As Makerere University celebrates its 100 years of Existence, the institution joined the rest of the world to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s legacy in a public lecture held at Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility in the Auditorium.
This event was organized by the Department of Political Sciences and Public Administration in collaboration with the South African High Commission under the theme, “The legacy of Nelson Mandela, and the Role of Higher Education in the African Union Agenda 2063.”
While addressing the event, Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba, the International Consultant on Economic Transformation asked fellow professors to emulate Mandela’s legacy and use their knowledge to change the education system in Uganda, “There is a problem of greedy and self reservation of the elite, whoever gets something, they want to reserve it for themselves. You should have the integrity of helping others.”
He added that Mandela transformed the education system of Africa through his contributions , “He was a very inspirational leader and figure across the continent. His beliefs and messages on education are reflected in his famous quotes.”
“Dismantled post-apartheid system in South Africa created educational inequalities through overt racist policies. Mandela reversed these inequalities leading to an equitable state education system for all races.”
“Enhanced education access for the poor, one of Mandela’s legacies is the founding of the Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development in South Africa set up to help provide quality education for children in impoverished rural areas.”
Prof. Nuwagaba praised Mandela for his commitment to deliver the black race from apartheid.
He however said that what is lagging Uganda’s education behind is poor implementation of policies that have failed to fully eradicate inequalities, “We have got a very big head, with very lean shoulders and stunted legs” Prof. Nuwagaba while describing Uganda’s implementation programs.
Her Excellency Lulu Xingwana, the South African Commissioner to Uganda also eulogized Mandela saying that his life is worthy celebrating,
“In 2019, the UN designated the 18th of July, Nelson Mandela’s birthday as International Mandela Day.”
Makerere University in a bid to ensuring people to people diplomacy signed a memorandum of understanding with Nelson Mandela University’s Vice Chancellor, “They agreed to collaborate on a range of areas including research, thus ensuring people to people diplomacy.” H.E Lulu noted.
The event was as well graced by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Makerere University vice chancellor who congratulated Makerere for nurturing key political activists,
“Makerere played a key role in nurturing freedom fighters and political activists that would go on to liberate their respective countries, as the wave swept across the internet in the mid-20th century,” he said.
Giving Mandela as an example, Prof. Nawangwe said that these activities were able to rescue their people, “Nelson Mandela fought so hard to deliver his people from mental slavery. His release from prison was a symbol of delivering African from slavery.”
Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the university council argued that, “the role of higher education is not for producing professors but producing professors with hearts.”
Nelson Mandela was a Pan-Africanist, Patriotic, visionary, a forward thinker, resilience, reconciliating and forgiving, selfless and a political activist. This sent him to prison for 28 years.
Apart from him, there are other South African freedom fighters who faced imprisonment in fight for equality. These are Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada and Govan Mbeki.
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