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Col. Edith Nakalema, Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), met with youth and student leaders in Kampala to discuss career guidance and technological innovations. The leaders shared their developments, including apps for career guidance and a system for safeguarding investment processes.

(left- right) Guild Prime Minister Makerere University Kampala (MUK) Adroni Rodney, Musiime Abias (MUK), Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) Speaker Wasswa Christopher, President UNSA Olot Francis, The head of State House Investors Protection Unit Col. Edith Nakalema, Makerere University Business School (MUBS) Guild President Amanya Moses, Chairperson National Youth Council Jacob Eyeru, Nuwahereza Simon Desire (MUK) and National wide Dialogue Committee Co-odinator Obbo Johnson Emmanuel in a group photo after a meeting.

The State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU) Head, Col. Edith Nakalema met a group of youth and student leaders.

The meeting that took place on 11^th September 2024 at the unit’s offices in Kampala, mainly centered around career guidance to students through technological innovations and how they can use these innovations to solve the problems of society.

The leaders in attendance included, Mr. Obbo Johnson Emmanuel-Nationwide Dialogue Committee Coordinator, Mr. Musiime Abias- Makerere University, Mr. Nuwahereza Simon Desire- Makerere University, Mr. Wasswa Christopher – Speaker of Uganda National Students Association (UNSA), Mr. Olot Francis – President-UNSA, Mr. Amanya Moses – Guild President MUBS, Mr. Adroni Rodney – Guild Prime Minister Makerere University and Mr. Jacob Eyeru-Chairperson National Youth Council.

In the engagement, the student and youth leaders informed Col. Nakalema that they have developed various innovations such as one that offers career guidance to students.

The head of State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU) Col. Edith Nakalema making her remarks while meeting student leaders at the SHIPU offices

The SHIPU head was amazed to learn that these youth and student leaders are holding the world in their hands when it comes to technology and innovation.

“So, you can determine yourselves on your phones and know who you are versus what you are doing or what people see in you?” she inquired.

“Thank you for this big lesson to me, I didn’t know that you have advanced that far to the extent of determining yourselves on who you are and what you can do better based on your passion and competence.”

Col. Nakalema further emphasised that the youth should use these innovations to upgrade to a level where they are able to solve the problems of society such as unemployment.

“Each of you is unique from one another so If each one of you can develop your competencies and balance of passion and use them to deal with the society’s needs, the world would be much better. I’m already blessed to have you. I hadn’t known that all those apps exist,” she noted.

Col. Nakalema also briefed the youth about SHIPU’s Electronic Investors Protection Portal, an application that safeguards investment processes in the country.

“When I was given this task of protecting investors, I came with a view of having an IT system where investors came to do due diligence when it comes to the right person to approach and protect the investors from being defrauded. This system eliminates human interaction that would facilitate fraud, quickens investment processes without middlemen. This system was developed by your fellow young colleagues,” she noted.

“I’m very happy to know that these leaders have already developed apps that inform them who they are based on passion and competence. But in all you are doing, always seek God first because when you do so much and feel like yes, I Know where we are going, you may give yourself overconfidence. You should keep going down your knees and ask God if you are still under His will, never ever go on your way and forget about God.”

Col. Nakalema also implored the youth and student leaders to create wealth.

“My job now is to ensure wealth creation in the country. And I’m very happy that you are already transformative and have started creating wealth; you have already created wealth through innovations,” she said.

She also reiterated her call to the youth to join the fight against corruption.

“Every person in this country is lamenting about corruption and all of you are tired of lamenting. I take this opportunity to inform you that corruption can be better fought by organising ourselves better to be productive.”

Mr. Joshua Asiimwe informed Col. Nakalema that they came up with innovations that are in line with the new competence-based curriculum which doesn’t focus on grades rather on what learners can solve and through their passion as well as dealing with what the society needs.

The leaders also thanked Col. Nakalema for always lending them a listening ear and engaging them on various issues of development.