General
Mak Council Chair Tips Guild House on True Leadership at ELP Orientation
By Ritah Namisango
Makerere University in partnership with LIFE Ministry Uganda and the Global Leadership Summit is implementing the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), the brainchild of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni aimed at raising a dignified generation of youth in Uganda.
Addressing over 120 student leaders on the third day of the Emerging Leaders Program- orientation workshop on Saturday 21st October 2023, the Chairperson of Makerere University Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara applauded the Minister of Education and Sports for being a true mother committed to building a critical mass of young people and upcoming leaders grounded with values, good character, life skills and above all, a healthy generation that is free from HIV-AIDS.
The Chairperson of Makerere University Council informed the participants that on 2nd February 2023, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni inaugurated the University Council. At the inauguration, the Minister tasked the University Council to join her to implement a national Anti-Corruption and HIV/AIDS Campaign, starting with Makerere University.
Responding to this call, the University Council and Management engaged members of staff, student leaders and key stakeholders. The University Management carried out a survey and findings indicated that some of the students were already sexually active and needed help to know how to live a value based life, while others were grappling with drug abuse. In the survey, some of the respondents disclosed that they started using drugs before they joined the University due to peer pressure, stress and anxiety as well as exposure to such substances from some family members, slums and communities. During the engagements, some students revealed that they had knowledge of what constitutes good values, but in real life situations, they were facing challenges with sticking to the required values.
Personally touched by this deeper analysis of the underlying issues, the Minister of Education and Sports initiated the Emerging Leaders Program to equip and empower students with life skills, value based leadership and character development.
Mrs. Lorna Magara revealed that the Emerging Leaders program is a life skills program, aiming at fostering character mindset change at Makerere University, to influence the present and shape the future of our nation. She pointed out that the trainings would also entail a planned and deliberate effort to ensure that the youth take every step to remain healthy and free from HIV/AIDS as they pursue their studies at Makerere University.
“The Emerging Leaders Program is an empowerment initiative that focuses on values, character development and life skills. You may have the academic degree, but you need the right set of values and character to succeed in life,” said the Chairperson of Makerere University Council.
Mrs. Magara stated that the orientation workshop (19th to 21st October 2023) was organized to give participants exposure to the program content with the aim of enlisting them as active participants during its course of implementation. She commended the 125 student leaders, 60 lecturers as well as the Facilitators for accepting to be part of the program, and creating time to participate in the three-day orientation workshop. The workshop enabled participants to understand the objectives of the Emerging Leaders Program, learn and appreciate the key concepts, as well as set the pace for the unveiling of the Emerging Leaders Program and trainings that will commence next Semester.
On behalf of the students, the Guild Speaker, Rt. Hon. Babinga Gozan Wilson said that the Emerging Leaders Program was timely for it seeks to address the challenges faced by students and young people in general. The Guild Speaker noted that some of the students at the University are sexually active and engaging in relationships, which puts them at the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. He added that some of the students were grappling with the issue of managing finances and how to overcome corrupt tendencies in a highly commercialized world advanced by competitive lifestyles espoused through social media.
In an interactive session with the Student Leaders on Saturday 21st October 2023, Mrs. Lorna Magara who has served as a leader at different levels in society shared with students the true meaning of leadership. She demystified the adage that some people are leaders while others are followers. She disclosed that such a narrative leads to slavery. She informed the student leaders that each and every one of us is a leader who has been gifted to lead and serve people in politics, church, family, community, in the lecture room, among other settings.
“Leadership is about discovering who you are. Leadership is about uniqueness and service. Leadership is about identifying your uniqueness, and the ability to use that uniqueness to serve society. Leadership is self-manifestation. You must value yourself. If you do not value yourself, no one will value you,” Mrs. Magara highlighted.
Acknowledging the role of social media, Mrs. Magara advised the student leaders to use social media to serve society, and cautioned them against the temptation of using social media to define who they are.
“Many of you receive so much information through social media. There is a growing trend of everyone desiring to be like some of the personalities presented to you by social media. When you start to imitate people, and convince yourself that you should be like them in all ways, then you begin to lose the true definition of who you are. Discover the uniqueness in you, use that uniqueness to be a leader who serves society,” she advised.
