General
UNDP and JNLC hold training in Fort Portal: Participants equipped with skills in Advocacy and Gender Equality, Team Building, Inclusive Leadership, and Financial Literacy
By Charles Iga
Fort Portal-Uganda: On 5th December 2025, more than 70 emerging leaders convened to participate in the second day of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) comprehensive leadership training for youth, young women and local councilors.
Hosted at Mountains of the Moon University (MMU) in Fort Portal, the training focused on deepening the leadership skills of young leaders as they navigate the increasingly complex governance and development landscape.
Building on the knowledge acquired during the first day of the workshop, on the second day (5th December 2025), the participants engaged in interactive sessions covering problem-solving, team building, advocacy, gender equality, media literacy, self-marketing, and financial literacy in leadership.
The discussions challenged the young leaders to sharpen their mindsets, broaden their spheres of influence, and strengthen their capacity to champion inclusive and sustainable community development.
Advocacy and Gender Equality: Understanding gender dynamics and women acceptance in leadership
Delivering an informative presentation titled, Advocacy and Gender Equality: Understanding Gender Dynamics and Women’s Acceptance in Leadership, the Guest Speaker- Professor Consolata Kabonesa highlighted that women remain underrepresented in leadership due to entrenched power structures shaped by societal norms and cultural traditions.
Professor Kabonesa emphasized that leadership depends not only on individual ability, but also on the systems that determine who is recognized and legitimized as a leader.
“The roles of women in leadership remain under-represented because power is shaped and perpetuated by societal norms and traditions that socialize women and men differently. These norms influence how leadership roles are assumed and who is considered legitimate to lead,” she explained.
How Socialization Shapes Leadership Pathways of Boys and Girls
Professor Kabonesa highlighted that socialization shapes leadership opportunities, with boys typically encouraged to be assertive, while girls are guided towards empathy and collaboration. This unequal conditioning reinforces gender stereotypes, often undermining women’s authority and sustaining male-dominated leadership structures. She advocated for mentorship as a vital tool, illustrating how role models help girls balance assertiveness with empathy.
She noted that early participation in councils, debates, and leadership roles develops skills, challenges biases, and empowers girls to pursue leadership in traditionally male-dominated fields. She articulated that integrating discussions on gender dynamics into educational curricula equips young girls to recognize and challenge societal norms that limit their potential, while fostering resilience against the discouragements they may face.
Inclusive Leadership: Engaging both Women and Men
Professor Kabonesa articulated that achieving gender equality in leadership is not solely an issue for women, but a collective responsibility. She underscored that balancing participation between men and women fosters mutual understanding, shared accountability, and collaborative problem-solving. She pointed out that inclusive leadership models prevent the isolation of women’s perspectives, ensures all voices are heard, and ultimately contribute to stronger, more equitable, and sustainable leadership that reflects the diversity and potential of society.
“Balancing participation across genders is critical. It helps us understand gender issues collectively, prevents the isolation of women’s experiences, and encourages men and women to address biases together. This approach will ensure that women are not left behind and will foster inclusive leadership models that benefit society as a whole.”
Leading within the Existing Leadership Structures
Expounding on the existing leadership structures and the power of relationships, Mr. Henry Kasacca, the Director of Dialogue and Democracy, explained that people support leaders not for their titles, but for the meaningful connections they build. He stated that effective leadership depends on listening, connecting, and collaborating across diverse spaces. “Leadership is not about the title you hold; it is about the relationships you build. There are people who will support you simply because you have invested time in connecting with them,” he said.
Mr. Kasacca stressed that leaders must navigate the organizational power structures by understanding where influence lies and how decisions are made. He noted that strategic thinking, long-term planning, and aligning ideas with action are key to effective leadership, while qualities such as listening, collaboration, kindness, and clarity of purpose are essential for achieving meaningful organizational and community impact.
