Kampala — Former Vice Chancellor of Ndejje University and Executive Director of the Uganda Vice Chancellors’ Forum, Prof. Eriabu Lugujjo, has called for calm and a rethinking of how stress is understood in society, warning that modern pressures—especially in education—are taking a toll on both staff and students.
Speaking at the 6th Annual Prof. Senteza Kajubi Fulbright Memorial Lecture 2026 held at Makerere University, Prof. Lugujjo said stress has become widespread but urged people not to let it dominate their lives.
“When I look around, everyone is stressed. Why are people stressed?” he said. “People need to learn to calm down. The world will still be here tomorrow even if you are stressed.”
His remarks come amid growing concern about mental health challenges in Uganda’s universities, where lecturers and students are often under pressure from heavy workloads, academic expectations, and limited institutional support.
Stress in universities
Prof. Lugujjo linked much of the stress to systemic challenges in higher education, particularly among lecturers.
“We have lost about 20 lecturers out of work stress,” he noted in earlier remarks referenced during the discussion. “We are stressed because of high load of academic work. We will not joke with our health any more.”
He said universities are increasingly operating under conditions that strain both staff and students, including large class sizes, administrative demands, and pressure to produce results under tight resource constraints.
Education system under pressure
Drawing on reflections about education reform and the legacy of educationist Prof. Senteza Kajubi, Lugujjo said the current system often places excessive emphasis on performance and examinations.
He warned that such pressures are contributing to anxiety and burnout across the education sector. “We encouraged vocationalisation because we did not want graduates who are helpless or disconnected from their environment,” he said. “A graduate should be able to adapt and contribute in different ways.”
He added that education should go beyond grades and focus on building adaptable, confident learners.
Revisiting Kajubi’s vision
Prof. Lugujjo also reflected on the educational philosophy of the late Prof. Senteza Kajubi, describing it as a framework that remains relevant in addressing today’s stress-related challenges.
Kajubi’s vision, he explained, was built around five pillars: learning to know, learning to do, learning to be, learning to learn, and learning to live together.
“Education should produce confident, knowledgeable, skilled, adaptable, and socially responsible individuals,” he said.
He emphasised that modern learners should be encouraged to engage more deeply with knowledge rather than relying passively on prepared materials.
“I am a bit disappointed by the trend where students rely heavily on PowerPoint presentations,” he noted. “If we want to produce researchers and critical thinkers, students must actively look for knowledge.”
Call for balance and resilience
Prof. Lugujjo concluded by urging a cultural shift toward emotional balance and resilience, saying stress should not be normalised as a permanent condition.
“Even today, many people are stressed and lack inner peace,” he said. “Education should also build emotional balance and social harmony.”
His message comes at a time when universities across Uganda continue to grapple with workload pressures, staff welfare concerns, and debates about education reform aimed at improving both academic outcomes and wellbeing.
