General
Ambassador Arikana Chihombori tasks African Youth Leaders to re-unite Africa
By Ritah Namisango
“We are at war-an economic war; we are also at war with our own mind. Wake up Africa, have a conversation with the image in the mirror and what you believe. We have to continuously and constantly remind ourselves that we have this ailment and we were programmed to feel inferior. That is the part of mind and a continuous battle. You and the image in the mirror are the only ones who can decide whether it is a battle that you are determined to win,” H.E Ambassador Dr. Arikana Chihombori Quao tasked the youth and student leaders at a cross-generational Fireside Conversation (Ekyooto) organized by Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) at Makerere University on July 26th 2023.
The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) is named after a great Pan-Africanist and former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere. The Centre, established as a Presidential Initiative, was launched on October 6th 2018 to honor his legacy as a true African leader and activist. The Centre was expected to spearhead intergenerational dialogues on African history and the study of Africa’s revolutionary movements. As a knowledge and research hub, the Centre was to provide a platform for distinguished African intellectuals, scholars and other accomplished Africans to share, nurture, mentor, challenge and account to the next generation of African leaders.
Delivering the keynote speech, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao reflected on the past ideas and current leaders’ ideals to build Africa’s self-sustenance. While sharing with the vibrant young minds at ‘Ekyooto’ about the gift of the African Continent, the Ambassador emphasised the need to go back to the genesis and root of why Africa is where it is today. In her view, we can never know where we are going if we don’t know where we come from.
H.E Ambassador Dr. Arikana Chihombori Quao is a medical doctor, public speaker, educator, an entrepreneur and a staunch Pan African Activist who originates from Chivu, Zimbabwe, but based in the United States of America (USA). She served as the African Union representative to the United States of America (USA), 2017-2019.
“Brothers and sisters, let us try to understand that Africa is a tree of life. It reminds me about how this great African continent was and is the mother of humanity and life. Let us have a deep understanding of the issues of the root and not waste time to only understand the issues above the ground. Much as they matter too, the most fundamental issue is to understand the matters of the root on this African tree of life, because if we don’t, we will continue to fight about the issues above the ground of this African tree of life,” said the Ambassador.
Ambassador Arikana expressed the need for Africans to understand the root cause of Africa’s ailment, which would put the continent in a better position to strategise and push back against the Western and now the Eastern worlds which have systematically strategised to keep Africa in a position that leaves it prone to further exploitation.
“The question is, what happened to this beautiful, once vibrant African tree of life? We have to get back to the time when we were invaded by the West. They came and found an amazing continent and took away whatever they could. They wondered about how on earth they could conquer such a people. So, they decided to put in place certain fundamental root causes of African destruction. According to Dr. Arikana, they are the same people who set up the stage on how to destroy us systematically.”
Describing how the West strategised to destroy and conquer Africa, she mentioned six (6) strategies that included religion, colonization, slavery, foreign aid, trade policy and multinationals. She revealed that the six (6) strategies were used to brainwash Africans, capture their minds and to make them feel inferior, in addition to dissolving the African culture. “When the missionaries come to Africa, they had a mission to brainwash Africans. They were instructed to teach the Africans how to read, but not to reason. They were trained to systematically abuse and mistreat Africans in a way that could easily lead them into submission. They used religion to brainwash us,” she explained.
Talking about the mindset, the Ambassador explained that Whites used slavery as a destructive tool and trained slave owners to use the slaves’ bodies to control their minds. She said that once you mistreat the body, the mind is affected and once you control the minds, you put them on an automatic pathway to self-destruction. She added that these days, Africans continue to suffer due to the legacy of colonialism. Most of them believe that they cannot perform as those who don’t look like them. This makes Africans to feel inferior, a belief and practice that has been going on for centuries. Ambassador Arikana disclosed that Whites and colonialists defeated us with our own minds, adding that Africans should remember that the battle for us to gain our economic liberation starts with the mind.
She pointed out that the battle for true liberation must go on and for that to happen, the Africans especially the youth must be empowered with knowledge, facts and the truth. She advocated for serious conversations with the image in the mirror and begin to understand that we feel the way we do because we were systematically put in that position. The Ambassador stressed that we all have the responsibility to recreate and rebuild Africa to where it once was when we ruled the world. This is a warfare that the entire African community should embrace.
She reiterated that no one should ever tell us that we are not good enough. No one should let us feel inferior because we are the mothers and fathers of humanity. It is a fact that without the black man and woman, there would be no life and humanity. She stated that the Whites also realised that the gene for blackness is the only dominant gene, a finding that scared them the most.