He urged participants to maintain a clear vision, develop well-crafted plans addressing both immediate and long-term needs, and combine relationship-building with an understanding of power dynamics to become effective, and inclusive change-makers.
Strategic Thinking: Decision making and Problem Solving Techniques
Guiding participants on strategic thinking for decision-making and problem-solving techniques for effective leadership, Ms. Allen Baguma, a facilitator at JNLC and Founder of the Future Learning Centre (FLC) emphasized that strong leadership is anchored in intentional thinking, clear judgment, and the ability to translate vision into well-considered action.
“A strong team is built on clearly defined roles, an understanding of team dynamics, and psychological safety. When people feel safe to speak, contribute ideas, and make mistakes without fear, teams perform better,” she said.
Building Strong Teams through Clarity and Trust
Ms. Baguma emphasized the importance of clearly defined roles within teams, explaining that role clarity enhances accountability, minimizes conflict, and boosts overall performance. She observed that effective leadership requires understanding of team dynamics and fostering psychological safety, where members feel valued, respected, and confident to share ideas without fear of judgment.
She added that effective team building fosters social interaction, a sense of belonging, and a shared pro-social purpose. She noted that teams perform best when individuals are united by common goals and mutual trust.
Leadership growth across the five (5) levels
Citing John Maxwell’s five levels of leadership namely position, permission, production, people development, and pinnacle, Ms. Baguma explained that leadership growth is a progressive journey, moving from reliance on position to influence built through relationships, results, people development, and ultimately, value-based leadership that inspires others beyond formal structures.
Applying Strategic Thinking to Real-Life Challenges
Ms. Baguma guided participants through a practical exercise on strategic thinking, tasking them to identify personal challenges, explore innovative solutions, and evaluate their feasibility and impact. The exercise highlighted the importance of strategic decision-making in enabling leaders to address both personal and community challenges effectively.
Team Building for Effective Leadership
Mr. Ronald Ssazi, a facilitator and leadership trainer revealed that leadership extends beyond authority and depends on creating genuine connections. He stressed that building a strong and committed team involves engagement of members, which emotionally sparks curiosity and draws people in.
Mr. Ssazi explained that storytelling bridges attention to understanding. He illustrated this with the story of the youngest king of the Toro Kingdom, crowned at the age of three and now navigating life as a father at 33. Such narratives, he observed, showcase growth, resilience, and cultural awareness, humanizing leaders and making leadership relatable. “Leadership is not merely a title, but a journey of responsibility and influence,” he said.
He emphasized that leadership thrives in communities. Effective leaders, he explained, consistently share updates, insights, and experiences with their teams. Strategic use of social media, for example, allows leaders to post short, regular updates capturing daily activities, which builds a loyal and engaged audience that evolves into a network supporting initiatives, sharing knowledge, and amplifying impact.
“Leadership is not solitary; it thrives in communities. Effective leaders consistently share updates, insights, and experiences with their teams and followers. When used strategically, social media becomes a powerful tool for team building,” he said.
Preserving Culture while embracing modernity and team building
Mr. Ssazi highlighted that modern leaders have unprecedented resources at their disposal. He explained that tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), social media analytics, and online platforms can be used to strengthen teams. AI, he noted, can help craft content that resonates with audiences and analyze engagement to refine communication strategies. He stressed that leaders who effectively harness these tools can expand their reach and influence while remaining authentic and true to their values.
Mr. Ssazi emphasized that effective leadership balances modern strategies with cultural preservation, using community history and traditions. “Team building and leadership are about values and vision, balancing modern strategies with cultural heritage to foster pride, cohesion, and inspired and well-rounded teams.”
He stated that whereas true leadership is demonstrated through action, effective team building requires creation of genuine opportunities for participation and contribution. “Leaders who share opportunities, invite collaboration, and encourage feedback, transform their teams into active contributors,” he said. He added that assessing engagement, adapting strategies, and celebrating achievements fosters a culture of involvement and accountability.
