On 5 August 2026, Asia Kamukama, Executive Director of Maendeleo Foundation, joined other guests at the unveiling of the MTN Uganda 2025 Sustainability Report.

As she listened to the results, vision and long-term strategy being presented, she was inspired by MTN Uganda’s commitment to creating lasting social impact. Then, while turning through the report, she reached page 82.

There it was.

A case study highlighting the partnership between MTN Foundation Uganda and Maendeleo Foundation through the MTN Internet Bus Digital Skilling and Training Camps.

For Asia, this was more than a page in a sustainability report. It was a reminder of a journey that began with five computers, a bold vision and a deep belief in the power of digital inclusion.

A Dream That Began with Five Computers

Maendeleo Foundation began with just five computers and an ambitious vision to positively impact 1.5 million Ugandans through access to digital skills and opportunities.

At the time, there was no fully equipped mobile classroom travelling between communities. There was no solar-powered Internet Bus capable of training more than 100 people in a day.

What existed was a firm belief that where a person lived—or the circumstances into which they were born—should never determine whether they could participate in the digital world.

Through partnership, persistence and community engagement, that vision grew into the MTN Internet Bus: a fully equipped, solar-powered mobile classroom that takes practical digital training directly to underserved communities.

The People Behind the Numbers

The MTN Uganda 2025 Sustainability Report captures part of this journey through two powerful figures:

• 5,933 young people and women reached
• 44 communities served

While these numbers demonstrate the programme’s reach, the real story lies in the people behind them.

Behind every statistic is a learner using a computer for the first time. There is a young person discovering how technology can support their education, a woman gaining skills to strengthen her business and a community beginning to recognise new possibilities.

Each participant has a name, a dream and a future that can change when someone chooses to invest in their potential.

For Asia, page 82 did not simply document the success of a programme. It represented thousands of individual journeys towards greater confidence, opportunity and hope.

When Partnership Creates Possibility

The MTN Internet Bus demonstrates what can happen when corporate purpose meets community ambition.

MTN Foundation Uganda has brought investment, infrastructure and a commitment to sustainable social impact. Maendeleo Foundation has contributed its community experience, skilled trainers and vision for inclusive digital education.

Together, the two organisations have taken digital learning beyond conventional classrooms and brought it closer to communities that might otherwise remain excluded from the digital economy.

The partnership also demonstrates that bridging the digital divide requires more than providing devices and Internet access. People need the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to use technology to improve their lives.

A Question About Leadership and Legacy

During the launch, MTN Uganda CEO Sylvia Mulinge challenged leaders to consider what would remain after their time in leadership had ended:

“What will remain once we are gone as leaders? Will it be the profits, or the impact we had on education, health and communities?”

The question continued to resonate with Asia long after it was posed.

It is a question for leaders, entrepreneurs, development practitioners, government officials and professionals across every sector: Are they simply building successful organisations, or are they creating institutions whose impact will outlive them?

Francis Kamulegeya raises a similarly important question in his book, And Then What?

Perhaps the true measure of leadership is not simply what an organisation becomes, but what people and communities become because that organisation existed.

Building a Legacy of Impact

The recognition in the Sustainability Report has reaffirmed Maendeleo Foundation’s commitment to expanding digital learning and reaching more underserved communities.

It has also strengthened the organisation’s belief that digital inclusion is not simply about technology. It is about creating opportunity, dignity and hope.

Maendeleo Foundation appreciates MTN Foundation Uganda for believing in partnership, investing in people and demonstrating that business success and meaningful social impact can grow together.

The journey began with five computers. Today, a solar-powered Internet Bus is carrying that dream into communities across Uganda.

The journey is far from over.

Maendeleo Foundation remains committed to reaching more learners, serving more communities and helping build a Uganda in which everyone has the skills and confidence to participate in the digital future.

Ultimately, the greatest legacy an organisation can leave is not only what it built, but what became possible for others because it existed.

Readers are invited to explore the MTN Uganda 2025 Sustainability Report and discover more stories of partnership, sustainability and impact.