“So, their fear of a black man and woman is real which proves that we are indestructible. Once we know all these facts, we shall never feel inferior. In fact, we should be standing tall and proclaim to the world who we are; the proud, beautiful, intelligent, sophisticated, highly adaptable and above all, totally indestructible,” the Ambassador firmly stated.
Ambassador Arikana spoke about the implications of the Berlin Conference that took place in Berlin, Germany, in 1884 on the African continent. She lectured about the outcome of the divisions on the continent of Africa that left many families, communities and kingdoms separated. She disclosed that these divisions explain the causes of some of Africa’s problems that are still in effect today. She then advocated for the reunification of Africa.
Sharing experiences and historical facts, Mr. Damian Courtland Cook, the Vice to the Ambassador, pointed out that the Whites used slavery to control Africans with a program they used to manipulate the mindset of young Africans. He disclosed to the student leaders and African youth at the Fireside Conversation (Ekyooto) that the Whites conducted a program within the plantations. “When new slaves would arrive at the plantation, they would take the strongest black man, tie him up and put him between two horses. They would take the females and line them up, preferably the pregnant ones or ones with young children. They would then rip this man apart to psychologically create a disturbing program in the mind of a child, they would then take all the men there and beat them half to death. These acts caused the mother to keep the child from becoming a dominant child and that was the intention of the program.”
Having stayed in Africa especially in Zimbabwe, Mr. Damian Cook has known and seen the beauty of this great continent of Africa. He wondered why the West chose to portray a wrong image of Africa and whether they should still be called White. He said, “The image that Whites shed about Africa is not real, what is being given by the media is so different from the truth. The stories that were supposed to be told were not told to us about Africa, and the truth was never said. We only received images of young Africans found dirty and wandering around with flies, asking for donations. What was troubling was that the person asking for donations for these African children was a white person! If we say white, in our instincts we think of something pure, which is not the case here.”
Mr. Cook added that we have the brains and we should focus on bridging the technology gap for us to unite this continent. He said that the program is running in us, therefore, we must first recognize that there is a problem, and once we do so, then we must monitor it. He also advocated for the love and trust for each other.
“Why do we not trust one another? Why do we not trust our brothers and sisters, why do we not love each other, why are we so divided? We were programmed that way, it’s a program which is like a computer program. When it runs, it won’t stop unless you are aware of it, it will run, move you and you will think that it is your own fault. Mr. Cook said that these are thoughts that were planted in Africans.”
In her remarks, Dr. Suzie Nansozi Muwanga, the Executive Director, JNLC revealed that the Fireside conversations (Ekyooto) will be a great tool to bring together young and old people. Most importantly, the fireside conversations will awaken the minds of the youth to work on the image in the mirror. She advised the youth about the importance of self-discipline, the ability to hold themselves accountable and to always look out for their sister or brother to protect each other’s interests.
The Executive Director stated that “the mindset needs personal commitment. If you can commit yourself as a youth, a leader and an elder and always question and hold yourself accountable, there is no way you can go wrong, especially when you wrap it up with good discipline. All these happen to be in our good cultural norms of Africa,”
Professor Sarah Ssali, an Associate Professor at Makerere University and Dean-School of Women and Gender Studies and JNLC Board Member emphasised the need for Africans to play a part in the definition and re-definition of the narratives about Africa. She said that they have a role to play and the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) provides a place and space they could sit and have these conversations, about what it means for us to be located on the continent at this particular time in history.
Associate Professor Sarah Ssali said “this is a time when we cannot afford to be complaisant, it is a time when we cannot afford to ignore and leave the definition and narratives to others. We are very happy that the JNLC came up with leadership and presidential leadership series.”
Associate Professor Sarah Ssali reiterated the fact that Africa is in an economic war and war of the mind that call for immediate action. She called upon the young and future leaders to stay focused.
She remarked that “much as there is a mind war that we experience individually, there is also a structural plan which shapes and determines what we experience as individuals. As we contemplate, the image in the mirror should not be forgotten.”
In addition, Mrs. Esteri Akandwanaho Muhoozi, a JNLC Board Member emphasised the need for Africans to understand their history and called upon the present generation to write the past roles and make better choices for a united and better sustaining African continent.
“Let us draw on the lessons learned here and those from our past leaders namely Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and we remain resolute in our commitment to make better choices for our continent and families,” she said. Mrs. Esteri Muhoozi noted that this generation has an opportunity and obligation to write these roles and forge a new path towards unity, prosperity and self-sustenance. The wounds of the past are healed; the choices we make now serve as beacons for hope tomorrow.
She added that strategic security plays a paramount role in this pursuit. She believes that if we invest our time and physical resources into Africa, we will be able to safeguard the continent. She articulated the need to be more organized as well as the need for more effort and purpose on our part to use our freedoms to make sense. “Strategic security is something that means that we should protect and ensure that we can secure what we have complete control over. We should then secure our communities which include our minds, children and resources against what we know are the internal and external threats.”
