Budo’s Namaganda gets heroine award
Nov 15, 2009
YVONE Namaganda, who perished in last year’s Budo Junior School inferno while saving fellow pupils, was given the hero’s award in this year’s Young Achievers Awards.
By David Ssempijja
YVONE Namaganda, who perished in last year’s Budo Junior School inferno while saving fellow pupils, was given the hero’s award in this year’s Young Achievers Awards.
Over 300 youth aged between 18 and 35 took part in the competition, out of whom 43 were nominated to compete in 10 categories.
Duncan Mugabe, a 19-year-old tennis player and winner of several sports prizes, took the award of the year, winning the biggest accolade and sh5m.
Muhereza Kyamutetera, a proprietor of CEO Magazine, won the business journalism award.
Sylvia Juuko and Ibrahim Kasita of The New Vision, Irene Birungi and Joseph Basoga of UBC and Rosemary Nankabirwa of NTV were all recognised and given sh500,000 each.
The construction and vocational skills award was taken by Kisitu, the proprietor of Pioneer Foundry Technologies, while Julius Kwesiga of Propa Agriculture Organisation based in Kabanyolo walked away with the agriculture award.
Brenda Ndekeza of Solution Errands scooped the business solutions award, while Mariam Hajati, a Jinja-based educationist, took the business and trade category.
Virgo Ssempebwa of Gorilla Tours won the hospitality prize and Mujib Kasule of Proline Sports academy topped the arts and entertainment category.
The winners walked away with sh1m and the 43 nominees got sh500,000 each.
“We are proud to recognize Yvonne Namaganda as our 2009 heroin for her bravery and self-sacrifice,†said Olive Kigongo, the president of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the organisers of the awards .
The gala was held at Serena Hotel on Saturday.
The event was presided over by President Yoweri Museveni who called on the youth to be patriotic and love their country since its future lies in their hands.
Namaganda’s mother Rebecca Namusisi received the accolade with a sh2m cheque as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Her daughter was one of the 20 pupils who perished in the April 12, 2008 fire that gutted Nassolo dormitory at Buddo Junior school.
Namaganda drew the nation’s attention when she returned to the burning dormitory several times to save her schoolmates.
“She is undoubtedly Uganda’s most undisputable heroine, as a pupil, Namaganda also acted as a guardian and the true elements of hope in an environment where life was being eroded,†Kigongo said.
The panel of judges recommended that by Namaganda’s actions of rescuing her peers and losing her life in the processes, she disobeyed dangers before her, she remains a shinning example for dying while saving the lives of those still living today.
President Yoweri Museveni was also honoured with the Life Time Achievement award, These two special awards will be given out annually to outstanding citizens who have inspired the young generation and recognizes those that have made great sacrifice and service to national building.
“This award recognises the president’s development efforts in the socio-economic and political arena of our country,†said the Awel Uwihanganye Managing Director for Tetea Uganda, co-sponsor of the event.
He said that Museveni, in his youthful age had fought numerous social and political injustices His (Museveni) current tenure has also witnessed one of the most effective national responses to the needs of societal development, thus serving as a good example to the young generation.
“The President, in his University days led the University Students African Revolutionary Front, a body that supported Africa liberation movements like the Frelimo of Mozambiqueâ€, Uwihanganye said.
President Museveni advised the youth entrepreneurs to always be focused on developing their intellectual capacities as the nation’s future depended on them.
“You have a duty to help Uganda shift from ‘muscle’ to intellectual labour if we don’t need to remain behind,†he said
The President appealed to the youth to embrace government programme of Prosperity for All (PFA) adding that Shs. 135 billion is put aside every year for them to use and fight poverty.
“Embrace government programmes because the money is put for you at sub-counties. It is up to you to use it or notâ€, he said.
He told the young generation to be more innovative and fight corruption. He assured them of government commitment to fight unemployment through human capacity development.
He added that the issue of unemployment cannot be addressed without programmes like UPE and USE.
He also asked the youth to go for science education and vocational studies so that they can be able to create their own jobs. He promised to launch a loan scheme for youth who are doing sciences at university level who may not have been sponsored by government.
He reiterated government’s commitment in supporting youths developmental innovations with a bias in food science and technology.
“We have funded many people involved in scientific innovations especially inline with agriculture, some of them have been helped to register their patent rights, we shall continue giving such people money at an interest not exceeding 5% per year,†he said
Government, according to the president is involved in creating avenues of achieving a well alphabetized society through Universal primary and secondary education.
He was optimistic that graduates would be employed by the industrial sector government is widening and others would be helped to start up their own business through skills development.
The first annual awards were organized in conjunction with Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vision Group, Standard Chartered, City Tyres, MTN, Gtz, Bank of Uganda.
