General
JNLC-JICA Symposium advocates for Inclusive Governance: Amplifies debate on revisiting African-style Governance
During the Julius Nyerere Leadership Training Centre (JNLC) in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) symposium held on 9th December 2025 at Makerere University, a strong voice emerged, as over 70 participants, advocated for inclusive governance. “No one should be left behind. For inclusive governance to take shape, everyone should be involved. Women and youth should be included and empowered to participate in, every stage of the governance cycle.”
Focusing on the theme, Revisiting African-style Governance: Fostering an Inclusive Society where Women and Youth can Thrive, the JNLC-JICA symposium provided a platform to the participants to discuss and critique western democracy, colonialism, patriarchy, cultural ideologies and practice, as well as, African-style democracy, through the following topics:
- Driving sustainable peace and growth in Africa: Realizing a society where women and youth can thrive
- The values and institutions of Inclusive African governance: From the perspectives of gender, generation and regionality
- The potential of African-style democracy and peace-building unleashed by women and youth.
The symposium presented to the participants an inter and cross generational flow of ideas from JICA experts and researchers, the Nomura Foundation, the JNLC leadership and experienced instructors, scholars from Makerere University Department of Political Science and Public Administration, young leaders, women, students and JNLC alumni.
The highly interactive symposium featured five sessions including the plenary, four sessions tackling to carefully selected topics aligned with the theme, and closing remarks, which provided a reflection and wrap-up. With each session having a chairperson, presenters, a discussant, and a question and answer segment, the participants listened, learned, discussed and exchanged ideas on inclusive governance.
To set the pace for the day’s engagement, the symposium kicked off, with a plenary session. Chaired by Dr. Julius Kiiza, an Associate Professor at Makerere University Department of Political Science and Public Administration, the powerful and informative session brought on board Mr. Yoichi Inoue-the JICA Uganda Chief Representative who delivered the opening remarks, two key note speakers namely Dr. Adem Seifudein and Ms. Jackline Nasiwa, and the discussant – Dr. Suzie Nansozi K. Muwanga-the Executive Director of the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre
Japan and Uganda: A Partnership for Shared Progress
Opening the symposium, Mr. Inoue Yoichi, Chief Representative of JICA Uganda, expressed gratitude for the collaboration, describing the partnership as a bridge between academic excellence and practical development. He highlighted Uganda’s governance, resilience, and education experiences as lessons for cross-regional learning with Japan and beyond.
“Uganda has long been a treasured development partner. JICA’s cooperation in Uganda spans many decades and covers a wide range of sectors. Together with our Ugandan counterparts, we have worked to build vital infrastructure, from roads that connect communities to electricity networks that power growth,” Mr. Yoichi said.
He emphasized the importance of youth engagement, noting their creativity and energy as critical to sustaining the symposium’s ideas.
“By including students and young professionals in our conversation, we ensure that this dialogue remains forward-looking, amplifies the voices of the next generation, and sustains the impact of the ideas shared at the symposium,” he stated.
Africa’s Youth and Women: Driving Change
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Adem Seifudein, Research Fellow at the JICA Ogata-Sadako Research Institute, focused on Numericalism as well as Female and Youth Empowerment in Africa. He highlighted that Africa’s youthful population—70% under the age of 30—is both a demographic majority and a global force yet to fully convert into political and developmental power.
“Destiny does not automatically translate into dividends. Empowerment must be deliberate, especially for women and the youth,” he guided, urging transformation that respects historical and cultural realities.
Dr. Adem emphasized youth roles in reimagining leadership, digital activism, and peacebuilding. “You are the ones who will advance the peace of tomorrow. The future of Africa- its governments, justice and peace, rests not in distant institutions, but in your hands, in your imagination, and in your actions. You are the peacebuilders,” he said.
African Women at the Forefront
Ms. Jackline Nasiwa, Executive Director of the Center for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice in South Sudan, highlighted the role of women and youth in governance, describing Africa’s youthful population as a source of innovation and civic engagement. She reaffirmed women’s contributions across peacebuilding, entrepreneurship, and leadership, citing pioneers such as Dr. Specioza Wandera Kazibwe – the first female Vice President in Africa, Dr. Wangari Maathai – First African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – Africa’s first elected female head of state, Joyce Banda – Malawi’s first female president, and Ameenah Gurib-Fakim – Mauritius’ first female president.