She thanked Dr. Arikana for her dedication to Africa’s progress and commitment to unity, her contribution towards the life journey to the Pan African cause and her inspiring words that ignited a call for action. She also thanked the young and everyday leaders for their devotion to Pan Africanism and raising issues that provided them with the campus to navigate the challenges that lied ahead of Africa. She commended the management and team of JNLC and the entire Makerere University leadership for the tireless work they do in promoting Pan Africanism.
Mr. Andrew Tumusiime, a founding board member of JNLC said he was really honoured to be part of the Fireside conversation (Ekyooto) with Ambassador Arikana. According to Mr. Tumusiime, the JNLC at Makerere University is the best “Pan African Centre currently active on the continent.”
Mr. Tumusiime stated that gathering to talk and reflect on our culture, identity and effective development is a great move and if we need to store and have a strong foundation to tag along and not behind, there is need to move side by side with the women in Africa. In his view, when it comes to Pan African affairs, women have proved that they can stand to be so loyal more than men when it comes to building homes and nations. “Many women especially in West Africa fought the colonialists, some of whom are in history books and never spoken about, but they set a foundation for many of those countries that were liberated.”
In Africa, Mr. Tumusiime noted that culture was the only fortress that had remained. According to Mr. Tumusiime if we start with identifying ourselves as Africans who are brothers and sisters and agree that identity with one another is what’s going to be our next fortress, then that will be the best.” He noted with concern that “some parents do not even wish to give their children African names, but foreign names with hardly a meaning, yet for a long time we have preserved our culture through our names and our stories; it’s now high time we returned to our roots.
Focusing on being young, African and Free, Mr. Jacob Eyeru, the Chair of Uganda National Youth Council said there is more freedom among many young Africans today than ever before. There has never been a connected generation in Africa as they are. They have a privilege of the Internet where they could ably communicate to fellow youth near and far, but the choices of what they speak about, the agenda and direction of the conversations they hold are what still need to be worked on. In that regard, he urged his fellow young Africans to use their freedom to interact on the questions of the generational consequences for Africa.
“As young African leaders, let us challenge ourselves to be a driving force to unite us to the Africa we want. When we talk about agenda 2030, 2063, it is not for our fathers, but for us and our children. We are the future leaders of Africa, not our fathers. So, shall we be speaking of the same challenges that our fore fathers spoke about? Mr. Eyeru remarked that “we need to carry on our own generation in our youthfulness to make Africa a better continent for us and our children.”
He added that young Africans can build a generational consensus to devote sometime away from their economic needs to the needs of the future of Africa in the global space. The globalisation agenda did not start today, it started way back, but is only to the effect that opportunities are brought to the countries that are already ahead of others. That is the globalisation journey and the kind of world of liberalisation that Mwalimu Julius Nyerere spoke about.
Contemplating on the struggles their fore fathers and mothers passed through and the contribution they made in a time when there was no technology like today, Mr. Eyeru felt his generation has not made good use of the freedom and opportunities they have to full capacity in creating a better Africa. He then wondered what the young people now use their freedom for and how they would take Africa to a position where it has to be. He said, that is where his interest has been in the entire term of his leadership.
“Our generation is not organising around the freedom that we have. Everything from around 1960 to about 1980 in Africa was a struggle and people were organising without telephones, internet and other technologies. When Uganda was getting its independence in 1962, the country had less than 100 graduates at University level, but these graduates were talking about what was happening in Apartheid South Africa and how Uganda must contribute. That’s Pan Africanism. Mr. Eyeru concluded that we should also emulate that in our generation, and the freedom to interact we have as young Africans must mean something for the future of our continent.”
H.E. Mariat Namiiro, the Vice Guild President of the 89th Students’ Guild at Makerere University and a vibrant Pan-Africanist revealed that the youth in Africa still lacked the sense of feeling the sense of Africanism in them. She disclosed the need to learn from those leaders who had gone through it and understood Pan Africanism as well as the need for African economic liberation. She said that Africans should start by accepting who they are.
H.E. Namiiro said, “as a young leader, I can stand up for what I believe is right. As an African, I can stand up for Africa because I believe that Africans are the best. In this world of trying to grapple with economic and environment changes and resource challenges, I do believe that we as young leaders have a great role to play. We have a lot to do to ensure sustainable practices that can develop and spread within Africa.”
The Vice Guild President noted that the youth shouldn’t wait to be given authority and leadership positions to feel that they can change Africa to what we want it to be. She thus called upon fellow youth leaders to embrace the mantle of everyday leadership with determination and hope together. This was because she believed that they could create a world where self-sustenance and economic liberation are not just an aspiration to them, but a reality in Africa like how our fore fathers and mothers wanted it to be.
