General
Forget tribalism, Embrace the principle of Unity
Dr. Simba Sallie Kayunga, the Commissioner at the Electoral Commission, has urged University student leaders to embrace unity if they want to live in a peaceful society.
He made the remarks on Wednesday 4th December 2024, during the second day of training of finalists and Graduating former student leaders from different Universities in Uganda. The training was conducted by Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), at Makerere University.
While delivering his overview of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s Ideas and Ideals in relations to Peace and Conflict, Dr. Simba explained that in order to achieve peace, Mwalimu Nyerere believed that it was essential that women live on terms of full equality with men, as their fellow citizens.
Dr. Simba explained that in order to achieve peace, there must be equality because people cooperate more effectively if they are equals.
Highlighting Nyerere’s ideas on peace, Dr. Simba pointed out that Mwalimu Nyerere saw tribalism as one of the biggest dangers to African progress, unity and peace. He reiterated that Mwalimu Nyerere was opposed to racism. He was a great supporter of a multi-racial society.
“Let us desist from manipulating our ethnic and religious identities, or any other identity to our political advantage. Let us embrace the principle of Pan-Africanism. We must have been born differently, but all of us have a contribution to make to our mother Uganda, our continent called Africa. We must, therefore, value and respect each person’s contribution to society,” Dr. Simba said.
Mwalimu Nyerere at glance
Mwalimu Julius Nyerere was born on 13th April 1922, to Nyerere Burito and Mgaya Nyang’ombe, at Mwitongo, a village in Butiama in Tanganyika’s Mara Region. He went to Native Administration School in Mwisenge, Musoma for his Primary and later joined Elite Tabora Government School, for his secondary Education.
Mwalimu Nyerere later joined Makerere University College in January 1943, to pursue a Diploma in Education. While at Makerere, he was an active member of the Makerere Debating Society.
Upon completing his education at Makerere University, he went to teach at St Mary’s Secondary School, Tabora. In October 1949, Nyerere joined the University of Edinburgh to study a Master of Arts. In 1952, he graduated with a Master of Arts in History and Economics and returned to Tanzania to teach.
In 1948, Mwalimu formally engaged to Maria Gabriel, and they officially married at Musoma mission on 24th January 1953.
Upon his return, Nyerere joined the Tanganyika African Association, becoming its President in 1953.
Mwalimu Julius Nyerere resigned as President of the United Republic of Tanzania on 5th November 1985, and handed over the presidency to Ali Hassan Mwinyi. He died on 14th October 1999.
Participants equipped with skills
During the second day of the training, over 60 participants listened were equipped with skills through presentations and practical sessions on team building for mediation, negotiation and resilience.
Ronald Ssazi, a Clinical Psychologist, presented the ethos that are crucial for creating an effective team culture.
“Start with investing into a team. When you have a team, go ahead and pay the price for team development. It helps with the growth of the team. Empower team members with responsibility and authority in order to groom and raise leaders for the team,” Ssazi highlighted.
Ssazi stressed that disagreements and conflicts are bound to happen in a team, but he guided on the need-to find healthy ways of handling them diplomatically.
Re-echoing the words of wisdom from Mahatma Gandhi, David Nyaribi, a representative from ActionAid Uganda encouraged the student leaders to always be the change they want to see in the world. Nyaribi urged them to be Servant Leaders who exemplify integrity and a great work ethic to transform Uganda and Africa.
Robert Muhangi, a Lecturer at Uganda Christian University-Mukono, called upon student leaders and the young people to always utilize indigenous ways to provide solutions to some of the problems they come across other than prioritizing external interventions.
“The best time to become a village champion is when you have just left University, let people look at you like a champion. When you solve conflicts by providing solutions, trust me, you will not look for a job, the job will look for you,” Muhangi stated. The practical session on Building Bridges for Peace and Security, focused on identifying the root causes of conflict, applying emotional intelligence, financial literacy and crafting strategies for community-based conflict resolution.
General
Are We Giving Enough Attention to the People Around Us Who Quietly Influence Lives Every Day?
By Marion Apio
On March 21, 2026, I felt a strong urge to reconnect with a close colleague and passionate leader, Owekitinisa Sylas Ruhweza Atwooki. We had not spoken since I moved to the United States to pursue my dream of becoming a journalist. The following day, I learned that he had been quietly undergoing treatment in and out of the hospital. True to his character, he had chosen to keep his condition private. I was shocked and saddened, wishing I had known earlier so I could offer support.