Underscoring the need to redefine leadership, Bishop Joshua Lwere, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Global Leadership Summit informed participants and journalists that leadership had reached a level where people take on roles not because they love the people, or want to serve, but for self glory.
“We notice that our leadership has degenerated so much, to the extent that people go into leadership not because they want to serve, or to carry the weight of people’s needs, but to use these positions to get personal enrichment,” he stated.
Bishop Lwere reiterated that leadership is not about occupying positions, but servanthood. He explained that the Emerging Leaders Program starting with Makerere University provides a platform to nurture young leaders to acquire leadership skills so that we can get a new breed of skilled leaders.
At the end of the session on character matters and valuing relationships, Bishop Lwere requested the student leaders who after going through the three days’ training were convinced that they were ready to change their lives by leaving the bad practices and adopting to the accepted standards.
“May I request those who are ready to commit to the new set of values, those who are saying, I will never defile my body again, those who are ready to stand strong like Joseph in the bible who refused to defy his God and Master when tempted by his Master’s wife, to raise up their hands, and after stand up. I would like to pray for you and bless you,” he said.
It was gratifying to see majority of the student leaders raising up their hands, and taking that bold step to commit to changing their life’s trajectory.
One of the Facilitators, Mr. Elon Katweheyo explained that the Family is the best unit to consider in values and character development. He shared that young people and students are part of the family. “At LIFE Ministry Uganda, we believe that we must focus on the young people. We are privileged to start this program at Makerere University-the premier University in Uganda, and the place full of young people and upcoming leaders. Through the Emerging Leaders Program, LIFE Ministry Uganda will apply its Life at the Crossroads character development tool to build and nurture morally upright youth,” remarked Mr. Katweheyo.
Rolling Out the Emerging Leaders Program
Following a successful orientation workshop, the Chairperson of Makerere University Council highlighted that the Emerging Leaders Program training sessions would commence early next year (2024). The team will identify teaching staff and Trainer of Trainers to be part of be part of the cohort to roll out the Emerging Leaders Program. She revealed that during the Semester, the First Lady and Hon. Minister of Education, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni will launch The SAFE Campaign under the Emerging Leaders Program. TheSAFE Campaign stands for Sexually Fortified, Addiction Free, Financially Stable and Education Focus. The University Management and teaching staff will roll out the program to the respective Colleges and Schools, and it is planned that every semester should have 20 units of training. After building a significant number of Trainers of Trainers, the Emerging Leaders Program will be rolled out to other universities in Uganda.
Emerging Leaders Program Orientation
The three-day orientation officially commenced on Thursday 19th October 2023 with a joint workshop of a select number of staff and all our student leaders. Delivering the opening remarks, the Team Leader, Global Leadership Summit Uganda, Ms. Betty Byanyima noted that the workshop was aimed at sharing ideas and discussing different aspects of the challenges of corruption and HIV/AIDS. The beneficiaries would then be charged with influencing their Halls of Residence, Schools, Hostels, Families and Communities because the aforementioned challenges go beyond Makerere.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) and Chair of the Emerging Leaders Program, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe acknowledged that Universities have got a big role to play in influencing change in societies. He encouraged the leaders to look beyond the dates of the workshop and feel free to draft dossiers on how best these challenges can be tackled, in the event that the time assigned is insufficient to comprehensively debate the various topics.
The Board Chairman of the Global Leadership Summit Uganda, Bishop Joshua Lwere who served as lead facilitator for Day One of the workshop not only provided great insights into self-governance but also matched it with a great delivery that kept his audience engaged. Furthermore, he noted that holistic education ought to address the 4Hs (Heart, Head, Hands and House) and emphasised the need for all to revere God, adding that the more one loves God, the more they loves oneself.
Describing it as the policeman within, Bishop Lwere asked his audience to protect their conscience and it will protect you them in times of crucial decisions. Failure to do this, he cautioned the leaders, would result in its voice growing softer until it eventually goes silent. “When you compromise on your way up – getting there by hook or crook – you cannot challenge the wrong you find up there. You have the hook in you.”
