General
From Vision to Action: Five JNLC–UNDP Alumni Innovations Win Seed Funding
On 18th November 2025, young leaders gathered at Makerere University for Day Two of the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Alumni Follow-Up Workshop. The second day built on the energy and insights generated during the opening sessions at Fairway Hotel the previous day, offering a vibrant space for learning, collaboration, and celebration of youth-driven community impact.
Featuring panel discussions, leadership reflections, and innovation showcases, the day reaffirmed the power of young leaders who continue to translate their training into concrete change across Uganda.
Celebrating Excellence: Five Community-Based Initiatives Awarded Seed Funding
The highlight of the day was the highly anticipated award ceremony. Following an intense and competitive pitching process, the top five community-based innovations were announced amidst enthusiastic applause.
From a pool of ten alumni who presented their projects on 17 November to a panel of adjudicators, the following five emerged as winners of UNDP seed funding:
- Ms. Joan Itungo – Gender and Economic Empowerment: Value addition to milk (Kazo)
- Mr. Moro Boniface – Climate Justice Initiative (Gulu)
- Ms. Auma Oliva – Innovative Urban Farming
- Ms. Nadongo Mary – Youth Skilling Initiative (Kampala)
- Mr. Simoni Ichumar Peter – Community Engagement: Poultry and Tree Planting
These awards honored the creativity, resilience, and determination of alumni who are demonstrating that leadership is not just about ideas—it is about measurable and meaningful impact.
JNLC Reaffirms Commitment to Nurturing Young Leaders
In her remarks, Dr. Nansozi K. Muwanga, Executive Director of JNLC, commended the ten alumni for the impressive work they are doing in their communities. “You have worked tirelessly to reach this point,” she emphasized, noting that each participant had already demonstrated tangible impact through their initiatives.
Dr. Muwanga reminded the alumni that leadership is not defined by accolades but by action. She celebrated the growing number of JNLC alumni taking up leadership roles—including elective political positions—and using their training to influence real change.
She acknowledged the dedication of facilitators, board members, and partners whose mentorship and engagement helped alumni refine their ideas and strengthen their initiatives.
UNDP Applauds Alumni Innovation and Impact
Representing UNDP, Ms. Annet Mpabulungi Wakabi, Team Leader for Governance and Peace, praised the alumni for their clarity, depth, and confidence during presentations. “You demonstrated what servant leadership truly looks like—empathy, mobilization, and action,” she noted.
Ms. Mpabulungi Wakabi highlighted remarkable achievements among alumni, including climate action programs, youth skilling projects, and civic engagement campaigns—some even running for political office. She emphasized that leadership is ultimately defined by community impact.
Calling all participants “winners,” she noted that their stories have been documented to inspire youth across Uganda. She encouraged them to continue building their brands, leveraging social capital, and taking ideas from concept to action.
UNDP, she reaffirmed, remains committed to mentorship, follow-up, and expanding leadership programs that support sustainable transformation.
Strengthening Networks for Community Transformation
A session on community networks featured two dynamic speakers whose insights resonated deeply with the alumni.
Mr. Andrew Tumusiime – JNLC Board Member, emphasized the power of social capital.
“Leadership is not built on financial resources alone—it rests on relationships,” he explained.
Drawing from the example of Julius Nyerere’s disciplined leadership during the Mozambique struggle, he underscored integrity, focus, and humility as pillars of effective leadership.
He encouraged alumni to collaborate with religious leaders, local government officials, and community influencers to establish credibility and gain support. He also urged them to adapt strategies to local contexts and avoid one-size-fits-all approaches.
Ms. Anna Nabulya-Deputy Director at Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDL), challenged young leaders to rethink how they build networks and nurture sustainable community projects.
Opening with Steve Jobs’ reminder that “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower,” she urged alumni to embrace collaboration over individualism. She highlighted the importance of:
- Branding and visibility
- Documentation and storytelling
- Strategic alignment with national frameworks
- The Four Cs of civil society engagement: Communication, Collaboration, Cooperation, Coordination
Ms. Nabulya emphasized that sustainability grows from community ownership, not isolated efforts.
Reflections on the Future of Alumni-Led Change
In a special panel session, alumni reflected on their work and their future vision. They emphasized choosing projects based on local needs, sustainability, and practical impact—demonstrating how initiatives such as urban farming address food security, climate resilience, and livelihoods simultaneously.
They also highlighted:
- The importance of resource mobilization through partnerships
- The role of personal branding in building credibility
- The power of trust and collaboration in amplifying community change
Their reflections illustrated that even modest projects, when backed by commitment and networks, can create lasting transformation.
Election of UNDP Alumni Leaders
A key milestone of the workshop was the election of new JNLC / UNDP Alumni Leaders. Nine candidates stood for leadership in an open and transparent process that embodied the program’s values of accountability and inclusion.
The elected leaders are:
- Lead Coordinator – Mr. Asiimwe Ronald William
- Deputy Coordinator – Mr. Emmanuel Edonu
- Mobilizers – The remaining seven candidates
These leaders will champion alumni engagement, strengthen collaboration, and drive community-based initiatives across the country ensuring that the lessons, vision, and impact of the UNDP–JNLC programs continue to resonate across communities.
A Reflection on Connection and Shared Purpose
To close the workshop, Dr. Gardner Herbert Rwakiseta, JNLC Programme Coordinator, offered powerful reflections using two vivid metaphors. He compared leadership awareness to car mirrors, reminding alumni that while leaders must focus ahead, they must occasionally look back to appreciate their journey.
He then invoked the Quaking Aspen tree, whose vast underground root system sustains entire colonies. “What we see above the ground is only a fraction of what truly holds everything together,” he said. “Our strength lies in the relationships we build, the support we share, and the networks that nourish us.”
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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