By Kabuye Ronald
Over 70 students from six secondary schools gathered at Caltech Academy in Makerere, Kampala to participate in a Model United Nations (MUN) General Assembly. The event saw students assume roles as delegates from different UN member states, while others participated as observers.
The MUN was organized by the United Nations Association of Uganda (UNAU) with the aim of bringing the ideals and principles of the UN closer to young people. It served as a training platform to help students develop key skills such as negotiation, diplomacy, research, presentation, and public speaking, preparing them to engage in global issues and international forums.
Participating schools included: Caltech Academy, St. Mary’s Assumption SS, Apass SS, Katwe Noor SS, Kasubi SS, Namungoona Parents School
The theme of the session was: “Youth for a Healthy Planet: Fighting Tobacco, Protecting Our Planet, Shaping Our Future.” Students discussed and passed critical resolutions addressing tobacco use, environmental conservation, and youth empowerment.
Among the key resolutions passed included: Encouraging student leaders to use their positions to sensitize peers about tobacco use and control, Advocating for enhanced security measures to prevent fire outbreaks linked to cigarette use and its harmful environmental effects. Emphasizing the importance of education and awareness about climate change among youth. Calling for comprehensive educational programs and awareness campaigns on environmental issues. Promoting youth innovation through funding and support for climate-related projects and Encouraging creativity and problem-solving skills among young people
Richard Baguma Tinkasimire, Secretary General of UNAU, highlighted the broader vision of the event: “We are planting a seed in these students to become future international workers by creating a shift in mindset. We want them to look beyond their immediate surroundings and understand that they are global citizens. To claim that status, they must prepare to read, write, speak, and learn international languages.”
Kitibwa Prisca Kyeyune, President of MUN 2025, described the experience as transformative: “It has really impacted us as youth. We’ve built leadership and confidence, gained self-awareness, and improved mental health awareness. We can now confidently voice the challenges in our communities and propose solutions. I thank the UN for giving us this platform it’s not just for students, it’s for future leaders.”
Murungi Anderson Baijuka, Secretary General of MUN 2025, shared his perspective: “Being Secretary General was both interesting and challenging. I had to listen critically, analyze arguments, and decide who should speak next. It sharpened my leadership and collaborative skills. I hope the resolutions we made will be implemented by the students since they were crafted by us, for us.”
Linda Asaba, Programs Coordinator at UNAU, emphasized the practical aspect of the initiative. “This is not an ‘attend and forget’ activity. We reduce the resolutions into actions students can implement in their schools. The goal is to create change-makers, not just participants.”
Asaba also explained the strategic choice of targeting secondary school students: “MUN was initially for university students, but we realized they don’t just become leaders overnight, it starts in high school. The new curriculum emphasizes public speaking, research, and communication, so we saw this as the perfect entry point. At university, students are often too occupied, and it’s harder to learn new languages or soft skills at that stage.”
Now in its third year, the MUN program has reached around 50 schools, with each school sending 10 to 14 student delegates per session. The initiative continues to grow, fostering a generation of informed, articulate, and globally aware youth.
