Kyambogo University Students had a day to remember as Heart to Harvest Lecture Series supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) hosted a series of economic empowerment talk.
The University came alive with energy, laughter, ideas, and deep reflection during the latest Heart to Harvest Lecture Series as hundreds of students gathered for a youth economic empowerment conversation supported by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its continued commitment to youth development and sustainable livelihoods.
For a few hours, lecture halls stopped sounding like ordinary classrooms and started sounding like strategy rooms for rebuilding mindsets, confidence, and economic direction among young people.
Students listened with rare attentiveness. Phones transformed from scrolling machines into note-taking devices. Even students usually seated quietly at the back participated actively in discussions, questions, and responses. Students with disabilities, including Honest, also fully engaged throughout the session, reinforcing the day’s message that potential, innovation, and productivity belong to everyone.
Representing the UNDP Resident Representative, Mrs. Nwanne Vwede Obahor, Ms Annette Mbabulungi emphasized the importance of hard work, discipline, consistency, and intentional growth among young people.
She encouraged students to take ownership of their futures and use available opportunities, knowledge, and skills to improve their livelihoods and communities.
The keynote lecture was delivered by CEO of Triumph Women Uganda, Dr. Okello Sharon Nagenjwa, founder of the Heart to Harvest Lecture Series, under the theme “How To Make Money Without Money.”
In a highly interactive and humorous session, Dr. Sharon broke down practical principles of self-activation, value creation, productivity, innovation, and resilience, encouraging students to stop seeing themselves as helpless job seekers and begin recognizing themselves as productive assets capable of generating economic value.
At one point, the room burst into laughter as she explained that two people can own the exact same smartphone, yet one uses it to build income while another uses it only for gossip and stalking people’s WhatsApp statuses like a government surveillance project with no salary attached.
“The problem is not always lack of resources,” she explained. “Sometimes it is underutilized potential.”
The lecture challenged students to rethink wealth creation through creativity, discipline, communication, problem-solving, and strategic use of available resources.
Mr. Sedrick Otolo also shared his personal story of overcoming challenges and rising through difficult circumstances, inspiring students to remain resilient and focused despite adversity.
The Heart to Harvest Lecture Series continues growing into a powerful youth empowerment platform where economic development conversations are translated into relatable, practical, and human-centered language young people can understand and apply immediately.
By the end of the session, the atmosphere carried one clear message across the room: Young people are not empty. They are untapped value waiting for activation.
