Over 6,000 Ugandans benefit from the US Exchange Programmes
Blessing Owomugisha Immaculate, the president of the US Exchange Alumni Network in Uganda, said the network brings together Ugandans who have participated in fellowships, master's and PhD programmes, professional training and other exchange initiatives.
Owomugisha said Uganda has 13 major US exchange programmes targeting different age groups and professional categories. (Photos by Aloysious Kasoma)
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More than 6,000 Ugandans have benefited from US government-sponsored exchange programmes, gaining skills and international exposure that they have used to support development initiatives in their communities.
Blessing Owomugisha Immaculate, the president of the US Exchange Alumni Network in Uganda, said the network brings together Ugandans who have participated in fellowships, master's and PhD programmes, professional training and other exchange initiatives.
“The intention of us travelling is that they allow us to experience the better things that the US is doing and, when we come back in our communities, we can implement them and pay it forward,” Owomugisha told the New Vision on the sidelines of the Alumni Network Homecoming at Makerere University on Saturday.
She said alumni are now working across the public and private sectors, academia, business, health and education, applying knowledge acquired through the programmes.
Owomugisha said Uganda has 13 major US exchange programmes targeting different age groups and professional categories.
The programmes include the Youth Ambassador Fellowship (YAF), which targets secondary school students demonstrating leadership and community impact, and the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), which supports women interested in business.
At the university level, the Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI) provides emerging student leaders with international exposure and leadership training.
For young professionals, the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) offers leadership training, while the Mandela Washington Fellowship targets young African leaders involved in community development.
Other opportunities include the Fulbright programme for postgraduate studies and research, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship, Sports Visitors, Professional Fellows Programme and A-Lab for teachers.
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“These programmes identify people who are doing impactful things in the community and give them a different experience. When they return, they can do so many things in their communities,” Owomugisha said.
How to join US Programmes
Owomugisha urged Ugandans to regularly monitor official programme websites, social media platforms and the media for application calls.
She said most exchange opportunities are fully funded by the US government, although programmes have different eligibility requirements and application periods.
She also cited Education USA as another avenue for Ugandans seeking information and guidance on studying in the US through government-sponsored and private opportunities.
Scholarship opened doors for technology law
One of the beneficiaries, Joel Basoga, a lawyer and lecturer at Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono, said that the Fulbright scholarship was more than an opportunity to study in the United States. It gave him access to specialised knowledge that he has since applied in Uganda’s emerging technology and digital law sector.
Basoga, who is president of the Fulbright Alumni Network and a council member of the United States Exchange Alumni (USEA), was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue a master's degree in technology law at the University of Michigan in the United States between 2022 and 2023.
He said the scholarship covered the cost of his studies, which would otherwise have been beyond his means.
“My studies could have cost over $100,000 (over sh390m), which I could not afford. But when I went there, Fulbright allowed me to study with leading experts in the United States,” Basoga said.
He said the programme also enabled him to present his work in different parts of the US, including Washington and Texas, giving him exposure to experts and emerging developments in technology law.
“I got expertise in law, particularly in areas of technology law, which are very emerging. When I finished, I returned here in Uganda,” he said.
Since returning, Basoga has headed the technology practice at H&G Advocates, one of Uganda’s oldest law firms, while also teaching law at Uganda Christian University.
He said he has used the knowledge acquired through the programme to mentor students and advise clients on emerging areas such as data protection, privacy and competition law.
“I'm also a lecturer of law at Uganda Christian University. I have shared the ideas I got by mentoring students at the university. I guide them through these technical areas of privacy and technology law,” he said.
Basoga said his international exposure also contributed to his involvement in the development of Uganda's competition regulations.
“I was part of the people involved in the framing of the competition regulations of Uganda, only because of my expertise in the United States,” he said.
He encouraged Ugandans interested in exchange programmes to apply instead of disqualifying themselves because they believe they are not qualified.
“Sometimes people don't want to apply because they think they are not good enough. I always encourage people to apply. This opportunity can change your life,” Basoga said.
He said participants should also be prepared for cultural differences when travelling abroad, noting that adapting to a different environment can be an important part of the learning experience.
Basoga said exchange programmes are not limited to postgraduate scholarships, with opportunities available for entrepreneurs, students, emerging leaders and professionals.
He cited programmes such as the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, the Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI) and the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
“My advice is to interact with Fulbrighters. There are so many exchange programmes. It doesn't have to be that you're going for a master's degree,” he said.
“Apply and also reach out to us. What USEA does is to guide you. We are there to help you on this journey.”
Basoga said different programmes have different selection criteria. Fulbright, for example, supports master's and PhD studies as well as research, with academic performance being an important consideration.
Other programmes focus more on leadership and community impact.
“If you're the leader in your community, the leader at the university, a student leader, or you've helped people solve a problem, some of these fellowships will shed light on your work,” he said.
He said the value of exchange programmes goes beyond individual career advancement because participants return with knowledge and experiences that can be applied in Uganda.
“Uganda cannot exist on its own. By signing up for these exchange programmes, you learn from other countries that have done things differently, and then you can take those lessons and bring them back,” Basoga said.
Basoga, who has practised law for more than 10 years, said his experience demonstrates how international education can contribute to professional development while creating opportunities to mentor the next generation of Ugandan professionals.
Empowering the community
Another beneficiary, Solomon Serwanja, now the Chairperson of Bamutakudde Village in the Kyampisi and Nama sub-counties area of Mukono District, said he is focused on designing community projects around locally identified needs rather than imposing predetermined solutions, emphasising grassroots assessments, direct community involvement, and local groups responsible for project oversight and sustainability within the community.
Owomugisha said the impact of the programmes can be seen in communities across Uganda, with alumni involved in initiatives ranging from financial literacy and education to health, business and community development.
“Paying it forward has impacted millions and millions of Ugandans. People are running community organisations that are impacting very many people within the community,” she said.
She added that the alumni network has a database documenting beneficiaries of the programmes, allowing it to track their activities and contributions after returning to Uganda.
Geoffrey Martin Kitakule, the Governor of Rotary District 9213, emphasised that communities must be involved in project planning and implementation. They discussed local Rotary groups, community consultation, and the importance of understanding residents' needs before selecting interventions.
The alumni network's annual homecoming event provides an opportunity for returning participants to reconnect, share experiences and discuss how the knowledge and skills acquired abroad can be applied to Uganda's development challenges.