According to Hon. Moses Jok Aluong, an international student from South Sudan and the Minister for International Students in the 89th Students’ Guild at Makerere University, the African youth can leverage their identity with other Africans to better position the continent. Having come from a country with a diversity of identities, 64 tribes in total, he realised that the way they make use of that opportunity as Africans is not the best. They use that diversity of identity to foster vices such as corruption, nepotism and favoritism which he thinks should change.
Hon. Jok said that the African youth should understand that despite the diversity of identity, they have a common background. In his opinion, they can use their history and identify to contribute to self-sustenance in Africa and to rebrand and reshape the narrative of the African Youth, “If I belong to one ethnicity, it does not mean that we are different. It should be more of how we can make good use of this, having come from different backgrounds to better tell our common story as Africans. I believe we as the youth leaders can change that.”
He advised that the youth should embrace and leverage on the available opportunities namely the Internet and other technologies to constructively position themselves. He stressed the point that the youths from other spheres of the world such as China who are making research every day to come up with new inventions are not more intelligent than them. He implored his fellow youth to make use of what they have to better reposition Africa than going with the flow of how the West defines us.
“We have to better position ourselves to make good use of available opportunities to retell our story. We can also emulate countries that have made it yet they were once in the same position with us. These people decided to redefine themselves. We can redefine ourselves by making use of what we have because we have it all. What we need is to put it to good use,” said Hon. Jok.
Wrapping up the Fireside conversation (Ekyooto), the JNLC Executive Director, Dr. Nansozi Muwanga thanked H.E. Ambassador Arikana Chihombori Quao for the wonderful submission to the youth and young leaders as well as her exemplary role as a Pan Africanist. She also commended Makerere University for providing the Centre with the physical space as well as the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) for their consistent support and partnership. Dr. Muwanga equally thanked the young leaders present for their active participation in the Ekyooto – the Fireside conversation.
Ambassador Arikana Chihombori expressed her sincere gratitude for the invitation to Makerere University to speak to the young bright minds and the future African leaders. She believed that the cross-generational conversation presented her with a platform to fulfill her responsibility as an elder by teaching the youth and young leaders the truth.
The Ambassador gifted JNLC with copies of one of her famous books titled “Africa 101: The Wake Up Call.” The book is about the “hunters” and the “hunted.” The hunters are Africa’s exploiters, slavers, colonizers, and neo-colonisers, and the hunted are the African people who have survived against severe odds. In this book, Ambassador Arikana confirms that the hunt is still ongoing and calls on Africans and people of African descent all over the world to rise up in defense of Africa-our beloved continent.
The front cover states, “Wake up from the slumber of 400 years, free yourself from the mental shackles of colonialisation and slavery, black lives matter, I can’t breathe, get off my neck.” This book contains the naked truth that our children must read. Every chapter is a subject matter. It will make you think deep about what is really going on in Africa. Ambassador Arikana said: “So, this is my gift to the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC).”
General
JNLC Leadership Symposium Equips Young Leaders for Responsible and Transformative Leadership
The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC), in partnership with Makerere University, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Uganda Management Institute (UMI), hosted a symposium to equip young leaders with the skills needed to serve their communities effectively, promote accountability, build public trust, and contribute to Uganda’s social and economic development.
Held on 22 September 2026 at Makerere University, the symposium focused on the theme of leadership beyond the ballot and targeted newly elected leaders at various levels of government. To provide a balanced perspective, the event brought together experienced leaders from different sectors, including government officials, Members of Parliament, local government leaders, cultural leaders, academics, and university student leaders.
The symposium featured presentations and a series of panel discussions involving leaders from diverse sectors and disciplines. The sessions created space for the free exchange of ideas and experiences in a relaxed and engaging setting.
Embrace Service and Build a Lasting Legacy
Dr Suzie Nansozi K. Muwanga, Executive Director of the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre, urged the newly elected young leaders to view leadership as a responsibility to serve communities, create opportunities for others, and build a lasting legacy.
“At the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre, we believe that leadership is ultimately about service,” Dr Muwanga said. She invited participants to reflect on the kind of leadership their communities need and how they can use their positions to empower others.
While congratulating the young leaders on their election, Dr Muwanga reminded them that their mandate carries a responsibility to represent their constituents and contribute to the country’s development. She also reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to supporting and working with the young leaders throughout their leadership journeys.
Prioritise Integrity, Digital Skills and Community Service
Addressing the newly elected leaders, as well as young people who had participated in the electoral process but were not elected, Ms Nwanne Vwede-Obahor of UNDP Uganda said that both experiences represented important steps in their leadership journeys.
