MBARARA CITY, March 5, 2025 – Dr Livingstone Sewanyana, the Executive Director of the Foundation of Human Rights Initiative [FHRI], has urged universities and other institutions of higher learning in Uganda to support students’ clubs.
He made the call during the inauguration of the Human Rights Symposium and the revival of the Human Rights Club at Bishop Stuart University [BSU] in Mbarara City.
“Today, we are here to witness the rebirth of the Human Rights Club at Bishop Stuart University, which I believe will foster an environment conducive not only to excellent knowledge but also to the practice of human rights skills among students,” he said.
Sewanyana highlighted one of the key challenges facing the country: the leadership vacuum created by defunct students’ clubs. He called on the government and universities to revitalise such clubs to cultivate competent leaders for the future.
“One of the challenges the country faces is that we have leaders who lack transformative ideas, leaders who are abusive and incapable of providing guidance, largely because they were not nurtured to develop alternative thinking. But if the student community embraces the human rights framework, it is possible to nurture positive leaders,” he explained.
“It is disastrous when someone becomes a Member of Parliament, a cabinet minister, or holds any other leadership position without understanding what it takes to transform society. It is crucial that universities establish leadership fellowships,” he added.
Sewanyana further emphasised that human rights clubs at universities and other institutions of higher learning play a vital role in incubating knowledge, fostering critical thinking, improving research thesis capacity, and preparing students for future leadership positions.
“We run an internship programme where students with degrees from universities come to us, but they often lack the ability to express themselves, conduct research, or innovate because they were not adequately nurtured,” he said. “Your study in engineering, medicine, or business will mean nothing unless you understand what it means to provide leadership for socio-economic transformation.”
He cited global leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, and Martin Luther King Jr, noting that their legacies were built on the knowledge, skills, and motivational speeches they developed through engagement with human rights clubs.
“Today, we speak of role models like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr because these leaders invested in the business of human rights, beliefs, and doctrines in their time. They used such platforms to engage with one another and think proactively,” Sewanyana said.
He also encouraged the BSU community to challenge existing stereotypes that hinder participatory governance. “I implore the university to consider establishing networks or creating schemes, such as legal or socio-economic programmes, that can offer solutions to existing challenges both within the university and in the surrounding community,” he added.
Rev. Canon Asaph Kabakyenga, Dean of Students at BSU, encouraged students to become advocates for human rights and be agents of change.
“As students, you have the responsibility to uphold and advocate for these rights in your communities because every person, regardless of background, is entitled to dignity, freedom, equality, and justice,” Kabakyenga said.
He urged members of the Human Rights Club to stand against discrimination, promote inclusivity, and use their voices to champion the rights of all individuals.
Associate Professor Gershom Atukunda, the keynote speaker representing the Vice Chancellor of BSU, Professor John F. Mugisha, encouraged students to actively engage in human rights and aspire to become future leaders of the country.
“What we are witnessing today reflects our commitment, as university management and the students’ guild, to promote human rights in Uganda and beyond. We are confident that this initiative will continue to challenge our students to work hard, strive for academic excellence, promote human rights, and positively impact their communities,” Atukunda said.
On her part, Peace Katana, the Guild Cabinet member in charge of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, expressed gratitude to the university officials for providing a platform where students could freely express their human rights views.
Filbert Nuwagaba Kansiime, Patron of the Human Rights Club encouraged all students to join the interdisciplinary club to better understand and defend their rights.
“The purpose of this club is to make students aware of the various rights that must be respected. Unlike other clubs focused on specific courses, the Human Rights Club is open to all students at the university, enabling them to champion knowledge about human rights for themselves, staff, and the broader community,” Kansiime explained.
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