38 senior lecturers from Makerere University have completed a five-day training in Jinja City in a bid to address rising concerns about moral decay, including sexual immorality, drug abuse, corruption, and HIV/Aids. The training, sponsored by the Office of the First Lady, Janet Museveni, in collaboration with civil society organizations Life Ministry and Global Leadership Summit, focused on empowering PhD-holding lecturers to combat these vices.
Representing Ms. Janet Museveni, State Minister for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Mr. David Bahati, highlighted that Makerere lecturers were chosen due to their frequent interactions with youth, who are particularly susceptible to moral decadence. The initiative is part of the emerging leaders’ curriculum and teachers’ training started by the First Lady to address moral issues, especially among the youth.
Mr. Bahati stated that lecturers from other universities would also undergo similar training. The expectation is that Makerere University lecturers will utilize the acquired knowledge to shape their students’ morals and uphold the institution’s legacy.
Prof Winston Tumps Ireeta, representing the Vice Chancellor as the Principal of the College of Natural Sciences at Makerere University, applauded the government’s decision to train lecturers, emphasizing their crucial role in influencing students’ behavior. The training aims to address issues such as sexual harassment, including “sex for marks,” with clear university policies specifying termination for any culprits.
Bishop Joshua Lwere, chairperson of Global Leaders’ Summit and former overseer of Pentecostal Churches in Uganda, praised the positive reception of the training by lecturers and the Vice Chancellor. He expressed their commitment to combating unethical conduct and immorality in the country, describing the initiative as a “noble cause.”