Describing Uganda’s youth as “a critical asset to social and economic transformation,” Ms Obahor emphasised the need to equip young people with the skills, values, and opportunities required to contribute meaningfully to national development through legislation, oversight, mobilisation, and accountability.
“Transformative leadership begins with character,” she said, highlighting the importance of purpose, integrity, accountability, and service. She challenged the young leaders to continually reflect on why they had chosen to serve and what they hoped to achieve, noting that public trust and commitment are essential for creating lasting impact.
Ms Obahor also urged the leaders to embrace digital skills and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and data-driven tools. She encouraged them to use technology to address challenges in areas such as agriculture, employment, and entrepreneurship.
She stressed the importance of collaboration, partnerships, and mentorship, urging leaders to remain connected to the communities they represent and to ensure that their priorities reflect the concerns and aspirations of citizens.
Ms Obahor said that UNDP would continue supporting the young leaders beyond the initial training by assisting them to develop personal leadership brands, vision statements, and practical leadership impact plans.
Discover Your Purpose and Serve with Responsibility
The former Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Victoria Sekitoleko, urged the young leaders to understand their purpose, remain committed to service, and recognise that leadership begins long before one assumes public office.
She emphasised that leadership is not determined by age or position, but by responsible decision-making, effective communication, and the ability to influence others positively.
“Use the programme to discover your individual leadership path and remain committed to it,” she told the participants.
Drawing on her experience, Hon. Sekitoleko reminded young people not to wait for formal positions before demonstrating their leadership abilities. She advised them to learn from history and from the experiences of previous leaders, cautioning them against allowing anger or emotion to influence their decisions.
She stressed that effective leadership requires knowledge, communication skills, and wisdom—including knowing what to say, when to speak, and when to remain silent. She also called on the leaders to build sustainable livelihoods while using their public positions to serve communities and create opportunities for others.
Hon. Sekitoleko appealed to alumni of leadership programmes to share their knowledge by mentoring young people in schools and promoting democratic leadership through initiatives such as student elections and prefect councils.
Acknowledging the challenges and uncertainties that leaders may face, she encouraged young politicians to persevere and seek guidance from experienced leaders whenever necessary.
Panel Discussion One: Leadership Experiences
Moderated by Mr Sebastian Ssegawa of the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre, the first panel brought together Hon. Robert Maseruka, Member of Parliament for Mukono South; His Lordship Alionzi Lawrence, Mayor of Arua City; Ms Natasha Ahereza, General Secretary of the NRM Youth League; and Ms Gorret Karungi, Female Youth Councillor for Fort Portal.
Reflecting on his leadership journey, His Lordship Alionzi Lawrence, the 88th Guild President of Makerere University and Mayor of Arua City, explained that his experience began in student leadership and later progressed to local government.
“My decision to contest for mayor was motivated by where I could make the greatest impact,” he said. He noted that effective and transformative leadership requires deliberate training and continuous learning. Using the example of a bus driver, he explained that natural ability alone is not sufficient to take responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of others.
“There are qualities that a human being can be born with that can be crucial to leadership, like empathy and listening. But those in themselves are insufficient to constitute transformational leadership. It requires training,” he said.
He commended leadership development initiatives for providing an important foundation to prepare young people to assume leadership responsibilities and serve their communities effectively.
Sharing her leadership experience, Ms Natasha Ahereza, General Secretary of the NRM Youth League, emphasised that effective leadership extends beyond titles and positions of authority.
“Leadership is demonstrated through the ability to listen to people, understand their concerns, and develop practical and responsive solutions to the challenges they face,” she said.
She urged young leaders to look beyond political affiliations and focus on what they can do for the people who have entrusted them with leadership responsibilities.
Ms Gorret Karungi, Female Youth Councillor for Fort Portal, shared her experience of entering local government, noting that her journey was marked by resistance and several challenges. She explained that mentorship and persistence helped her overcome these obstacles and assume greater responsibilities.
She emphasised that leadership positions should be viewed as platforms for public service rather than opportunities for personal enrichment. Highlighting the importance of mentorship, Ms Karungi noted that guidance and support from experienced leaders can help young leaders navigate challenges and grow in their roles.
Hon. Robert Maseruka, the 89th Guild President of Makerere University and Member of Parliament for Mukono South, traced his leadership journey to his experience in student representation. He explained that his first leadership opportunity emerged after he helped fellow students navigate the university enrolment process.
He called upon the newly elected leaders to begin their service with a clear sense of purpose, serve with ambition, and work towards leaving a legacy that future generations can reference.
Hon. Maseruka also emphasised the need to shift the focus from a candidate’s position or political identity to their ability to serve, deliver, and create meaningful impact in their communities.
