{"id":8168,"date":"2025-11-10T19:16:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T16:16:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/?p=8168"},"modified":"2026-02-05T14:29:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T11:29:40","slug":"makerere-commemorates-global-ethics-day-with-calls-for-moral-and-ethical-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/makerere-commemorates-global-ethics-day-with-calls-for-moral-and-ethical-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"Makerere Commemorates Global Ethics Day with Calls for Moral and Ethical Transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Makerere University College of Humanities and Social Sciences on 6th<\/sup> November 2025 joined the rest of the world to celebrate the   Global Ethics Day under the theme, \u201cEthics Revisioned: The Role of Ethics in the Promotion of Good Governance in Uganda.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event held at the Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility 1 was organized by students from the Department of Philosophy under their Guild Representative Council (GRC) and the Ethics Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Moderated by Kenneth Kauta, Principal Ethics Officer at the Network for Ethics and Integrity, attracted academics, students and senior government officials from the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity who reflected on the role of ethics in good governance and national transformation. The discussion centered on the declining moral standards in governance and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Ethics Minister Nsaba Buturo Warns Uganda Risks Collapse Without Moral Renewal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Minister for Ethics and Integrity and current Chairperson of the Parliamentary Ethics Forum, Hon. Dr. Nsaba Buturo, warned that Uganda faces moral decay and potential instability unless urgent steps are taken to restore ethical and moral values at both individual and institutional levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Buturo cautioned that Uganda\u2019s moral and ethical foundations were \u201cbeing eaten away,\u201d warning that without decisive action, the country risked \u201cconditions of lawlessness, exploitation, and underdevelopment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEthics is the oxygen of this nation,\u201d Dr. Buturo emphasized. \u201cWhen you take it away, the country suffocates. We are ignoring what really makes nations tick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He lamented the lack of investment in ethics and morality, noting that the budget for ethical programs had been reduced instead of strengthened. He argued that the absence of ethical values was a root cause of corruption, poor governance, and weak institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hon Nsaba Buturo delivering a keynote address<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Drawing comparisons with more developed countries, Dr. Buturo said that the major difference between prosperous and struggling nations lay in their moral discipline and respect for ethical standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhere ethics are strong, nations prosper. Where ethics are weak, nations collapse,\u201d he said, calling for government and civil society to prioritize moral education and ethical governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Buturo also challenged the government to make Global Ethics Day<\/strong> a nationally recognized observance, saying that discussions on ethics and good governance were \u201cthe oxygen of national survival\u201d but were often ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quoting Nelson Mandela, he reminded students that destroying a nation does not require weapons but the erosion of educational and moral standards. He added, however, that the root problem was not poor education but ethical failure, asserting that \u201cthe decision to cheat, to steal, or to exploit is an ethical question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former minister stressed that ethics are integral to good governance<\/strong>, defining it as leadership characterized by transparency, accountability, participation, and respect for the rule of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He urged Uganda to integrate ethics into its development strategy, noting that while investments in physical infrastructure were visible, moral infrastructure was being neglected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUganda can only rise and shine when ethics and good governance become the backbone of our national development,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Government Urges Youth to Uphold Integrity as Uganda Targets Tenfold Economic Growth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Government of Uganda called on young people and public institutions to prioritize integrity, accountability, and moral discipline as key drivers of national development, warning that economic growth targets will remain unattainable without a strong ethical foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Directorate for Ethics and Integrity<\/strong>, Mr. Joel Wanjala<\/strong>, the Under Secretary for Finance and Administration, said Uganda\u2019s ambitious plan to achieve tenfold economic growth hinges on \u201crestoring public sector ethics and nurturing a generation of leaders with integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Joel Wanjala representing the Permanent Secretary<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wanjala commended Makerere University for partnering with government to train ethical leaders, saying the institution remained \u201ca seedbed\u201d for future public servants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou, the students, are the future we shall recruit from. That is why we are partnering with Makerere \u2014 to nurture a good breed of ethical officials in government,\u201d Wanjala told participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He emphasized that Uganda\u2019s path to prosperity required moral transformation as much as economic policy, noting that \u201cUganda is a rich country, but what we lack is the critical mass of human resources with integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Wanjala, the <\/strong>Directorate for Ethics and Integrity<\/strong> which has operated for 27 years continues to spearhead national efforts to rebuild ethics and fight corruption through mindset change, transparency, and accountability initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He cited a series of laws and policies<\/strong> underpinning the country\u2019s anti-corruption framework, including the Leadership Code Act<\/strong>,<\/strong> theAnti-Corruption Act<\/strong>, theInspectorate of Government Act<\/strong>, <\/strong>and theWhistleblower Protection Act<\/strong>. <\/strong>He also mentioned ongoing reviews of the National <\/strong>Risk Coverage Policy (2013)<\/strong>and implementation of theZero Tolerance to Corruption Policy (2019)<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we are to achieve our Vision 2040 goals, we must go beyond legislation and restore the moral fabric of our society,\u201d he said. \u201cEthics must be mainstreamed in every institution if we are to transform Uganda.