Empowering Uganda's youth since 2004 through skills training, health support, and economic opportunities.
Founder & Executive Director
In-country Principal Investigator, ICHAD
Dr. Abel Mwebembezi is the Founder and Executive Director of Reach the Youth Uganda (RTY), a youth-focused NGO founded in 2004. He also serves as the In-country Principal Investigator for Washington University in St Louis's International Centre for Child Health and Development (ICHAD).
With over 25 years of experience in international development, Dr. Mwebembezi has worked with leading organizations including the United Nations, Columbia University, and various international NGOs. His expertise spans youth empowerment, HIV/AIDS programming, reproductive health, human rights advocacy, and socio-economic development.
Years of Experience
Research Studies
International Conferences
Dr. Abel Mwebembezi is a distinguished development practitioner and researcher with a Ph.D. in Social Sciences from International Atlantic University. He holds a Master of Arts in Applied Population Research and Reproductive Health from the University of Exeter, UK, and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Makerere University, Uganda.
As the Founder and Executive Director of Reach the Youth Uganda (RTY), Dr. Mwebembezi has dedicated his career to empowering young people, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty. Under his leadership, RTY has grown into a respected organization implementing programs across 13 districts in Uganda, reaching thousands of youth with health, education, and economic empowerment interventions.
His research contributions, particularly in the area of economic empowerment for AIDS-orphaned children, have been presented at international conferences in Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Cape Town, and other global forums. He has been an active participant in the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) and has contributed to numerous publications in international journals.
Dr. Mwebembezi previously served as Country Director for Children of Uganda, where he managed comprehensive child sponsorship and family empowerment programs. He also worked as the NGO National Coordinator for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), coordinating reproductive health projects across Uganda.
His work with the African Union/United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) as a Planning Officer provided him with extensive experience in policy development, result-based budgeting, and strategic planning in complex humanitarian settings.
Dr. Mwebembezi has successfully mobilized funding from major international donors including USAID, CDC, Nike Red, King Baudouin Foundation, World Bank, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has developed and implemented programs in HIV/AIDS prevention, sexual and reproductive health, human rights advocacy, vocational training, and economic empowerment.
Reach the Youth Uganda (RTY) is a youth-focused non-governmental organization founded in 2004 by Dr. Abel Mwebembezi. Our programme beneficiaries are in and out of school children, youth and women below 30 years, key populations, and HIV infected and affected populations.
The target beneficiaries experience high levels of HIV/AIDS/STDs, are socio-economically poor, lack employable skills, and experience human rights abuses. RTY works to address these challenges through comprehensive, community-based interventions.
To partner with youth to contribute to the process of enabling them to access opportunities and make right choices for sustainable life.
A world where the youth have an opportunity to maximize their potential and influence decisions that affect their lives.
Integrity
Teamwork
Innovativeness
Mutual Respect
Professionalism
Youth-Centred
Youth Participation
Learning
Integrated
Gender-Sensitive
Investing in Staff & Volunteers
Accountability
Respect for Environment
Executive Director and In-country Principal Investigator
Dr. Abel Mwebembezi has worked with organizations such as UNFPA as NGO National Coordinator, Child of Uganda as Country Director,...
National Programme Coordinator
Henry oversees, monitors, and tracks overall progress of the project. He has professional expertise in Youth and OVC programming,...
Human Resource and Administration Manager
Ritah oversees human resource management functions and is also the Accountant for ICHAD projects. She holds an M.Sc. in Human...
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Joshua is responsible for data management, analysis, and system development. He holds a Master of Statistics and a B.Sc....
M&E Officer - DREAMS Project
Francis is responsible for searching for potential funders both locally and internationally. He holds a Bachelor of Business...
Human Resource and Administration Officer
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Accountant
Moses oversees accounting functions including budgeting, systems monitoring, and financial reporting. He holds a BBA (Accounting...
Sub County Coordinator - Lwengo
Patrick oversees screening and enrolling of AGYWs into projects and ensures project activities are implemented accordingly....
Field Officer - SOCY Project
Peace is responsible for enrolling and training youths to participate in project activities. She holds a B.A. in Community...
Project Coordinator - DREAMS Project
Peter coordinates DREAMS activities at field level and directs project implementation. He holds a Bachelors of Development...
Accounts Assistant - Lwengo
Racheal manages financial transactions on a daily basis. She holds a Bachelors of Commerce (BCOM).
Sub County Coordinator - Lwengo
Aeron coordinates and directs DREAMS project activities and implementation at sub county level. He holds a BA in SWASA and...
Sub County Coordinator - Lwengo
James coordinates and directs DREAMS project activities and implementation at sub county level. He holds a BA in Social Sciences...
Sub County Coordinator - Lwengo
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Sub County Coordinator - Lwengo
Isaac coordinates and directs DREAMS project activities and implementation at sub county level. He holds a BA in SWASA.
Sub County Coordinator - Lwengo
Steven coordinates and directs DREAMS project activities and implementation at sub county level. He holds a BA in Arts (Social...
