Five innovative youth-led projects have been recognised as winners at the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Alumni Follow-Up Programme Workshop, held at the Health Sciences Auditorium at Makerere University.
The winning initiatives, selected from a pool of ten finalists, stood out for their strong leadership, tangible community impact, and long-term sustainability, and will receive seed funding from UNDP to scale their work.
The awardees include Simoni Ichumar Peter, for his project combining community engagement with poultry farming and tree planting; Moro Boniface, for Climate Justice Initiatives in Gulu; Nadongo Mary, for the Youth Skilling Innovation Initiative in Kampala; Auma Olivia, for Urban Farming Innovation; and Itungo Joan, for her Gender and Economic Empowerment initiative through milk value addition in Kazo.
The winners were announced on the second day of the UNDP-JNLC Alumni Follow-Up Programme, which this year was held under the theme “Empowering Alumni for Transformative Community Impact” at the Makerere University School of Public Health.
The Executive Director of the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre, Nansozi Muwanga, commended the alumni for their dedication to addressing community challenges.
“I welcome you to engage fully — share ideas, challenge assumptions, connect with partners, and support one another. Together, we are building a generation of leaders who not only dream of change but have the capacity and support to make that change real,” he said.
Established in 2018 as a presidential initiative, the Centre has, with UNDP support, trained over 600 young leaders, with an additional 400–500 trained through other partnerships. Muwanga explained that the follow-up programme was introduced to close gaps in alumni support.
“We realised that after the training, we were not adequately following up. This process today is both a showcase for alumni initiatives and a workshop to help refine their ideas. The top three or four will receive seed funding, while others will be connected to mentors,” she said.
Echoing the importance of collaboration, Andrew Tumusiime, a member of the JNLC Board, invoked the legacy of Julius Nyerere, noting the late leader’s emphasis on partnerships.
“Every human being has something meaningful to bring to the table. Young people must learn to collaborate, communicate, and build trust — these are key ingredients for long-term success,” he said.
The Deputy Director of Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL), Anna Nabulya, reinforced the message during a networking panel, urging young people to prioritise personal branding, digital skills, and alignment with national development plans.
UNDP Uganda’s Team Leader for Governance and Peace, Annet Mpabulungi Wakabi, commended the alumni’s progress.
“Many of the trainees have gone on to win elected positions or lead impactful community projects. As young leaders, my encouragement is that you keep going, keep growing, and keep leading,” she said, adding that UNDP plans to expand mentorship opportunities and document alumni experiences to inspire more youth.
Educationist and social entrepreneurship advocate Irene Mutumba stressed the need for structured support and mentorship for the alumni.
“The ideas are great, but they need refining and consolidating into proper business plans. Young people must clearly articulate what they are doing, who their clients are, and how the financing works,” she said.
For the award recipients, the recognition represents both a milestone and a responsibility. Climate justice advocate Moro Boniface, whose project promotes tree planting alongside fruit and vegetable farming in Amuru District, described the programme as transformative for his leadership and communication skills.
“I learned the importance of having diverse sources of income. Tree planting takes time, so I also grow passion fruits and papaya to sustain the project. I now use media responsibly to educate youth about environmental protection and climate justice,” he said.
Simoni Ichumar Peter’s initiative, which combines poultry farming with tree planting, was praised for its replicability and positive local impact. In Kampala, Nadongo Mary is equipping young people with practical skills through her Youth Skilling Innovation Initiative, empowering them to build livelihoods and reduce unemployment. Urban farming innovator Auma Olivia was recognised for promoting sustainable food production in densely populated communities, while Itungo Joan’s milk value addition project in Kazo aims to empower women and youth.
“Our project focuses on yoghurt, ice cream, ghee, and even hides and skins, which we process into carpets. We aim to reduce gender-based violence, increase incomes, and create sustainable jobs for women,” she said, adding that she hopes to establish a skilling hub to train young girls in dairy production, leatherwork, and entrepreneurship.
The UNDP-JNLC Alumni Follow-Up Programme continues to serve as a platform for nurturing and scaling youth-led solutions that address pressing social, environmental, and economic challenges, fostering a new generation of Ugandan leaders committed to transformative community impact.