Bishop Lwere further noted that leaders who espouse self-sacrifice and moral aptitude inspire those they lead to do likewise. He emphasised the need for leaders to set a high level of discipline for themselves and to live by conviction, not convenience. As you continue to live by conviction, it becomes part of your character;
Additional topics covered during the three-day workshop included; Mindset Change by the School of Psychology Makerere University, Character Matters and Sex in Perspective by the LIFE Ministry Uganda’s Dr. Eunice Kateshumbwa and Dr. Audrey Kisaka respectively. Additional topics covered were Grace, Truth and Time, Relationships and Life Skills.
The 89th Guild was on their part commended for their smartness and good grasp when it came to articulating issues. This commendation could not have been more accurate, seeing as it came from The Acting Dean of Students, Mr. Peter Rivan Muhereza. He reminded the Student Leaders that Makerere is a hill of endless possibilities and that the ball was in their court, to lay a solid foundation for their future.
By Scholars Program Communication Team
On Saturday, November 16, 2024, Little Angels Junior School, Mawotto Village, Mukono District, and St. Charles Rwahunga, Nursery and Primary School in Kyegegwa District celebrated an inspiring, joy-filled event. These two schools were selected to receive the generosity of Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Makerere University during the Annual Scholars Day of Community Service.
At St. Charles Rwahunga Nursery and Primary School, the Scholars donated various products, including Learning Materials, Geometry sets, Sanitary towels for the girls, sportswear for the boys’ football team, and other goodies.
The Community Nursery and Primary School serves 412 pupils with severe challenges due to inadequate infrastructure. The buildings are dilapidated, there is a shortage of desks, and the classrooms are small and overcrowded. These issues need to be addressed to ensure a better student learning environment.
Mr. Alex Mugisha, the Headteacher of the School, expressed gratitude to the Scholars of Mastercard Foundation for the kind gesture they extended to his school.
“I am deeply grateful, along with the students and staff, for the generosity of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars. These materials will significantly enhance the learning environment for our pupils,” remarked Mr. Mugisha.
Mr. Nelson Ddumba, the Scholars Council Representative, encouraged the young learners at the event not to lose hope. He emphasized that regardless of their starting point, they can improve their circumstances by staying in school.
“Listen, my fellow students: do not give up. The only path to transforming your circumstances is through a steadfast commitment to your education and remaining in school. I have been in your shoes, but I pushed through and succeeded thanks to my mother’s unwavering support. Today, I proudly attend Makerere University, one of the leading institutions in Uganda. Embrace the challenge ahead and make your education your top priority!” Mr. Ddumba declared.
At Little Angels Junior School, pupils were excited to receive educational materials, reusable sanitary towels, mathematical sets, dictionaries, and textbooks for nursery to primary seven students.
Ms. Sarah Nturo, the headteacher, commended the Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Makerere University for the kind gesture.
She said the books will help the school improve its reading culture and performance.
“We are grateful to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University; we believe these books will significantly contribute to improving our pupils’ performance,” Ms. Nturo said.
Nturo also pointed out that they have challenges with the facilities and water as a school.
“Ever since we started this School, the education has improved because, in the past, parents could not allow their children to come here; instead, they would send them to the lake for fishing. But now, the children come only because they do not have somewhere to sit. We have few desks,” Nturo said.
During the visit, the pupils mesmerised the scholars with rare dance moves. The excitement did not leave the Programme Implementation team and teachers in their seats, making it a fun-filled event. The audience was left yearning for more.
Addressing the school, Mr. John Osuna, the Transition Lead at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, urged the pupils to use their school time to prepare for a bright future.
“Do not mind where you are coming from. We all started like this. Education is an equalizer. Now that you have an opportunity to study, focus on making the best out of it. Be disciplined pupils and listen to your teachers. The sky will be the limit,” Mr Osuna said.
