Makerere University Alumni, Brian Galabuzi Kakembo has scooped the overall prize of the 2020 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year Award. Kakembo, who graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree of Commerce during the third session of the 67th Graduation Ceremony, received his prize at a special ceremony held on in London, United Kingdom.
His work on transforming biodegradable plastics and organic waste into eco-friendly charcoal briquettes was among the 16 entries that made it to the final stage. The 15 other entries were from Bangladesh, Canada, Fiji, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Samoa and Tanzania.
Kakembo together with three others; Sowmyan Jegatheesan from Canada, Sagufta Salma from Fiji and Hafiz Usama Tanveer from Pakistan beat other finalists to win 2020 Commonwealth Youth Awards for innovative projects that are helping their countries achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“I want the world to see that unemployed youth is not a problem but an untapped resource that can be trained and supported to bring about a social change.” Said Kakembo, commenting on his project focused on SDG 8; decent work and economic growth.
