General
Mindset Education can Fast Track Uganda’s Development – Dr. Hun Mok Lee
The Secretary General of the International Youth Fellowship (IYF), Dr. Hun Mok Lee has assured the Makerere Community that Mindset Education (ME) holds the key to fast tracking Uganda’s National Development from the present state to the first world. His assurance was based on the pivotal role played by ME in South Korea’s own miraculous growth and transformation from a GDP Per Capita of US$ 79 in 1963 to the current US $ 35,000. He made the remarks at a meeting with members of Top Management on 9th September 2022 in the Council Room, Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility (CTF).
Mind Education, he said, is built upon the three tenets of;
- Development of the ability to think deeply,
- Formation of a strong heart, and
- Cohesion through exchange.
Delving deeper into each tenet, Dr. Lee shared that Korean companies such as Samsung, LG and Hyundai that had previously treasured candidates with high Intelligence Quotient (IQ) were gradually moving over to those with high Emotional Quotient (EQ). Candidates with high EQ, he said, have the ability to think deeply, exercise self-control, consider others better than themselves, stay humble and put the needs of others before their own.
A strong heart, he continued, was the key to living a happy and healthy life. “Through the Mind Education, if you grow the immunity of the heart or if you make your heart become strong, it won’t be that you don’t have difficulties, you will have difficulties but you will overcome them” he counselled, adding that “rather than not having a problem, it is better to have the problem and have the power to defeat it.”
Dr. Lee added that South Korea has also applied ME to the field of sports with amazing results. The application of ME, he said, is the reason why players like Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min jointly claimed the 2021/22 English Premier League Golden Boot prize alongside Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. Other feats he shared included South Korea’s second place finish in the FIFA U-20 World Cup held 2019 in Poland. Originally perceived as underdogs, the team was not expected to progress past the group stages. And so it was extremely shocking when they went all the way to the finals, eventually losing 3-1 to Ukraine.
He then took this as the perfect opportunity to share one of Michelangelo, the famous Italian painter, sculptor and poet’s quotes.
“The greatest danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.ā
ā Michelangelo Buonarroti
On the third tenet of cohesion through exchange, Dr. Lee shared the mystery behind the California redwood, a tree that rises to heights of over 110 metres, lives for over 2,000 years and yet has roots less than three metres deep.
“The roots of the redwood stick together” said Dr. Lee emphatically. “And so they hold one another, they share the nutrition together, live 3,000 years and they do not fall over during the hurricane” he further described.
Based on the above tenets, the Secretary General without hesitation described Mind Education as the single most powerful force behind the transformation of South Korea from a poor agricultural country into highly industrialised nation.
“In South Korea, we do not have even one single coffee tree, but how did we become the world’s third largest exporter of coffee?” he asked, pausing for a second before quickly answering “We imported the coffee beans from Africa and begun to think deeply, and made them into a coffee product that we export to Europe, America and the Middle East.”
“We don’t even have one single drop of petroleum,” he continued. “We import crude oil from the Middle East, refine it into many petroleum products and export them – we are ranked number one in the world” explained Dr. Lee, further driving his point on the benefits industrialisation home.
His most profound example of the day was Thomas Alva Edison, famously known for inventing the light bulb. Described as having “an intellectual disability” by his childhood teachers, the turning point for Edison, shared Dr. Lee, was when his mother, upon receiving this report from her son’s school refused to describe him as such, and instead convinced him that he was a genius.
“He was the genius of the geniuses. Which university do you think he graduated from? From Harvard University? Oxford University? No way. With the mindset, he is the one who invented the most in human history… misery and happiness is made from the heart. If you receive Mind Education, you can change.” concluded Dr. Lee.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe in his remarks thanked Dr. Hun Mok Lee for his visit and insightful presentation, noting that South Korea’s first class infrastructure and facilities are proof that investing in Mind Education pays off. He added that Makerere as the top University has the responsibility to prove to the rest of the country that ME indeed works.
