General
Youth empowerment key to sustainable development
On Tuesday, 17th September, 2013, the student leadership in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) in conjunction with World Youth Alliance held a public lecture to discuss and share ideas on how Africa can realise sustainable development.
The lecture was held under the theme “Re-thinking Africa’s Sustainable Development Agenda”. The key speakers were the Principal of CHUSS, Prof. Edward K. Kirumira, and Associate Professor Josephine Ahikire from the School of Women and Gender Studies.
Presenting a paper at the lecture, Prof. Kirumira, expressed concern over the continued neglection of the youth yet they make up the biggest percentage of the population. He informed the participants that 48% of the country’s population is below 15 years of age, only 3% above 65 years and 49% in the mainstream potential productive age hence the need to place young people at the centre of development. With reference to Corcoran and Osano, 2009, Prof. Kirumira noted that young people need education, political support, resources, skills and hope if sustainable development is to be achieved. “If young people’s resources of energy, time, and knowledge are misdirected towards violence, terrorism and socially-isolating technologies, civilization risks destabilization,” he stated.
Prof. Kirumira appealed to the government to focus on training and equipping young people with skills to manage the country’s affairs, noting that in five years’ time, most of the current managers will be retired. “The oil resource that is expected to greatly improve the economy of our country may turn out a curse if we do not train people to effectively manage it,” he advised.
Commenting on the contentious land question, he said most of the youth have resorted to selling off land left behind by their parents due to lack of adequate skills to develop it.
Prof. Kirumira emphasized the need to revamp the entire education system in a bid to equip students with skills needed for the job market.
He also pointed out the need to look at sustainable development in a broader perspective, noting that focusing on economic growth alone cannot drive development. “Sustainable development hinges on environmental, economic and socio-political sustainability,” he said.
Dr Ahikire underscored the need to focus on the human aspect of development and an all-inclusive approach to sustainable development. “If a family is in turmoil, the society too will be in turmoil,” she noted. Dr Ahikire called for the revival of cooperatives in a bid to address some of the vices like corruption that are eating up the African society. She noted with dismay that the Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) have been badly manipulated hence failing to achieve their intended goal.
The Head, Department of Philosophy and Developmental Studies, Prof. Edward Wamala, argued for a change of ideology for sustainable development to be achieved. He advised that the neoliberalism ideology, where service delivery depends on forces of demand and supply, does not support sustainable development.
The students too advocated for overhauling the education system in order to enable them acquire practical skills to fit in the job market. They also called for democratic governance in Africa as one of the pathways to the realisation of sustainable development.
Article by Hasifa Kabejja, Communication Officer, CHUSS
Makerere University on 23rd January 2026 hosted the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) validation meeting of the draft minimum standards for implementing Competence-Based Education (CBE) in Higher Education Institutions. The meeting held in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium brought together Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Principals and Academic Registrars from Higher Education Institutions in Uganda.
Hosted by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali, the meeting followed institutional input into the draft minimum standards and was aimed at validating them prior to their formal adoption by the NCHE Council at their next meeting in February 2026. The minimum standards cover nine areas namely; 1) Curriculum Design, 2) Teaching and Learning Approaches, 3) Assessment, 4) Faculty Training and Support, 5) Student Support Services, 6) Quality Assurance Systems, 7) Industry and Community Linkages, 8) Monitoring and Evaluation, and 9) Gender and Equity Mainstreaming.
Following feedback into presentations by the various leaders present, a motion to adopt the draft minimum standards, with institutional input incorporated, was moved by Bugema University, seconded by UMCAT School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and unanimously supported by institutions present.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Prof. Sarah Ssali appreciated NCHE for choosing Makerere to host the landmark event, reiterating that the University greatly respects each and every Higher Education Institution and regards them as partners and collaborators in the quest to improve Uganda’s Higher Education sector.
The Executive Director NCHE, Prof. Mary Okwakol reassured leaders present that all the pertinent issues raised for input into the draft minimum standards would be incorporated, and urged those with pressing issues to submit them before month’s end. She reiterated NCHE’s readiness to continue lobbying Government for the resources required by Higher Education Institutions, particularly Public Universities, to implement Competence-Based Education (CBE).
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