“We need to celebrate our African women leaders because when women rise, nations rise,” Ms. Nasiwa declared.
She outlined reforms for inclusive governance: gender-sensitive systems, investment in education, economic empowerment, and leadership development for women and youth.
“The future of African governance and development depends on the empowerment of women and youth in every nation and community. When both are included, society becomes stronger, more united and resilient,” she said.
Unpacking Structural Barriers to Inclusion
Addressing the participants, Dr. Nansozi Muwanga pointed out some of the entrenched obstacles that sustain exclusion including limited access to decision-making spaces, the persistence of patronage politics, and social norms reinforcing gendered and generational hierarchies. She added that economic exclusion remains a critical, yet often an ignored constraint. With reference to Uganda’s political landscape, she stated that the high cost of contesting for leadership places meaningful participation beyond the reach of most of the young aspirants.
“In today’s Uganda, running for a political position requires enormous financial resources—often running into billions of shillings for posters, facilitation, and other campaign costs. Realistically, how many young people can raise that kind of money just to secure a chance at leadership?
Women at the Heart of Africa’s Governance Future
Dr. Nansozi K. Muwanga noted that although Africa’s population is both young and predominantly female, women remain underrepresented in governance. She highlighted the longstanding contributions of Ugandan women—from national speakers to cabinet leaders—and emphasized that the challenge has never been a lack of capable women, but rather their limited inclusion in governance structures in meaningful ways. She argued that excluding women and youth fundamentally undermines peacebuilding, economic transformation, and social cohesion.
Rethinking Governance through African Wisdom
Drawing from traditional African governance models, Dr. Nansozi K. Muwanga underscored the relevance of consensus-building and distributed leadership. She noted that African societies historically valued collective decision-making, involving elders, clans, women, and youth. She suggested that these indigenous principles offer lessons for modern leadership, particularly in designing systems that reflect demographic realities rather than sidelining them.
“Consensus-building which is collective decision-making is part and parcel of African traditional governance systems. The second is distributed leadership. By this we mean leadership is not vested in one person but in a network of elders, clans, women leaders, youth, and age-set structures spread across society and able to provide the guidance needed for governance,” she said.
Charting Pathways to Inclusive Governance
Dr. Nansozi K. Muwanga proposed pathways for building inclusive societies, including gender-responsive budgeting, genuine youth representation, strengthened decentralization, and transforming social norms through cultural and religious engagement. She emphasized cross-generational dialogue and economic empowerment; providing access to finance, market-linked skills, and support for youth-led enterprises—as essential for meaningful participation.
“Economic empowerment means supporting young entrepreneurs, skilling them in ways linked to labor markets rather than random training, and giving them access to finance—not only for supposedly important sectors but also for innovative ideas, for both young women and young men,” she remarked.
Dr. Muwanga argued that the path forward lies in reconnecting power to the very people it is intended to serve; young women and young men who make up the overwhelming majority of Africa’s population. For governance to be credible and sustainable, she noted, it must reflect the continent’s demographic and social realities.
Symposium Sessions
The symposium convened scholars, young leaders, civil society actors, and practitioners from Uganda, Japan, and beyond for three dialogue sessions that blended global perspectives with African realities, providing a platform to examine the structures, opportunities, and challenges shaping Africa’s peace and governance.
Session 1: Driving Sustainable Peace and Growth in Africa
Chaired by Associate Professor Paul Omach-Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Makerere University, the panel consisted of Ms. Hope Namulindwa, Ms. Dorothy Nakamya Namigadde, Mr. Denis Olupot, Dr. Anna Ninsiima, Dr. Hiroki Nakamura and Mr. Charles Tweheyo as the discussant.
The discussion examined how Africa can create a society where women and youth fully participate and thrive as equal partners in development. Speakers addressed the structural and economic pressures young people face especially unemployment and how these challenges influence political engagement, social stability, and innovation. Reflections also highlighted the increasing empowerment of young women in Uganda, linking their progress to the long-standing role of African women in peacebuilding and economic development. Overall, the session underscored women as historic and contemporary frontline actors, with today’s young women positioned as heirs to that legacy.
Session 2: The Values and Institutions of Inclusive African Governance
Chaired by Associate Professor Paul Omach, the panel consisted of Ms. Mary Sora Deng, Dr. Joel Isabirye, Mr. Charles Tweheyo, Mr. Takashi Nagutsuji and Dr. Natsuko Imai as the discussant.