Media Literacy: Promoting and Marketing Leadership through Social Media
Describing digital competence as an essential leadership skill, Mr. Ivan Ssegawa Sebastian, rallied participants to effectively utilize social media to promote and market their leadership roles and activities. He observed that most of the participants had smartphones, and were using social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok. Noting that the key challenge was not access, he challenged the participants on the intentional, responsible and strategic use of social media tools.
Mr. Ssegawa underscored the influence of social media, citing its vast global and national reach and its role in driving social and political movements. He described the Internet as a new battleground for leadership visibility, and provided guidance on the ethical use of artificial intelligence. He tipped the participants on authentic personal branding and effective content creation using emotion, story-telling, and a clear call to action.
Financial Literacy in Leadership: Managing financial resources for Effective leadership
Mr. David Nyaribi, Specialist at ActionAid International, explored the vital connection between financial literacy and effective leadership. During this session, Mr. Nyaribi focused on equipping participants with essential skills to manage financial resources effectively, both at a personal level, and in leadership roles.
He reminded participants that every leader must navigate the reality of unlimited wants and limited resources—especially time and money. “You may acquire more possessions in life,” he cautioned, “but time once lost is gone forever.”
He described the four dimensions that every human being must manage namely physical, cognitive, spiritual, and socio-economic. He emphasized that the socio-economic aspect, which includes financial capacity, is inseparable from leadership. Quoting Tony Robbins, he reiterated: “You either master money, or money masters you.”
The Flight Analogy: How Financial Choices Shape Life Stages
Mr. Nyaribi used a flight analogy to indicate how financial decisions shape life’s stages. From Preparation (0–20 years), building values, skills, and education, to Take-off (20–30 years), where career choices and earnings begin. Stability (30–50 years) is for investing and building systems, Descent (50–60 years) for consolidating and planning succession, and Landing (70+ years) for reflection and enjoying the results.
Impressed that most of the participants in the UNDP-JNLC leadership training workshop were in the preparation or take-off stages, Mr. Nyaribi advised them to invest in education, skills, and self-development. “Many people struggle later because they wasted their take-off stage,” he revealed.
Pillars of Personal Finance every leader must master
Mr. Nyaribi reminded the participants that financial literacy is not just a personal asset, but a leadership necessity. Underscoring the power of discipline and mindset, he urged young leaders to focus on both earning money and building true wealth-assets that empower them to uplift their communities. Mr. Nyaribi highlighted five (5) core financial principles that are essential for responsible leadership:
- Earning through either services or products;
- Saving first as a disciplined priority rather than keeping what remains after spending;
- Investing to turn savings into income-generating assets;
- Spending wisely to avoid living beyond one’s means; and
- Protecting gains through careful planning and accountability.
Education
Makerere Celebrates Prof. Mbazira’s Law Scholarship at His Inaugural Professorial Lecture and Book Launch
Makerere University lauded Professor Christopher Mbazira’s excellent contribution to the legal practice and academia during his inaugural professorial lecture and book launch organised through the School of Law. The celebration provided an opportunity to introspect on the topic of the day; exercise of judicial power for constitutional transformation in Uganda.
The lecture held on November 12, 2026 at Makerere Main Hall began on a lively note as Prof. Mbazira called out the traditional Makerere chant, “Emakerere Oye!” drawing an enthusiastic “Oye!” from the audience. It was a fitting start to a presentation he described as both a privilege and an honour.
Central Message of Prof. Mbazira’s Inaugural Lecture
In his presentation, Prof. Mbazira framed his central message to highlight that Judicial power remains one of the most important instruments for constitutional transformation, but its effectiveness depends on how it is exercised and whether its outcomes are respected.
Empahsising this, he drew on international scholarship to define judicial role. He referenced South African academic Prof. Bertus de Villiers, who guides that “the Judiciary can be an essential agent in the transformative process of a country. This is because the Judiciary can breathe life into the dry text of the constitution.”
