment	Nebbi
20	Community Development Shield Uganda	Increase access to safe water and basic sanitation by empowering local communities	Water and sanitation	Kole
21	Teach for Uganda	Construction of a borehole at Kalagala Primary School	Water and sanitation	Mayuge
22	Heta vocational grounds	Heta vocational grounds	Youth Empowerment	Jinja
23	Beautiful periods	Beautiful periods	Youth Empowerment	Nomutumba
24	Kolamugosi women empowerment	Kolamugosi women empowerment	Youth Empowerment	Sironko
25	Olwenyi Brion Community Foundation	Making lives better	Youth Empowerment	Tororo