General
Prof. Nawangwe applauds the partnership between Makerere University & Mastercard Foundation
By Bernard Buteera
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has applauded the partnership that exists between Makerere University and Mastercard Foundation. He said this during the Networking luncheon he hosted in honour of Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Makerere, who won the Resolution Fellowship project at Baobab summit in Kigali.
“Mastercard Foundation is one of the biggest partners for Makerere University and we are so proud of this partnership which has borne a lot of fruit” Prof. Nawangwe said.
The Vice Chancellor thanked the Scholars of Mastercard Foundation for being creative and innovative, and for making Uganda and Makerere University proud, when they won 6 out of the 9 Resolution projects that were given grants at the Baobab summit in Kigali.
“I would like to thank the young people whom we are celebrating today, who made me proud as the Vice Chancellor of Makerere, when they swept almost all the awards at the global stage” Prof. Nawangwe said. He further revealed that during the summit in Kigali, they kept reading Makerere University during the awarding of projects, and at some point he pretended not to be happy, because he was in the company of other Vice Chancellors, but inside of him he was beaming with joy.
”The Resolution social venture projects are extremely important in many ways; Firstly, they encourage young people to be creative and innovative, so that they are able to come with initiatives and projects, which enable them to create their own jobs, instead of moving around looking for jobs which have become fewer, while the population is growing.” Prof. Nawangwe emphasised.
On his part, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, and also the Chairperson of the Steering Committee of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, Prof. Umar Kakumba, applauded Mastercard Foundation for the support it renders to young people not only in Uganda and Makerere University, but also all over the world.
Prof. Kakumba further enumerated the different initiatives Mastercard Foundation at Makerere University which had created profound effect to the young people in Africa and Uganda in particular.
“As a country and specifically as Makerere University, we cannot run away from the idea of developing young people, because they are the current and next generation of leaders, innovators and change makers. We have a duty to skill, mentor and provide them with the continuous capacity to innovate and create economic opportunities for themselves and other young people.” Prof. Kakumba said.
Prof. Kakumba called upon the Makerere University community to emulate what Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program was doing in terms training and skilling the young people at Makerere University.
”The rest of the university faculty should emulate what Mastercard Foundation ScholarsProgram was doing, for instance every student of Makerere University should have a mentor, and also undergo entrepreneurship training.” Prof. Kakumba pointed out.
Prof. Kakumba further revaled that going forward Makerere University was going to adopt a strategy where the University would make Entrepreneurship as a first choice career pathway.
”We are all aware of the challenges of youth unemployment in Africa and Uganda in particular. As an institution of learning, Makerere University needs to normalize entrepreneurship as a first choice career pathway for all the graduates.” Prof. Kakumba said.
The Country Director, Mastercard Foundation – Uganda, Mr. Adrian Bukenya, revealed the Foundation was happy with the partnership with Makerere University, which dates back to 2013 with the establishment of the Scholars Program.
”Mastercard Foundation is proud of the partnership with Makerere University, which began with the Scholars Program in 2013, that has educated and empowered over 1000 young people to study at Makerere University.” Mr. Bukenya said.
Mr. Bukenya pointed out that the Foundation was happy to support young people beyond the Scholars Program, to ensute that every young person transitions to diginified and fullfilling work.
”As a Foundation we want a world where young people are included and are thriving and their leadership and contributions matter. A future where young people are driving transformative change and achieving their full potential.” Mr. Bukenya said.
Ms. Pauline Gangla,the Head of the Scholars Program, Eastern and Southern Africa Partner Network at Mastercard Foundation, thanked Makerere University for both the academic and entrepreneurship the university had imparted on the Scholars of Mastercard Foundation.
“I would like to thank the University for the Academic Support and entrepreneurship training given to the Scholars of Mastercard Foundation, here at Makerere University. During the summit it was evident in the way the Scholars pitched their projects, the level of confidence they exhibited was very high.” Ms. Gangla revealed.
Ms. Gangla pointed out that the Foundation was very keen on safe guarding measures, to ensure safety and security of the young in the University.
“The Foundation was keen on safe guarding measures, where there is zero tolerance to any form of misconduct against young people. Young people should be treated with respect and dignity within the University and their communities.” Ms. Gangla pointed out.
Prof. Justine Namaalwa, the Program Coordinator, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, thanked the University and the Foundation for the visionary partnership which has created profound impact in the University and the country in general.
“We are here to celebrate innovation and creativity exhibited by Mastercard Foundation Scholars over time since 2017, when Scholars started competing in the Resolution Venture Challenge, and all these are fruits of the visionary partnership between Mastercard Foundation and Makerere University.” Prof. Namaalwa revealed.
Prof. Namaalwa pointed out the Scholars Program at Makerere University was proud of the 21 Resolution Social Venture (SVC) projects and 46 Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund (SEF) which Scholars has established and were making profound impact in their communities. She further revealed that projects had created both personal social development for the Scholars and their communities. She thanked the Vice Chancellor and the entire management, the Steering Committee, the Mentors and all other stakeholders who had supported scholars to grow their projects.
Bernard Buteera is the Communications Officer, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
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