Minister Otafiire to Deliver Keynote at Nkrumah Day Public Lecture 2025

Makerere University has confirmed that Major General (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire, Uganda’s Minister of Internal Affairs, will be the guest speaker at this year’s Nkrumah Day Public Lecture scheduled for Friday, September 26, 2025.

The announcement follows a formal acceptance letter dated September 18, 2025, in which Minister Otafiire responded to the university’s earlier invitation sent on August 28, 2025. The Office of the Vice Chancellor stamped the acceptance letter on September 22, officially confirming receipt.

The 2025 Nkrumah Day Public Lecture will be held under the theme “Transforming Young African Minds: Lessons We Can Draw from Kwame Nkrumah’s Ideas” at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium, beginning at 2:00 PM.

As the chief guest, Maj Gen Otafiire is expected to deliver a keynote address focusing on the late Pan-Africanist leader Kwame Nkrumah’s vision for Africa’s political, social, and economic transformation and its relevance for the continent’s youth today.

“This significant occasion transcends the boundaries of affiliation, extending a warm invitation not merely to current and former residents of Nkrumah Hall but to all students of Makerere University, ardent Pan-Africanists, fervent advocates of development irrespective of gender, and distinguished individuals from the political and non-political spheres alike who resonate with the enduring ideals of Kwame Nkrumah,” said Dr Rodney Rugyema, Principal Warden of Nkrumah Hall.

He added: It promises to be an enriching convocation wherein we collectively reflect upon Nkrumah’s visionary leadership, his steadfast commitment to African unity, and the timeless relevance of his thoughts on continental progress and empowerment.”

Other speakers include moderator Dr. Suzie Muwanga, and panelists Dr. Charlotte Karungi Mafumbo, Mr. Robert Maseruka, and Mr. Kwame Rugunda.

The event forms part of Makerere University’s annual tradition of honouring Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and a leading advocate of Pan-Africanism, whose ideas continue to shape discourse on African unity and development.