General
Momar Nguer on why Total still believes in Africa
The Senior Vice President Africa/Middle East, Total Marketing & Services, Mr. Momar Nguer has called upon Governments on the African continent to create an enabling environment for more investments on the continent as a way of tapping into the enormous potential of the youth. The Vice President was speaking at a Public lecture in Makerere University on 13th Nov. 2013, on the topic, ‘Why I believe in Africa.’
In a meeting with the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. J.Y.T. Mugisha prior to the Public Lecture, Mr. Nguer accompanied by Mr. Imrane Barry, Managing Director, Total Uganda Limited and other Total officials expressed his gratitude at being given the opportunity to share with students his vast experience. Welcoming Mr. Nguer to Makerere, Prof. Mugisha thanked Total for choosing the University to host the lecture, noting that it was a good exposure opportunity for our students. Commenting on the courses already offered by the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Prof. Mugisha noted
“Our Department of Geology and Petroleum Studies offers courses at both Undergraduate and Graduate Levels in partnership with the University of Bergen,” he said. “We signed a three year Memorandum of Understanding with Total E&P Uganda in May 2012 to promote education and development through which our students have already secured study opportunities,” added Prof. Mugisha.
In his address to Staff, Graduate and Undergraduate students who attended the Public Lecture, Mr. Momar Nguer outlined Africa’s continued economic growth, A burgeoning Middle Class and An improved economic environment resulting from Good Governance as three main reasons why he believes in Africa. According to Nguer, Africa is the continent that has it all. “This continent has a healthy growth rate, which economists say is characterized by a decrease in the dependency ratio. Investment in Africa is key as the Government cannot accommodate all the youngsters coming from Universities, who are over 40,000 annually in most countries,” observed Mr. Nguer.
“Government has to create an enabling environment for companies to operate. If you take the example of mobile payments, what we are doing in Africa is unmatched anywhere else in the world. Africa is taking the lead and this is a good demonstration of the potential of business in Africa if the environment continues to allow. We cannot be the ones lagging behind all the time. We should not allow this,” he asserted, further adding “We need to set the pace in some domains. The rest of the world has not seen us yet.”
Nguer revealed that Total Uganda will during the course of 2014 roll out a Young Entrepreneur Initiative to facilitate the creation of Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) to help Graduates create their own businesses, as is done in South East Asia and the United States. “We need to give hope to our people. It is not about leaving it to Governments alone. As Total Uganda, we intend to launch an initiative on young 
entrepreneurship,” he explained. He called upon Government to prioritize agriculture as a backbone for Africa. “Each of us should think of things that benefit the entire continent. Why subsidize fuel and not fertilizers?” he wondered.
Commenting about the potential of oil in Uganda, Vice President Nguer asserted that Uganda currently enjoys a coveted position and needs to take full advantage of it. “Uganda is lucky to be the first country in the region to be producing oil. She can take the lead and be a reference point as the country with experts on oil for the region. Right now Uganda may not have the expertise but will certainly do so in the next 5 – 10 years as more citizens get grounded in the industry. That is what Uganda should be striving for,” he said.
Mr. Nguer also reiterated Total’s commitment to exploitation of alternative sources of energy. “Total has acquired SunPower on of the biggest Solar Companies and won the contract to build a 70MW solar plant in Chile. We also launched the Awango Solar Lamp which provides up to 6 hours of lighting for rural areas and although our target was 300,000 units by 2015, we have already surpassed it and our new target is 1million lamps.”
He reinforced Totals’ commitment to partnering with Makerere University through their graduate management training programme that has seen up to forty five fresh graduates train at Total Uganda. In his parting remarks, he counseled the congregation to “Think beyond yourself. Think about your community, country and continent. In that way you will build a lasting legacy,” he concluded.
Article by Marion Alina, Public Relations Office
Makerere University staff have been urged to embrace servant leadership, integrity and compassion as they prepare to welcome students for the 2026/2027 Academic Year.
The call was made during the Makerere University Staff Prayer Breakfast held on 31st July 2026 at St. Francis Students Centre Upper Hall under the theme “Faithful Stewards: A Servant Heart with Integrity and Wisdom,” drawn from Colossians 3:23–24 and Mark 10:35–45.
The prayer breakfast brought together members of Council, University Management, academic, and administrative staff to dedicate the new academic year to God while reflecting on their responsibility of serving students with excellence, humility and integrity.
A Call to Seek God’s Wisdom
Host Rev. Dr. Lydia Nsaale Kitayimbwa reminded staff that no amount of professional experience or academic expertise can replace God’s guidance.
