Jinja College Partners with Busoga Kingdom to Mentor the Boy Child
During a meeting with the Kyabazinga of Busoga, His Royal Highness William Gabula Nadiope IV, held at his palace in Jinja City, the school administrators and old boys of Jinja College expressed concern that while much effort has been directed toward empowering girls, boys are increasingly left without structured guidance and mentorship.
Jinja College has partnered with the Busoga Kingdom to pioneer boy-child mentorship programs across the Busoga sub-region, aiming to address growing concerns about the neglect of boys in character-building initiatives. During a meeting with the Kyabazinga of Busoga, His Royal Highness William Gabula Nadiope IV, held at his palace in Jinja City, the school administrators and old boys of Jinja College expressed concern that while much effort has been directed toward empowering girls, boys are increasingly left without structured guidance and mentorship.
The school’s headteacher, Mr. Michael Dhikusoka, who led the delegation, said the institution is developing a concept paper to guide the implementation of mentorship camps focused on shaping boys into responsible, morally upright men. As a boys-only school, Jinja College is offering its facilities and network of mentors to host the camps. “Such camps are crucial in steering boys away from immorality and guiding them to become holistic individuals—academically sound, culturally rooted, and equipped with life skills to navigate the world,” Dhikusoka said.
He added that the initiative aligns with the Kyabazinga’s campaign, “Abasadha Nhe’ Mpango” (Men Are the Pillars), which calls on men to take the lead in family wellbeing and combating teenage pregnancies. “Most stable homes are built on the leadership of foresighted men. Training boys today ensures we secure responsible husbands and fathers for tomorrow,” Dhikusoka emphasized.
Yunus Masaba, president of the Jinja College Old Boys Association (JICOBA), applauded the Kyabazinga for leading by example, particularly in his academic pursuit of a PhD, which he said inspires youth to strive for excellence. Masaba pledged JICOBA’s commitment to offering free mentorship sessions across Busoga.
“We want to raise a generation of hardworking, present, and intentional fathers who will steer both their families and the nation,” he said. He also observed that while many girls are growing up empowered and well-mentored, they struggle to find equally grounded male partners—a gap this initiative aims to bridge.
In response, the Kyabazinga praised Jinja College’s longstanding role in mentoring responsible citizens and welcomed the partnership as a timely intervention. “As Obwa’Kyabazinga Bwa’Busoga, we are pleased to support this pilot project at Jinja College. With 70% of our population below 35, mentorship programs are crucial for guiding future generations,” he said.
The pilot program at Jinja College is expected to serve as a model for similar mentorship initiatives in schools across the Busoga Kingdom.
