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 (29^th 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