MTN invests sh500m in third phase of Changemakers Initiative
Speaking at the launch in Kampala, Sylvia ElSheikh, the chief marketing officer at MTN said the Foundation’s aim is to strengthen communities through people-centred innovation.
MTN chief marketing officer, Sylvia El Sheikh (wearing a veil), joins past beneficiaries and MTN staff during the launch of MTN Changemakers Phase III in Kampala.
KAMPALA - MTN has launched the third phase of its Changemakers Initiative, committing sh500m to support 25 new community projects across the country.
The initiative, run under the MTN Foundation, funds grassroots innovations tackling challenges in education, health, water and environment, and economic empowerment.
Speaking at the launch in Kampala, Sylvia ElSheikh, the chief marketing officer at MTN said the Foundation’s aim is to strengthen communities through people-centred innovation.
“The Changemakers Initiative reminds us that hope, compassion and action can truly change the world. Technology is only meaningful when it improves lives. That’s why MTN is investing in people and communities who are using creativity and innovation to solve local challenges. This next phase is about walking with Uganda’s unsung heroes and amplifying their impact,” she said.
Since its inception, the Changemakers Initiative has supported 50 community projects, reaching more than 165,000 people across Uganda’s five sub-regions.
During the second phase, MTN received over 2,400 applications, of which 295 met the evaluation criteria and 25 were selected for funding between October 2024 and March 2025.
MTN chief marketing officer, Sylvia ElSheikh, speaking during the lunch of MTN Changemakers Phase III in Kampala.
Past projects have included education programmes for vulnerable children, clean water systems for rural households, and youth-led environmental initiatives.
George Egaddu, chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the MTN Foundation Uganda, said the initiative has shown that Uganda’s greatest strength lies in its people.
“We have met individuals and community groups who, despite limited means, are solving local problems with courage and innovation. They are the true changemakers who remind us that small ideas, when nurtured, can deliver extraordinary impact,” he said.
Egaddu said that the Foundation’s work aligns with MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Applications for Changemakers Phase III are now open. Ugandans with community projects can apply via MTN Uganda website.