By Tuhirirwe Karane
As Uganda hosted the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in January 2024 — the second-largest gathering of world leaders after the United Nations General Assembly — one Makerere alumnus was in attendance, overjoyed at the opportunity to be in the country. His Excellency Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was particularly overjoyed at the opportunity that enabled him to relive some of his fondest memories of his time as a student at Makerere University.
H.E Ralph Gonsalves being welcomed to Makerere University by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe
Back in 1972, Gonsalves embarked on an interesting academic journey. He was a beneficiary of a unique British Council scholarship programme known as the "Triple M." This scholarship facilitated an exchange programme amongst three prestigious universities: Mona University in the West Indies, the University of Manchester in England, and Makerere University in Uganda. The "Triple M" provided Gonsalves with a rewarding academic and social experience that continues to hold a special place in his memory.
Speaking at Makerere University, a day after the conclusion of the NAM Summit, Prime Minister Gonsalves reminisced about his student days where he revealed a special gesture: “I am glad to have handed a copy of my thesis, which, I substantially wrote, from here 50 years ago to President Museveni yesterday during the NAM delegates’ exchange.” Titled "Role of Labour in the Political Process of St. Vincent, (1935-1970)," the thesis examined the relationship between labour and other key societal forces, particularly the government, political parties, and employers.
Experiences at Makerere University
In a quick chance meeting with the prime minister, we were able to speak to him and find out more about his time at the university. A resident of the then newly opened Dag Hammarskjöld Hall for graduate students, H.E. Gonsalves shared that he embraced both the academic and social life of the university. He vividly recalls representing Makerere in the East and Central African championship as part of the university cricket team in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Despite the "encroachment of the many buildings now," as he phrased it, Gonsalves still readily recognised Makerere's green landscape which highlights the university's significant infrastructural growth since his time. He remembers engaging seminars led by the likes of the late Prof. Ali Mazrui, where they'd delve into discussions about Uganda and Africa's future.
Reminiscing about his Makerere days, he beamed as he mentioned his close friendship with the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Seychelles to Uganda, Hon. Dr. Elly Karuhanga. Gonsalves even revealed a past political collaboration: “I should tell you that Elly Karuhanga and I belonged to the same monarchist and socialist group then, and I played a big role in mobilising fellow students to have him as guild president in 1972, but we narrowly lost to Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile,” he quipped.
Karuhanga when we spoke to him, remembered Ralph as “a young dynamic, fluffy-haired guy with a Caribbean accent who talked a lot about revolution, anti-establishment and socialism, the ideals our leaders in Addis-Ababa had united to make the Organization of African Union, now African Union.”
Hon. Elly Karuhanga hugs H.E Ralph Gonsalves at the sidelines of the NAM Summit in Kampala, Uganda.
During his time as a Guild Representative Councillor for Northcote Hall, Hon. Karuhanga enjoyed the privilege of a single room, previously occupied by Hon. Kamuntu Ephraim. This spacious accommodation became a hub for social gatherings where Karuhanga hosted many East African students who, like him, harboured dissent against the regimes of Amin and Obote. It is through these gatherings that Ralph struck a friendship with Karuhanga which has continued to blossom over the years.
On the close friendship, Karuhanga notes that, “Dealing with Ralph today has not changed any much regardless of his position because when people assume top leadership positions of states, there is a distance that emerges for purposes of security and roles.”
He adds that, “It is difficult for me to visit President Museveni and give him a high-five even when he used to visit me at Northcote and talk to me about African politics, but with Ralph, it’s different. This was evident when he was told that I was in the NAM Summit Conference Hall, and he came running to greet me. We hugged like little boys wrestling to see who will put the other down first and it was a tearful experience. He also came home to visit us over lunch, and we bid ourselves bye many times, took pictures and we didn’t want him to leave.”
Gonsalves and Karuhanga chat at the latter's residence in Bugolobi, a suburb of Kampala, Uganda.
Gonsalves fondly remembers Makerere's vibrant nightlife during his studies. He was surprised, however, to learn (through Karuhanga) that his favorite hangout, Sussana NightClub, had transformed into an evangelical church. He equally recalls interacting with Europeans, residents from Wandegeya seeking work, and refugees from Burundi, Rwanda, DRC, and Sudan. These diverse encounters helped him foster a spirit of support and community living.
A passion for the education sector
H.E. Gonsalves shares that he is devoted to boosting the education standards back home.
“In March 2021, I gave myself a portfolio of higher education and one of the things I pledged to achieve was to have one college or university graduate per household, which I intend to have achieved by 2030,” he said.
He further revealed that he had a private conversation with President Museveni where they agreed broadly to have student exchanges in both countries including the University of West Indies. “We shall as well work out many initiatives to have a more nuanced and well-researched student generation,” he adds.
Wearing a grin, Gonsalves notes that it is heavenly to be young and for the young to understand and embrace their mission for themselves, their families, and the nation. His parting shot is a worthwhile piece of advice: “I always tell young people in the Caribbean that there are two types of brightness, brightness which blinds and the one that illuminates. I urge every young person to be the brightness that illuminates.”
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