The High Commission of the United Republic of Tanzania to the Republic of Uganda in collaboration with the Julius Nyerere Leadership Center in Makerere University held a two-day symposium on 13th and 14th October 2022 to pay homage to Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. The symposium was under the theme “imagining together an African Future Lead by Africa’s Youth” involved different activities including intergenerational conversations on the practical leadership, exciting cultural activities and interactive dialogues. The event was also attended by the Family of the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere led by Ms. Neema Nyerere Drago.

 

Speaking at the event, H.E. Dr. Aziz Ponary Mlima, High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to the Republic of Uganda urged the Youth to:

  1. Liberate their mind to achieve mental independence;
  2. To invest their time in education, science and technology to achieve technological independence; 
  3. To invest in Research and Innovation to achieve innovation independence; and
  4. To be patriotic.

 

By doing so, the Youth will be honouring the founding fathers like Mwalimu Julius Nyerere who were the champion of economic and financial independence. 

 

Mzee Joseph Butiku, Executive Director of the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation gave hope to the youths since the future and integration of Africa belongs to them. He however, urged them to learn from elders who have laid a strong foundation for pan Africanism. 

 

The Event was also graced by Hon. Kahinda Otafiire, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uganda who represented H.E. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda as Guest of Honour. In his speech, He called upon youth to emulate Pan-Africanists, adding that the Julius Nyerere leadership center at Makerere was created to front the ideas of Pan-Africanism. “We founded the Julius Nyerere leadership center at Makerere University as a presidential initiative to establish a platform where the young people could learn from the elders, impart leadership skills and ideas of Pan-Africanism to young people” he said.

 

The symposium attracted a number of reputable guests including Ms. Lorna Magara, Council Chairperson of the Makerere University; Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University; Prof Eddy Maloka, Chief Executive Africa Peer Review Mechanism; Dr. Sallie Simba Kayunga, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Makerere University; Hon. Edson Rugumayo, Youth Member of Parliament, Western Uganda; Ms. Stella Agara, Governance and Youth Development Specialist; Mr. Ivan Ssegawa Sebastian, East Africa Youth Ambassador Platform; and Mr. Sabatho Nyamsenda, Assistant Lecturer, Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Dar es Salaam.

 

 

The Julius Nyerere Leadership Center (Presidential initiative) was established in 2018 by H.E. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to cater for intergenerational dialogue on African history, the study of Africa’s revolutionary movements and also be a center for knowledge and research.