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The ICI-UMass Boston partners with the US Department of State on the Professional Fellows Program. We are reviewing this website to ensure compliance with recent executive orders and other guidance.

Professional Fellows – Fall 2025 Cohort

Meet our Fall 2025 Cohort of Professional Fellows! This group of 10 accomplished disability professionals from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will travel to the US to participate in an intensive four-week Fellowship Program from September to October 2025.

Learn more about our Fellows, their backgrounds, and their proposed follow-on projects.

  • Daphine Kiwala

    An African woman with short hair, wearing a blazer, smiles at the camera.

    Founder, Mothers' Alive Foundation (MAF)
    Law Student, Cavendish University

    Daphine is the Founder of Mothers' Alive Foundation (MAF) in Uganda, an organization dedicated to supporting families of children with disabilities. Through her Fellowship project, she will train 15 mothers and caregivers in Kiwanyi Sub-county, equipping them with knowledge on disability rights, services, and advocacy strategies to support their children and promote inclusion.

  • Derrick Mpagi

    An African man, bald with a slight beard, smiles at the camera.

    Director & Program Manager, MIGHT Foundation

    Derrick Mpagi, Executive Director of the MIGHT Foundation in Uganda, advocates for the rights of people living with lupus. Through his Fellowship project, he will develop a position paper advocating for legal reforms to include lupus and other invisible conditions in Uganda’s national definition of disability, using insights from focus group discussions.

  • John W Mwangi

    An African man with black hair wearing glasses smiles at the camera.

    Founder and CEO, Psychosocial Development and Response (PDRO-KENYA)

    John, Founder and CEO of Psychosocial Development and Response (PDRO-KENYA), is dedicated to empowering youth with psychosocial disabilities in Kenya. His Fellowship project will provide 25 youth with lived mental health experience and their caregivers in Nakuru County with the knowledge and skills to assert their rights, access services, and actively participate in shaping their care.

  • Kelvin E Mkude

    A light-skinned African man with red hair, wearing glasses and a black shirt that reads 'WINNING NATURE IN CHARISMA, Difference is Value' smiles at the camera.

    Founder and Executive Director, Winning Nature in Charisma

    Kelvin, Founder and Executive Director of Winning Nature in Charisma, a Tanzanian nonprofit, supports individuals with disabilities in building careers and expressing their talents. His Fellowship project will train persons with disabilities to become Disability and Development Ambassadors (DDAs), serving as accountability partners to the government and society in advancing disability-inclusive policies.

  • Mai Nambooze

    An African woman with shoulder-length brown braided hair, smiles at the camera.

    National Coordinator, Association of Care Leavers Uganda (ACLU)

    Mai, a founding member and National Coordinator of the Association of Care Leavers Uganda (ACLU), supports individuals who grew up in institutional care and advocates for better childcare systems. Her Fellowship project will research the challenges and successes of transitioning children and young adults with disabilities from institutional care to family- and community-based settings in Uganda through interviews and stakeholder discussions.

  • Maria S Muneeni

    An African woman with braided hair looks into the camera.

    Co-Founder, Shield Maidens
    Advocate-In-Training, Kenya School of Law

    Maria, Co-Founder of Shield Maidens, raises digital security awareness and promotes online access for people with disabilities. As a legal professional, she specializes in legislative policy, accessibility, and digital safety. Her Fellowship project will empower women with disabilities in Kenya to navigate digital spaces safely, raise cybersecurity awareness, and foster their civic and political participation through inclusive online platforms.

  • Rajab S Mpilipili

    An African man with short hair poses for a photo.

    Executive Director, Youth with Disabilities Organization (YoWDO)

    Rajab, Executive Director of the Youth with Disabilities Organization (YoWDO), works to expand opportunities and enhance civic engagement for youth with disabilities in Tanzania by addressing digital and socio-economic barriers. His Fellowship project will equip youth with disabilities in Tanzania with essential digital and financial literacy skills, empowering them to participate more actively in leadership and civic life.

  • Roselyne W Mburu

    An African woman with long braided hair, wearing glasses, big gold earrings, and a blazer, smiles at the camera.

    Program Coordinator, Down Syndrome Society of Kenya (DSSK)

    Roselyne is the Program Coordinator at the Down Syndrome Society of Kenya (DSSK), where she strengthens support systems for individuals with Down syndrome by empowering caregivers and parents. Her Fellowship project will provide self-advocacy training to 20 individuals with Down syndrome, ages 18–40, in Nairobi and Kiambu, while educating their caregivers on support strategies and disability rights.

  • Sadath A Mwamsema

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    Teacher and Executive Secretary of Community Development Watch (CODEWA)

    Sadath is the Founder and Executive Secretary of Community Development Watch (CODEWA), a Tanzanian non-profit focused on mentorship, education, and health for children in need. His Fellowship project, the SHINA Project, will empower 25 children with albinism at Huruma Children Center in Urambo District, building their confidence, leadership, and advocacy skills, while training 10 teachers to create accessible learning environments.

  • (Mponye) Zerida Namponye

    An African woman with long braids smiles at the camera.

    Director and Curriculum Coordinator, ​​​​​Bluemoon International School

    Zerida is the Director and Curriculum Coordinator at Bluemoon International School, Uganda, where she designs personalized learning programs for children with a variety of needs. Through her Fellowship project, she aims to enhance neurodiversity understanding among primary school teachers by offering practical training, follow-up support, and peer networking, helping them effectively support neurodivergent learners in their classrooms.