The Vice President of Uganda, Maj (Rtd). Jessica Alupo, has urged student leaders to embrace dialogue as their primary method for tackling the challenges they face on a daily basis.
She made this appeal during her address to student leaders participating in a two-week Patriotism training program at Nkumba University.
“Use your platforms to speak your mind and consider all the problems facing students, because when you are at the university and you are a leader, strikes are not a solution but they can only make you lose time and property of the university therefore dialogue with the top authorities always value dialogue as the best solution to every problems and you will make a big difference,” said Alupo.
Alupo emphasized that this strategy will help them tackle challenges in a more effective and sustainable manner, ultimately fostering a harmonious and productive academic atmosphere. She urged student leaders to leverage their influence positively, aiming to make a beneficial impact on their fellow students and the wider community.
She inspired them to embrace their leadership roles to instigate significant change, encourage unity, and cultivate a culture of accountability and excellence.
“Use your positions for the good on all your peers, should be the bridge and a link while working closely with your institutions remember it is the difference you make in the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life you live,” noted Alupo.
She further encouraged the student leaders to make responsible use of social media, highlighting its potential as a powerful resource for building a career instead of just aimlessly scrolling through posts.
She emphasized the importance of harnessing the social media platforms for entrepreneurial ventures, educational opportunities, and personal development, rather than solely for entertainment purposes.
“Today, the youth want to be on WhatsApp and other social media platforms day in day out and because of too much love for social media, the productivity levels have gone down. I would like to remind you that it is good to be social media to get news, market your produce but it is necessary to direct our energy to production,” she added.
The Vice President praised the participants for their eagerness to learn and encouraged them to share their knowledge generously with others.
She expressed her gratitude to Hellen Seku, the Commissioner of the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC), for her dedication in inspiring young girls to follow her example.
The training program, organized by the NSPC under Commissioner Hellen Seku’s leadership in collaboration with State House Uganda, began on January 3, 2025.
Its goal is to equip student leaders with essential leadership skills and knowledge, preparing them to be informed and patriotic leaders for the future.
The program highlights the significance of civic duty and motivates young leaders to engage actively in creating a brighter future for Uganda.
The training will be officially concluded by President Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni, who also serves as the Minister of Education, on January 17.