Acknowledging that courts do not automatically become transformative simply because a constitution gives them extensive powers, Prof. Mbazira drew a sobering reality check regarding the limitations of the courts.
He warned that the Judiciary can of course be an instrument of oppression, and a defender of the status quo. Therefore, for the better, he recommended that the Judiciary be independent, courageous, principled, and responsive to the constitutional aspirations of the people. To the Executive and Legislature, he encouraged they recognise that constitutional limitations are not obstacles to governance but rather foundations to legitimate governance. He mobilised legal professionals, academicians, civil society to remain engaged in defending constitutionalism.
Professor’s inaugural lecture themed, “Uganda@64 and the Exercise of Judicial Power for Constitutional Transformation: Examining the Gains and the Lost Opportunities,” typically challenged the audience to rethink the role of the Judiciary.
Beyond his academic achievements, Prof. Mbazira made room to celebrate his family that has accompanied him on his journey. He invited his daughter, Ms. Christabella Mbazira, an aspiring lawyer, to address the gathering.
In her remarks, Christabella described her father as a role model, expressing admiration for his legal intellect and, with a touch of humour, the financial rewards of his profession.
A Tribute to Prof. Mbazira from Makerere University
Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Sarah Ssali, congratulated Prof. Mbazira on this achievement, describing it as not merely personal but institutional; a source of pride and a reflection of the scholarship and intellectual excellence that Makerere University continues to nurture.
Contextualising the Lecture, Prof. Ssali noted that it is always an opportunity to reflect on the academic journey of research, teaching, service, and contribution to society. She expressed confidence that this lecture on the role of courts in promoting constitutional transformation offers solutions to Uganda’s constitutional development and democratic future.
Prof Ssali, praised Prof. Mbazira for his mentorship contribution, noting that through his role at Makerere School of Law, he has groomed lawyers and legal scholars capable of critically using the law as an instrument of justice and social transformation.
The Acting Dean School of Law, Dr Zahara Nampewo described the inaugural professorial lecture as “one of the most significant academic traditions of any university,” noting it allows professors to “share the intellectual journey that has shaped their scholarship, to reflect on the contribution of their work to society, and to engage the wider public on issues of national importance.”
She emphasised that at the School of Law, constitutionalism is not an abstract academic concern. It is rather central to their mission as the leading institution of legal education, research and public engagement in Uganda. Exemplifying this, she referenced the 2016 amicus curiae brief submitted by nine law lecturers, including Professor Mbazira, which “established a progressive precedent for admission of amici curiae.”
Amici curiae are non-parties to a lawsuit such as experts, advocacy groups, organisations, or government officials who have a strong interest or specialised knowledge in the subject of the case.
Official Launch of Prof. Mbazira’s Book
Launching the book titled “Judicial Power, Politics and Constitutional Transformation in Uganda: Walking in and outside the Constitution”, Hon. Lady Justice Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, Justice of the Supreme Court of Uganda and former Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs and faculty at School of Law highlighted her long-standing relationship with Prof. Christopher Mbazira.
She acknowledged first encountering Mbazira as a student with “Law Intellect” and later as a colleague. She therefore expressed joy addressing him as Professor of Law now.
As the foreword author, she appreciated his book for its ability to help the Judiciary “reflect on their work, introspect and think, how we can do better.”
Further commending his role in critiquing the Judiciary, she emphasised the importance of authorship, referencing Albert Schweitzer to describe how authors “light the flame within” others.
On behalf of the University, Prof. Ssali said the book demonstrates how scholarship can interrogate institutions, challenge established thinking, and contribute to national and international debates.
Professor Mbazira’s Journey – Academic and Professional
Born in Jinja in the 1970s, at a time when the town was a thriving industrial centre, Prof. Mbazira would later build a distinguished career in legal academia. His journey into teaching was not initially planned. After graduating from the Law Development Centre in 2001, he had hoped to establish himself in commercial legal practice.