“We must begin somewhere and move fast. Dr. Lee’s presentation showed that it was after 30 years of changing the education system that the economy finally took off and so we must appreciate that it takes some time” added Prof. Nawangwe.
The Dean, School of Psychology Assoc. Prof. Grace M. Kibanja thanked the Secretary General for his enlightening presentation and the IYF Uganda office for the support and good working relationship over the years. Giving a brief history of the collaboration, she shared that the two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 8th February 2016, under the Deanship of Prof. Peter K. Baguma.
The MoU was aimed at facilitating; joint youth development, annual youth camps, workshops, voluntary community activities especially training youth through district leadership and teaching Mind Education. As a result, the National Mind Education Programme was launched at the Freedom Square on 30th July 2017 and subsequently, Rev. Dr. Ock Soo Park, the IYF Founder was hosted by Makerere University in 2019.
“In the same year, we piloted the Mind Education Programme at the School of Psychology with the Bachelor of Industrial and Organisational Psychology intake of 2019/2020… the feedback from these students revealed that indeed, there is a lot that changes in them as individuals when they go through these trainings” testified Assoc. Prof. Kibanja.
The staff have not been left out either. On 6th November 2020 Makerere University hosted a virtual Mind Education Workshop for staff, where the IYF Founder, Rev. Dr. Ock Soo Park delivered the keynote address. His concluding message then was, “leave behind your first level of thought and try to embrace deep thinking. If you go about life thinking deeply, you will live a blessed glorious lifeā
The proposed Mind Education Programme course has been passed by the School of Psychology Academic Board. A stakeholders workshop is being organised to receive feedback before the final curriculum is submitted for approval. The Mind Education Programme, it is envisaged, will be a crosscutting course tenable at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
On the evening of Friday, 13th February 2026, the Scholars of Mastercard Foundation embraced the new semester with enthusiasm and celebration, showcasing their rich cultural diversity at the annual cultural dinner. This event not only fostered a sense of community but also highlighted the importance of cultural exchange and understanding among the scholars. The purpose of the cultural dinner is to foster unity in diversity within the Scholars community and to enable young people to appreciate and respect each otherās cultural differences.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars community at Makerere University is a vibrant tapestry of countries, cultures, and backgrounds. In recognition of this richness, the Program team has proposed organising an annual cultural dinner to kick off each new semester. This event aims to achieve several important objectives:
- Promote mutual understanding and cross-cultural appreciation among Scholars.
- Celebrate and highlight the unique cultural identities within our community.
- Encourage confidence and creativity through a dynamic talent showcase.
- Foster a sense of unity and excitement as we embark on the new academic semester together.
During the event, the Scholars proudly showcased their diverse cultures through a vibrant display of traditional attire, engaging dances, delectable dishes, and meaningful expressions in their native languages. The event showcased a rich tapestry of cultures, including the Baganda from Central Uganda; the Banyankore, Bakiga, Batooro, and Banyoro from Western Uganda; the Acholi from the North; the Karamojong from the Northeast; and the Basoga and Bagisu from the Eastern region, among many other indigenous tribes in Uganda. Additionally, attendees enjoyed cultural performances from South Sudan, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, celebrating the unique heritage of each community.
The event also featured a vibrant showcase of cultural attire, accompanied by traditional songs and dances. Attendees enjoyed cultural dress modelling, engaging performances, art displays, and interactive quizzes, culminating in exciting prizes awarded to outstanding performers. This diverse array of activities contributed to a rich celebration of creativity and cultural exchange.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University is committed to fostering holistic development, community building, and leadership among Scholars. At the start of each semester, the Program Team hosts a cultural dinner to reconnect the Scholars community, share key Program updates, and create an inclusive space to strengthen belonging and engagement. The cultural dinner is a critical platform for raising awareness of the need to appreciate and respect cultural diversity.
Bernard Buteera is the Principal Communications Officer for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
More Photos from the Dinner
The degree of attentiveness was at its peak in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility (CTF) Auditorium as Ms. Janet Nabukeera addressed support staff during a Safeguarding and Inclusion training. Her words were firm, direct and reflective. Ms. Nabukeera, the Deputy Human Resource Officer in charge of Performance and Payroll, emphasized that a negative attitude in the workplace creates a toxic environment where colleagues feel hesitant to collaborate or share ideas.
