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Minister Janet Museveni Launches Emerging Leaders Program at Makerere University
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, officially launched the Emerging Leaders Program and commissioned the first cohort of SAFE champions at Makerere University on Friday 27th September 2024.
“It gives me great pleasure to commission you as Emerging Leaders Program Champions. I charge you to become role models. Please take the training that you have received as your moral campus at the University and beyond,” said Hon. Janet Museveni amidst applause from the audience.
The launch, held at Makerere University’s Freedom Square, was attended by notable figures including the Chairperson of the University Council- Mrs. Lorna Magara, Deputy Chairperson of Council- Rt. Hon. Dan Fred Kidega, the Vice Chancellor-Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Program Chairperson-Professor Henry Alinaitwe, Co-Chair- Mrs. Barbara Kaija, and Bishop Joshua Lwere-Board Chair of the Global Leadership Summit.
The formulation of the Emerging Leaders Program followed a discussion between Hon. Janet Museveni and Makerere University Council members held on February 2, 2023. Burdened by the challenges that were being faced by students and the disastrous effects of addiction to alcohol, drug and substance abuse, corruption, HIV/AIDS, the First Lady and Hon. Minister of Education and Sports tasked the University Council headed by Mrs. Lorna Magara to partner with her and come up with a solution to save the students and young people from destruction.
The launch of the Emerging Leaders Program at Makerere University, therefore marked the beginning of the actualization of Hon. Janet Museveni’s vision to implement a national Anti-Corruption and HIV/AIDS campaign in Uganda. The SAFE campaign stands for Sexually Fortified, Addiction Free, Financially Faithful and Education Focused.
Speaking at the launch, Hon. Janet Museveni said the Emerging Leaders Program is an initiative that she holds dear in her heart because it has the potential to nurture the young generation and shape the destiny of our nation.
“My desire is that this program expands beyond Makerere University to all universities in Uganda. I pray that God will make that possible,” she said.
The Minister credited the leadership of Makerere University and the program’s partners namely the Global Leadership Summit and Life Ministry Uganda for taking up the challenge to craft the Emerging Leaders Program that will instill character in university students throughout the country.
The Emerging Leaders Program is a life skills capacity-building and behavioral intervention coded “The SAFE Campaign.” The initiative seeks to address critical challenges threatening students’ education and well-being such as addiction to drugs, corruption, substance abuse, gambling, and the risks of HIV/AIDS. These issues were viewed as not only jeopardizing students’ health and academic performance, but also affecting the social well-being of graduates entering the workforce.
According to Mrs. Barbra Kaija, the Co-Chair of the Emerging Leaders Program, this was intended to help the parents who risk a lot to educate their children so that they become important and resourceful people, but sometimes disappoint them when they engage in harmful practices which eventually threaten their education and future.
“Parents take a lot of risks to educate their children, and when your child reaches a University level, you always want to see him or her succeed and become an important person, therefore what we are trying to do is to remove those barriers which are stopping them from becoming important people,” she said.
“Through this emerging leaders program, we can help shape the new generation. What we do in this program is that; we interact with these students and talk to them, teach them, and invite experts in these fields to share ideas,” she added.
Mrs. Kaija mentioned that the Emerging Leaders Program focused on Universities because university students are the most productive and as such, we must ensure their safety.
“University students are at the most productive age, and the workforce that is building our country, so we must make sure that they are safe. The emerging leaders program will help them in character development. While our students graduate with academic degrees, they need the right set of values and character to succeed in life,” she emphasized.
In her remarks, Mrs. Kaija informed the audience comprising students who filled the Freedom Square to capacity, Makerere University stakeholders and the media that the Emerging Leaders Program implementation team conducted a baseline study, which enabled them to understand the challenges that a few of the students at Makerere University were grappling with.
