ILEAD leadership scheme targets 30,000 students

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About 30,000 students are set to benefit from the ILEAD youth leadership development programme being piloted in Uganda, with the support from the First Lady and the Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Museveni.

Speaking during the launch of the ILEAD textbook (ILEAD manual) at the Vision Group headquarters in Industrial Area, Kampala on Tuesday, ILEAD programme manager Judith Murungi disclosed that the programme has so far been rolled out in 29 schools, majorly in Kampala and Wakiso districts.

Kibuli Senior Secondary School students Hasan Taniya signs on the ILEAD dummy book while her fellow student Terrence Nsubuga looks on at the New Vision head offices on May 27, 2025. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

“The ILEAD programme is run through secondary schools, that’s where we started from in November last year, after our first stakeholder meeting where we had the education ministry mobilise, in partnership with us, the headteachers of Wakiso and Kampala, to run a pilot,” Murungi said.

She stressed that some schools in Bushenyi and one in Mbarara, but an offshoot of a Kampala school, are already implementing the programme.

“We are working with these schools and the students — Senior One and Two — to do the curriculum for two years. We are not adding Senior Three and Four students because they are busy preparing for exams,” Murungi said.

Vision Group ED Don Wanyama (centre) cheers up as Bishop Joshua Lwere hands over a copy of an ILEAD book to Terrence Nsubuga, a student from Kibuli Senior Secondary. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

The programme, which will be piloted for two years, seeks to develop values, grow leaders, build community and impact culture, she said.

The First Lady inaugurated the programme in June last year, when the Maxwell Foundation group came to introduce it in Uganda.

The programme vision, according to Murungi, is raising the next generation of Ugandan leaders who practise transformational leadership for a better Uganda.

Vision Group ED Don Wanyama and Bishop Joshua Lwere pose for a photo with teachers and students at the handing over of a consignment of ILEAD books to New Vision head offices. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

Its mission is to; prepare the youth of Uganda to become values-based transformational leaders, practising self and peer-to-peer leadership through roundtable conversations.

She said the broad objectives of the programme are identifying and exploring the values of leadership, taking ownership of one’s choices (actions/ influence), practising leadership values and developing skills, as well as evaluating oneself with an applied knowledge. Others are leading oneself and taking turns at leading others.

Uganda is one of the two countries in Africa implementing the ILEAD, the programme that was conceived and developed by John C. Maxwell, a world-renowned leadership guru.

ORIGIN OF THE PROGRAMME

In developing the programme, Maxwell reasoned that if young people get character and values of leadership right, the next generation will be well-grown leaders.

Kitante Hill S.S student Adong Innocent at the handing over of a consignment of ILEAD books to New Vision head offices on May 27, 2025. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

He developed the ILEAD programme after over 40 years of working with leaders of all spheres, all over the world.

LESSONS

According to Murungi, each theme has value or character-based lessons.

“There are 16 lessons they learn and practise. And the unique thing about ILEAD is, there is no one teaching these students. They get a book and read a lesson and go on a round table, just like you can go for a cup of coffee with friends and start discussing a topic. We call them round table discussions or conversations,” she said.

According to Murungi, each of the three ILEAD book volumes provide 32 lessons designed to be conducted in weekly, small groups of six to eight students (round table conversations).

Vision Group ED Don Wanyama and Bishop Joshua Lwere handover a copy of the book to Hasan Taniya. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

Murungi added that each lesson is organised and structured to include the four elements of legend (visual guide for lessons), benefits (importance of value application), discussion (opportunity for students to share) and evaluation (personal assessment, with action-application of the value being explored).

PARTNERSHIPS

The ILEAD board chairperson, Bishop Joshua Lwere, speaking on the textbook (ILEAD manual), said the book, printed in partnership with Vision Group, will be given out to schools and learners participating in the programme.

The students from participating schools, such as Kibuli SS and Kitante Hill School, welcomed the initiative.

According to Elizabeth Onen, the headteacher of Kitante Hill School, the programme is critical, since more children lack self-esteem and sense of direction, which are critical for leadership skills enhancement at a young age.

Lwere noted that ILEAD is a sister programme to the Emerging Leaders’ Programme (ELP) championed by the First Lady, which focuses on students in higher institutions of learning like universities and other tertiary institutions.

Vision Group team lead by ED Don Wanyama and EIC Barbara Kaija in a group picture with ILEAD team led by Bishop Joshua Lwere accompanied by students from Kibuli Senior Secondary school and Kitante Hill S.S. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

According to Lwere, they decided to partner with Vision Group, not only to print out the textbooks, but also to support the campaign in restoring good morals among children.

Don Wanyama, the chief executive officer and the managing director of Vision Group, assured the ILEAD team that besides printing the ILEAD books, Vision Group will also avail other platforms, such as TV, radios and other online platforms to promote the initiative.

Vision Group Editor-in-Chief Barbara Kaija said, “I am glad that the book is being introduced to primary and secondary schools. It will help parents and teachers to teach children.

“We have been teaching children normal subjects, but this book teaches them how to make the right decisions and be responsible in order to become an upright child.”

We are looking for people to support by buying a book for a student. A book, which costs sh20,000, will help a young person, student or young learner to go through ILEAD curriculum for the first year.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY

 Terrence Nsubuga, Kibuli SS student

My favourite lesson was commitment. Right now, I am trying to be a good performer because there is too much competition in my class.

Kibuli Senior Secondary School student Terrence Nsubuga speaking at the handing over of a consignment of ILEAD books to New Vision head offices on May 27, 2025. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

Next was attitude. Whenever I would get a paper and had poor performance, I would just keep it, now I look at my mistakes, so that I can improve next time. In term II or III I want to lead in class.

Hasan Taniya, Kibuli SS student

I feel more confident. I have learnt that you have to choose what you think will be better for you. You can discuss it with your fellows to get their opinion, but it’s your choice.

Kibuli Senior Secondary School student Hasan Taniya speaking at the handing over of a consignment of ILEAD books to New Vision head offices on May 27, 2025. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

We also learnt about attitude. You cannot have a bad attitude all the time, because it will affect your way of understanding in class. With the confidence I have gained, I now want to become a prefect.

Innocent Adong, Kitante Hill School student

Kitante Hill S.S student Adong Innocent at the handing over of a consignment of ILEAD books to New Vision head offices on May 27, 2025. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

When ILEAD was first introduced in Kitante Hill School, I was a leader. ILEAD has boosted my leadership skills. From the first lesson, I learnt how to turn a bad situation into an opportunity and also worked on my attitude.