During the event, Francis Kabuye Kaggwa, the Chairperson of the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) leadership, said that ever since the school started over 10 years back, they have never received guests who bring them gifts like how the Mastercard Foundation Scholars did.
“I think you have seen how excited the children were. We are all happy this has never happened to our school. Who are we to receive these gifts? We have challenges, but with friends like God on our side, we shall conquer,” Mr. Kabuye noted.
The Scholars’ Day of Community Service is an annual event where Mastercard Foundation Scholars at Makerere University engage in community service as a way of giving back. This initiative aims to empower vulnerable individuals in the community and contribute positively to society.
By Mak Communication Team
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, while speaking at the inaugural commemoration of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities at Makerere University has appealed to the Government to increase the number of students with disabilities on government sponsorship.
The event held on Wednesday, 13th November 2024 was organised by the Office of the Dean of Students and the 90th Students’ Guild-Ministry of Students with Disabilities and held in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium.
The day’s theme was: “Empowering Inclusion: Breaking Barriers, Unlocking Potential”
“Students with disabilities should be the first to be admitted on Government sponsorship because there are not so many,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
Prof. Nawangwe called upon the government to devise a scheme and policy for integrating students with disabilities into the working environment after graduation.
Prof. Nawangwe noted that the University has established a Disability Support Centre, a one-stop facility to ensure equal access to education and life, promote inclusivity, and support students and staff with disabilities.
“Over the years, Makerere University has branded itself as a place that actively and loudly promotes increased awareness about the rights and needs of students and staff with disabilities.” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.
While addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, Hon. Hellen Grace Asamo, the State minister for Disability Affairs, called upon Persons with Disabilities to always believe in themselves and be able to break the barriers of the inferiority complex.
“You have to show people that you have the potential, and when people get to know your potential, they will begin to include and engage you. But if you do not have your potential, nobody will include you. They will think you are just someone who is just there seated and begging,” Hon. Asamo noted.
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, the Dean of Students at Makerere University, said that the University is making a deliberate effort to pay particular attention to the decisive implementation of inclusive Policies and Practices.
“This is where we want all people to thrive and grow. Therefore, we are proud to accept and celebrate our differences and uniqueness. We welcome you here to build a culture of active support for each other and to declare that by championing a conducive environment for students and staff with disability, we are part of the change-makers of today,” Dr Kabumbuli said.
Dr. Kabumbuli also highlighted several policies the University has implemented, such as the Policy for Persons with Disabilities and safeguarding, Accommodation policy, University rules and regulations, the Human resource manual, and the student guild constitution that provides inclusive participation in student leadership and admission policies.
“These policies protect and enhance the rights of both staff and students with disabilities. For example, we have a student guild minister for persons with disabilities to ensure their voices are heard,” Dr. Kabumbuli noted.
Makerere has directed attention to ensuring accessible and comfortable accommodations for students with Disabilities by having designated accessible hostels and rooms. The University provides salaries, lodging, and meals for helpers who assist students with disabilities. A concentrated effort is also being made to build ramps, elevators, and accessible pathways to facilitate navigation for students and staff.
According to Dr Kabumbuli, the University has embraced a drive to facilitate students’ access to assistive devices, including wheelchairs, white canes, brailling machines, hearing aids, etc.
“As part of our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, the University has designated a specialized space within the library, equipped with assistive technologies and resources, specifically for students with disabilities to ensure equal access to knowledge and academic success for all. We have also put in place special arrangements, such as extra time during examinations to enable access to education,” Dr Kabumbuli said.
Dr. Kabumbuli acknowledged the support from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, the Ministry of Gender, and the School of Law, which are committed to championing diversity, inclusion, and equity for People with Disabilities.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated annually on December 3rd to raise awareness and support for people with disabilities worldwide.
The 3rd annual Fundis and Technicians sensitization event and exhibition by manufacturers of building materials organized by the Department Architecture and Physical Planning at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University came to a close with a call for increased partnerships between training institutions and the community.
The event that attracted 200 participants including masons, fundis, painters, builders, metal and electrical fabricators ran from Thursday 24th to Friday 25th October 2024 at CEDAT. It was supported by several stakeholders and was characterized by training sessions and an exhibition of building materials by different companies that make cement, paint, water tanks tiles and many more.
Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe at the opening of the training. In his remarks, he extended appreciation to the technicians for accepting to take part in the training which he said was key in ensuring that they gain from continuous learning. Prof. Alinaitwe observed that although some of them did not get through formal training, it was important that they took part in such training programs to keep abreast of the developments in the construction industry where they undertake the bulk of the work as masons, technicians, plumbers, and metal fabricators.
‘Keep improving, we need to up our game in terms of quality’, he said while making reference to the need for quality output. He cautioned them on issues of cost and cheating of their clients by making realistic costs. ‘We need to cost the work well taking into account the materials, the labor, the equipment used, and the overheads’. The other area that needed to be taken care of by the technicians included time management, which reflects on attitudes towards work, team work. While addressing the gathering in his capacity as Chairman of the Engineers Registration Board, Prof. Alinaitwe said the upcoming engineering Registration Bill, if approved, has a provision for the registration of all artisans and hence the need to have the minimum requirements for the stakeholders to be registered. He also stressed the need to bring on board as more women as possible. ‘We want to see more women, who can do some aspects in construction better than men like painting.
Prof. Moses Musinguzi, the Principal of the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology while welcoming the trainees to the college said the training is a good initiative that will help address challenge of skill and work match. He encouraged the trainees to do smart work, and take due consideration of ethics and customer care. He encouraged the department to extend the training opportunity to other units of the college and the university and also make it more formal, as part and parcel of the training program of the college in liaison with bodies like UBTEB.
Assoc. Prof. Kizito Maria Kasule, the Deputy Principal CEDAT while appreciating the initiative of the department said countries like Germany have apprenticeship training that help the training of students to gain skills equivalent to those acquired while in formal institutions of learning. He said the academia in Uganda is increasingly recognizing the importance of the informal sector in the growth of the country. ‘We need to learn from you. Almost 90% of the people in the construction industry have been informally trained’. He said by learning from each other, the two sectors jointly make a contribution towards the development of the country.
Dr. Amin Tamale Kiggundu, the head of the Department of Architecture and Physical Planning said the initiative, a community outreach program of the college started three years ago in the year 2022 with 60 Fundis and masons, in 2023, the number was increased to 120 Fundis and the current 2024, was 200 Fundis of various categories, including painters, builders, metal fabricators, plumbers and electrical fabricators. He said this community outreach program aims at sharing the accumulated scientific knowledge in building, design and construction technologies at CEDAT, sharing the expertise, knowledge and experiences with communities in greater Kampala and hence bridging the existing knowledge and skills gap between the training institutions and the communities.
The 21st century is characterized by collaboration, partnerships, and establishment of knowledge economies. He said based on the trainings held so far, it is clear that partnerships between the training institutions and the communities were possible especially the Fundis who are closer to the communities. ‘We also want to learn from the Fundi’s experiences, how they are able to connect to the communities in some cases better than those who have gone through the training institutions’, he said. He further noted that the majority of fundis are young people that need to be supported with skills and other ways of nurturing them. The dream of the department, he said is to introduce an open door policy that allows fundis and other university students to come to learn.
Several organizations supported the event and participated in the exhibition and they included Habitat for Humanity, Uganda, Green Building Council Uganda, The National Building Board, Uganda Clays Limited, Centenary Bank, Steel and Tube Industries Ltd, Simba Cement, Plascon, Goodwill, Cresttanks among others.
-
General1 week agoProf. Nawangwe calls for Increased Government Sponsorship for Students with Disabilities
-
Business & Management2 weeks agoCoBAMS Hosts Workshop to Review Parish Development Model
-
General6 days agoMastercard Foundation Scholars Empower Schools in Mukono and Kyegwegwa Districts
-
Business & Management2 weeks agoStudy Explores PPPs for Sustainable Development in Uganda’s Tourism and Health Sectors
-
Business & Management2 weeks agoPassing the Torch: Dr. Wokadala Hands Over Deanship to Dr. Banga