British High Commissioner to Uganda Kate Airey has implored the Chevening alumni to offer exemplary leadership in their respective institutions to make Uganda a better country.
Airey made the appeal during the public lecture to mark 40 years of Chevening scholarship in Uganda at Protea Hotel in Kampala on Tuesday. Airey explained that the major objective of the programme is about nurturing new leaders across the commonwealth countries.
“As we mark this momentous achievement in Uganda, I am happy to see a number of you here. This programme is more than a scholarship because it gives more platforms such as networking among others. For us, it is important for people to come back and contribute and make change in their countries. That is the objective and there is nothing else. We believe that your success is my success,” Airey said.
Critical thinking is key Airey, also the patron of the Chevening Association in Uganda, explained that studying in the UK is prestigious because students are taught to critically think and innovate.
“My country gives more than quality education. We teach students to think critically, innovate among others and this makes studying in the UK very prestigious,” Ashe said.
Kate Airey British High Commissioner handing over an accolade to Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire. This was during the Chevening public lecture at Protea Hotel on November 29,
2023. (Photo by Nancy Nanyonga)
Airey added that freedom of thought is important for students as it enables them to think critically, a skill which she observed is necessary in the 4th industrial revolution and that skilling leaders is necessary for all successful societies.
She explained that the programme, which is aimed at inclusive development in the commonwealth countries, commenced in 1983 when the then secretary of state in the UK made a decision to support students from overseas to come to study in the UK and across the Commonwealth.
“In 1984, the first 100 scholars, including those from Uganda were admitted to the UK. Within two years, the scheme had grown,” Airey noted. Localise problems
Giving a keynote address, Court of Appeal Judge Geoffrey Kiryabwire, who is also a Chevening alumnus, said the programme is life-transforming.
“When I returned, I was able to spearhead innovations in the Judiciary such as the small claims procedure which has contributed to the fight against case backlog. As we speak now, cases worth shillings 16 billion have been disposed of through this innovation,” Kiryabwire noted Drawing an inference from the UK, Kiryabwire said one of the big problems in Uganda is the cut-and-paste mentality instead of localising concepts learned.
Underscoring the importance of academic freedom, Kiryabwire said: “We have a problem that our education system is based on teachers and not critical thinking of the learners”.
Kiryabwire said if Uganda is to attain the desired middle-income status, it is important to have academic freedom. Conversation about purposeful leadership Allan Brian Ssembajjwe, the Chevening Alumni Association of Uganda chairperson, said the lecture was aimed at starting a conversation about purposeful leadership.
“We want to train leaders and hold them accountable. After you acquire quality education in the UK, it is expected that you will be able to grow into a leader in your field. Most of the Cheveners in Uganda have done it. So, Chevening is very intentional about leadership. Before you get a scholarship, you must be outstanding,” he noted. Established in 2019, Ssembajjwe said the association draws together Ugandan students who have benefitted from the Chevening scholarship since its inception in 1983. Over 300 Ugandans have benefitted from the project since 1983.
“The most important thing is that we still hold the same values. People need to work to be accountable leaders. The Chevening Alumni Association is here. If you are looking for an organisation to partner with around leadership, education and community transformation, we are here. We have worked on projects such as supporting urban refugees on literacy, entrepreneurship, computer skills, and human and legal rights,” Ssembajjwe said.
He disclosed that last year they supported a curriculum learning for people with special needs and the education ministry found the work compelling and embedded it in the national curriculum.
He revealed that they have embarked on a new project working to teach students how to dispose of rubbish.
“You would imagine that everyone knows how to dispose of rubbish but it is not the case in Uganda. We think that if students learn to dispose of rubbish in the right way, then from schools they can push it. We are piloting it in Kansanga secondary School and if it works well, we shall take it elsewhere,” Ssembajjwe said.
He added that they are also working on constructing a resource centre to combine the library and computer laboratory. “We intend to construct a leadership institute in Uganda. All our projects are intended to make our country better,” Ssembajjwe said.
Some of the Ugandans who benefitted from the programme such as Dr Miria Matembe, lawyer Elison Karuhanga, Janet Navvuga, senior journalist Danieal Kalinaki, Dr Livingstone Ssewanyana, Hellen Kaweesa and John Baptist Imokola, committed to exemplary leadership.
“Some people may be corrupt but let us as Chevening alumni make a difference. We may not be many but I believe we can make a difference,”
Matembe said.
Navvuga was recognised as the most outstanding alumni because of her role in shaping the youth in the country.
Source: New Vision