āAvoid unnecessary confrontations with colleagues because jealousy and anger destroy more than they build. When you hold grudges at work, you slowly burden your own heart and mind. Stress can take a toll on your health and productivity. Safeguard yourself by choosing peace, love yourself first and extend that same grace and respect to others.ā Ms Nabukeera, cautioned.
The training attracted over 300 Support Staff Members, including Security Personnel, Cleaners, Hall Attendants, Administrative Assistants, Librarians, and Laboratory Support Teams from across the University.
In his remarks, Dr. Rodney Rugyema, the Acting Principal Warden, urged staff to have a positive attitude towards their jobs and encouraged them to ensure that students, fellow staff and visitorās feel safe, respected and protected.
āYou are the eyes and ears of the University, while you may not deliver lectures, you are often the first to notice when something is wrong. So you have to promote an environment free from bullying, discrimination, neglect and intimidation. You have to ensure secure hostels, well-lit walkways, functioning locks and safe laboratory environments,ā Dr Rugyema, said.
Makerere University has a duty of care to do no harm and promote the wellbeing of all students, staff, and other University community stakeholders. It seeks to enhance the learning environment to make it more secure, inclusive, and ethically sound for all stakeholders.
The Makerere University Safeguarding Policy lays out the Universityās framework for embedding viable safeguarding measures into its ethos and all institutional activities and processes to: Identify, detect, and swiftly act on safeguarding risks; prevent the occurrence of harm; provide mechanisms for reporting all allegations or incidents that have occurred; respond appropriately to all reported incidences; and, continuously monitor, evaluate and learn from practices and experiences of managing safeguarding concerns.
Ā āSafeguarding is not only for lecturers or University Management, it is everyoneās responsibility, If you have someone mistreating you, or you come across any risk, do not suffer in silence report through the MakSafeSpace,ā Dr Rugyema, said.
The MakSafeSpace is the e-reporting platform complimenting the other University traditional reporting channels. It is an inclusive platform that provides for confidential modes of reporting safeguarding risks and incidences.
As the session concluded, there was a renewed understanding among participants that safeguarding is a collective duty. From the security guard at the gate to the cleaner in the Hall of Residence, it was clear that every staff member contributes to creating a safe and respectful learning environment.
To involve and create opportunities for students and staff members with disabilities, Light for the World Uganda trained the support staff to become inclusion champions.
Mr. Musa Mwambu, the Disability Inclusion Advisor at Light for the World Uganda, called upon staff to remove barriers limiting the full participation of students and colleagues with disabilities, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
āJust like any other person, people with disabilities have the right to education, health, and protection. Society has the duty to remove barriers that block participation. When barriers are removed, disability no longer limits opportunity,ā Mr. Mwambu noted.
Drawing from his own lived experience as a person with a disability, he shared how access to the right support systems enables him to communicate effectively and perform daily tasks.
āIt is about putting the right conditions in place to participate fully in society. We need multi-stakeholder collaboration to remove barriers and achieve an inclusive society,ā he said.
Justine Namuddu, the Support Staff representative on the Makerere University Council, thanked the organizers for the insightful workshop. She reminded fellow staff that Makerere University is a home for everyone and urged them to take care of it.
āFellow members, as you carry out your duties, ensure that you observe both emotional and intellectual safety. Before sharing information, first verify whether it is true. Safety is being at peace with yourself and with others,ā Namuddu emphasized.
She also encouraged younger staff members to take advantage of educational opportunities provided by the University, noting that those who wish to continue with their studies may apply for tuition waivers.
The training concluded with reminders on professionalism and accountability. Staff were encouraged to consistently use the Biometric Attendance Management System to capture attendance accurately. With biometric clock-in devices installed at reception areas across the Main and Satellite campuses, the Directorate of Human Resources can monitor attendance in real time, while staff can keep track of hours worked.
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