Roy Rugumayo, an advocate of comprehensive feeding program in school
There is always going to be that one person you will give a first look, and all you see is a leader in waiting. You have seen these people. They live with you. And. One such person is Roy Rugumayo. Rugumayo holds a degree in organizational psychology from Makerere University. He is currently pursuing a course in Business Administration, majoring in Public Sector Management at Avance International University. At Avance, RUgumayo is the Guild Speaker. UNSA goes to polls between December 17, 2024 and December 21, 2024.
Hapa Kazi Tu campaign Manifesto (Verbatim)
Introduction
There is a huge tendency of leaders campaigning in poetry and leading in prose.
We tend to make very flowery statements, all sorts of promises.
This, we opine is because people get more inclined to hope given that leadership is ordeous and many times cynical.
Our favorite leader (Lee Quan Yew, the man who transformed Singapore from abject poverty to a world player, from beggars to donors discourages this.
To him, and lately ourselves, to promise and not fulfill is worse than not promising at all.
Therefore, we do not write to create flowery hope but to make a personal commitment to you.
We pray that at the end of our term in office, we are judged along the promissory note we give you.
We should be held accountable and to the standards of these commitments.
Our candidate.
The Hapa Kazi Tu campaign is presenting Rugumayo Roy as the Presidential candidate.
Born in Bunyangabu district in Tooro, Rugumayo studied at Kibiito Primary School, he joined St. Peter’s SS Nsambya and later Our Lady of Good Counsel Gayaza.
He has served in UNSA at all levels starting from Class Councillor in S1, S2 and S3. He also served as Vice Chairperson of the UNSA school Executive Committee of UNSA.
In S5, he served as Chief Justice of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee.
He believes in impactful leadership which drives positive change.
He played a pivotal role in establishing inclusion for students with special needs in UNSA.
This was in fulfillment of a campaign promise made while running for General Secretary of UNSA.
He was also fundamental in initiating UNSA national debates which is currently the biggest program of the association.
The Hapa Kazi Tu Candidate is a known advocate for affordable education, student academic rights and freedoms and a consummate guide and mentor to emerging leaders.
We present a candidate who has served UNSA at all levels, from the very base as a class councillor to the top as a National Executive Committee member.
He understands the association, its strategic importance and potential. He has been a leader in UNSA, now, we request you to make him the leader of UNSA.
We are hopeful that with him, UNSA stands an opportunity for a new BOLD direction.
Our issues
National students centre
We appreciate the Ministry of Education for housing UNSA at Legacy Towers.
For all the years UNSA’s existence, it has mostly been accorded a small space within the corridors of the line ministry.
We recognize the need for a more permanent and fitting headquarters for the student movement of Uganda.
We pledge to purchace land for the establishment of a National Students Centre that will house a Secretariat, leadership academy, auditorium for student functions, sports facilities etc.
Service to members and stakeholders
The major aim of UNSA is to offer support, solidarity and guidance to students in pursuit of their academic endeavors.
This is our cardinal role and therefore, a huge amount of our efforts will be put on this.
We shall establish initiatives to recognize and award extraordinary academic excellence and achievement with the aim of encouraging students to strive for better.
We shall advance efforts to advocate for affordable education at all levels so that every Ugandan can get an opportunity to access education.
We shall engage stakeholders to support technological advancements in our education sector to give Ugandan students an equal opportunity with their counterparts elsewhere.
We shall support efforts and directly advocate for better education facilities, improved standards and a relevant education for national transformation and progress in accordance with the objectives of UNSA.
Additionally, we pledge to scale up outreach with the aim of broadening service to our members.
By implementing better structured and streamlined engagements, the grassroot community of UNSA will hugely benefit from several activities and programs.
We pledge to streamline existing programs to reflect better quality in organising and delivering on value for money.
We shall also introduce other initiatives like a school health program, school based agriculture support, leadership training programs, programs aimed at supporting student initiatives, projects and innovations among others.
Empowerment of members and staff
As we serve students, we have an obligation to do meaningful value addition to student leaders.
Leaders, especially those who go through UNSA must be different from others.
