KAMPALA, June 29, 2026 — The Uhuru Institute for Social Development [TUI] has commenced orientation for graduate volunteers placed under its institutions by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development [MGLSD] through the National Apprenticeship Programme [NAP], an initiative aimed at equipping educated young people with practical skills required in the job market.
The orientation exercise, which began on 22 June 2026, is being conducted across various enterprises under the organisation, which works with cooperatives in Uganda and beyond.
During the sessions, volunteers were introduced to the objectives of the NAP, workplace expectations, and the skills they are expected to acquire during their placement.
The orientation opened with remarks from the organisation’s Administrator, Hellen Nabwire, who welcomed the graduate volunteers and guided them through administrative procedures, institutional rules and regulations, workplace ethics, and the organisational structure.
“You do not need to know anyone in a particular office to ask for help if you need anything,” Nabwire told the volunteers, pledging her department’s support to help them settle into the organisation based in Naguru, Kampala.
Charity Byarugaba, Learning and Business Development Officer at the Institute’s SkillCoop Academy, also addressed the volunteers. She outlined the Institute’s vision and mission and introduced them to the core cooperative values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity.
The volunteers were further oriented on cooperative principles, including voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training and information, cooperation among cooperatives, and concern for community.
Byarugaba also highlighted The Uhuru Institute’s partnerships with cooperatives across the country, citing initiatives such as the distribution of research publications on cooperative management and regional Training of Trainers [ToT] sessions.
Allan Muliisa Murungi, Credit Officer at Fanaka Finance Limited, another enterprise under The Uhuru Institute, informed the volunteers that the organisation provides impact-driven financial solutions to cooperatives and their members.
He explained that Fanaka Finance’s goal is to expand access to affordable financial services for integrated cooperative businesses by extending credit facilities to cooperatives and their members across the country.
The Institute’s Chief Executive Officer, Leonard Okello, also addressed the volunteers and provided a historical background of The Uhuru Institute, which was founded in June 2013 with the vision of creating “an enterprising, prosperous, peaceful, and happy society”.
Okello also briefed the graduates on the history of cooperatives in Uganda, noting that the first cooperative, Kinakulya Growers Cooperative Society Limited, was established in 1913 in Kiboga, Buganda, during the colonial period.
He explained that the name Kinakulya translates to: “We are finished if we do not wake up and work together through cooperation,” reflecting farmers’ determination to unite and pool resources in pursuit of fair trading conditions.
Okello noted that cooperatives played a significant role in Uganda’s struggle for independence and continue to contribute to economic growth. He cited global examples of successful cooperative models, including football clubs such as FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain, and Bayern Munich in Germany.
Following the orientation, graduate volunteers were deployed to various enterprises and departments, including Cooperator Media Limited, Fanaka Finance Limited, Coop360 Network, and the Library and Archives section, among others.
The volunteers expressed appreciation to The Uhuru Institute administration for introducing them to the institution and its work.
Kevin Emylin Nakyejwe, a library volunteer, thanked the Uhuru team for the warm reception and pledged to uphold professional ethics and comply with institutional regulations.
Kinene Steven, a journalism volunteer, said he appreciated the opportunity to better understand the Institute’s work and expressed enthusiasm about joining the team.
“I had only heard of The Uhuru Institute for Social Development before. I thought it was just another academic institution awarding diplomas and certificates in different professions,” he said.
The NAP at The Uhuru Institute will run for 12 months with support from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
The flagship initiative seeks to bridge the gap between fresh graduates and the labour market by providing structured, on-the-job training and volunteer placements in public institutions, civil society organisations, and the private sector. It targets unemployed and underemployed youth, as well as recent graduates.
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