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wanjala highlighted the government\u2019s economic targets raising Uganda\u2019s economy from USD <\/strong>65 billion to USD 150 billion<\/strong> and increasing average household income fromUGX 190,000 to UGX 500,000 per month<\/strong>by 2030. However, he cautioned that without ethical governance, these goals could be derailed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can design the best programs and visions, but if the people managing them lack integrity, they will collapse,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concluding his address, Wanjala urged students to \u201clive as ethical persons\u201d and remember that the choices they make between right and wrong define not only their character but the nation\u2019s destiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNever take anything for granted,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat you learn here will be tested when you serve your country. We must all do the right things, transparently and accountably.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEthics Must Be Lived, Not Just Taught\u201d \u2014 Principal CHUSS, Assoc. Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representing the Vice Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, Principal of CHUSS, officially opened the conference and welcomed participants. She praised the students and faculty for their initiative, saying the day was a testament to Makerere\u2019s commitment to nurturing morally grounded leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat you see in this room today is a clear example of what our students can do when guided and mentored. Ethics is not just a subject we teach \u2014 it is something lived,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Assoc. Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala representing the Vice Chancellor<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Nkabala reflected on the need to \u201cre-envision ethics\u201d in the modern, digital era, where information spreads rapidly and influences values differently from the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are no longer in the days we grew up in. The kind of information students access today is not what we accessed before. That is why we must recenter ourselves and think critically about where we are and where we are going,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A scholar of biblical ethics, Nkabala drew from her academic background to underscore that ethical values are cultivated through upbringing and practice, not imposed externally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEthics nurtures us; it shapes who we become. If we fail to cultivate ethics within ourselves, there is no way we can stand before others and call them to be ethical,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She lamented that the humanities and social sciences \u2014 disciplines that teach reflection, values, and critical thought \u2014 have been sidelined, yet they remain essential to building a morally responsible society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe, in the humanities, are the soul and the heart of this university,\u201d she said. \u201cWithout us, this world cannot be. We are the bridge between science and society, because if science is made without ethics, society cannot receive it ethically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Nkabala thanked the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity and Makerere\u2019s partners for supporting the event and declared the workshop officially open on behalf of the Vice Chancellor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEthics Begins with the Individual\u201d \u2014 Dr. Pamela Khanakwa, Dean, School of Liberal and Performing Arts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Pamela Khanakwa, Dean of the School of Liberal and Performing Arts, commended the Department of Philosophy and students for spearheading the Global Ethics Day celebrations. She noted that ethics is not merely an academic discussion but a daily practice that begins with each person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Pamela Khanakwa addressing participants<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEthics and integrity begin with you as an individual,\u201d Dr. Khanakwa said. \u201cBefore we talk about systems and governance, we must first look inward. Ethics is personal before it becomes public.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She emphasized that small personal actions \u2014 such as keeping public spaces clean or respecting others\u2019 rights \u2014 are the foundation of national integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo we need police to tell us not to litter? How many times do we do things that are not good for humanity or coexistence?\u201d she asked. \u201cIf each of us acted responsibly, we would make the world a better place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Khanakwa also applauded students for their engagement despite academic pressures, saying their participation reflected a growing sense of awareness among the youth about moral and governance issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur students have shown they are interested in what is going on in their country. Ethics is not about exams \u2014 it is about character, responsibility, and the kind of citizens we become,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She concluded by urging the audience to reflect deeply on their moral choices and to cultivate integrity in all aspects of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRebuilding Ethics Requires a Whole-Society Effort\u201d \u2014 Dr. Dickson Kanakulya, Head, Department of Philosophy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Dickson Kanakulya, Head of the Department of Philosophy, explained the significance of Global Ethics Day, which was initiated by the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs to promote moral reflection in public and private life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kanakulya described the event as a moment of collective introspection, reminding society of the need to uphold moral standards that hold communities together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Dickson Kanakulya making his welcome remarks<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the challenges the world faces today is the collapse of the moral fabric that keeps society together,\u201d he said. \u201cFor any society to stand, we must agree on certain moral standards \u2014 the normal ways to behave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He likened ethics and integrity to navigational tools guiding a ship through turbulent seas, saying nations require moral discipline and mental clarity