The session examined how governance systems influence inclusion across gender, generation, and regional lines. Presenters noted the gradual rise of women in political leadership, while acknowledging that increased representation has not fully dismantled patriarchal norms. Drawing on historical East African practices that emphasized collective responsibility and community leadership, the discussion explored how modern institutions can connect generations, blend traditional and formal governance, and bring marginalized groups into national decision-making. The session emphasized that true inclusion must go beyond rhetoric—it requires intentional structures, resources, and meaningful reforms.
Session 3: Reimagining Democracy and Peacebuilding through Women and Youth
Chaired by Associate Professor Julius Kiiza, the panel consisted of Dr. Jackie Nakaiza, Mr. Mpamize Rwamigamba, Dr. Julius Niringiyimana, Dr. Natsuko Imai-Kaneyama, and Dr. Joel Isabirye as the discussant.
The final session focused on integrating women and youth into leadership, exploring concepts such as vanhucracy, and bridging traditional and modern governance. Presenters traced East Africa’s strides in including women in peace and security processes and reflected on why the youth political bloc, despite its numerical advantage has struggled to gain traction in regional governance structures.
Closing Remarks: Participants urged to continue the dialogue on inclusive governance
Dr. Justus Twesigye, Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Makerere University, stressed that peace, inclusive governance, values, and sustainable growth lie at the heart of humanities and social sciences and should not be overshadowed by emerging technologies.
Dr. Twesigye commended the organizers for their vision and leadership in convening the symposium and expressed confidence that the partnerships and insights gained would continue to advance governance, inclusion, and sustainable development across Africa.
Commending the participants upon their active participation in the symposium, Dr. Twesigye stated that the wonderful ideas and insights would be shared with the University management and key stakeholders for further action.
He called for continued dialogue through academic and digital platforms, highlighted the importance of mentoring youth, and reaffirmed the central role of women and young people in building an inclusive society.
The two-week training programme aims to equip government officers with practical skills to assess project viability, manage investment risks and ensure public resources deliver value for money.
The Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM CoE) is strengthening the capacity of government officers to undertake financial appraisal and risk analysis of public investment projects through a two-week training programme designed to improve the quality of project preparation, appraisal and decision-making in Uganda.
The training, which started in Fort Portal on October 19, 2026, brought together participants from various government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), alongside facilitators from Makerere University, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Cambridge Resources International (CRI), the National Planning Authority and the Uganda Development Bank.
Officially opening the training on behalf of the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury, Ms Esther Ayebare, Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Project Analysis and Public Investment Department of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, emphasised the importance of rigorous project appraisal in strengthening Uganda’s public investment management system.
She noted that projects admitted into the public investment plan must be aligned with national priorities, technically sound, financially viable and capable of delivering value for money.
“Government must be able to compare investment alternatives and ensure that only viable projects proceed through the public investment process,” she emphasised.
Ms Ayebare explained that sound appraisal enables government to make informed investment decisions, maximise returns on public expenditure and ensure that limited public resources are directed towards projects with the greatest potential to deliver development outcomes.
Building practical skills for better investment decisions
The training builds on the Public Investment Management course conducted in June, which introduced participants to Uganda’s public investment management framework, including project conceptualisation, stakeholder analysis, project costing, implementation action plans, the Integrated Bank of Projects, and monitoring and evaluation of public investment reforms.
The current programme advances this foundation by equipping participants with technical competencies in financial appraisal, financial modelling and risk analysis.
Participants will explore integrated investment appraisal, alternative investment criteria, cash-flow statements, inflation and exchange-rate movements, asset valuation, project financing, project scale and timing, risk-sharing arrangements and cost-effectiveness analysis.
Through practical exercises and case studies, participants will apply these concepts to investment scenarios in sectors such as roads, health, education and water. The programme will also examine how climate change, social considerations and other risks can be integrated into project preparation and appraisal.
Ms Ayebare encouraged participants to engage actively with the facilitators, question the practical application of the tools and consider how the skills acquired could improve investment decisions within their respective institutions.
She also reminded participants that the programme includes an examination and that certification requires more than attendance. Participants are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and acquire practical skills that they can apply in their work.
Reducing dependence on externally prepared studies
A key objective of the training is to strengthen the ability of government institutions to undertake high-quality project appraisal studies using their own technical teams.