Panel Discussion Two: Insights from Seasoned Leaders
Moderated by Ms Annet Mpabulungi Wakabi, Team Leader for Governance and Leadership at UNDP, the second panel featured Hon. Emmanuel Lumala Dombo, politician and Director of Information, Publicity and Public Relations at the National Resistance Movement (NRM); Ms Christine Musisi, former UNDP Resident Representative in Tanzania; and Mr Solomon Sserwanjja, Chairperson of Local Council One (LC1) in Bamutakudde Village.
Reflecting on his experiences in student leadership and national politics, Hon. Emmanuel Lumala Dombo emphasised that effective leadership requires timely decision-making, respect for diverse communities, and a clear understanding of the responsibilities associated with representing others.
He advocated for stronger national values and greater social cohesion, noting that historical prejudices based on religion, ethnicity, and other identities should not continue to shape political and community relations. Hon. Dombo also called for deliberate investment in leadership development. He noted that, just as societies invest in developing qualified professionals in other sectors, countries should systematically prepare competent individuals to assume positions of responsibility.
Ms Christine Musisi advised the young leaders to develop visions that extend beyond personal success and instead focus on significance, impact, and legacy. “If you do not reproduce other leaders, what legacy are you leaving behind?” she asked.
Underscoring trust as a central component of effective leadership, Ms Musisi urged leaders to act with integrity, respect other people’s values, and build relationships across political and ideological differences.
“Trust is the currency of leadership,” she said. She encouraged leaders to critically assess the people around them, particularly their closest advisers. According to Ms Musisi, effective leaders need people who can hold them accountable, support them during difficult moments, and share their core values.
Impressed by the exchange of ideas during the symposium, Ms Musisi advocated for the revival of Ekyooto—the traditional “fireplace conversation,” where young people interact with elders and experienced professionals. She encouraged the young leaders to seek mentors who could support them in their journey from success to significance.
Focusing on the importance of strategic planning, Mr Solomon Sserwanjja, Chairperson of LC1 in Bamutakudde Village, noted that leaders often enter office with manifestos and promises. However, these commitments must be translated into practical plans once they assume responsibility.
“When you come into leadership, it then becomes strategy. Have a plan which is subsequently translated into annual and quarterly work plans,” he said. He explained that this approach enables leaders to identify priorities, set targets, define activities, and establish a framework for monitoring progress.
Mr Sserwanjja further noted that organisation and effective systems can help communities attract resources and partnerships. “People want to give to an organised society. People want to contribute to an organised leader,” he said. He urged emerging leaders to move beyond making promises and demonstrate leadership through tangible results, accountability, and effective systems. Leaders who consistently deliver on their commitments, document their achievements, and establish structures capable of attracting resources are better positioned to build confidence among their communities and partners.
“Build the trust by delivering, document your wins as a leader, be accountable and create a system that attracts resources and impacts,” he advised. He also called upon participants to strengthen the LC system as a platform for accountability and representation. “The LC1 position should be the most powerful office in the public service system,” he stressed.
Panel Discussion Three: Insights on Unemployment
The third panel, moderated by Dr Julius Kiiza, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Makerere University, brought together government officials, cultural leaders, and academics. The panellists were Mr Aggrey David Kibenge, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development; Owek. Robert Sserwanga, Minister for Youth, Sports and Arts in the Buganda Kingdom; and Dr Irene Esther Mutuzo Sevume, a member of faculty at Makerere University.
Mr Aggrey David Kibenge highlighted the need for a whole-of-government approach, noting that unemployment and skills development cannot be addressed by a single institution. “Education, labour, industry and youth programmes need to work together to ensure that the skills acquired in schools and universities correspond with labour-market requirements,” he said.
Owek. Robert Sserwanga underscored that leadership should be centred on service rather than personal interests. He called for a rethink of prevailing mindsets and approaches to addressing future skills gaps, observing that the knowledge acquired in school does not always translate into the practical abilities required in the modern workplace.
Mr Sserwanga also called for more flexible approaches to organising work around outputs and competencies. In his view, employability should not be defined solely by conventional office hours or traditional workplaces, but by an individual’s ability to deliver useful and marketable skills.
He emphasised the importance of leadership in addressing youth unemployment and other development challenges. He encouraged leaders to focus on solving problems within their communities and creating opportunities for the people they represent. He pointed to community-based initiatives and partnerships as potential mechanisms for promoting self-help, skills development, and local economic activity.
Contributing to the discussion, Dr Irene Esther Mutuzo Sevume explained that smartphones and internet access have opened up opportunities that were not available to previous generations. Young people can now access international employers, fellowships, training programmes, and business opportunities without necessarily relocating.