Over 108 youths mostly business entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35 competed, with the 19 year old tennis star Duncan Mugabe emerging the overall winner taking home sh5m.
YVONE Namaganda, who perished in last year’s Budo Junior School inferno while saving fellow pupils, was given the hero’s award in this year’s Young Achievers Awards.
Over 300 youth aged between 18 and 35 took part in the competition, out of whom 43 were nominated to compete in 10 categories.
Duncan Mugabe, a 19-year-old tennis player and winner of several sports prizes, took the award of the year, winning the biggest accolade and sh5m.
Muhereza Kyamutetera, a proprietor of CEO Magazine, won the business journalism award.
Sylvia Juuko and Ibrahim Kasita of The New Vision, Irene Birungi and Joseph Basoga of UBC and Rosemary Nankabirwa of NTV were all recognised and given sh500,000 each.
The construction and vocational skills award was taken by Kisitu, the proprietor of Pioneer Foundry Technologies, while Julius Kwesiga of Propa Agriculture Organisation based in Kabanyolo walked away with the agriculture award.
Brenda Ndekeza of Solution Errands scooped the business solutions award, while Mariam Hajati, a Jinja-based educationist, took the business and trade category.
Virgo Ssempebwa of Gorilla Tours won the hospitality prize and Mujib Kasule of Proline Sports academy topped the arts and entertainment category.
The winners walked away with sh1m and the 43 nominees got sh500,000 each.
“We are proud to recognize Yvonne Namaganda as our 2009 heroin for her bravery and self-sacrifice,†said Olive Kigongo, the president of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the organisers of the awards .
The gala was held at Serena Hotel on Saturday.
The event was presided over by President Yoweri Museveni who called on the youth to be patriotic and love their country since its future lies in their hands.
Namaganda’s mother Rebecca Namusisi received the accolade with a sh2m cheque as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Her daughter was one of the 20 pupils who perished in the April 12, 2008 fire that gutted Nassolo dormitory at Buddo Junior school.
Namaganda drew the nation’s attention when she returned to the burning dormitory several times to save her schoolmates.
“She is undoubtedly Uganda’s most undisputable heroine, as a pupil, Namaganda also acted as a guardian and the true elements of hope in an environment where life was being eroded,†Kigongo said.
The panel of judges recommended that by Namaganda’s actions of rescuing her peers and losing her life in the processes, she disobeyed dangers before her, she remains a shinning example for dying while saving the lives of those still living today.
President Yoweri Museveni was also honoured with the Life Time Achievement award, These two special awards will be given out annually to outstanding citizens who have inspired the young generation and recognizes those that have made great sacrifice and service to national building.
“This award recognises the president’s development efforts in the socio-economic and political arena of our country,†said the Awel Uwihanganye Managing Director for Tetea Uganda, co-sponsor of the event.
He said that Museveni, in his youthful age had fought numerous social and political injustices His (Museveni) current tenure has also witnessed one of the most effective national responses to the needs of societal development, thus serving as a good example to the young generation.
“The President, in his University days led the University Students African Revolutionary Front, a body that supported Africa liberation movements like the Frelimo of Mozambiqueâ€, Uwihanganye said.
President Museveni advised the youth entrepreneurs to always be focused on developing their intellectual capacities as the nation’s future depended on them.
“You have a duty to help Uganda shift from ‘muscle’ to intellectual labour if we don’t need to remain behind,†he said
The President appealed to the youth to embrace government programme of Prosperity for All (PFA) adding that Shs. 135 billion is put aside every year for them to use and fight poverty.
“Embrace government programmes because the money is put for you at sub-counties. It is up to you to use it or notâ€, he said.
He told the young generation to be more innovative and fight corruption. He assured them of government commitment to fight unemployment through human capacity development.
He added that the issue of unemployment cannot be addressed without programmes like UPE and USE.
He also asked the youth to go for science education and vocational studies so that they can be able to create their own jobs. He promised to launch a loan scheme for youth who are doing sciences at university level who may not have been sponsored by government.
He reiterated government’s commitment in supporting youths developmental innovations with a bias in food science and technology.
“We have funded many people involved in scientific innovations especially inline with agriculture, some of them have been helped to register their patent rights, we shall continue giving such people money at an interest not exceeding 5% per year,†he said
Government, according to the president is involved in creating avenues of achieving a well alphabetized society through Universal primary and secondary education.
He was optimistic that graduates would be employed by the industrial sector government is widening and others would be helped to start up their own business through skills development.
The first annual awards were organized in conjunction with Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vision Group, Standard Chartered, City Tyres, MTN, Gtz, Bank of Uganda.
Over 108 youths mostly business entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35 competed, with the 19 year old tennis star Duncan Mugabe emerging the overall winner taking home sh5m.