General
How to deal with Examination Fever
Today, Monday 18th May 2026, most students will begin their End of Semester Two Examinations, and they have been encouraged to remain confident and calm during the examination season.
Data from the University Counselling and Guidance Centre shows that even the best-prepared students experience anxiety, pressure, fear of failure, sleep difficulties and emotional exhaustion during examinations.
Addressing students during a pre-examination mental health workshop organised by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University on 15th May 2026, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Academic Registrar, reminded students that their mental health is far more important than any grade.
“This workshop comes at the right time. I encourage all students to understand that your worth is not defined by a single examination or grade. Examinations are only one part of your educational journey. What matters equally is your ability to remain healthy, focused, ethical and hopeful throughout the process,” Prof Buyinza, said.
Prof. Buyinza shared practical tips to help students avoid fatigue and excessive stress during this period.
“Prepare a realistic reading timetable and avoid last-minute cramming. Take short breaks while studying to allow your mind to recover and improve concentration. Get adequate sleep and avoid excessive consumption of caffeine and energy drinks,” he noted.
During the session, he also encouraged students to engage in light physical activity, stretching or short walks to refresh their minds and reduce tension.
“Maintain a positive mindset and avoid comparing yourself excessively with others. Stay connected with supportive friends, family members, mentors or counsellors whenever you feel overwhelmed,” Prof. Buyinza advised.
He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to supporting students not only academically, but also in their mental and psychosocial wellbeing, encouraging learners to seek help from counsellors, lecturers, mentors, peers, family members and available support systems whenever necessary.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Prossy Nakayiki, the Deputy Academic Registrar in charge of Examinations and Transcripts warned students against examination malpractice and urged them to uphold academic integrity.
“Anxiety should never push anyone into examination malpractice, do not enter an examination room with a smart watch, phone or any hidden paper commonly known as bullets. Preparation, honesty, rest and self-belief remain the best approaches to success,” Ms. Nakayiki, said.
She also advised students who had not yet printed their examination cards to do so early, noting that delays at the last minute could cause unnecessary panic and disorganisation.
In her presentation about the reality of examination stress and coping strategies, Connie Evelyn Kharono, a Counselling Psychologist at the Counselling and Guidance Center, called upon students to adopt the 5, 4,3,2,1 Ground technique before an exam or intense study session.
The 5, 4,3,2,1 ground technique, is one of the easiest mindfulness strategies designed for managing stress and anxiety, as it can be done almost anywhere and at any time. You name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell and 1 you can taste.
She advised students to focus on what they can control.
“You can control your study schedule, your sleep and how kindly you speak yourself. You cannot control the exact questions that will be on the paper, so channel your energy only into the preparations you can influence,” Ms Kharono, said.
Ms Kharono encouraged students to maintain a regular sleep schedule and ensure that they are eating balanced meals and staying hydrated.
Ms Christine Nimusiima, a senior Psycho-Social Officer at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, called upon the students to practise positive self-talk and maintain a healthy mindset.
“During this examination season, avoid comparing your revision progress or predicted grades with your peers. Your only competition is who you were yesterday. Take a deep breath, trust in the work you have done and remember that you have the resilience to succeed. Best of luck with your preparations,” Ms. Nimusiima said.
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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