This year, Mbarara University is blessed to have two of her alumni selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship and Alumni Enrichment Institute (AEI) Programs 2022 and these include Mr. Ronard Tushabe and Ms. Joana Ankunda.
Mr. Ronard Tushabe is among 25 Mandela Washington Fellows from 17 African countries hosted at University of Notre Dame in Indiana State, United States of America in Leadership in Business Track.
As part of this program, Ronard Tushabe and other fellows were equipped with skills in design thinking, social entrepreneurship, business modeling and planning, strategic leadership and personal and professional branding, as well as applying foresight and innovation. Already successful business leaders in their own right, the Mandela Washington Fellows return to their home countries to use their new skills in leading organizations, communities and countries.
Ronard Tushabe has over four years of experience in technology, innovation, and business incubation. Currently, he is founder and Executive Director at Empower Youth in Technology, where he focuses on empowering young people in Uganda to identify ideas and develop sustainable innovative businesses. Ronard joined Mbarara University of Science and Technology in 2013 and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Computer Engineering. He is a 2021 Techpreneur of the Year Africa under 30 Award winner, a 2020 Young African Leaders Initiative Transformation Grant winner, and a 2018 Funds for Internet Research and Education Africa Grant winner and 2019 Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) fellow.
Ms. Joanna Ankunda is a 2021 Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni and among 7 Ugandans selected for Alumni Enrichment Institute program. She successfully completed the 2021 Virtual Fellowship and will now participate in the in-person Alumni Enrichment Institutes in the United States from July 2022 until August 2022. The program will include opportunities to network with their peers, meet U.S. citizens from a variety of backgrounds, and to participate in cultural engagement and community service activities.
Ms. Joana joined Mbarara University of Science and Technology in 2013 and graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Gender and Women Health.
Joanna Atukunda is a social worker who is passionate about Leadership, Quality Education and Health. Joanna is the Founder and Leader of UPLIFT SLUM-AFRIKA, a non-profit organization that is aimed at equipping youth and young adolescents in slum dwellings with comprehensive knowledge on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Quality Education. Joanna is a proud YALI/Regional Leadership Centre Alumni and a Mandela Washington Fellow 2021. She was recognized by New Vision in 2022 among 20/40 young people transforming communities. Joanna Atukunda is attached to Drexel University for Leadership in Public Management.
Mandela Washington Fellowship Overview
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the U.S. Government. Since 2014, nearly 5,100 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Fellowship. The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished leaders and have established records of promoting innovation and positive impact in their communities and countries.
During the Fellowship, the Fellows participate in six-week Leadership Institutes, studying Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management hosted by U.S. colleges or universities. Throughout the Institutes, Fellows enrich local U.S. communities while sharing best practices.
Congratulations to both our alumni for holding the MUST flag high, we wish you all the best in your career path.