Our Mission

To equip Ugandan students to overcome poverty by providing opportunities for meaningful work, educational scholarships, and discipleship that fosters holistic growth and transformation.

Our Vision

A generation of Christ-honoring, self-supporting Ugandan adults who have the education, dignity, skills, and character to create a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Our Values

Launch Uganda empowers Ugandan students through education, skills training and discipling in the ways of Jesus. Our mission is to enable students to thrive and create positive change in their communities.

Launch Uganda is a transformative organization dedicated to empowering Ugandan students by providing access to quality education or vocational training, and opportunities to grow in their faith. Our mission is rooted in the belief that every student deserves a chance to thrive and make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.

Education is a catalyst for personal growth and societal change, and we believe in bridging the financial gap through committed sponsors to empower students.

At Launch Uganda, we provide comprehensive life skills training beyond academics, equipping students with practical knowledge in communication, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal development. We understand that true empowerment goes beyond the classroom, enabling students to navigate challenges , seize opportunities, and achieve holistic success.

Together with our dedicated team, sponsors, community partners and a relationship with Jesus we envision a future where Ugandan students have the opportunity to thrive and make an impact in their communities. By investing in education, skills training, and discipleship, we are breaking the cycle of poverty, one student at a time.

Contact Us

Meet the Board

Mark and Kerry Kellond

FOUNDERS
Chairman, Secretary
Mark and Kerry Kellond are seasoned ministers having served the Lord in a variety of locations and capacities over the past 37 years. They served as youth pastors in local churches in the United States before moving overseas to provide youth ministry to American military dependents. For almost 20 years they served military dependents on bases in Germany, Japan and Okinawa.
While serving at a Christian boarding school in Uganda, Mark and Kerry witnessed the severe impact of extreme poverty in the lives of the students around them. Even students sponsored by organizations to complete high school were most often aged out of programs and left without means to complete the education needed to break the poverty cycle.
Compelled by God’s love for the orphan and the vulnerable, Mark and Kerry founded Launch Uganda.
Allen Kid

VICE CHAIRMAN
LU Sponsorship Communications

Allen Kidd was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. Following college, he joined the U.S. Air Force where he spent just over 30 years on active duty.
Allen and his wife, Suzy, became acquainted with Mark and Kerry a number of years ago through their daughter, Sarah, who worked with them as a contractor at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.
Allen retired from the Air Force in 2017 and he and Suzy returned to Kentucky tocare for Suzy’s aging parents. Just recently, they moved to Minnesota to be close to one of their sons and his family, to include two grandkids.
Allen is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, hiking and backpacking. He and Suzy also enjoy traveling, primarily to visit their other two children including three more grandchildren.
What does Allen love about Launch Uganda? Most importantly, it’s helping young Ugandans learn and grow in their faith in Jesus Christ, and secondly, to give them the opportunity for a life-changing education and real hope for a successful future.
Brett Moore

TREASURER
Craig Simpson

BOARD MEMBER
Craig Simpson is a native Oregonian. He grew-up in Grants Pass, OR and had Mark and Kerry as his middle school youth pastors. Craig is a business owner from Bend Oregon. He has an Auto Repair shop and Marketing Company.
Craig has a small farm where he grows hay and raises cows and chickens. He loves to spend time with his wife, Heidi, and his three kids. They love outdoors and often take trips to hike slot canyons, spend time on a lake, or just hang on a beach.
Craig loves being involved in Launch Uganda because of the opportunity it gives young adults. Young men and women get to work toward a rewarding career and most importantly, grow closer to Jesus.

Meet the Ugandan Ministry leadership Team

Frank and Bwakala

Frank heads up our work projects and co-leads the boys dorm with Bwakala who oversees the schedule, program, & agriculture projects.
Agnus

Aggie is our girls matron and oversees the kitchen.
Saidi

Saidi is the part time Academic supervisor and help place our students in training centers and universities
Gladys

Glads oversees our finances, distribution and accountability.
Pastor Jimmy

Jimmy is a part-time pastor/mentor to our students on the farm and at the Vocational training centers.
Pastor Patrick

Patrick is a part-time pastor/mentor to our students in University.