We shall do deliberate investment in trainings, in organising exchange / benchmarking programs etc.
We shall hugely consult stakeholders and complete the establishment of a fair employment policy for the association.
This will clearly state benefits and responsibilities of staff members at secretariat and district coordinators.
This will guarantee the signing of proper contracts, streamline awards for outstanding performance, state grounds of termination, state a proper code of conduct etc.
Coordinators will undergo several capacity building programs on ethical conduct etc
We shall implement a coordinators’ SACCO by generously supporting its establishment. This will provide very affordable credit to the members, (coordinators, interested UNSA patrons, Alumni, etc)
Financial Sustainability and Accountability
To fund such a robust change at UNSA, it would definitely require a substantial amount of resources.
Our philosophy on finances is clear; delivering value for money.
Starting from what is available, it must be used religiously to serve the interests of students.
We shall preside over an open, transparent and accountable association where every expenditure must fit the strict standard of highest value for the members.
We shall diversify funding sources through strategic partnerships, fundraising drives, grant biddings, fundraising dinners, crowdfunding, education runs, etc.
This will hugely reduce over reliance on student subscriptions and government subvention.
Our leadership will remit finances due to districts secretariates to enable them operate sufficiently.
UNSA is only as strong as its grassroot structures.
We shall fund districts to carry out activities in schools for organizational visibility and impact to be obtained.
We shall also engage relevant authorities to ensure that the 20% retained at schools is fowarded to school Executive committees to enable their operations.
We shall engage stakeholders including the ministry of education, UBTEB, the National Council for Higher Education etc to implement payment of subscriptions to UNSA by universities and other tertiary institutions.
Currently, just a few pay at will with little or no enforcement.
A mechanism shall be devised to also incorporate schools without UNEB centre numbers.
Leadership Development
We shall oversee the establishment of a Leadership Academy that will oversee comprehensive training programs focused on leadership, governance, and community engagement.
YALI and other foreign agencies are not built for the agenda of training patriotic and pan African leaders to solve the many problems affecting our people.
UNSA must take its place in deliberately shaping leaders for Uganda and Africa. With a leadership academy, this will fully be catered for.
We shall also engage in mentorship of our leaders pairing student leaders with experienced mentors especially UNSA alumni, for guidance and support.
We shall work with government and other stakeholders to give UNSA trained leaders opportunity to work in local councils, government agencies, departments, etc and those who exhibit exceptional leadership can be retained.
Empowering Students with Disabilities
When we promised to include students with special needs in UNSA structures, the aim was not to simply achieve inclusion.
We aimed at mainstreaming the special needs of our students.
Moving forward, we shall work to address through action and advocacy issues of access, self help Technologies like hearing aides, wheel chairs, white canes, embossers, braille tools etc.
The student movement under me shall be at the forefront of pushing for students with special needs.
The guarantee I give is that I promised on the issue of inclusion and delivered.
Advocacy for Comprehensive School Feeding Program
Hunger in school is real.
We have seen students die of it. Some suffer everyday in silence.
Many universities stopped providing meals for students and classified feeding students as “none core”.
To them, it is normal to teach a starving student just as long as you are teaching.
Even in secondary schools, many don’t offer any food at school.
As some eat something during lunch, others are on the compound eating air!
This, we shall reject.
There is evidence from near and far that school feeding initiatives improve academic standards and improve lives for students and countries.
With the Presidency of the student movement, we shall make a strong case, in every way possible, for a comprehensive National School feeding program.
The final appeal
When all is said and done, remember, we seek the Presidency not to occupy space.
It is not about filling the CV.
The Presidency of UNSA has capacity to influence how you study, how you are treated at school and at your institution.
Our pledge
We shall champion student welfare, empower leaders, and foster a supportive community.
Our bold vision is clearly aimed at transforming UNSA into a robust, inclusive, and progressive organization that enhances the academic experience of its members, takes care of its staff and shapes the future of Uganda.
That is the Vision we call on you to vote for this year.
Before you, some people are giving you dealership.
We are presenting to you leadership.
You have the opportunity to choose how you want the 35th year of UNSA’s existence to be.
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