KOICA alumni urged to turn skills acquired in South Korea into community action

What the report says

Ugandan alumni of South Korean scholarship and training programmes were encouraged to put the skills they gained abroad into practical community work and wider national development efforts. The message was delivered at the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the KOICA Club of Uganda (KOCU), held last week at Four Points Hotel in Uganda, where graduates gathered to review their activities, reconnect and discuss future projects.

According to The Observer, the event brought together representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, government officials, social entrepreneurs, journalists and development partners. The meeting was framed around the idea of moving from learning to action, with speakers urging alumni to see themselves as active partners in Uganda–South Korea relations. Embassy and KOICA officials also encouraged members to build stronger professional networks across sectors such as health, agriculture, infrastructure, digital governance and education.

The article says nearly 1,500 Ugandans have benefited from Korean support through KOICA, the Global Korea Scholarship and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare. One highlighted example was alumnus Arnold Ayebazibwe, who used his agricultural training to support community tree-planting and livelihood initiatives after returning home. KOCU’s broader activities include sanitation, clean cooking, briquette-making, environmental protection and digital literacy, with members also supporting tree planting in several districts. The group says it aims to contribute to Uganda’s development priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.