Ms Ayebare observed that many studies submitted to the Development Committee have traditionally been prepared by external consultants, often at considerable cost. Building the capacity of public officers to conduct these studies independently can help institutions strengthen their technical expertise and improve the quality of project proposals presented for consideration.
She urged participants to take full advantage of the facilitators’ expertise and return to their institutions equipped to undertake sound financial appraisals and provide evidence-based advice to decision-makers.
She further emphasised that project approval requires thorough preparation, analysis and justification, rather than simply identifying available funding and proposing a project to utilise it.
Strengthening public investment management through capacity development
In his remarks, Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director of the PIM CoE, thanked the Ministry of Finance for its financial support and for identifying participants from government institutions. He also recognised the contributions of the facilitators and partner institutions in delivering the programme.
Prof. Bbaale noted that the Centre’s work extends beyond training to include research and advisory services aimed at improving public investment management practices. He encouraged continued collaboration with government institutions and other partners to advance research, knowledge sharing and capacity development.
Speaking during the training, Dr John Sseruyange, Manager of the PIM CoE, highlighted the importance of commitment, active participation and punctuality throughout the programme. He encouraged participants to engage with the facilitators, ask questions and apply the knowledge gained to the projects they support.
Dr Sseruyange also acknowledged the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, for financing the training, and appreciated Cambridge Resources International for its continued support towards improving public investment preparation and analysis in Uganda.
The training reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen Uganda’s public investment management system by equipping public officers with the knowledge and practical competencies needed to assess projects rigorously, identify potential risks and make informed investment decisions.
By developing in-house expertise across government institutions, the programme seeks to contribute to better-prepared projects, more efficient use of public resources and improved delivery of Uganda’s development priorities.
President Yoweri K. Museveni while officiating as Chief Guest at the Julius Nyerere Annual Symposium 2026: Nyerere-Museveni Dialogue at Makerere University called upon the audience not to merely hold Nyerere’s Legacy as a historical footprint but as a masterplan for the future that remains unfinished. Organised by the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC), the symposium was a two day event that started with “ekyooto” on 13th October at the JNLC gardens and climaxed on 14th October in Freedom Square. The second day hinged on the theme: Borrowing from the Past, Building the Future.
In the President’s message delivered by Rt. Hon. Dr. Crispus Walter Kiyonga the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of Makerere University, the president spotlighted, “Mwalimu Nyerere as the greatest African that ever lived in terms of contribution to the African people’s efforts for freedom, human rights, and dignity.”
This greatness, he notes, spilled not just to political ideals but also to economics and security. The President agreed with him and warned that “freedom without economic transformation and economic prosperity, without a robust strategic security, remains incomplete.”
Reaching out to the younger generation of scholars and leaders, the President issued a strong warning to move beyond simply remembering Nyerere to action. He said, “you must carry forward the torch of pan-Africanism, reject sectarianism and tribalism, build our regional markets, and champion the total political integration of our motherland.”
He appreciated Mwalimu for his; unwavering support for the struggle of the East African Federation, courageous backing of the armed anti-colonial struggles in the southern half of Africa, principled and decisive support for the anti-Idi Amin struggle, pro-people and pro-unity policies that kept Tanzania peaceful for decades, and ensuring that Tanzania remained a strategic rear base for the entire African resistance.
As a believer in Nyerere’s ideals, the President urged the audience to honor Mwalimu “not merely through commemorative speeches, but through completing the historical task of uniting, defending, and prospering our motherland,” for the motive is to ensure that the independence wars won by our predecessors were not in vain.
To this note, he reiterated the case for Uganda, saying “we shall never forget his profound contribution” to Africa.
Professor Nyamsenda’s Keynote Unparked Pan-Africanism
During the Nyerere-Museveni Dialogue symposium at Makerere University, Professor Sabatho Nyamsenda, a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam delivered the Keynote Address titled “The Unfinished African Project: From Liberation Legacies to a New Generation of Transformation” during the symposium”.
He started on a lighter noticing “Nyerere is being Ugandanised.” This he said looking at the annual Public Lectures dedicated to his name and felt like challenging his home institutions to follow suit.
At the calm of the room, he presented a critique of the current state of Pan-Africanism, arguing that it has been grabbed by the ruling elites, a challenge Professor Nyamsenda identifies to have started in the period of 1960 -1980.
He explained that it was around this time period that Pan-Africanism was snatched away from the masses and it became a state project. Currently, he said the ideology exists in two forms: Boardroom and Street Pan-Africanism.
