Makerere University will host the 3^rd edition of the Sara Nyendwoha Ntiro Memorial Lecture in honor of a gallant alumna whose groundbreaking legacy as Uganda’s first female graduate continues to inspire generations of women in higher education across Africa and beyond.

The Inaugural Edition was held on 1^st December 2022 as part of Makerere University‘s centennial celebrations. The lecture was delivered by another distinguished alumna and passionate advocate for women’s rights, the Late Hon. Joyce Mpanga. Her moving lecture unpacked the topic Bold Ideas Need System Support to Thrive; The Case of Sarah Nyendwoha Ntiro, highlighting how Ntiro’s determination to pursue education required institutional backing to achieve lasting impact.

The Second Edition was held on 31^st August 2023 and graced by Her Royal Highness, Nnabagereka Sylvia Nagginda, Queen of Buganda, as the distinguished keynote speaker.

The Nnabagereka’s lecture was based on the theme Catalyzing Change: Women as Pillars of Society. Therein, she appropriately stated that “An empowered woman is a better person, mother, worker, and citizen capable of taking advantage of opportunities to contribute, lead, make change, have her voice heard and skills employed.”

This year’s edition of the Lecture will be held on the eve of International Women’s Day, Friday 7^th March 2025, in the Makerere University School of Public Health Auditorium starting at 2:00PM. The Third Edition will focus on the theme Pioneering Change and Transforming Institutions, aptly reflecting Sarah Ntiro’s legacy as a transformative figure who broke institutional barriers and pioneered change in Uganda’s educational landscape.

Sarah Ntiro’s own life embodied this year’s theme profoundly. As Uganda’s first female graduate who earned her degree from Oxford University in 1951, she returned home to transform educational institutions by advocating for girls’ education and challenging exclusionary systems.

Her work as an educator, politician, and advocate exemplifies how pioneering individuals can reshape institutions to become more inclusive and equitable. This year’s theme honors her approach to institutional transformation—creating sustainable change through strategic leadership, advocacy, and persistence.

To set the tone for the day’s discussion will be a distinguished speaker who, like Ntiro, pioneered change and transformation as the first female Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the first female Executive Director of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).

“Sarah Ntiro’s legacy reminds us that true transformation requires both pioneering individuals and responsive institutions. In Ms. Allen Kagina, we see this dual impact—a leader who not only broke barriers but reshaped organizational cultures. Our discussion will explore how women leaders like Ntiro and Kagina don’t merely occupy positions but fundamentally transform the institutions they serve, creating pathways for generations to follow.” Professor Sarah Ssali

Ms. Allen Kagina, an eminent alumna of Makerere, will in her keynote address explore how Ntiro’s trailblazing spirit has influenced her journey of institutional leadership and transformation, unpacking practical strategies for women leaders to effect meaningful change in traditionally male-dominated spaces.

“Transforming institutions isn’t just about being the first woman to enter the room—it’s about ensuring you’re not the last. Like Sarah Ntiro, who understood that true leadership means creating pathways that others can follow, I’ve learned that our greatest legacy lies not in the barriers we break, but in the sustainable systems we build that outlast our tenure. When women lead with both courage and vision, we don’t just change organizations—we redefine what leadership itself can accomplish.” Ms Allen Kagina

The panel discussion will be moderated by Professor Sarah Ssali, Dean of the School of Women and Gender Studies. She will be joined by another expert on a panel to examine how Ntiro’s educational philosophy and public service ethos continue to offer valuable lessons for today’s institutional leaders seeking to create more inclusive organizations.

“Makerere University is privileged to welcome home one of our most accomplished alumnae whose career exemplifies the institutional impact Sarah Ntiro envisioned when she championed education as a vehicle for national development. Just like Sarah Ntiro, Allen Kagina has consistently demonstrated how visionary leadership can transform our national institutions. Her groundbreaking work at both URA and UNRA embodies the very essence of this year’s theme—pioneering change that outlasts individual tenure.” Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor

We look forward to hosting you all on this platform that will promote the exchange of ideas and best practices among stakeholders to enhance strategies for greater gender equality in institutional change and transformation—continuing Sarah Ntiro’s vision of education as a pathway to societal transformation.

For updates, follow #SarahNtiroLecture25 on our social media platforms, or email us at advancement@mak.ac.ug