ESUGA Executive Director Selected for Prestigious Africa NGO Leaders Fellowship 2026

Esuga Elderly Support Uganda (ESUGA) is proud to announce that its Executive Director and Co-founder, Dr. Rajab Idd Muyingo, has been selected to participate in the prestigious Africa NGO Leaders Fellowship 2026, representing ESUGA among a select group of outstanding civil society leaders across the continent.

The highly competitive fellowship programme brings together African NGO leaders whose work focuses on advancing community development in areas such as women empowerment, food security, nutrition, agriculture, and community livelihoods. The initiative aims to strengthen leadership, governance, and organizational capacity among nonprofit leaders working to address pressing social challenges across Africa.

The year-long professional development programme is organized by Professors Without Borders, a United Kingdom registered charity, and is supported by Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies together with Stop Hunger, a UK-based organization committed to addressing food insecurity.

According to Ms. Tara Sinfield-Hain, Co-Chair of the NGO Leaders Fellowship at Professors Without Borders, the programme received over 300 applications from across Africa. However, Dr. Muyingo’s application stood out due to the impactful work being implemented by ESUGA in supporting vulnerable communities.

“Rajab’s application was particularly inspiring because of the work he is doing through Esuga Elderly Support Uganda. His commitment to community development and supporting vulnerable populations clearly demonstrated his leadership potential,” Ms. Sinfield-Hain noted. She further explained that only 20 NGO leaders were selected for the fellowship to ensure meaningful engagement and collaboration throughout the programme.

The fellowship officially commenced in March 2026 and will run for 12 months, with monthly virtual sessions scheduled on the first Thursday of each month from 17:00 to 18:00 EAT. The programme will include expert presentations, roundtable discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and peer learning exchanges. These sessions are designed to foster collaboration and provide participants with practical tools and strategies to strengthen their organizations and expand their impact.

Speaking about the opportunity, Dr. Rajab Idd Muyingo emphasized ESUGA’s continued commitment to improving the wellbeing of elderly persons through community-centered initiatives. In addition to his role at ESUGA, Dr. Muyingo also serves as a Lecturer of Journalism and Head of the Department of Communication Studies at Kabale University.

“At ESUGA, we focus on community-centered elderly care by designing inclusive programmes that address food security, health promotion, water and sanitation, psychosocial care, and advocacy for elderly rights,” Dr. Muyingo explained. “Our work is guided by dignity-driven support services that aim to improve the quality of life of elderly persons not only in Eastern Uganda but across the country.”

Since its establishment, ESUGA has supported over 2,000 elderly persons through various community-based initiatives addressing food and nutrition, healthcare access, clean water, advocacy, and psychosocial support. The organization has extended its outreach to more than 15 districts in Eastern Uganda and continues to collaborate with both local and international development partners to strengthen its impact.

Dr. Muyingo’s participation in the Africa NGO Leaders Fellowship represents an important milestone for ESUGA, providing an opportunity to strengthen leadership capacity, share experiences with fellow African changemakers, and further enhance the organization’s ability to serve vulnerable elderly communities.