The US Exchange Alumni Network Uganda (USEA) has entered a partnership with Node Group Consult aimed at strengthening leadership, civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and education across Uganda.
The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), brings together USEA’s nationwide alumni network and Node Group’s decade long expertise in strategic communication to elevate alumni-led development initiatives and shape national conversations on innovation and inclusion.
USEA is a national network of more than 6,000 Ugandans who have participated in US government-funded exchange programs, including the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Fulbright, IVLP, YALI, and TechWomen.
Its members apply skills and global exposure gained in the United States to drive community transformation in sectors such as governance, education, health, media, entrepreneurship, and civil society.
Under the agreement, Node Group will provide comprehensive public relations and communications support to USEA, including strategic media planning, press coordination, event publicity, communications management, and support for project implementation.
Speaking at the signing, Node Group CEO, Ian Rumanyika, said the partnership aligns with the agency’s commitment to purpose-driven initiatives and social impact.
“This partnership amplifies USEA’s legacy while reinforcing Node Group’s commitment to visionary, purpose-driven initiatives,” Rumanyika said. “By joining forces, we are plugging our brand into the collective heartbeat of Uganda’s most daring visionaries.”
He added that for more than six decades, the US government exchange programs have empowered various Ugandans, fostering leadership, innovation, advocacy, research, and community-driven impact values that closely align with Node Group’s mission.
USEA president Blessing Immaculate Owomugisha described the collaboration as a strategic step in advancing alumni-led development across Uganda’s regions.
“Our mission at USEA is to champion sustainable community transformation led by Ugandans who have benefited from US exchange and education programs,” Owomugisha said.
“These alumni were selected based on their impactful work across Uganda’s five regions and continue to lead change in diverse sectors.”
She noted that USEA is in the process of establishing community resource centers across the country to support learning and local development.
“As we embark on establishing community resource centers across the regions, Node Group’s amplification will be instrumental in attracting the right partners and strengthening stakeholder engagement across Uganda and beyond,” she added.
The partnership was also welcomed by the US Embassy in Uganda. Chrysostom Kato alumni coordinator at the US Embassy, emphasized the role of strategic communication in sustaining alumni impact.
“Partnerships like this are critical in ensuring that the impact of US exchange alumni is visible, sustained, and scalable,” Kato said.
“USEA continues to demonstrate how alumni networks can be powerful drivers of development, and strategic communication partnerships such as this one with Node Group will help extend that impact even further.”
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