General
Uganda Digital Pathways Initiative: Another Lifeline for Youth
The Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi on Tuesday 29th April 2025 met with a delegation whose vision is to transform Uganda into East Africa’s premier digital skills hub through equipping 200,000 youth and professionals with digital and cybersecurity skills by 2027. The ambitious programme is a strategic collaboration between Deborah’s Impact Projects Africa-Uganda (DIPA-U), Africa World Train Center (AWTC) and the Office of the First Lady of Uganda (OFLU), with Ugandan Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as partners.
The delegation included; Ms. Elinor Wanyama Chemonges-Head DIPA-U, Ms. Betty Byanyima-Emerging Leaders Program (ELP)/DIPA-U, and Ms. Beat Bisangwa-OFLU. In attendance were Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Dr. Rodney Rugyema-Deputy Dean of Students, Mr. Awel Uwihanganye-Head Advancement and other officials.
The presentation by the delegation noted that the proposed programme creates a dual benefit of addressing digital opportunities and creating sustainable employment in high-growth digital sectors. The programme will begin with foundational IT and cybersecurity training before branching off into specialized career tracks in technical cybersecurity, compliance, IT Helpdesk, tech sales and marketing.
The training will be implemented in three phases commencing in May 2025 with IT fundamentals before delving into specialized career tracks and industry certifications in December 2025, and thereafter, workplace integration, business partnerships and freelancing skills in the third phase slated to commence in 2026. 20,000 participants are anticipated to be trained during the first phase, while the second and third phases envision training 80,000 and 100,000 participants respectively, bringing the total to 200,000.
The Uganda Digital Pathways Initiative was officially launched by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Kataaha Museveni on 22nd March 2025, where the first student, Miss Precious Keza pre-registered for the initiative. The event held at the Freedom Square, Makerere University was part of the Mantle of Deborah National Conference, an apostolic and prophetic movement aimed at equipping women for leadership, purpose and national transformation.
In his remarks, Prof. Buyinza welcomed and thanked the delegation for choosing Makerere University as partner for the initiative, adding “Our business is training; anything to do with digital skills improvement is welcome and we are excited and committed to transform the mindset of our graduates so as to make them more marketable.”
He further lauded the delegation for including the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) in the deliberations, noting that Makerere is always appreciative of inroads made in linking industry with academia for skills enhancement of graduates.
Contributing to the discussion, Prof. Tonny Oyana reassured the delegation that CoCIS is will be happy to co-create and co-design curricula with the initiative, which he opined can be offered as a short course. “We look forward to designing an experience that gives measurable outcomes.”
Furthermore, Dr. Rodney Rugyema underlined the Office of the Dean of Students willingness to mobilise students to pre-register for the initiative. He nevertheless requested the delegation to share more information on what will inform enrolment for the specialized career tracks so as to enable participants envision how their skills will contribute to the greater goal of transforming Uganda into East Africa’s premier digital skills.
Today’s meeting will be followed by a virtual meeting with the Africa World Train Center (AWTC) to further thresh out finer details on curricula and implementation.
Participants are encouraged to pre-register using the link: https://www.africaworldtraincenter.org/digital-pathways
Makerere University staff have been urged to embrace servant leadership, integrity and compassion as they prepare to welcome students for the 2026/2027 Academic Year.
The call was made during the Makerere University Staff Prayer Breakfast held on 31st July 2026 at St. Francis Students Centre Upper Hall under the theme “Faithful Stewards: A Servant Heart with Integrity and Wisdom,” drawn from Colossians 3:23–24 and Mark 10:35–45.
The prayer breakfast brought together members of Council, University Management, academic, and administrative staff to dedicate the new academic year to God while reflecting on their responsibility of serving students with excellence, humility and integrity.
A Call to Seek God’s Wisdom
Host Rev. Dr. Lydia Nsaale Kitayimbwa reminded staff that no amount of professional experience or academic expertise can replace God’s guidance.
She noted that the University’s mission can only be fulfilled when staff continually seek God’s wisdom in serving students and one another.
“There is no amount of experience or expertise that can replace God’s wisdom.”
Rev. Dr. Kitayimbwa observed that students remain the reason universities exist and challenged staff to approach their work as a calling rather than merely employment.