At first, reports from family and friends were encouraging. He had been diagnosed with malaria and low blood platelet counts and was receiving treatment. Respecting his wish for confidentiality, members of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community at Makerere University rallied discreetly around him.
However, on April 29, his condition worsened. He was transferred between medical facilities and underwent extensive tests, including a biopsy, as doctors searched for answers. Sadly, on May 29, Sylas passed away.
His death sparked an extraordinary outpouring of love and solidarity. Friends, colleagues, and former scholars mobilised to support his family, settle medical expenses, organise virtual vigils, and plan a dignified farewell. Hundreds gathered at St. Augustine Chapel to pay their respects. Within three days, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community raised approximately UGX 11 million, a testament to Sylas’ impact on countless lives.
In the days that followed, I found myself wrestling with difficult questions. In a world where we spend so much time following people online, are we paying enough attention to those quietly transforming lives around us? Why do we invest so much emotional energy in distant personalities while overlooking the people God has placed right in front of us?
Sylas lived with humility and served with grace. His death left more than 1,500 Mastercard Foundation scholars and alumni grieving, alongside many others around the world who knew him. Yet his passing also exposed a contradiction in modern life.
We live in an age of unprecedented connectivity. Uganda has millions of internet users and WhatsApp subscribers, while globally, people spend hours each day on social media. We have more tools than ever to stay connected, yet many of us are becoming increasingly disconnected from the people who matter most.
Sylas resisted this trend. Through mentorship, service, and community-building, he remained deeply present in others’ lives. While many people retreat into individual pursuits, he consistently chose connection.
This challenge is especially relevant for Mastercard Foundation scholars and alumni. Every year, young Africans leave home to pursue education and professional opportunities abroad. Distance, time zones, visa restrictions, and rising travel costs make it difficult to maintain relationships and remain actively involved in the communities that helped shape us.
For Sylas, the answer was simple: show up. Celebrate others. Offer support. Stay connected.
He never allowed geographical or personal barriers to become excuses for disengagement. Even while facing his own struggles, he invested in others. He embodied the values the Mastercard Foundation seeks to cultivate—ethical leadership, service, and community empowerment.
Sylas did not wait for a perfect platform to create change. He simply served where he was. He helped build bridges between education, culture, and professional development while remaining grounded in his values. He dreamed of creating a stronger alumni ecosystem and brought both passion and compassion to every initiative he touched.
Since his passing, social media has been filled with memories of his infectious smile and unwavering commitment to others. Those tributes reveal an important truth: people gave generously because Sylas had first given himself generously to them. People from different backgrounds, generations, and communities showed up because he had spent his life showing up for them. His legacy now challenges all of us.
The greatest tribute we can offer is not simply to mourn his loss but to continue his work. That means supporting the causes he cared about, helping the children whose education he championed, strengthening alumni networks, and pursuing the dreams we discussed with him.
The tragedy of modern life is not that we follow people online. It is that too often our attention to distant lives comes at the expense of meaningful relationships nearby. Yet strong relationships are as essential to our well-being as physical health.
As Ugandans, we take pride in our faith, culture, and sense of community. We contribute to fundraisers, attend ceremonies, and support family members in times of need. But increasingly, genuine connection is being replaced by passive digital interaction. Families and communities cannot thrive on likes, retweets, and emojis alone.
They require presence—phone calls, visits, conversations, and the willingness to notice when someone is struggling.
Before spending another hour immersed in the lives of strangers online, look around. Call the friend you have not spoken to in years. Check on a family member. Reach out to a colleague who seems withdrawn. Communities are not built by algorithms or celebrities. They are built by ordinary people who choose, day after day, to care for those within their reach.
Uganda needs more people like Sylas. At just 32 years old, he achieved what many spend a lifetime striving for. He served as Minister of Information in the Toro Kingdom and as President of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Alumni Association in Uganda. More importantly, he dedicated himself to serving others.
While his death is deeply painful, his life remains a powerful example of how we should live. My prayers and condolences go to his family, friends, and the entire Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community.
Rest in perfect peace, Owek. Sylas Ruhweza Atwooki.
The author is a Mastercard Foundation Alumna from Makerere University and the University of California, Berkeley. She is a journalist based in Southern California and the CEO of the Debunk Media Initiative.
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