In 1998, I unknowingly planted a seed that would still be growing over 25 years later. As Minister of Academic Affairs at Makerere University, I started the Academic Forum – a space where students could push for real change. I honestly had no idea how powerful it would become then.
On Friday last week, I hosted members of the current Makerere University Guild Executive, led by Guild President Lubega Nsamba. They visited to thank Next Media for covering their events, offering internships, and supporting their leadership. It was there that Nsamba shared that he too was a beneficiary of the Academic Forum, using the platform to push for a review of the university’s tuition policy just recently! His shock when he found out that I was the one that had founded it those many years ago was priceless.
For me, student leadership is a whole lot more than the campus politics that meets the eye. It is a launchpad for leaders that get to shape the nation.
Throughout the history of Uganda, Makerere University has been a reliable source of national leaders. Back then when I served, I worked alongside colleagues who are now running the country – Hon. Oboth Oboth, the current Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, was on the Guild Representative Council (GRC), Richard Todwong, the NRM Secretary General today, was Speaker of the Guild before our term, and Peter Ojur was their Guild President. Names such as Odonga Otto, Asuman Basalirwa, among many others, also come to mind. The decisions we made in those student leadership roles were clearly more than just youthful idealism – they clearly were early exercises in governance.
If history is any guide, today’s student leaders will shape Uganda’s future. But are we equipping them well enough for that responsibility?
Over the last few months, we at Next Media have taken an intentional effort to address a gap that was growing wider and wider by the day – the lack of interest in current affairs that we assumed our young people have.
If leaders like the brilliant young men I engaged with on Friday are not supported, mentored kept informed and engaged, then the leadership abyss the nation will fall into in the not-so-far-future will be one never heard of before.
Recognizing this gap, we launched initiatives like News4U (named ‘NBS Kulture Konnect’ at launch), an engaging daily bulletin tailored for young Ugandans, and Pulse Radio and NBS Plus, youth-focused digital radio and TV stations respectively. Our role on these remains only but a supervisory one.
The media’s role in amplifying voices, providing visibility, and holding young leaders accountable is one that we at Next Media take very seriously. It is one thing to lead a movement on campus; it is another to have it broadcasted to the nation. Media transforms campus activism into national discourse, giving young leaders a stage where their ideas are tested and refined.
And it is because of this that Next Media continually stays actively engaged in supporting student leadership, and that is not just at Makerere but across Uganda. When we cover these student initiatives, offer trainings and mentorships, and provide internship opportunities, we are helping to shape the next generation of leaders.
For me, the week-long leadership training new student leaders got at Uganda Management Institute (UMI) shortly after election was one of the most valuable experiences I had. With hindsight, that was our own small MBA – it gave us necessary skills that set us on our way towards great leadership that has flung many of us into national leadership.
Formalizing such programs nationwide would ensure every young leader is given the governance skills they need. If Uganda’s future really depends on today’s youth, then investing in their leadership training is not an option — it is a must!
