General
CEES Empowers USE Students with Business Skills to Tackle Poverty
In an effort to combat rising poverty and unemployment among youth, at least 400 students from four Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools have been equipped with entrepreneurial skills aimed at transforming their lives through income-generating projects. The initiative, led by a group of scholars from the College of Education and External Studies (CEES), seeks to provide practical solutions to poverty by fostering self-reliance among young people.
The training targets students, many of whom may not advance beyond senior four. “A majority of these students come from underprivileged backgrounds, making them an ideal group for this intervention,” explained Dr. Badru Musisi, the project’s lead investigator. Research informed this approach, highlighting that students from USE schools often face socioeconomic challenges that limit their educational and employment prospects.
The participating students, from Mityana SS, Nakanyonyi SS, Lweru SS, and Bombo Secondary School, underwent a 12-week intensive training program that was designed not only to teach them how to start a business but also how to sustain it. The first cohort, trained in 2021/2022, came from Mityana SS and Nakanyonyi SS, while Lweru SS and Bombo Secondary School followed in 2023/2024.
The project, dubbed “Imparting Entrepreneurship Skills in Universal Secondary Education Schools through Student Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion,” was spearheaded by Dr. Musisi and Dr. Rebecca Nambi, lecturers at Makerere University. It is funded by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (MakRIF).
Bridging the Skills Gap
Unlike traditional government skilling programs that primarily focus on hard skills such as tailoring and plumbing, this project emphasizes soft skills, psychological preparedness, and business management techniques. Dr. Musisi stressed the importance of preparing young people mentally for the challenges of entrepreneurship, explaining, “Many youths are trained and given tools, but they end up selling them because they aren’t psychologically prepared for business.”
The project provides a holistic approach by combining psychology, entrepreneurship, and business administration. Students learn how to manage failure, identify viable business opportunities, and navigate the ups and downs of running a business. Those who lose their capital are guided to reflect on their mistakes and find ways to avoid them in the future.
Real-life Business Ventures
One key aspect of the training was providing students with startup capital—each group of five students received UGX 300,000. These groups were tasked with identifying and starting micro-businesses within their local communities. The results were promising: even those who initially struggled managed to recover. Dr. Musisi recounted the story of a group that, after losing much of their capital, pivoted to selling jackfruits in their community and soon turned a profit of UGX 400,000.
For many of the participants, the training has had a lasting impact. Senior three student Faizo Jjingo from Bombo SS used the marketing skills he learned to start his own juice business, which now helps him meet his basic needs. Another student, Christine Nayiga from Lweru SS, ventured into poultry farming and is now committed to expanding her business to serve her local community.
A Model for Wider Implementation
The project, which has so far received UGX 300 million in funding, is currently limited to the central region of Uganda. However, the scholars hope that with more government support, it can be scaled to other parts of the country. The success of the initiative has led students, such as Issa Nsubuga from Lweru SS, to advocate for its expansion to reach local communities and skill up school dropouts.
Ms. Juliet Nabirye, representing MakRIF, expressed the fund’s commitment to supporting young people with innovative ideas. She encouraged students to apply their skills and brand their products to stand out in the competitive market. “Identify challenges in your community and create solutions for them,” she advised.
Challenges and Future Prospects
Despite the program’s success, challenges remain. Some schools have expressed concerns about students’ businesses interfering with their studies, fearing that too much focus on entrepreneurship could detract from academic performance. “It can disrupt school programs if students shift their focus entirely to their businesses,” warned a school official.
However, educators like Mr. Hamza Ssebunya, head teacher of Lweru SS, believe that the initiative is vital in shaping a more self-reliant generation. He emphasized that students now understand how to start small businesses like chapati making and vegetable growing, empowering them to earn money even while in school.
As Uganda faces an ongoing youth unemployment crisis—with an estimated 64% of young people out of work—initiatives like the Student Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion (STEP) project offer a glimmer of hope. Dr. David Kabugo, Deputy Director of Makerere University Institute of Teacher Education and Research (MITER), believes that projects like this are essential in addressing unemployment by giving youth the tools to create their own opportunities.
In the words of retired head teacher Mr. Muhammad Bisaso Ntamu, “Real education should encompass knowledge, skills, and values. This project has achieved 70% of what real education should provide.”
After 14 years of dedicated service, Claire Nakayiza, a familiar face and trusted custodian at the School of Public Health (SPH), has retired, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, commitment, kindness and service to the School community.
For many people at the School of Public Health, the sight of Claire arriving early in the morning, opening up the building and ensuring that everything was in order was simply part of the daily rhythm of life at the School.
