Robert Katende

Robert Katende is a Ugandan chess coach, footballer, and engineer. He is also the executive director of Sports Outreach.

He promoted the game of chess to the slums and street kids of Kampala. He is also known for mentoring Phiona Mutesi, Uganda's first woman candidate master chess player and the subject of a 2012 book by Tim Crothers and a 2016 film, Queen of Katwe, directed by Mira Nair and written by William Wheeler. David Oyelowo played the role of Robert Katende in the film, which also features Lupita Nyong'o and Madina Nalwanga. He started his school life at St Elizabeth primary school then went to Lubiri Secondary School where he was introduced to chess. From Lubiri, he joined Kyambogo University where he pursued a diploma in civil engineering and developed his understanding of chess. He took up soccer and later played professionally for Miracle football club, Top TV FC, and sports outreach ambassadors.

Katende currently holds a degree in information technology and computer engineering as well as a master's degree in international community development from Northwest University in the United States.

He is a certified chess FIDE instructor and arbiter.

Career While at Kyambogo University, Katende realized he could help young people with their soccer and chess and started volunteering with sports outreach.

In 2003, he started chess outreach in slums. While running these chess programs in Katwe, he requested the Uganda Chess Federation to allow his team of slum kids to compete in the national secondary schools chess tournament. Katende worked as a consultant on the production team of the film, especially on the chess scenes.

Katende was awarded by the world chess federation for using chess to create social impact in slums. He was also appointed general secretary for the social action commission of the world chess federation.

In 2018, Katende was selected to join the inaugural Obama Foundation leaders Africa program.

Family Katende is married to Sarah Ntongo. They have three daughters.

Awards In 2017, to honor Katende's contribution to the chess community, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) awarded him the Tigran Petrosian award.

In 2018, Katende was one of 200 African leaders recognized by the Obama Foundation. His work was also featured in the 2018 Obama Foundation Summit.

Author In 2019, Katende published A Knight without a Castle describing the difficulties in his childhood and how he decided to use chess as a tool to transform lives.