April 23, 2026 | Makerere University | As prepared for delivery
Thank you, Vice Chancellor, distinguished faculty, Professor Nokes, Dr. Nakabugo, honored guests, and students of Makerere University.
It is a privilege once again to stand before you at this historic institution— a beacon of academic excellence for over a century. An institution I have been honored to engage with countless times over the last nearly three years.
As my time in Uganda comes to a close, it is particularly meaningful to be here today for the Annual Kajubi-Fulbright Lecture as we celebrate two legacies that remind us why education matters: the transformative power of international exchange embodied by Senator J. William Fulbright, and the visionary leadership of Professor William Senteza Kajubi, who showed us that education reform can change the trajectory of a nation.
It is likely no coincidence that both their first names were “William.”
In 1952, when Professor Kajubi became the first African scholar to receive a Fulbright scholarship, he didn’t just cross an ocean—he bridged worlds. He brought back not only knowledge, but a vision for what Ugandan education could become.
As Vice Chancellor of this university twice and as an architect of Uganda’s education curriculum, Professor Kajubi understood something fundamental: education is not merely about transmitting information. It’s about unlocking human potential.
Professor Kajubi believed that education policy must serve students—the young people sitting in classrooms who represent their families’ hopes and their nation’s future. This year’s theme, “Education Policy Reform as an Enabler of Student Success,” honors that belief.
Education is the most powerful tool for social mobility that humanity has ever created. It doesn’t matter where you’re born, who your parents are, or what resources your family has—education can change your life’s trajectory. It’s true in America and in Uganda, where talented young people are transforming their communities through knowledge and skill.
But education’s power extends beyond individual success. It drives economic development. Nations that invest wisely in education—that connect learning to the real needs of their economies—create prosperity. They build industries. They attract investment. They compete globally.
The question before us is: How do we ensure that education delivers on this promise? How do we make certain that every student who walks through a classroom door walks out prepared not just for today’s world, but for tomorrow’s opportunities?
At the core of the answer, we must connect education to the needs of tomorrow’s workforce while preserving what makes education truly valuable: the ability to think critically, to analyze complex problems, to adapt to change.
This is not an either-or proposition. We don’t have to choose between teaching students to think and teaching them to work. The best education does both. It equips students with technical skills that employers need while developing their capacity for independent thought, creativity, and problem-solving.
Uganda’s economy is evolving. Technology is transforming industries. New opportunities are emerging in agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and services. Your students need to be ready—not just for the jobs that exist today, but for careers that haven’t even been invented yet. That requires education systems that are nimble, responsive, and connected to the real world.
It also requires something else: a commitment to excellence and accountability. We must measure what matters. Are students learning? Are they gaining skills? Are they prepared for success?
Dr. Nakabugo’s work with Uwezo Uganda exemplifies this commitment to understanding what’s happening in classrooms and using that knowledge to drive improvement.
This brings me back to the Fulbright Program and why international exchange matters more than ever.
The Fulbright program was founded on a simple but profound idea: that mutual understanding between peoples leads to a more peaceful and prosperous world.
When Professor Nokes comes to Uganda as a Fulbright Scholar, he doesn’t just share American expertise—he learns from Ugandans as well. When Ugandan scholars travel to the United States, they don’t just absorb American methods—they bring Ugandan perspectives that enrich our institutions.
This exchange of ideas and knowledge makes both our nations stronger. It creates networks of collaboration that last lifetimes.
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, we’re reflecting on the values that have defined our nation—including our belief in education as the foundation of opportunity and our commitment to engaging with the world through knowledge and exchange. Our 250th anniversary reminds us that America’s story has always been enriched by global partnerships and the exchange of ideas across borders.
America remains committed to partnerships that deliver mutual benefit—that make both nations stronger, more prosperous, and more secure. The Fulbright program embodies this principle.
So let me close with a challenge—to the students in this room, to the faculty, to policymakers, and to all of us who care about education’s future.
To students: Take your education seriously. Not because someone tells you to, but because it’s your pathway to the life you want to build. Ask questions. Think critically. And remember that with the privilege of education comes responsibility: to use your knowledge to serve others, to lift up your communities, to build a better Uganda.
To educators and policymakers: Don’t settle for systems that aren’t working. Measure outcomes honestly. Connect education to economic opportunity. But never lose sight of education’s higher purpose: to develop not just skilled workers, but thoughtful citizens who can lead their nation forward.
To all of us: Let’s honor the legacies of Senator Fulbright and Professor Kajubi, not just with words, but with action. Professor Kajubi proved that one person, armed with education and vision, can transform a country’s future. Senator Fulbright’s vision for international education has had a lasting positive impact as it continues to build bridges between nations and cultures, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation around the world.
Thank you for the honor of addressing you today and for being a strong partner to the United States.
Thank you for your commitment to education.
And thank you for carrying forward the legacy of excellence that Professor Kajubi and Senator Fulbright began and that Makerere University continues.
My hope is that we never stop believing in the transformative power of education to change lives and shape nations. And that our shared commitment to education and global exchange between the United States and Uganda create opportunities for generations to come.
Thank you and God Bless.