The Nnabagereka Development Foundation (NDF) has successfully concluded the Ekisaakaate Kya Nnabagereka Gatonnya 2026 at Hormisdallen School, Gayaza Campus, with MTN Mobile Money (U) Limited (MTN MoMo) playing a key partnership role in this year's programme.
Held under the theme Roots of Resilience: Embracing Obuntubulamu for Mental Wellness, the annual camp brought together children and youth from across the country for an immersive experience focused on values, emotional wellbeing, culture, leadership and practical life skills.
Ekisaakaate remains a flagship initiative of the Buganda Kingdom, implemented through the Nnabagereka Development Foundation, aimed at nurturing holistic and value-driven future leaders.
MTN MoMo contributed a total of Shs80 million to support the 2026 edition, including Shs15 million announced at the programme's launch in August and an additional Shs65 million allocated to activities during the camp.
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The support extended beyond funding to include in-kind contributions that enhanced learning and digital engagement throughout the programme.
To enable seamless connectivity, MTN MoMo provided internet services at the host school and deployed the MTN internet bus to facilitate coding workshops and digital skilling sessions.
Through partnerships with Burn Radio and Pink Code, the company supported structured coding training and digital literacy engagements designed to spark interest in technology-driven careers among the basaakate.
Mentorship sessions led by the MTN Women@Work team complemented the technical training, focusing on building confidence, emotional resilience and mental wellness among both girls and boys.
The programme also tackled issues affecting young people today, including self-worth, emotional balance, bullying, online safety and responsible digital citizenship, reinforcing Obuntubulamu as a foundation for personal growth and community wellbeing.
To further support digital skilling, MTN MoMo donated learning devices, including 20 laptops and 13 mobile phones, alongside branded educational materials and giveaways such as books, mathematical sets, rulers, bottles and aprons to enrich the participants' learning experience.
Commenting on the partnership, Andrew Adrian Mukiibi, a manager at the Nnabagereka Development Foundation, said MTN MoMo's contribution had strengthened the programme's ability to blend culture with modern skills.
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He noted that participants gained hands-on experience in envisioning their cultural identity within the digital space.
MTN MoMo's Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Stephen Mutana, reaffirmed the company's commitment to the Buganda Kingdom and the Ekisaakaate programme, describing it as a powerful platform for shaping resilient, confident and value-driven young people.
He said the partnership reflects MTN MoMo's belief in empowering communities to realise their full potential, in line with the company's ethos of "The Power to Be More".
At the closing ceremony, Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga emphasised Obuntubulamu as the cornerstone of mental and emotional strength, highlighting values such as respect, kindness, discipline and care as essential to developing inner resilience among children.
The successful conclusion of Ekisaakaate Kya Nnabagereka Gatonnya 2026 once again underscored the impact of collaboration between cultural institutions and the private sector in nurturing Uganda's next generation.
