Who We Are

The people behind the movement.

A dedicated group of founders, advisors and professionals working together to transform media across Africa.

Team members: 57+
Years of impact: 10+

01

Our Founders.

The visionary leaders who set our journey in motion.

4 Members

Abaas Mpindi

Co-founder and CEO

Mpindi Abaas is the CEO of Media Challenge Initiative (MCI). He believes that good journalism can make the world a better place. He invests in building platforms for young journalists and innovators to deploy solutions journalism to reshape Africa’s narrative and cause social change. Mpindi is a 2023 African Visionary Fellow, 2024 Elevate Prize winner, 2018 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur & Young Emerging Leaders Program Fellow, and 2018 Obama Leader. His story is featured in the Huffington Post, CNN African Voices and his work was highlighted by President Barack Obama in 2018.

Simon P. Ssenyondo

Co-founder and General Manager

Simon P. Ssenyondo is a Co-founder, General manager and project coordinator with 7+ years of experience. As the Co-founder and General Manager of the Media Challenge Initiative, he has successfully executed projects, including the groundbreaking construction of Uganda's first Media Innovations Hub, the MCI Media Hub. Simon's remarkable communication skills and analytical prowess have led to a rise in donor contributions because of his competence in project planning, budgeting, and team development. He was a former news anchor who provided several bulletins each day, displaying his professionalism and commitment. Simon holds a BBA in Management and a Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication. He keeps having a big influence on the media sector because he is passionate, results-driven, and has a solid track record.

Antonio Kisembo

Co-founder and Media Trainer

Antonio Kisembo is co-founder of the Media Challenge Initiative, the premier media organization in Uganda specializing in nurturing the next generation of Journalists and storytellers. Antonio is an award-winning multimedia journalist and a media trainer with a wealth of practical experience in multimedia production, training, and digital Communication. Through the Media Challenge Initiative, he provides mentorship grounded in Godly values, guiding young people toward realizing their potential in both their careers and personal lives. Antonio provides a holistic approach to empowerment, shaping not only skilled journalists but also individuals of character who uphold integrity and compassion in their work and interactions.

Ivan Kimuli Kigozi

Co-founder and HOD Production

Ivan Kimuli Kigozi, the Head of Production at Media Challenge Initiative is a renowned journalist and storyteller with vast years of experience in audio production and video editing.

02

Advisory Board.

Strategic minds guiding our direction and long-term impact.

4 Members

Angelo Izama

Avisory Board

Angelo is a Ugandan journalist, writer, and analyst. Currently Angelo is the team leader at VRS – part of the think tank FanakaKwawote which he co-founded in 2008. VRS is a for-profit part of the think tank focused on generating research-for-action through applied due diligence and political risk analysis. It targets the areas of justice, human rights as well as governance in the extractives amongst others. He is a Visiting Scholar, Department of Political Science NYU Abu Dhabi, Open Society Fellow, a Knight Fellow and a NED Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship

Catherine Anite

Advisory Board

Anite is a lawyer and the Founding Director of the Freedom of Expression Hub. She has previously worked in senior positions both domestically and regionally advancing the right to expression and media, through capacity building initiatives, public interest litigation in domestic and regional courts, legal and policy analysis and advocacy campaigns. She has served as a senior judge at the International media law moot court at the University of Oxford, and received a Mandela Washington Fellowship from the U.S. State Department in 2014, where she studied civic leadership at the University of Delaware and attended President Obama’s summit for young African leaders in Washington D.C.

Hashim Wasswa Mulangwa

Advisory Board

Hashim has over 19 years of working as a senior adviser to governments, business leaders and various development agencies (WB, DFID, USAID) on Institutional Reform and Transformation, private sector development and economic development. He has vast experience leading change in organizations, designing and executing strategy, and leading teams to achieve ambitious developmental results. He has designed and implemented numerous technical assistance programmes and has deep understanding and experience with managing stakeholder relationships in the context of the political economy environment that key actors operate . Hashim is a graduate of the Masters in Public administration (MPA) at Harvard Kennedy School, and has an MSc in Economic Policy management from Strathclyde University- Scotland, UK.

Jane Kasumba

Advisory Board

Jane Kasumba is a Ugandan Media Personality, a Broadcaster, a Commercial Transactions and Media Lawyer, a Communications expert and a Professional TV talkshow host who has worked for over 12 years in public and broadcast media. Jane is also an experienced Moderator and MC. She is also Cherie Blair Women in Business Mentor for the year 2019 and an Enterprenuer. Currently Jane, is a practicing Commercial Transactions and Media Lawyer. She is also a Television Broadcast and Strategic PR Consultant. Jane is also passionate about Africa's development and a great supporter of the African Union Agenda 2063.

03

Our Staff.

The dedicated professionals turning the mission into daily work.

49 Members

Emmanuel Bahindi

IT & Multi-Media Web Developer

Emmanuel Bahindi is a talented Multimedia Web Developer with a passion for creating engaging and user-focused digital experiences. With a strong foundation in web technologies and design principles, he excels in developing scalable and interactive web solutions that cater to diverse user needs. His expertise spans a range of modern tools and frameworks, enabling him to deliver innovative and impactful applications that align with industry standards. At the Media Challenge Initiative, Emmanuel leverages his skills to design and maintain web applications that amplify the organization's mission. Through his work, he ensures seamless functionality and visually compelling interfaces, driving meaningful engagement and fostering growth.

Silas Muwonge

Communications Officer

Silas Muwonge is a Communications Officer at the Media Challenge Initiative, a youth-driven non-profit building the next generation of journalists in Uganda. He is also a digital content creator, social media manager, digital marketer, and mobile journalism trainer. Muwonge believes good journalism is where stories are explained rather than reported. He believes NextGen journalists can change this notion by embracing disruptive media trends like data visualization, mobile journalism and interactive storytelling.

Aaron Wankya

Finance & Administration Officer

Akech Fidelia

Finance & Administration Assistant

Akram Ndawula

Photographer

Ali Kakembo

Training Officer

Kakembo Ali is a media trainer, mentor and consultant with extensive experience in Radio Broadcasting, Media Production, Events Management, fact-checking and media information literacy. Certified by DW Akademie and Africa Check as a MIL and Fact-Checking Trainer respectively, he is also a qualified podcast trainer. Currently, he works with the Media Challenge Initiative (MCI) in Uganda, where he leads media trainings that empower journalists to drive socio-economic change through impactful journalism. Ali has successfully managed and led several key Media and Fact Checking projects, including the MCI Radio and the Debunk Fact-Checking Show now Debunk Media Initiative. He has served as a Teaching Assistant at Kampala International University, a marketing manager at Kennedy Secondary School, Entebbe, and is currently the project Lead of the Inter University Media Challenge Program, providing mentorship and training to young media professionals in Uganda.

Benjamin Ouke

Finance Officer

Benjamin is the Finance Officer, responsible for managing the organization's financial records and day-to-day accounts. He handles budgeting, tracking expenses, and ensuring financial processes run smoothly and accurately. He's detail-oriented and reliable, playing an important role in keeping the organization's finances in good order.

Bosco Busulwa

Chef - Love Facts Cafe

Bosco is the Chef at Love Facts Cafe. He prepares the cafe's menu with care and attention to detail, making sure every dish is well made and enjoyable.

41 more members