According to Mrs. Kaija, the Emerging Leaders Program team targeted 473 first year students and 1041 continuing students. Some of the vices include: achohol and drug abuse, sex before marriage, and betting primarily due to peer pressure. She noted that, although some results were worrying, they also registered some good news that they can build on.
Minister Janet Museveni said young people have been grappling with many challenges, some of which have been imposed on them because of peer pressure. She noted with concern, that gambling in the form of sports betting is also spreading very fast in Uganda.
“Over the past few years, we have all experienced our young people grapple with many challenges such as alcohol, drug, and other substance abuse, sexual immorality, and gambling which has led to many university students dropping out. Through this program, we desire to help students rise above what has been the norm of negative peer pressure that compromises their innocence,” said the Minister.
The First Lady reiterated that the Emerging Leaders Program has the potential to engage the students and significantly save lives. The Program provides an inclusive process to nurture the young generation into impactful people by instilling values into them and improving their health. It provides life skills to enable students and youth in general to make the right choices while at the University, at places of work, in the communities and with their families.
“This program is not just about imparting leadership skills; it is about the total transformation of lives through instilling values. Furthermore, through this program young people are being prepared to make the right choices in life, that will safeguard their health and wellbeing while enabling them to succeed in their academics,” she said.
In the same vein, Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of Makerere University Council said that the program will help to curb societal moral degradation and refocus our young people on values and life skills to secure their future.
She explained that the program is timely because the country and the continent’s development relies on the quality of its leaders.
“The development of Uganda and indeed Africa hinges on the quality of its people, therefore the Emerging Leaders Program is a strategic tool to this cause with a fully-fledged behavior change program, curriculum, and messaging campaigns,” she stated.
She also revealed that Makerere University Council had approved the developed Emerging Leaders Program mandatory course and students will be required to take it over three years of their study. The course will soon be presented to the University Senate for approval. Some of the short courses of the Emerging Leaders Program are ready to be rolled out.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe commended the First Lady and Hon. Minister of Education and Sports for the initiative that is highly anticipated to reshape the future generation. Prof. Nawangwe also seized the opportunity to thank the First Lady for supporting the University’s infrastructure development initiatives.
“We thank you for the support towards the development of infrastructure at Makerere University particularly the reconstruction of the Main Building,” he remarked.
He appreciated Hon. Janet Museveni for championing the fight to save the emerging leaders from destruction and committed himself to ensure Emerging Leaders Program succeeds.
“Makerere University is committed to ensuring the safety of her students and staff. The University Council has approved the safeguarding policy, and the counselling and career guidance policy is in the offing. The University Management will make every necessary effort to ensure the success of the Emerging Leaders Program,” he said.
Prof. Nawangwe acknowledged the Students’ Guild leadership for their contribution towards the success of ELP noting that; “The Guild Leadership has implemented activities that complement the efforts of the Emerging Leaders Program.” He also appreciated Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the Chair of the Emerging Leaders Program, Mrs. Barbra Kaija, the Co-Chair and the entire implementation team for accepting to serve.
Dr. Ronald Semyalo, a Lecturer in the department of Zoology at the College of Natural Sciences and one of the Emerging Leaders Program trainees, noted that the Emerging Leaders Program is not just another academic course, but a catalyst for personal transformation, empowering each individual to reach their full potential for the betterment of themselves and the community.
Ms Julian Kanyesigye, a student of Makerere University studying Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics, and one of the SAFE champions, noted that the Emerging Leaders Program has come at a time when youth are battling pandemics on multiple fronts from high rates of drug abuse to high rates of sexual immorality, with an alarming increase in the number of HIV infections among young people.
With the Emerging Leaders Program being student centred, the audience listened to a poem titled “For God and My Country,” recited by two Makerere University Students namely Grace Deborah Mirembe and Paul Tumwesigye studying Literature and English Language Studies from the College of Education and External Studies. The poem calls on students and young people to focus on the values which emphasize the need to uphold good character, humanness, knowing to say NO and when to say YES for the good of the individual and the whole society.
