Robert Katende

Robert Katende grew up in the slums of Kampala in Uganda but miraculously worked his way to the university and studied engineering. He lives in Kampala, Uganda, and operates the SOM Chess Academy. He travels the world using chess as a tool to nurture, mentor, and disciple people, especially vulnerable children living on streets of Kampala, using chess as a way to better the lives of disadvantaged children. These programs have given opportunities to street children such as Phiona Mutesi, who...See more

Robert Katende grew up in the slums of Kampala in Uganda but miraculously worked his way to the university and studied engineering. He lives in Kampala, Uganda, and operates the SOM Chess Academy. He travels the world using chess as a tool to nurture, mentor, and disciple people, especially vulnerable children living on streets of Kampala, using chess as a way to better the lives of disadvantaged children. These programs have given opportunities to street children such as Phiona Mutesi, who has become the first woman candidate master in the history of Uganda and who was featured in the 2016 Disney movie Queen of Katwe . See less