Lira, Uganda | Sedric Otolo, Director of Kakebe Technologies and co-organiser of the lecture, said Musevenomics provides a practical, non-political framework for business development in Uganda.
He explained that young entrepreneurs need such a mindset to break free from outdated business models, and added that business, economics, and ICT should ideally form part of every student’s education, regardless of their discipline.
His remarks came on Wednesday during an economic empowerment lecture at Ebenezer University in Lira City, where social worker, entrepreneur, and Triumph Women Initiative founder Dr. Sharon Okello Sharon Ngenja unveiled a nationwide campaign to simplify and humanise the concept of Musevenomics for young Ugandans.
Dr. Okello, widely known as “the girl from Ouyam,” said her goal was to transform Musevenomics, often seen as complex and technical, into a relatable, life-centred doctrine that young people can apply in their daily routines.
She described the doctrine as a form of humanity, comparing it to the human body, where integrity, customer care, and skills represent the heart, while income symbolises the harvest.
It was for this reason, she explained, that she named her project “The Heart Before the Harvest.”
She traced her inspiration to an encounter with Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), who challenged her understanding of Uganda’s industrialisation and value-addition journey.
The experience, she said, forced her to question why many Ugandans remain unaware of the industrial progress already achieved, even though the country’s major bottleneck is now securing markets rather than building factories.
Concerned that young people often find economic language intimidating, Dr. Okello said she decided to reinterpret Musevenomics as a lifestyle rather than a political ideology or academic concept.
She argued that economics underpins daily human activity, waking up, breathing, and working, and insisted that capital does not always mean money, saying skills themselves should be seen as capital.
She also shared how she built the Triumph Women Initiative by turning personal pain into an impactful brand that documents the resilience of women across Uganda.
Through packaging and digitalising these stories, she noted that she was able to create value, attract partners, and generate income.
The campaign places strong emphasis on university students, whom Dr. Okello described as strategic carriers of economic transformation.
She said she viewed them as future ambassadors of the doctrine who would naturally take Musevenomics to their home communities during holidays, enabling grassroots uptake across the country.
She stressed that the initiative was self-driven and not financed by any political entity, saying her commitment stemmed from a deep personal conviction in the doctrine’s effectiveness.
Among the standout trainees was Kabejja Dorcus, a medical student at Lira University, who said the programme opened her eyes to the critical role of skills, creativity, and innovation in navigating a competitive job market.
She said young people must invest in skill-based training to thrive even when formal jobs are scarce.
Ebenezer University’s Academic Registrar, Dr. Joseph Esiana, said the lecture aligned with the institution’s mission to build a culture of innovation and excellence.
He noted that more than a thousand students had acquired practical skills in creativity, innovation, and business incubation, adding that Musevenomics offered a viable pathway to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
He recommended that the programme become an annual event and that outstanding student innovations receive seed funding.
Dr. Okello said her objective was to inspire a generation that views economics not as theory but as a lifestyle built on discipline, skill, and humanity.
She argued that young Ugandans must transition from subsistence living to the money economy, adding that a proper understanding of Musevenomics would accelerate that shift.
The initiative is expected to roll out to additional universities and institutions across Uganda in the coming months, with plans to form a nationwide network of youth ambassadors for economic transformation.