In addition, the students from the Department of Performing Arts and Film, which is headed by Dr. Benon Kigozi captivated the audience with beautiful melodies and sounds. The Department of Performing Arts and Film is under the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
General
Makerere University Launches First Writing Summer School to Strengthen Professional Writing Skills.
KAMPALA, UGANDA, EAST AFRICA.
On Monday 6th, Makerere University has officially launched its inaugural writing summer school, a week long professional development program aimed at equipping students, graduates, researchers and staff with practical writing skills required for academic excellence and success in today’s competitive job market. The program jointly organized by the Makerere University Writing Centre and Makerere University Press (MakPress), reflects the University’s commitment to nurturing graduates with not only academic knowledge but also the communication skills needed to thrive professionally.
Held virtually, the launch attracted more than 280 participants from Makerere University and other higher education institutions, demonstrating the growing demand for structured writing support beyond the classroom.
Building the Next Generation of Writers.
Speaking at the launch, the Director of Makerere Writing Press, Prof. William Tayeebwa, said the summer school represents an important investment in developing writers before their work reaches publication.
“The press has traditionally focused on publishing books, journals and scholarly work. Today, we are expanding that mission by helping and develop the writers who will produce tomorrow’s publication.
He noted that MakPress continues to support the publication of books and scholarly works produced by members of the Makerere Community. Using recently published books authored by a member of staff and a student as examples, he encouraged participants to submit manuscripts for publishing support rather than relying solely on self publication.
Writing as a Foundation for Academic and Professional Success.
Chairperson of the Makerere University Writing Centre, Prof. Frederick Muyodi, said the center was established to strengthen the writing competences among students, researchers and university staff.
” The Writers Center is here to support every stage of the writing process from CVs and application letters to research manuscripts, grant proposals, reports and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in writing.”
He explained that the Centre supports writing across multiple disciplines and professional contexts, adding that its long term vision is to extend writing support beyond Makerere University to institutions across Uganda and the East African region.
Equipping Graduates for the Labour Market.
Officially launching the summer school, the First Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, described the initiative as a strategic investment in preparing graduates for an increasingly competitive labour market.
She observed that while universities successfully impart disciplinary knowledge, many graduates leave campus without the practical writing skills required to secure employment and other professional opportunities.
“We teach content very, but many students are never taught how to write an effective CV, application letter, motivation statement or scholarly essay. Yet these are the documents that often determine whether someone secures an opportunity.”
Prof. Ssali said the writing summer school would bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice by equipping participants with market ready communication skills.
Reaffirming her office’s commitment to the initiative, she added:
“My office is pleased to support this initiative as we institutionalize the Writing Summer School to ensure that Makerere graduates leave not only with degrees but also with practical competencies needed to thrive professionally,”
She officially declared the inaugural Writing Summer School open and expressed optimism that future editions would attract even more participants and resources.
Participants Gain Practical CV Writing Skills.
The first technical session was facilitated by Mr. Abdul Noor Luttamaguzi, a PhD student in the Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences within the School of Bio sciences at Makerere University, a Senior Fisheries Officer with Luweero District Local Government, and the founder and director of the ANL Foundation, an organization that supports youth employment and capacity building.
During the session, he guided participants on developing competitive CVs tailored to specific professionals and employer expectations. He emphasized that applicants should customize their CVs to suit each opportunity instead of submitting the same document for every application. Participants also learned how effectively present their education, work experience, leadership roles technical competencies and professional achievements, while avoiding unnecessary personal information. Practical demonstrations using professional specific CVs provided participants with hands on examples of preparing competitive job application documents.
Looking Ahead.
The Writing Summer School continues throughout the week sessions on application letter writing, responsible use of artificial intelligence, professional communication and other essential writing skills aimed at improving academic productivity and employablity.
Through initiatives such as the Writing Summer School, Makerere University continues to strengthen its commitment to producing graduates who are not academically accomplished but also equipped with practical communication skills that enable them to compete and lead in today’s global workplace.
