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Pakasa Forum Advises Mak Students on Self-Employment
The Chief Executive Officer of Nice House of Plastics and Chairperson of Uganda Manufacturer Association, Ms Barbara Mulwana, has advised university students to engage in innovative ways of job creation. This was during the 9th Pakasa Forum held on Thursday 11th October 2018; to give young entrepreneurs skills on how to start business and survive in a competitive business environment. Organized under the theme Unlocking Students’ Potential, the 9th PAKASA Forum was hosted by the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Makerere University and Vision Group Ltd.
Speaking to thousands of students in the CoBAMS Auditorium, Ms. Barbara Mulwana who was the keynote speaker of the day said that young people should believe in starting small, with the available financial means and lay strategies for purposes of growth in business. According to Ms. Mulwana, innovation is key in running a successful enterprise. She therefore urged students to always think outside the box and be innovative so as to be job creators.
“Have values for your business, remember that success takes time and there is no short cut. Part of what makes entrepreneurs fail both in the short and long run is thinking that they always have to venture into something that has been explored by several other entrepreneurs who have actually secured the biggest share of the market,” she stated.
The Deputy Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation Lt. Gen. Charles Angina encouraged students to explore the virgin sector of Agricultural Tourism and tap into the opportunities of branding and packaging agricultural products. He also noted that students need to be organised into dynamic, loyal, visionary groups ready to give accountability in order to secure government funds for their projects.
“Stop despising Agri-businesses because agriculture is one of the key drivers of Uganda’s economy and a lucrative venture,” he added.
The Chief Executive Officer, Vision Group Mr. Robert Kabushenga, urged students to embrace the business world and prepare themselves of the future where more technology than human labour will be required to do work. He appealed to students to be open-minded, think creatively, have empathy and be innovative.
The Principal CoBAMS, Dr. Eria Hisali appreciated the idea of engaging students in business and entrepreneurship talks, saying that said that such initiatives link students to successful entrepreneurs who can uplift their potential.
He thanked Vision Group and other partners for the support they offered to organize the Pakasa Forum and called for continued support to all Makerere University’s activities.
The Pakasa Forum Panelists also included:
- Ms. Grace Nalugwa, the Co-founder of St. Lawrence Infant school Kagoma and winner of the 2016 Pakasa Entrepreneurship awards. She is a founding member and General Secretary of Nurture Entrepreneurship Uganda an umbrella body for all Pakasa Awardees.
- Ms. Namara Ruth pursing a Bachelors in Business Administration specializing in Entrepreneurship at Makerere University. Ms. Namara works in a family owned bakery, which she has been a part of since she was 15 years old. She started her own micro business known as Friends Confectionery which she has since expanded through social media marketing. She has been able to pay her hostel fees and provide school requirements for her siblings through this micro business.
- Mr. Ezra Kirigwajjo, pursuing a Bachelor in Business Administration specializing in Entrepreneurship at Makerere University. He is a jack of all trades and has been able to use his experience from a family owned butchery to start up several micro businesses. The businesses of employ 4 staff members and range from a poultry farm with over 1000 birds, a gaming center, a video library to a restaurant.
The 9th Pakasa Forum will be crowned by the 3rd Annual Entrepreneurship Students Expo at the Makerere University Freedom Square on Friday, 12th October 2018. The Expo will enhance students’ learning and application of knowledge. Over 1,500 university students are expected to showcase innovative ideas grouped under 200 businesses.
Article by: Rachael Kanyi and Esther Joyce Nakibombo, Communication Volunteers-Mak Public Relations Office
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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