However, his career took a different turn when he was appointed a teaching assistant at Makerere University‘s then Faculty of Law where he serves to date and has grown to a senior position.
His journey has since brought him into contact with generations of lawyers, judges, academics, students and policymakers, most of whom were present for his inaugural lecture.
The citation presented by Dr Zahara Nampewo, the Deputy Dean at School of Law detailed Professor Mbazira’s academic and professional journey as follows:
Education and Early Work
Born in 1975, he earned his LLB from Makerere in 1999, an LLM from the University of Pretoria in 2003, and a PhD from the University of the Western Cape in 2007. His doctoral thesis “set the course for a substantial body of scholarship on how constitutional and international human rights guarantees can be translated into effective remedies for people whose rights have been violated.”
Career at Makerere
He joined the faculty in 2001 and became a full professor in July 2020. He has served in various leadership roles, including Head of Department and Acting Principal.
Scholarship
His work centers on “economic, social, and cultural rights, constitutionalism, and democratic governance.” His publications include “Litigating Economic and Social Rights in South Africa” and “Budding Democracy or Judicialisation.”
Public Interest Law Clinic (PILAC)
Since 2012, he has coordinated PILAC, which “helps advance a model of legal education that combines academic instruction with practical engagement in the justice needs of the communities.”
It was indeed a great day that honored not just the individual, but the ongoing struggle for a more just and accountable society in Uganda.
General
Advancing Makerere university’s Research Visibility and Impact: DRIP Spearheads Institutional ORCID Adoption
The Directorate of Research, Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP) has conducted a series of training sessions aimed at equipping graduate students, researchers, and research administrators with the knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively use the Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID). These trainings are designed to strengthen researchers’ professional identities, enhance publication tracking, and improve the visibility and recognition of their research outputs.
On 11th November 2026, DRIP held an online engagement with Makerere Research Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF). The engagement was attended by Grants Management Committee(GMC) and (Mak-RIF) Secretariat staff. The GMC members in attendance included Chairperson Prof. Fred Masagazi Masaazi, Vice Chairperson Dr. Sabrina Kitaka, Dr. Zahara Nampewo, Dr. Dorothy Okello, Dr. Stephen Wandera and Prof. Robert Wamala. The members were sensitized on individual and institutional registration, and benefits of ORCID adoption in research administration.
The successful drive towards strengthening ORCID adoption at Makerere University has greatly benefited from the strategic leadership and unwavering commitment of Prof. Sarah Sali, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs). Her leadership and institutional support have been instrumental in positioning ORCID adoption as a strategic University priority, recognising its importance in strengthening researcher identification, enhancing the global visibility of Makerere’s research outputs, improving publication tracking and reinforcing institutional research management. Her commitment to embedding ORCID within the University’s academic and research systems provides an important foundation for building a more visible, accountable and globally connected research community. DRIP sincerely appreciates her visionary leadership and continued support towards advancing Makerere University’s research excellence and impact.
Prof. Sarah Sali, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs
The Deputy Coordinator (Mak-RIF) Mrs. Phoebe Lutaaya Kamya speaking on behalf of Mak-RIF secretariat commended DRIP – the organisers of the online workshop and pledged support to the integration of ORCID in Mak-RIF’s processes. Mrs. Kamya looked forward to the training which was to help improve their operations in administering the research fund. Other members of MaKRIF secretariat included Evelyne Nyachwo, Grace Ruto, Gloria Nagayi, Karungi Jancita, Julie Nabirye, among others.
In his remarks, the Director Quality Assurance Officer, Dr. Cyprian Misinde acknowledged the importance of ORCID and called on all researchers to embrace the tool for their own benefit and to improve the evaluation of institutional research ranking.