Dr Mutuzo Sevume encouraged young people to move beyond the traditional perception that a “good job” must involve a suit, an office, and a conventional nine-to-five schedule. She advised graduates to explore remote work, digital careers, fellowships, entrepreneurship, and other opportunities available through online platforms.
She also encouraged young people to use emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to develop and refine business ideas, build relevant skills, and identify opportunities, rather than relying on technology primarily to complete academic assignments.
Build Credibility through Strategic Communication
During her presentation on “Strategic Communication and Personal Branding,” Ms Mildred Tuhaise, a media and strategic communications consultant, emphasised that leadership should be driven by purpose rather than position. She noted that titles are temporary, while a leader’s reputation, influence, and impact can endure for generations.
Ms Tuhaise said that leaders should deliberately build their professional identities around three key qualities: character, competence, and consistency. She explained that character is demonstrated through a leader’s conduct in both public and private settings, while competence requires leaders to understand their areas of responsibility and communicate with knowledge and authority.
She encouraged young leaders to establish a niche and develop expertise in specific areas rather than attempting to speak on every subject without sufficient knowledge. On public speaking, Ms Tuhaise stressed the importance of preparation, clear messaging, an audible voice, and confident body language. She advised leaders to read widely and fact-check information before making public statements. She also encouraged them to request time to consult when they do not have sufficient information, rather than providing misleading answers.
She underscored the importance of ensuring that communication on every platform is both timely and accurate. Ms Tuhaise cautioned young leaders about the permanence of their digital footprints, noting that posts, photographs, and statements shared online can resurface years later and affect how they are perceived professionally. She urged leaders to remain authentic, uphold integrity, and recognise that their personal conduct is often associated with the institutions and positions they represent.
Embrace AI for Responsible and Effective Leadership
In a presentation titled “Artificial Intelligence, Digital Technology and Data-Driven Decision-Making,” IT practitioner and digital expert Mr Andrew Jombwe argued that artificial intelligence should not primarily be viewed as a threat, but as a tool for augmenting human capabilities.
Mr Jombwe stressed that technological advancement must go hand in hand with ethics, integrity, and human responsibility. While technology can enhance human intelligence and productivity, he noted that it cannot replace human judgement, contextual understanding, values, and character.
He urged leaders and young people to move beyond fear of artificial intelligence and acquire the knowledge necessary to understand and use emerging technologies responsibly. Highlighting some of the risks associated with AI, Mr Jombwe called upon the newly elected leaders to apply it ethically in addressing everyday challenges and improving service delivery.
Promote Mental Health and Personal Wellbeing
During her presentation on mental health and wellbeing, Hon. Obiga Rose, Chairperson of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum, noted that financial difficulties, unemployment, academic pressure, relationship challenges, social media, substance abuse, and other life stresses can negatively affect mental wellbeing.
She urged young people to remain positive, build resilience, and seek support when facing difficult situations, rather than allowing setbacks to lead to hopelessness or self-harm. She recommended healthy habits such as regular exercise, proper nutrition, adequate water intake, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and drug use.
Hon. Obiga also emphasised the importance of self-reflection, meditation, positive relationships, and avoiding negative influences, particularly on social media. Drawing on her own experiences, she encouraged young people to remain determined, trust in their abilities, and recognise that failure and setbacks do not define their future.
Turn Training into Community Impact
The Chairperson of Local Council Five in Namisindwa District, Mr Emmanuel Bwayo, noted that young leaders who receive training and mentorship have a responsibility to apply the knowledge gained to serve their communities effectively and build public confidence in the younger generation.
He encouraged young leaders to be patient with their growth, respect experienced leaders, and work constructively with public servants and other stakeholders.
Mr Bwayo commended the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre for providing leadership training and called for more leaders, including Members of Parliament, to receive similar training in order to strengthen leadership and governance in the country.
Govern with Integrity and Evidence
Ms Annet Mpabulungi Wakabi, Team Leader for Governance and Peace at UNDP Uganda, urged elected and aspiring young leaders to lead with integrity, use evidence to inform decision-making, and embrace digital competencies to improve governance and public service delivery.
She commended the leadership programme and the mentors who had contributed to preparing young leaders at the national, municipal, and local government levels. “Communities depend on them to address challenges. Use the knowledge gained from experienced leaders to serve effectively,” she said.
Ms Wakabi reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting governance transformation in Uganda and urged the young leaders to work closely with their communities to contribute to the achievement of the country’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Put Dignity at the Centre of Leadership
Delivering the closing remarks, Dr Nansozi K. Muwanga, Executive Director of the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre, advised the young leaders to put people and their dignity at the centre of leadership.