Professor, characterised Boardroom Pan-Africanism as a State Project. He said “boardroom Pan-Africanism sits comfortably with imperialism and elite-centered accumulation.” While Street Pan-Africanism to which Professor advocates, he emphasised that historically, this approach “united the African liberation movement and liberated the African continent from the most barbaric colonial powers.”
As he concluded, Professor Nyamsenda joined Mwalimu and the President of Uganda in urging youth to consider joining and leading the struggle for a better Africa.
Role of JNLC in Realising Nyerere’s Ideas
Professor Saturninus Kasozi Mulindwa, the JNLC Board Chair highlighted the primary objective of the center as “imparting knowledge and sharing experiences from the old generations to the new generations.” Therefore, JNLC contributes to the actualisation of Nyerere’s ideas by focusing on the development of the next generation of African leaders.
To supplement this, Dr. Nansozi K. Mwanga the Executive Director at JNLC said that the center is committed to “nurturing ethical, conscious, and transformative leaders inspired by Mwalimu’s ideas of service, human dignity, self-reliance, and Pan-African solidarity.”
She explained their focus is on several key areas with training as core. They have “trained over 1,500 young people and young leaders from across Uganda.”, and developed leadership programs “grounded in ethical decision-making, civic responsibility, public service, and action.”
In her remarks, it was observed that training alone is not enough; they are also doing mentorship, to provide opportunities for networking and learning from experienced leaders. There are already testimonies when you visit the Centre wall of fame. To which Dr. Nansozi revealed “leadership development matters when learning becomes service and meaningful action.”
The Centre remains proud of those they have touched and are eager to support as many cohorts.
Julius Nyerere Family Pour their Heart out
Mama Maria Nyerere, addressed the Symposium virtually and commended the Centre for keeping Mwalimu’s values alive.
As a memory of her husband, she reminded the audience that his greatest legacy was anchored on the values by which he lived: service, humility, integrity, unity and love for Africa and its people. She also urged the young people to take up leadership responsibilities and lead with humility, integrity and always remember the people they serve.
Mama Nyerere also advised the youth to learn from those who came before them like her husband with courage to build a better Africa for their generation and those who will come after them.
Joining Mama Nyerere, on behalf of the Nyerere family was Ms. Julia Nyerere, a granddaughter, who attended physically and thanked H.E. Kaguta Museveni for supporting the establishment of the Julius Nyerere Centre at Makerere University and also commended the Keynote Speaker Professor Nyamsenda for Critiquing Nyerere’s ideas.
Julia further shared an understanding of her grand-father’s interest in preserving humanity as a moral.
As a family they are happy that his (Nyerere) values and legacies continue to inspire Africa and beyond.
Appreciation for All who Made the Symposium Possible
Addressing the symposium, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, represented by Professor Henry Alinaitwe the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Finance and Administration expressed the University’s appreciation and commitment.
He thanked “the government of Uganda for the support they are giving to the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center,” and requested Dr. Kiyonga to “convey the message to the fountain of honour for this initiative that Makerere University is happy for, and is going on well.”
To the leadership of the Center, he specifically thanked the Director Dr. Nansozi for her focused leadership. He stated, “I commend my friend, Dr. Nansozi, for the work that you are doing.”
Professor Alinaitwe also emphasized “we” value these symposiums, saying, “as a university, we acknowledge that such activities create great visibility.”
Dr. Kiyonga was also thanked for delivering the President’s message, together with veterans like Professor Kabwegyere, among other distinguished guests and partners that attended.
Professor Tarsis Bazana Kabwegyere as well appreciated all and emphasised the collective duty of the youth in building the next generation.
He advised “your responsibility is to identify and build Africa forward, building on the legacies and foundations of our forefathers,”.
The Professor also argued that “being young on its own is not a virtue. It is what you are when you are young.” He challenges the audience to avoid being ignorant and claim that you are young.
Background of the Nyerere Symposium
The Julius Nyerere Annual Symposium is an intergenerational gathering hosted at Makerere University. For more than six years now, it has been connecting past leadership legacies of Nyerere and other revolutionaries with current regional and continental priorities under the (JNLC) centre.
The Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) serves as a training ground and research hub designed to mentor the next generation of African leaders. Co-hosted by Makerere University and the Uganda Management Institute (UMI), the Centre bridges the gap between older statesmen and youth by focusing on Pan-African ideals, ethical governance, and social transformation.
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