“Being a research-led institution, we are ranked, and our ranking is partly based on research we do. So, if our research is not known, then we lose credit and it affects our position internationally”, Dr. Misinde noted.
Mr. Brian Masiga speaking on behalf of the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU), praised Prof. Robert Wamala and his team at DRIP for their efforts towards improving the research ranking of Makerere University most especially in research outputs.
“ORCID is one of those digital identifiers that is sort of like a CV that tracks the work that has been done by the researcher over a period of time”, Mr. Masiga said.
During the training, Prof. Robert Wamala presented a report which was previously discussed by the University Central Management on research outputs. The report showed that there were only 24% of academic staff who could be identified by ORCID. It is by this revelation that management resolved to sensitise staff and also to ensure that all systems at Makerere University are integrated with ORCID. Prof. Wamala assured the participants that the requirement for ORCID registration in research management was to ease Mak-RIF’s work in tracking research identities against outputs.
“The biggest importance towards the University is that Makerere University can actually validate and affiliate that a professor who claims to come from Makerere University is actually from Makerere University. Once these ORCIDs are generated and given through a hub and managed by Mak-RIF, Mak-RIF doesn’t have to ask people for their publications, these publications are automatically fetched into a hub”, Prof. Robert Wamala reported.
Mr. Tamale Fredrick from RENU delivered a presentation on the registration, use and benefits of ORCID to both the institution and the researcher. He explained that it was possible to integrate research done before a researcher obtained the ORCID other than creating a new identity profile.
Mr. Juma Katongole, Deputy Chief – Directorate of ICT Support(DICTS) reported that they had commenced the integration of ORCID in some of the institutional information systems like Research Information Management System (RIMS)- a systems that tracks postgraduate students’ research, and Makerere University Human Resource Management System (e-HRMS) which manages university staff records.
Mr. Katongole commended the partnership with RENU that working the Uganda OSHID Consortium they were able to integrate the systems and report appropriately.
“Because this information belongs to a staff or a researcher, they can always revoke permission. However, we follow data acquisition guidelines. Our role is to connect and synchronize. Since there is a bit of change management required, I’m happy that Prof. Wamala has gone around orienting stakeholders”, remarked Mr. Katongole.
Dr. Stephen Wandera contributing to the discussion, was glad for university’s resolve to leverage the ORCID platform for research identification and journaling.
“We could encourage staff members to make sure that they have created the profiles with the Web of Science, and many others. We need to make sure that as scientists, we are located and positioned properly in the global space”, Dr Steven Wandera reported.
Dr. Wandera said that through ORCID registration, the university will have better rankings and the contribution as individual researchers and institutions are properly allocated.
Dr. Sabrina Kitaka, supplementing on the engagement, commended the initiative and the benefits towards the university and the research ecosystem.
Dr. Zahara Nampewo and others confirmed having an ORCID but may require further assistance on how to tag their publications. Similar to the views of other GMC members, Dr. Zahara Nampewo and Dr. Dorothy Okello thanked DRIP for organizing the training.
In his closing remarks, Chairperson MAKRIF, Professor Fred Massagazi Masaazi said that the topical conversation on the development was very important and the benefits of ORCID was evident and relevant to MAKRIF. He was delighted that Mak-RIF staff had joined the discussion. Prof. Masagazi Masaazi pledged support of MAKRIF in advancing Makerere University’s Research Visibility and Impact by championing ORCID adoption through MAKRIF.
Through the Food for Peace initiative, the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport is stepping in to provide meals to over 200 students who struggle to afford meals, especially during the examination period.
According to Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University and President of the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport, hundreds of students drop out of Makerere University every year due to financial constraints. The reality for those who remain is sometimes tougher, for they struggle to survive.
While addressing the media at a press conference held at Makerere University on November 11, 2026, Prof. Nawangwe shared that many of these students skip meals, a situation that is more frequent during examination periods, when the demands on the brain are much greater.