She called upon them to uphold integrity, embrace innovation, and use technology responsibly to develop solutions and strengthen their connection with the communities they serve.
Dr Muwanga also expressed appreciation to UNDP Uganda for supporting the leadership programme and helping to extend training and continued mentorship to young leaders across the country.
Moderated by Mr Henry Kasacca and Mr Sebastian Ssegawa, staff members of the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre, the symposium marked a significant step towards equipping newly elected young leaders with insights from experienced leaders.
The discussions underscored the importance of service, integrity, accountability, competence, continuous learning, mental wellbeing, evidence-based decision-making, and the responsible use of technology in effective leadership.
The Vice Chancellor (VC) of Makerere University Professor Barnabas Nawangwe and Members of Management on September 28, 2026 welcomed H.E. Ambassador TAKAHASHI Misako and her delegation in the Council Room at Main Building to discuss ways of deepening their academic and technical collaboration.
H.E. TAKASHASHI is the Director-General/Assistant Minister for African Affairs, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
In the session, VC acknowledged and appreciated the long-standing partnership between the University and Japanese institutions; both private and government.
“The university has had good relations with the Embassy of Japan, with JICA, and with several other Japanese institutions… When we returned to normalcy after turbulent political years, the Government of Japan was among the first ones to come to revive our excellence… so Uganda has had a very long and friendly relationship with Japan” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.
He further emphasized the historical impact of this support saying “I want to claim that it could have been because of the support that was given to the Department of Geology at that time, that the discovery of oil became possible in Uganda.”
Contributing to the discussions, the First Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs (DVCAA), Professor Sarah Ssali shared areas such as Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as well as Neurosurgery, where Makerere could benefit from Japanese expertise. She added that the Institute of Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) currently enjoys a collaboration with the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
Adding on the outstanding partnership, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration (DVCF&A) Professor Henry Alinaitwe highlighted traffic management as one of the key areas supported, he said “Japan has helped Uganda in the management of traffic…”
Expounding on this, HE. TAKASHASHI said “I just visited the control center for traffic in Uganda. It was built by a Japanese aid… as of today, they are controlling 31 junctions of traffic signals in Kampala City. They are supposed to boost up their activities to cover the entire Kampala city’s traffic systems” a project, she said, the Japanese Government remains committed to.
Continuing, Professor Alinaitwe highlighted Japan’s resilient and strong structures that can withstand earthquakes. He shared that “Japanese are helping us in developing the standards for earthquake design and management.”
Picking it up from here, H.E. TAKAHASHI acknowledged Japan’s proneness to earthquakes, which has led the country to develop leading global expertise in their management. Although Uganda is not comparatively prone to earthquakes, she reaffirmed that “Japan is deliberately thinking about the sustainable development of Uganda”, as a symbol of their friendship with institutions and the young people of Uganda.
She said the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) where “President Museveni is a long-standing participant” is a vital platform for addressing Japan’s various interests in Africa. She also talked about the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FIOP) Principle, and Japan’s three pillars for Africa.
“The three pillars of Japanese foreign policy towards Africa include; realising a continent of peace in Africa, creating a virtuous cycle of growth between Japan and Africa, and finally realising a society where everyone can feel genuine prosperity through empowering young generation for co-creation,” H.E TAKAHASHI noted.
Professor Julius Kikooma the Director for Graduate Training, expressed a need to leverage the partnership further in graduate student supervision, “our biggest area for collaboration should be capacity strengthening through trainings and working together to boost co-supervision of doctoral programs.”
Agreeing with Professor Kikooma, the Principal College of Veterinary and Animal Resources, Biosecurity Professor Clovice Kankya appreciated the support from Japan, particularly in the training of staff.
“A number of our staff have moved to universities in Japan for staff exchange for competence-based kind of training, but also to mention our Japanese counterparts have given a lot of technical support, not only to Makerere College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, but also to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. This kind of collaboration has resulted to advancing some of the veterinary reference laboratories” Prof Kankya elaborated.
Appreciating H.E. TAKAHASHI’s visit, Prof. Nawangwe expressed gladness that the brief session had brought forth a number important issues for discussion, which will enhance collaborations between Makerere University, the Embassy of Japan, and the people of Japan in general.
Some of the key areas with existing collaborations include;
- Engineering and Infrastructure
- Traffic Management
- Health and Veterinary Sciences
- Students and staff exchange
- Space science
- Disaster prevention
- Capacity building and volunteers
- Library and cultural resources
Makerere currently partners with a number of Japanese Universities including; University of Kobe, University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tottori University, among others.
The University Management appreciates the government of Japan for an impactful collaboration over the years as “We Build for the Future.”
Photos by Benite Uwase, Public Relations Office, Makerere University
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