“Without students, there is no university,” she said, encouraging members of staff to remain united, avoid unhealthy competition and trust God as they begin another academic year.
She further urged staff to become faithful stewards who work together in harmony, which she summed up as, “United we stand; divided we fall.”
A Community, Not Just a Centre of Research
In her remarks, Dean of Students Dr. Winnie Kabumbuli welcomed the Council Chairperson, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and Members of Management to the breakfast, and reminded staff that a university’s value cannot be measured by research and innovation alone.
She described Makerere as a community held together by the spiritual as well as academic wellbeing of its people, and called on staff to renew their commitment to one another as much as to the institution they serve.
Draw Inspiration From Stewardship
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Prof. Sarah Ssali told staff that this year’s breakfast carried special significance.
“This is the first prayer breakfast we are having ever since we launched our strategic plan,” she said, referring to the University’s new Strategic Plan, launched on 2nd July 2026.
She encouraged staff to hold on to the morning’s reflections as a guide for implementing the plan over the next five years, describing Makerere as an institution many families choose above all others for the vision and training it offers their children. She urged staff to see themselves as stewards of that trust rather than simply employees carrying out a job.
Compassion and Discipline Must Go Together
Delivering her remarks, Makerere University Council Chairperson Dr. Lorna Magara challenged staff to strike a balance between compassion and discipline when dealing with students.
She observed that many students face different personal and academic challenges, making encouragement and timely support essential throughout their university journey.
“A word of encouragement can restore hope and prevent costly mistakes,” she noted.
Dr. Lorna encouraged lecturers and administrators to respond promptly to students’ concerns, explaining that delays, insensitive decisions and abuse of authority can discourage students and negatively affect their academic experience.
She reminded staff that students often remember how they were treated long after they have forgotten what was taught in class.
“Students may eventually forget what we teach them, but they will always remember how we treated them.”
She added that education goes beyond transferring knowledge.
“Education is more than knowledge. We communicate life, character and values.”
Quoting Mark 10, Dr. Lorna called upon staff to embrace servant leadership by exercising authority with humility, integrity and accountability.
She encouraged members of staff to ask themselves whether they would treat every student the same way ashey would treat their own child.
“We may not always have all the answers,” she said, “but we can communicate honestly, take responsibility and treat every student with dignity.”
She concluded by urging different colleges and administrative units to work together instead of operating in isolation, noting that unity strengthens the University community.
Referring to Galatians 6:2, she reminded staff to carry one another’s burdens and remain faithful stewards of the responsibility entrusted to them.
Servant Leadership Begins with Faithfulness
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. James Magara, husband to Dr. Lorna Magara, called on members of staff to embrace servant leadership grounded in humility, faithfulness and service to others.
Drawing from Mark 10:35–45, Dr. Magara reflected on the account in which James and John asked Jesus for positions of honour in His kingdom, prompting discontent among the other disciples. He observed that despite walking closely with Christ, the disciples continued to struggle with the desire for status and recognition. He noted that such competition remained evident even during the Last Supper, where concerns over positions and prominence persisted.
Dr. Magara said that Jesus responded to these human tendencies by redefining leadership through service rather than authority. He described Christ’s act of washing the disciples’ feet as the ultimate demonstration of servant leadership, explaining that genuine leaders are willing to undertake even the humblest responsibilities in service of others.
Referencing Philippians 2, he urged staff to emulate Christ’s humility and selflessness, contrasting it with the pride and self-exaltation illustrated in Isaiah 14. He emphasised that lasting influence and greatness are not measured by titles, positions or recognition, but by one’s willingness to serve faithfully and put the needs of others before personal ambition.
Drawing on his own leadership journey spanning several decades, Dr. Magara challenged leaders across the University to cultivate humility, integrity and a servant heart in the execution of their responsibilities. He cautioned that leadership driven by pride and personal ambition undermines both individual effectiveness and institutional progress, whereas servant leadership strengthens organisations and fosters lasting impact.
The prayer breakfast concluded with a call for unity and collective commitment as Makerere University prepares to begin a new academic year. Organisers noted that the reflections on stewardship, integrity and servant leadership would provide a strong foundation for the University community as it advances the implementation of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
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