The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, officially launched the Emerging Leaders Program and commissioned the first cohort of SAFE champions at Makerere University on Friday, 27th September 2024.
“It gives me great pleasure to commission you as Emerging Leaders Program Champions. I charge you to become role models. Please take the training that you have received as your moral campus at the University and beyond,” said Janet Museveni amidst applause from the audience.
The launch, held at Makerere University’s Freedom Square, was attended by notable figures including Chairperson of the University Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara, Deputy Chairperson of Council, Rt. Dan Fred Kidega, Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Program Chairperson, Professor Henry Alinaitwe, Co-Chair, Mrs. Barbara Kaija, and Bishop Joshua Lwere, Board Chair of the Global Leadership Summit.
The formulation of the Emerging Leaders Program followed a discussion between Janet Museveni and Makerere University Council members held on February 2, 2023. Burdened by the challenges that were being faced by students and the disastrous effects of addiction to alcohol, drug and substance abuse, corruption, HIV/AIDS, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports tasked the University Council headed by Mrs. Lorna Magara to partner with her and come up with a solution to save the students and young people from destruction.
The launch of the Emerging Leaders Program at Makerere University, therefore, marked the beginning of the actualization of Janet Museveni’s vision to implement a national Anti-Corruption and HIV/AIDS campaign in Uganda.
The SAFE campaign stands for Sexually Fortified, Addiction Free, Financially Faithful and Education Focused. Speaking at the launch, Janet Museveni said the Emerging Leaders Program is an initiative that she holds dear in her heart because it has the potential to nurture the young generation and shape the destiny of our nation.
“My desire is that this program expands beyond Makerere University to all universities in Uganda. I pray that God will make that possible,” she said.
The Minister credited the leadership of Makerere University and the program’s partners, namely the Global Leadership Summit and Life Ministry Uganda, for taking up the challenge to craft the Emerging Leaders Program that will instill character in university students throughout the country.
The Emerging Leaders Program is a life skills capacity-building and behavioral intervention coded “The SAFE Campaign.” The initiative seeks to address critical challenges threatening students’ education and well-being, such as addiction to drugs, corruption, substance abuse, gambling, and the risks of HIV/AIDS. These issues were viewed as not only jeopardizing students’ health and academic performance but also affecting the social well-being of graduates entering the workforce.
Minister Museveni expressed concern about the challenges facing young people in Uganda, particularly those imposed by peer pressure. She highlighted the alarming spread of sports betting and gambling, which has contributed to university dropouts due to issues like substance abuse, sexual immorality, and addiction.
“Over the past few years, we have all experienced our young people grapple with many challenges such as alcohol, drug, and other substance abuse, sexual immorality, and gambling which has led to many university students dropping out,” Minister Museveni said.
Through the Emerging Leaders Program, Minister Museveni desires to help students rise above negative peer pressure that compromises their innocence. The program provides an inclusive process to nurture the young generation into impactful people by instilling values into them and improving their health.
The program focuses on providing life skills to enable students and youth to make the right choices while at the university, at places of work, in the communities, and with their families.
“This program is not just about imparting leadership skills; it is about the total transformation of lives through instilling values,” Minister Museveni emphasized. “Furthermore, through this program young people are being prepared to make the right choices in life, that will safeguard their health and wellbeing while enabling them to succeed in their academics.”
Mrs. Barbara Kaija, Co-Chair of the Emerging Leaders Program, emphasized the program’s goal of supporting parents who invest heavily in their children’s education, only to see them engage in harmful practices that threaten their future.
“Parents take significant risks to educate their children, and when they reach university level, they expect to see them succeed and become influential individuals,” Mrs. Kaija said. “We aim to remove barriers hindering their success.”
Through the Emerging Leaders Program, Mrs. Kaija explained that they interact with students, invite experts to share ideas, and teach valuable life skills to shape the new generation.
The program focuses on universities because students are at their most productive age and are crucial to the country’s workforce. “We must ensure their safety and character development,” Mrs. Kaija stressed. “While our students graduate with academic degrees, they need the right values and character to succeed in life.”
During her remarks, Mrs. Kaija informed the audience that the program’s implementation team conducted a baseline study to understand the challenges faced by Makerere University students. The study targeted 473 first-year students and 1,041 continuing students.
Although some results were concerning, there were also positive findings to build upon. Notably:
- 37.8% of first-year students and 36.6% of continuing students reported being virgins.
- A significant number of students reported being secondary virgins.
However, the study also revealed:
- 7.7% of continuing students use drugs, affecting both males and females.
- 1.9% of students reported losing money through betting, a growing concern due to financial losses linked to gambling.
- 46.3% of first-year students and 53.3% of continuing students reported making risky sexual decisions.
- 13.5% admitted to having unprotected sex with HIV-positive individuals, primarily driven by peer pressure.
These findings underscore the importance of the Emerging Leaders Program in addressing critical challenges and promoting positive change among university students.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, Chairperson of Makerere University Council, emphasized the Emerging Leaders Program’s role in combating societal moral degradation and refocusing young people on values and life skills to secure their future. She noted that Africa’s development relies on the quality of its leaders, making the program a strategic tool for change.
The program includes a mandatory course approved by the University Council, which students will take over three years, and will soon be presented to the University Senate for approval. Some short courses are already ready to be rolled out.
Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe commended the First Lady and Hon. Minister of Education and Sports for the initiative, thanking her for supporting the university’s infrastructure development, particularly the reconstruction of the Main Building.
Professor Nawangwe committed to ensuring the program’s success, highlighting the university’s commitment to student and staff safety, with approved safeguarding and counseling policies.
The Students’ Guild leadership was acknowledged for their contribution, alongside Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Mrs. Barbra Kaija, and the implementation team.
Dr. Ronald Semyalo, a program trainee, described the Emerging Leaders Program as a catalyst for personal transformation, empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
Ms Julian Kanyesigye, a SAFE champion, noted the program’s timeliness in addressing pandemics among youth, such as drug abuse and sexual immorality.
The event featured a poem, “For God and My Country,” recited by students Grace Deborah Mirembe and Paul Tumwesigye, emphasizing good character and values. Students from the Department of Performing Arts and Film, led by Dr. Benon Kigozi, also performed beautiful melodies and sounds.
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