to steer toward prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood governance, like a skilled captain, demands people of discipline and clarity. Ethics helps us know where we are going, while integrity keeps us disciplined on that course,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citing Uganda\u2019s Vision 2040, Dr. Kanakulya warned that the country\u2019s progress could be derailed if ethical standards are ignored. He illustrated the impact of corruption with an example of a dishonest official inflating tree-planting figures \u2014 an act that undermines environmental and developmental goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the person entrusted to plant five million trees plants only 50,000 and reports otherwise, the damage is far greater than financial loss. It is an ethical failure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He concluded that rebuilding ethics cannot be done in isolation, urging all sectors to work together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRebuilding ethics and integrity is a whole-society approach. We must act collectively to restore the moral fabric that keeps our society together,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIntegrity Is the Foundation of Leadership\u201d \u2014 Hon. Comfort Keinembabazi, 91st Guild Minister for Gender, Ethics and Integrity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representing the student leadership, <\/strong>Hon. Comfort Keinembabazi, Makerere\u2019s 91st Guild Minister for Gender, Ethics and Integrity, called on young people to embrace ethical values as a cornerstone of leadership and citizenship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs young leaders and citizens, we carry a great responsibility not only to talk about ethics but to live them in our daily decisions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hon. Comfort Kainembabazi speaking<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Keinembabazi emphasized that good governance is built from the bottom up, beginning with the attitudes and actions of individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood governance begins with the choices we make \u2014 how we lead, how we serve, and how we treat the people around us,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She urged her peers to integrate ethics into all areas of life \u2014 in classrooms, workplaces, and communities \u2014 as a culture rather than a mere ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIntegrity is not just a principle for public officers; it is a culture we must live with. When ethics thrive, good governance flourishes,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s Strive for a Uganda of the Common Good\u201d \u2014 Hon. Manzi Victor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his welcoming remarks, Hon. Manzi Victor, Guild Representative Councilor for the School of Liberal and Performing Arts (SLPA) and Chairperson of the Makerere Ethics Association, urged students to take personal responsibility in building an ethical Uganda grounded in respect for the common good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Uganda we strive for is one where all of us can enjoy a good life \u2014 and we can only enjoy that if we respect ethics at the highest level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mr. Manzi Victor making his welcome remarks<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Manzi reminded both leaders and citizens that ethical living begins with individual choices and consideration for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we aim to build a society where we are not selfish, where we prioritize our neighbors, and where we wish for others what we wish for ourselves, that is the society worth living in,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged participants to carry the message of integrity beyond the event, saying, \u201cEven after here, go on and spread the message of being ethical and moving with integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global Ethics Day is an annual event observed on the third Wednesday of October to promote ethical practices in both organizations and individuals across the globe. Created by the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, it encourages discussion and action on ethics in various sectors, including business, government, education, and the environment. The day serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical standards in decision-making and maintaining public trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ethics Begin<\/strong>s<\/strong> with Self-Accountability, Says <\/strong>Prof. Eric Awich Ochen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While closing the event, Assoc. Prof. Eric Awich urged students to uphold integrity and accountability as foundations for good governance. Prof. Eric Awich challenged university students to embrace self-accountability as the cornerstone of ethical behavior and national development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awich underscored the importance of personal responsibility in promoting integrity and good governance. \u201cAccountability starts with the self,\u201d he said. \u201cBefore you are accountable to others, you must first learn to be accountable to yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explained that self-accountability extends to managing one\u2019s life responsibly, especially for students living independently for the first time. \u201cMany of you were under strict supervision from your parents before joining the university. Now that you are responsible for your own lives, you must show that you can make the right choices,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Assoc. prof. Eric Awich closed the ceremony<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Awich further linked individual ethics to national governance, noting that good governance stems from ethical conduct at the personal and family levels. \u201cWhatever we practice at the individual level resonates with what we do at the societal level. When we preserve family values, we preserve the values of the nation,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He  thanked the Ministry of Ethics and Integrity for its continued collaboration with Makerere University in promoting moral values, integrity, and accountability. He commended ministry officials including Hon. Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, Joel Wanjala, and Rev. Canon Aaron for dedicating their time to engage with students throughout the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He praised Makerere students for their enthusiasm and discipline during the ethics and human rights activities, describing them as \u201ca very good cohort eager to learn beyond the classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assoc. Prof. Awich concluded the event by officially declaring the 2024 Global Ethics Day celebrations closed, urging participants to apply the lessons learned in their daily lives and future careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n