She noted that the University’s mission can only be fulfilled when staff continually seek God’s wisdom in serving students and one another.
“There is no amount of experience or expertise that can replace God’s wisdom.”
Rev. Dr. Kitayimbwa observed that students remain the reason universities exist and challenged staff to approach their work as a calling rather than merely employment.
“Without students, there is no university,” she said, encouraging members of staff to remain united, avoid unhealthy competition and trust God as they begin another academic year.
She further urged staff to become faithful stewards who work together in harmony, which she summed up as, “United we stand; divided we fall.”
A Community, Not Just a Centre of Research
In her remarks, Dean of Students Dr. Winnie Kabumbuli welcomed the Council Chairperson, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and Members of Management to the breakfast, and reminded staff that a university’s value cannot be measured by research and innovation alone.
She described Makerere as a community held together by the spiritual as well as academic wellbeing of its people, and called on staff to renew their commitment to one another as much as to the institution they serve.
Draw Inspiration From Stewardship
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Prof. Sarah Ssali told staff that this year’s breakfast carried special significance.
“This is the first prayer breakfast we are having ever since we launched our strategic plan,” she said, referring to the University’s new Strategic Plan, launched on 2nd July 2026.
She encouraged staff to hold on to the morning’s reflections as a guide for implementing the plan over the next five years, describing Makerere as an institution many families choose above all others for the vision and training it offers their children. She urged staff to see themselves as stewards of that trust rather than simply employees carrying out a job.
Compassion and Discipline Must Go Together
Delivering her remarks, Makerere University Council Chairperson Dr. Lorna Magara challenged staff to strike a balance between compassion and discipline when dealing with students.
She observed that many students face different personal and academic challenges, making encouragement and timely support essential throughout their university journey.
“A word of encouragement can restore hope and prevent costly mistakes,” she noted.
Dr. Lorna encouraged lecturers and administrators to respond promptly to students’ concerns, explaining that delays, insensitive decisions and abuse of authority can discourage students and negatively affect their academic experience.
She reminded staff that students often remember how they were treated long after they have forgotten what was taught in class.
“Students may eventually forget what we teach them, but they will always remember how we treated them.”
She added that education goes beyond transferring knowledge.
“Education is more than knowledge. We communicate life, character and values.”
Quoting Mark 10, Dr. Lorna called upon staff to embrace servant leadership by exercising authority with humility, integrity and accountability.
She encouraged members of staff to ask themselves whether they would treat every student the same way ashey would treat their own child.
“We may not always have all the answers,” she said, “but we can communicate honestly, take responsibility and treat every student with dignity.”
She concluded by urging different colleges and administrative units to work together instead of operating in isolation, noting that unity strengthens the University community.
Referring to Galatians 6:2, she reminded staff to carry one another’s burdens and remain faithful stewards of the responsibility entrusted to them.
Servant Leadership Begins with Faithfulness
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. James Magara, husband to Dr. Lorna Magara, called on members of staff to embrace servant leadership grounded in humility, faithfulness and service to others.
Drawing from Mark 10:35–45, Dr. Magara reflected on the account in which James and John asked Jesus for positions of honour in His kingdom, prompting discontent among the other disciples. He observed that despite walking closely with Christ, the disciples continued to struggle with the desire for status and recognition. He noted that such competition remained evident even during the Last Supper, where concerns over positions and prominence persisted.
Dr. Magara said that Jesus responded to these human tendencies by redefining leadership through service rather than authority. He described Christ’s act of washing the disciples’ feet as the ultimate demonstration of servant leadership, explaining that genuine leaders are willing to undertake even the humblest responsibilities in service of others.
Referencing Philippians 2, he urged staff to emulate Christ’s humility and selflessness, contrasting it with the pride and self-exaltation illustrated in Isaiah 14. He emphasised that lasting influence and greatness are not measured by titles, positions or recognition, but by one’s willingness to serve faithfully and put the needs of others before personal ambition.
Drawing on his own leadership journey spanning several decades, Dr. Magara challenged leaders across the University to cultivate humility, integrity and a servant heart in the execution of their responsibilities. He cautioned that leadership driven by pride and personal ambition undermines both individual effectiveness and institutional progress, whereas servant leadership strengthens organisations and fosters lasting impact.
The prayer breakfast concluded with a call for unity and collective commitment as Makerere University prepares to begin a new academic year. Organisers noted that the reflections on stewardship, integrity and servant leadership would provide a strong foundation for the University community as it advances the implementation of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
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