Dr JSM Office Hours -- Meeting with youth advocacy leader Shallon Nyankubito

I met so many engaging and engaged faculty and students at my lecture America@250: Opportunity for Civic Renewal in the USA.

I stayed after the event to speak with as many attendees as possible - but - once my driver arrived - I needed to head out. So I started making appointments during my office hours.

One of those appointments was with Shallon, a graduate student in Public Administration.  

I loved learning more about her work as a youth advocate - including her activities with the East African Youth Parliament, programming at the US Embassy, and her podcast. 

The podcast is called Unleashed by Shallon. Here's a link: Unleased by Shallon podcast

Our conversation was far-ranging, including a discussion about how to set up debate teams and programs for students in primary and secondary schools.  I was also thinking that she could be a valued guest speaker for programs I coordinate in conjunction with our USFSP YMCA Civic Fellows Program. 

Stay tuned for more about our future collaboration related to youth advocacy and engagement.

For more about the USFSP YMCA Civic Fellows Program, see https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/news/2024/civics-program-strengthens-understanding-involvement-government.aspx

Dr JSM Office Hours -- meeting with undergraduate Political Science major Amon Byaruguba ; started the CBO Treasure Children's Charity

I had so many interesting conversations with faculty and student attendees after my lecture America@250: Opportunity for Civic Renewal in the US.  

I made several appointments to continue those conversations during office hours later in the week.

One such appointment was with Amon Byaruguba, an undergraduate political science student at Makerere University.

I was so inspired by Amon's work starting a Community Based Organization - the Treasure Children's Charity.

The CBO, based in the Nansana municipality, provides mentorship for youth, as well as scholarships, school supplies, menstrual hygiene for girls (so they don't have to miss going to school during their periods) -- as well as a small community library and a resource center with Wi-Fi and some laptops.

Donations needed include books, computers, phones, tablets, school supplies, feminine hygiene products. 

I was so moved by learning more about the good work of this CBO that I was thinking about what donations that I could make before I head back to the US. As I was packing my suitcases for my return trip, I was able to set aside some school supplies and toiletries for the children served by the CBO.

(See https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/10/follow-up-meeting-and-donations-for.html)

I am looking forward to collaborating with Amon in the future -- to find ways for us to support the CBO and the children it serves after I return to the US and to invite him to present during youth empowerment and youth engagement workshops that I organize. Stay tuned for further developments.

For more about the Treasure Children's Charity, see https://www.treasurechild.org/

meeting with Amon Byaruguba, undergraduate political student who helped start the Treasure Children's Charity

Some photos of the Treasure Children's Charity in Nansana Municipality.

Dr JSM Office Hours at the Great Lakes Center for the Study of the United States -- meeting with journalist (and Makerere graduate student) David Ayuna

My America@250: Opportunity for Civic Renewal in the United States lecture was well attended by faculty and staff.  (See this post for more about the event:

There were so many wonderful questions and reflections during the discussion at the event itself -- and then several faculty and students came by to see me in office hours to keep the conversation going.

One such attendee was graduate student David Ayuna, who is also a journalist with the Daily Monitor (an independent newspaper that I have been reading at my hotel in the mornings).

Link to articles written on the Daily Monitor:  Daily Monitor - David Ayuna

Makerere University Library Tour and meeting with the University Librarian Ruth Nalumaga

Betty Nabisubi from the International Relations Office (IRO) facilitated my getting a letter/credential so that I could use the main library on campus - and she also helped to facilitate a tour.

After meeting with the University Librarian, Prof Ruth Nalumaga, library staffer Lamek Okodi escorted us on a tour.

While on the tour we met Elijah Ajak Bul the Minister for International Students at Makerere University, a third year Civil Engineering student.

entrance to the main library

University Librarian Ruth Nalumaga contributed to the book about Makerere University's 100th anniversary

Prof Nalumaga's chapter about the library system

inside the entrance to the library

Inside the foyer/reception area of the main library you can see this exhibit of photos from when the Queen Mother came to Makerere University to open the library in 1959.

On the tour we met Elijah Ajak Bul the Minister for International Students at Makerere University, a third year Civil Engineering student.

Exploring the special collections:

Lamek Okodi showing me some of the treasures in the special collections

I was looking at the East African Standards -- and trying to find the original of the one sent to me by the Honorable Betty Castor

See this blog post: https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/10/one-on-one-meetings-with-researchers.html

How I miss using actual card catalogs when conducting research!

with Betty Nabisubi from the IRO