About Us
We raise leaders of character, purpose & service.
ELP walks alongside university students across Uganda — helping them discover who they are, build integrity from the inside out, and lead with lasting impact on campus and beyond.
Formation beyond the classroom
Forming leaders from the inside out — one campus at a time.
About Us
We raise leaders of character, purpose & service.
ELP walks alongside university students across Uganda, helping them discover who they are, build integrity from the inside out, and lead with lasting impact on campus and beyond.
Leadership is formed from the inside out. The Emerging Leaders Programme was conceived around a belief that university students need more than academic knowledge to lead well: they also need character, integrity, practical competence, compassion and a sense of responsibility to others.
ELP began its pilot work at Makerere University, where conversations among students and mentors grew into a university programme rooted in values. Bringing together the SAFE framework, student leadership, learning, mentoring, peer engagement, counselling and public conversations, the programme set out to shape not just what students know, but who they become.
Why ELP began
Universities produce highly skilled graduates, yet many young people face profound challenges related to identity, moral judgement, wellbeing, addiction, financial pressure and leadership ethics. ELP was designed not as a separate project, but as a leadership response rooted in values embedded within university life, addressing root causes rather than symptoms.
“Not a separate project, but a leadership response rooted in values embedded within university life.”ELP 2025 Annual Report
Under a founding vision
ELP was shaped by the founding vision of Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni: that universities should help young people develop the values, character and practical leadership skills to serve their communities and contribute to Uganda’s future. That vision remains the reference point for the programme’s work.
From conversations to a programme
The programme’s growth has included the development of SAFE Clubs, engagement with lecturers and student leaders, and programme activity at Makerere University Business School. Public conversations, mentoring and the Emerging Leaders Course have extended formation beyond the lecture hall, while institutional partnerships have begun to anchor the work within university life.
Today, ELP continues to work with students and educational partners to connect values with everyday decisions: how young people learn, relate to others, work, serve and lead.
Founding vision
A vision for holistic education.
ELP was shaped by the founding vision of Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni: that universities should help young people develop the values, character and practical leadership skills to serve their communities and contribute to Uganda’s future.
She is the Patron of the Emerging Leaders Programme, the First Lady of the Republic of Uganda, and the Minister of Education and Sports. Her founding vision places leadership formation at the heart of education itself, not as an optional extra but as part of what universities are for.
That vision continues to shape the programme’s commitment to character, service and responsible citizenship. It also sustains the belief that leadership can be learned.
Programme journey
From a pilot to a growing movement.
The programme has deepened as it has grown: from campus conversations to SAFE Clubs led by students, from one university to two, and from a pilot towards a national mandate.
A pilot at Makerere
ELP began its pilot work at Makerere University, shaped by a founding vision of leadership guided by values and built through conversations among students and mentors.
SAFE Clubs take root
SAFE Clubs were piloted and formalised at Makerere, turning conversation into peer formation led by students and campus ownership.
A second campus
ELP expanded into Makerere University Business School through orientation, medical outreach, faculty collaboration and student leadership engagement.
A national horizon
With the Ministry of Education and Sports and the National Council for Higher Education, ELP is moving from a pilot involving two universities toward a national programme.
A generation of empowered leaders ignited to transform nations.
To raise leaders guided by values, inspired to transform nations across generations.
Our Vision
A generation of empowered leaders ignited to transform nations.
Our Mission
To raise values-driven leaders that are inspired to transform nations across generations.
The SAFE Framework
SAFE
Four foundations. One whole leader.
Everything at ELP is built on these four commitments. They are not a checklist — they are the soil in which character, purpose and service grow.
Pillar One
Sexually Fortified
Wise, respectful choices that strengthen self-worth, healthy boundaries and responsible relationships.
Identity · Respect · Wisdom
Pillar Two
Addiction Free
Disciplined habits that protect wellbeing, clarity and freedom from harmful dependencies.
Discipline · Freedom · Clarity
Pillar Three
Financially Faithful
Wise stewardship, generosity and financial integrity that build trustworthy leaders.
Stewardship · Generosity · Integrity
Pillar Four
Education Focused
Academic excellence and lifelong learning directed towards purpose and service.
Excellence · Growth · Purpose
LEADERSHIP
Barbara Kaija
Co-Chair, Emerging Leaders Programme
“ELP exists to restore balance. To remind us that character is not a soft add-on to education; it is its backbone. That integrity, service, discipline, and responsibility are not abstract ideals, but practical tools for nation-building.”
Questions
Everything you might be wondering about ELP.
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ELP is a character-based leadership programme that walks with university students as they discover purpose, build integrity, and lead with impact on campus and in their communities.
SAFE stands for Sexually Fortified, Addiction Free, Financially Faithful, and Education Focused — four pillars that guide how we form whole, resilient leaders.
University students across Uganda who are ready to grow in character, purpose, and service are welcome to join. Mentors, alumni, and partners can also get involved.
You can join as a student member, volunteer as a mentor, partner as an organisation, or support ELP financially. Reach out via the contact page for current options.
Our core programmes are designed for university students, but mentors, professionals, and community partners of all ages play a vital role in the ELP ecosystem.