The University is aware of these reports and in his capacity as Vice Chancellor and President of the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport, Prof. Nawangwe lobbied the club to take action.
In preparation for intervention, a comprehensive needs assessment was conducted, inviting students to come forward and share their needs. About 200 students responded to the survey, indicating a pressing need for food support during examinations.
The findings birthed a legacy project code-named “Food for Peace”, targeting, for a start, 206 students at Makerere University, regardless of their sponsorship status, as long as they participated in the survey. The Makerere Rotary Peace Centre spearheaded the survey that helped identify the first cohort of those who will benefit from the initiative and guided that for a dignified experience, the beneficially names will remain in records and not disclosed.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasised that the core mission of this cause is to move a step up with efforts to ensure that economically challenged students at Makerere University do not go a day without a meal. Service providers in halls of residence will serve these students their food following a meal card.
Seeding the Project
The Guest of Honour, Mr. Emmanuel Katongole, the Rotary International Director (RID) for Zone 22, while launching the initiative shared his personal experience of facing challenges that almost barred him from attaining an education. He believes education is an equaliser in life and that everyone should have a chance to access it. He reminded those in the room that they were all there together because of education.
RID Katongole highlighted the importance of supporting people, both as individuals and as a community. He expressed pride in being part of the launch of this project because it is going to create many more “Emmanuel Katongoles” through the provision of a meal.
He therefore personally committed to contribute UGX 5 million annually, starting this year, for as long as he lives or until the project ends. He also pledged to remain part of the initiative.
92nd Guild Commends “Service above Self”
From a student perspective, H.E. Kadondi Gracious, the 92nd Makerere University Guild President, delivered a vote of thanks for the initiative. She noted that students had petitioned Parliament to intervene in the matter and were happy that solutions had started coming from within.
She framed this move not just as charity, but as a way of restoring hope to Makerereans who were unsure of how they were going to maneuver through the examination period without lunch. In appreciation, the Guild President commended Rotary for showing what it actually means to offer service above self.
Sustainability of the “Food for Peace” Project
Although the immediate intervention is directed towards fewer than 300 students who expressed a need for assistance, the vision is bigger and looking beyond the current examination season.
As the Rotary Passport Club President noted, “if this is going to be sustainable, it means we are going to look out for partners to create a fund to sustain this initiative.”
The Club Secretary, Associate Professor Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, explained that as a legacy project, it is not a one-off. She committed the services of the Passport Club to supporting this legacy project.
Grounding the sustainability move, RID Emmanuel Katongole set the pace by pledging annual cash and in-kind support towards providing consistent assistance to students throughout subsequent academic periods, thereby enhancing student welfare over the long term.
Dr Winfred Kabumbuli, the Makerere University Dean of Students, showed strong support for the initiative since it falls within the core mission of student welfare. She appreciated the collaboration with Makerere University Passport Club, and pledged to rally internal support.
Call to Action and Contributions
The Club President made an appeal to alumni, corporate bodies, development partners, individuals and institutions of goodwill to join this noble cause, intended to ensure that students not only remain at the University but also attain their full potential on a full stomach.
The immediate fundraising goal is UGX 10 million shillings, which is required to implement the initial phase of food support. Excess amounts collected will facilitate an increase in the number of beneficiaries and after the examination period, add to the kitty for subsequent semesters.
Support and assistance can come in the form of financial contributions, food supplies, corporate partnerships, logistical support, and long-term partnerships.
To facilitate support, the club, through its Charter Treasurer (C.T.), Professor Winston Tumps Ireeta, shared the banking details as follows
Bank: NCBA Uganda Limited.
Account Name: Rotary Club of Makerere Passport
Uganda Shillings (UGX) Account Number: 228129200017
United States Dollar (USD) Account Number: 228129200027
SWIFT Code: CBAFUGKA
Bank Code: 36
Students were left with one final promise from the Chief Guest, “you are no longer alone. You have a partner in the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport.”
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