About – Mfai

About Us

Leadership, Innovation, Networking, Engagement (LINE)

Michigan Fellows Africa Initiative (MFAI) was founded in 2018 as a professional network of alumni of the U.S. Department of State’s Professional Fellows Program (PFP), hosted at Michigan State University (MSU). The fellowship played a pivotal role in connecting African professionals across disciplines, and upon returning home, the Ugandan fellows formally registered MFAI as a not-for-profit organisation.

What began as an agribusiness-focused initiative quickly evolved into a broader platform responding to the realities facing young people, women, and marginalized communities across Africa. Over time, MFAI expanded its scope to include leadership development, civic engagement, gender and inclusion, and global learning exchanges.

Today, MFAI operates as a continental movement with active chapters in Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Through partnerships with universities, embassies, civil society organisations, and community institutions, MFAI designs and delivers programs that connect African leaders to global knowledge, resources, and networks.

Our work is grounded in collaboration, learning, and innovation—centering African perspectives while engaging the world. As MFAI continues to grow, we remain committed to advancing inclusive leadership and practical solutions to complex social challenges.

What Guides Us

Our Values

Our work is shaped by values that guide how we engage communities, partners, and institutions.

01.

Accountability

We deliver on our commitments and are loyal to our partners

02.

Bold ideas

We encourage individual creativity for shared growth.

03.

Collegiality

We are concerned about the needs of our colleagues as our own.

04.

Discipline

Charity begins at home and illuminates our journey to success.

05.

Thought leadership

We believe leaders need to make thought-through decisions and take full responsibility for actions.

02.

Our Core Values

• Accountability: we deliver on our commitments and are loyal to our partners
• Bold ideas: we encourage individual creativity for shared growth.
• Collegiality: We are concerned about the needs of our colleagues as our own.
• Discipline: charity begins at home and illuminates our journey to success.
• Thought leadership: we believe leaders need to make thought-through decisions and take full responsibility for actions.

What We Aim to Achieve

Our Strategic Objectives

MFAI’s work is guided by clear objectives that shape the design and delivery of our initiatives. We seek to:

Share international exchange experiences and amplify common values, norms, and practices in work, leadership, and service.
Encourage bold ideas and practical solutions to pressing life challenges through professional training and learning programs.
Build synergies with academic institutions to advance evidence-based approaches that address systemic barriers to meaningful participation and equitable benefit for women and youth across agriculture, health, and education.
Contribute to existing socio-economic efforts by civil society organizations and the private sector through innovative programs that expand diverse, equitable, and inclusive opportunities for all.

For a comprehensive overview of MFAI’s background, programs, partnerships, and institutional approach, you can download our organizational profile.

The MFAI Profile provides detailed information on our evolution, strategic focus areas, and collaborative work across Africa and beyond.

Our secretariate team

Oliver Nabiryo

Co-Director

Dorcus Alowo

Co-Director R&D

Musiima Raymond

Co-Director Programs

Samuel Kiggundu

Co-Director Business

Marion Namusoke

Co-Director Finance

Eudine Awuzu

Asst. Director Finance

Martha Mukisa

Ass. Co-Director ICT

Harriet Penrod Apili

Co-Director ICT

Atimango Kevin

Team Member

Derek H Tobias

Advisor

Piloya Innocent

Co-Director Partnerships

Dorcus Asiimwe

Programs Manager

Joshua Zaake Sserufusa

Human Resources Manager

Tonny Lutakome

Assistant Finance Manager

Zakia Kalembe

Graphics Manager

Jordan Otim

Digital Communications Lead

Gatrude Nakanwagi

Projects Research Coordinator

Paul Mutumba

Assistant Programs Manager

Kabugo Ronald

Digital Marketing Manager

Michelle Mbabazi

Volunteer

Testimonials

T'Errance Favors Coordinator for the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) in the Bureau of African Affairs' Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.

“Your involvement in the civic engagement program (PACE Academy) will be instrumental to shaping the future of Uganda and building the Uganda you all want to see.”

Amy Petersen Cultural Affairs Officer US Embassy Kampala

“We can all take steps in our daily lives and in the work that we are doing to increase diversity and inclusion of different voices in the decisions that we make as leaders. It’s an important part of our values that we want to demonstrate through our programs.”

Peter Lemmer SVP, Chief Legal Counsel at GreenStone Farm Credit Services

“As I reflected on MFAI’s commitment to bringing content to fellow Ugandans with an abundance of change in the world, I cheer you and your team's effort. The path to greatness is not an easy endeavor. Your persistence will pay off! Keep up your great work.”

Amy Jaimson Co-Director MSU AAP

“Wow! This is a big step. Congratulations! We continue to be very proud of the progress you all have made with the organization and I love seeing all of you working together. I can’t wait to visit (when it is safe to travel again)"

Sean Lawrie Assistant Director MSU Environmental Science and Policy Program

“You guys are really doing important and amazing work and have clearly established yourself as a player in agribusiness in Uganda. Maybe I can come work for you some day?”

Carly Van Orman Former U.S Missions Uganda Cultural Affiars Officer

“I Congratulate the apprentices on completing the AgAP program and commend MFAI for not just investing the time in making the network but also the work you do every day. It is making a difference in the lives of many young people.”

Dr Damaris Moraa Choti MSU African Studies Center

“It is my pleasure to have been a part of your training program. Networking, in my view is the art of creating and nurturing relationships that matter in your social, academic, and professional trajectory- which is something the team at MFAI has mastered quite well”

Mubiru Ipolito Founder Africa Diversity and Inclusion Center (ADIC)

The idea that is so critical to today’s 21st century Africa is being planted and we are going with it every step of the way. This generation of leaders should embrace and understand what Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging is.

Anena Flavia D&I Fellow (Gulu District)

“This Bootcamp is on outstanding thing. It has made us learn and unlearn a number of things that we thought we knew. Now, in terms of connection, social life, it’s something that I know every young leader should have the opportunity to participate in”