For 14 years, Claire has been a constant presence at SPH. She has witnessed generations of staff, students, researchers and visitors walk through the School’s doors. She has seen colleagues join, grow and eventually move on, while she remained a dependable presence, quietly carrying out her responsibilities and ensuring that the School was ready to welcome everyone each day.
Her retirement was therefore more than a routine farewell. It was an opportunity for colleagues to celebrate a woman whose contribution, though often carried out behind the scenes, touched many lives and contributed significantly to the smooth running of the School.
At a farewell brunch organised by the Dean, School of Public Health, Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze, colleagues and friends described Claire in glowing terms. Words such as hardworking, kind, patient, resilient, dependable and caring repeatedly featured in the tributes.
For many, Claire was much more than a custodian. She was described as a mother figure, a counsellor and someone people could approach whenever they needed a listening ear, encouragement or simply a warm smile.
A commitment that went beyond the call of duty
One of the strongest themes to emerge during the farewell was Claire’s extraordinary commitment to her work.
Colleagues recalled how she would routinely open the School building as early as 6:00 a.m., ensuring that staff and students arriving for the day found the premises ready. Her working day could stretch well into the evening, with some days requiring her to remain at the School until 8:00 p.m. or even 10:00 p.m.
Despite the long hours and demanding nature of her responsibilities, colleagues said Claire rarely complained. Instead, she approached her work with patience and resilience, always focused on ensuring that the School was secure and that its operations could continue smoothly.
Her dedication was particularly evident in her contribution to improving the security of the School building. Over the years, Claire became a trusted custodian of the premises, helping to ensure that the building was opened and closed responsibly and that the environment remained secure for those who worked and studied there.
Speaking at the farewell, Prof. Wanyenze described Claire as someone who consistently worked beyond the call of duty.
The Dean acknowledged that saying goodbye to Claire was an emotional moment, given the many years she had spent serving the School and the relationships she had built along the way.
However, Prof. Wanyenze said she had spoken to Claire and was assured that she was ready to embrace the next phase of her life.
She joined colleagues in wishing Claire good health, happiness and prosperity as she begins her retirement journey.
More than a custodian
Claire’s impact at SPH was not limited to the physical responsibilities associated with her job. To those who interacted with her regularly, her greatest contribution was perhaps the warmth and humanity she brought to the workplace.
Amos Ddembe, the Internal Auditor, described Claire as a joy to watch as she went about her work.
He particularly remembered her interactions with people when she was stationed at the reception area. Claire, he noted, was almost always smiling and welcoming to staff and visitors.
Her ability to make people feel comfortable, regardless of their position or role at the School, earned her the affection and respect of many colleagues.
Claire’s colleagues also remembered her as someone who was willing to listen and offer guidance. Her patience and calm demeanour meant that people could approach her with their concerns, knowing they would receive a sympathetic ear.
Over the years, these seemingly small interactions accumulated into meaningful relationships, helping to make Claire one of the most recognisable and trusted members of the SPH community.
A legacy of service
Fourteen years is a significant period in the life of any institution. During that time, Claire witnessed changes in leadership, staff, students, programmes and the physical environment of the School.
She remained a constant through these transitions.
Her service represents the important contribution made by members of the support staff whose work often happens quietly but is essential to the functioning of an institution.
From opening the building before sunrise to securing it late in the evening, welcoming people at reception, supporting the day-to-day operations of the School and contributing to the security of the premises, Claire’s work helped create an environment in which others could perform their own responsibilities.
Her story is a reminder that the success of an institution is built not only through high-profile academic and research achievements, but also through the dedication of people who ensure that the institution functions every day.
A gesture of appreciation
As part of the farewell, the Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences also expressed its appreciation for Claire’s years of service.
Representing the Department, Dr. Christine Nalwadda presented Claire with a cash envelope on behalf of the staff as a token of appreciation for her commitment and contribution to the School.
A new chapter begins
As Claire leaves the School of Public Health, she takes with her the memories of 14 years of service and the goodwill of the many people she encountered along the way.
For the colleagues who gathered to celebrate her, the farewell was not simply about marking the end of employment. It was about celebrating a colleague who had become part of the fabric of the School.
As she begins this new chapter, the School of Public Health joins together in saying:
“Thank you, Claire, for 14 years of dedicated service. Thank you for the early mornings, the long evenings, the smiles, the patience and the unwavering commitment.
May retirement bring you the good health, peace, happiness and prosperity you so richly deserve.”
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