General
Prof. Kagonyera urges students to fight ignorance
The former Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Mondo Kagonyera has challenged University students to take on the mantle of leadership in the fight against ignorance in various communities.
“For development to surface on the African continent, leaders have to resolve ignorance first since it is the sole cause of all African problems,” Prof. Kagonyera said.
Citing Congo as a basic example, the Professor said that the country is endowed with a lot of mineral resources, yet its population is faced with massive poverty characterized by starvation, disease and high mortality rate.
The Professor was on Thursday (29th June,2017) speaking to over 250 students under the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University during the closure of the five-day leadership camp at Katomi Kingdom Resort Hotel in Entebbe.
He asked scholars to be disciplined and focused in order to succeed in future. “A career only makes sense when the individual is disciplined,” Kagonyera said.
Kagonyera who is currently the Chancellor of Kabale University was instrumental in the negotiations that led to the implementation of MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
The former Chancellor cautioned students not to engage in strikes, advising them to always use dialogue in the face of challenges.
“As an advocate for child education, I am excited to see over 300 academically talented but disadvantaged youths benefiting from the scholarship” he added.
Speaking at the same event, Dr Florence Nakayiwa the Coordinator MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, cautioned students against laxity in their education.
Dr. Nakayiwa appreciated the efforts of Scholars who represented MasterCard Foundation and Makerere University at the 2017 BAOBAB Summit and Social Venture Challenge in Johannesburg and another group from Edinburgh University.
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program annually organizes a scholars’ conference where transformative leaders across the African continent meet to discuss issues affecting the different countries.
She urged Scholars to be selfless and give a hand to the helpless, get involved in community service which is a basic element of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program.
The Leadership Camp organized under the theme of “Positioning The Scholars for Leadership, Career and Commitment to Change” saw the awarding of certificates of attendance and merit to distinguished and transformative student leaders.
One of the Scholars, Mustefa Abdirahman Kawsar, on behalf of the students’ fraternity appreciated MasterCard Foundation for the vital support and promised to utilize the opportunity given to transform her country-Somalia.
Story by: Marion Apio-MCF Scholar/Student of Journalism and Communication, MAK
Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.
The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.
Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.
After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.
Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.
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