General
Makerere Launches Strategic Plan 2025-2030 to Drive Research, Innovation and National Development.
Kampala, Uganda East Africa.
Makerere University has officially launched its Strategic Plan 2025-2030, reaffirming its commitment to advancing research, innovation, academic excellence and human capital development in support of Uganda’s national transformation agenda.
The Strategic Plan, unveiled by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Henry Musasizi, provides a road map for strengthening the University’s contribution to Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy through research, innovation, entrepreneurship and the production of highly skilled graduates.
The launch, held at the University’s Main Hall, brought together government officials, members of the University Council, management, development partners, staff and students to witness what leaders described as the beginning of Makerere University’s next phase of institutional transformation.
Positioning Makerere for National Transformation.
Delivering his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe said the Strategic Plan reflects Makerere University’s ambition to become an even stronger research led institution that responds directly to Uganda’s development priorities.
He noted that the University intends to restore student enrollment to pre COVID levels while significantly increasing postgraduate training to produce more researchers, innovators and professionals capable of addressing national challenges.
Prof. Nawangwe also highlighted the University’s growing research portfolio, commending researchers and research centers that continue to attract substantial international funding.
“when you combine the grants won by all our researchers through competitive international funding, the total exceeds US$200 million,” He said.
The Vice Chancellor also pointed to the need to strengthen the University’s academic workforce, noting that although progress has been made, more investment is required to fill approved academic positions, particularly at professor and associate professor levels.
Strategic Plan Sets Ambitious Institutional Targets.
Chairperson of the University Council, Dr. Lorna Magara, described the Strategic Plan as more than an institutional document, calling it “a public covenant with the people of Uganda.”
She said the Plan outlines measurable commitments that will guide the University’s performance over the next five years, including expanding postgraduate enrolment, increasing STEM participation, improving doctoral completion rates and strengthening research productivity.
“Ambition is precisely what this moment demands. A strategic plan is not measured by the elegance of its language, but by the lives it transforms,” she said.
Dr. Magara emphasized that every investment in Makerere University should translate into tangible benefits for society through research, innovation, leadership and skilled graduates.
She also called for reforms to Uganda’s Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act to strengthen university governance and create an enabling environment for innovation and knowledge production.
Government Reaffirms Support.
Launching the Strategic Plan, Hon. Henry Musasizi commended Makerere University for aligning its institutional priorities with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the country’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
He observed that universities remain central actors in national development because they produce the knowledge, innovation and skilled workforce required to transform Uganda’s economy.
“Universities are central actors in national transformation. they are engines of knowledge creation, innovation and human capital development,” he said.
The Minister emphasized government’s commitment to supporting research, innovation and stronger collaboration between universities and industry to ensure that knowledge generated within higher education institutions contributes directly to economic growth.
Universities Critical to Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy.
Presenting the national development perspective, Samuel Kasule, Senior Planner at the National Planning Authority, explained that the Strategic Plan aligns closely with the Uganda’s long term development framework.
He noted that achieving the country’s ambitious economic growth targets will depend heavily on universities producing competent graduates, expanding research and strengthening innovation ecosystems that support priority sectors including agriculture, tourism, ICT, minerals, manufacturing, and oil and gas.
Kasule further underscored the importance of competency based education and post graduate training in building the human capital required for sustainable national development.
A Shared Vision for the Future.
Throughout the launch, speakers emphasized that Makerere University’s future lies in becoming an increasingly research intensive, innovation driven institution that responds to national and global development challenges.
The Strategic Plan 2025-2030 outlines priorities that include strengthening research excellence, promoting innovation and commercialization, expanding digital transformation, enhancing partnerships with industry, and producing graduates equipped to drive socioeconomic transformation.
Its launch marks a renewed commitment by Makerere University to remain at the forefront of knowledge generation and to contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s long term development aspirations.
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