The 2022 class of the Leadership Advancement Programme (LAP) has been completed successfully, and it has been an amazing experience for everyone involved. The programme, which is a leadership enhancement initiative of the University Forum on Governance (UNIFOG) supported by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), aims to mentor a new breed of young and emerging leaders with enhanced ability to address contemporary social, political, and economic challenges.
This year’s LAP fellowship targeted youthful leaders within institutions of higher learning from different universities around Kampala. A total of 30 student leaders underwent a rigorous training program that ran for one year. The modular leadership training covered critical leadership and developmental topics that were tailored to the governance and development needs in Uganda. The fellows learned about institutions and institutional reforms, contemporary leadership and sustainable development, public policy and advocacy, civil societies and civic space in Uganda, international relations and geopolitics, as well as best practices on digital communication and data governance.
In addition to the leadership training, the 2022 LAP fellows also benefited from mentorship talks by senior politicians, government technocrats, and private entrepreneurs. These talks were inspiring and informative, and they helped to broaden the fellows’ perspectives on leadership and development.
One of the highlights of the LAP fellowship was the fellows’ selection and study of a development challenge in their communities. They were challenged to come up with a policy proposal that would address the identified challenge. This exercise was a practical application of the skills and knowledge they had acquired during the fellowship, and it provided them with an opportunity to make a real impact in their communities.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the LAP fellowship was completed successfully. The youthful leaders occasionally met to learn, share experiences, and explore leadership and development initiatives in different parts of the country. The fellowship created a platform for these young leaders to connect and collaborate, and it has equipped them with the necessary skills and knowledge to become effective leaders who can address the contemporary social, political, and economic challenges in Uganda.
The UNIFOG and KAS are proud of the 2022 LAP fellows and are confident that they will make a positive impact in their communities and the country at large. The LAP fellowship is an excellent initiative that is contributing to the development of a new breed of leaders who will shape the future of Uganda.