Education and Sports minister, Janet Kataaha Museveni, has commended Makerere University’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) for nurturing young leaders in the country who are grounded in strong moral values.
Speaking via live broadcast on the third day of the 76th graduation ceremony at Makerere University, Ms Museveni noted that among the thousands of graduates this week were 20 young men and women from the first cohort of ELP.
She said the initiative was launched not only to shape the minds of young leaders but also to build their character. She observed that many young people today face challenges such as moral decay, addiction, and, at times, a loss of purpose and direction.
She expressed pride in some of the program’s alumni who have stepped into leadership positions at a young age. She cited Robert Maseruka, MP-elect for Mukono South under the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, and Lawrence Dangote, Arua city mayor-elect representing the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Despite belonging to different political parties, Ms Museveni noted, the two leaders share a common foundation of values instilled by the ELP, which prepares participants to serve Uganda faithfully with character and integrity regardless of political affiliation.
The first lady challenged university leaders, policymakers and national institutions of higher learning to make programs like ELP a standard practice. She emphasized that universities should aim to produce not just graduates with academic certificates, but servant leaders distinguished by character and trust.
Meanwhile, Ceasor Augustus Mulenga, chancellor of King Ceasor University, who graduated with a master’s degree in marketing from Makerere University, expressed gratitude to the government for liberalising education to allow other institutions to contribute to educating young Ugandans.
He noted that with more than 70 per cent of Uganda’s population comprising youth, Makerere University alone cannot educate the entire nation. He said the liberalisation of education has created opportunities for Ugandans to establish institutions that support the country’s education sector and help young people make progress in their lives.
Mulenga urged the youth to remain focused and committed during their university studies in order to achieve their desired educational goals.
This is the third day of the four-day-long graduation ceremony of Makerere University, which has seen male students outnumbering females for the first time in 15 years, with 54 per cent (5,033) males to 46 per cent (4,262) females, reversing a nine-year trend of female dominance.
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