Makerere University honors legacy of Pan Africanist Nelson Mandela

As part of the Makerere University centennial lecture series, the institution celebrated the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela in a public lecture on Monday July 18th, 2022.

The event that was organized by the department of political science and public administration at Yusuf Lule teaching facility centered around the theme: The legacy of Nelson Mandela and the role of higher education in the African Union Agenda 2063.

Professor Augustus Nuwagaba, the keynote speaker at the event urged everyone to emulate Mandela’s legacy and use their knowledge to change the education system in Uganda.

Professor Augustus Nuwagaba (Courtesy Photo)

“He (Mandela) was a very inspirational leader and figure across the continent. His beliefs and messages on education are reflected in his famous quotes…He enhanced education access for the poor, one of his legacies is the founding of the Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development in South Africa.” Professor Nuwagaba said.

Professor Nuwagaba also highlighted Mandela’s success in his fight against racial discrimination in the South African education system.

The chairperson Makerere University council Ms. Lorna Magara hailed the late Mandela, stating that the role of higher education is not for producing professors but producing professors with hearts.

“Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy are a shining example of what the refusal to revert to self-preservation in the face of grueling oppression yields.” Ms. Lorna Magara said.

Her Excellency Lulu Xingwana, the South African Commissioner to Uganda also eulogized Mandela saying that his life is worthy celebrating.

Her Excellency Lulama M. Xingwana (Courtesy Photo)

“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 said.

Nelson Mandela Rolihlahla established the first black law firm in South Africa and his contribution to the education sector with forever be cherished. In one of his speeches, Mandela remarked that ‘education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world’.

Makerere University VC Barnabas Nawangwe, Ms. Lorna Magara and Her excellency Lulama Xingwana exchanging pleasantries at the end of the commemorative public lecture at Makerere University (Courtesy Photo)

The Nelson Mandela lecture was the fifth of the Makerere at 100 lecture series. The lecture series are part of the Makerere centennial pre-events.

Makerere University will celebrate 100 years of existence in October 2022. The institution prides itself in having groomed prominent iconic figures in Africa thus the need to celebrate personalities such as that of Nelson Mandela.

By: Lawrence Kooko

(Journalism and communication – Makerere University)