MTN Uganda, as part of its MTN Changemakers initiative, has announced a significant contribution to the fight against substance abuse and addiction at Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest institution of higher learning.
The telecommunications giant is supporting Primetime Students Development Services Ltd (PSDS)
with a support valued at UGX 19.8 million. This contribution includes a state-of-the-art public address
system and assorted tools aimed at enhancing PSDS’s efforts in curbing drug abuse through
innovative edutainment methods.
PSDS, initiated by Pr. Martin Ssempa in 2020, stands at the forefront of addressing critical student
issues at Makerere University, including drug addiction, through edutainment. The “Speak Out, Save
a Life” campaign is one of the pivotal strategies employed by PSDS to demystify and tackle the
challenges of substance abuse among students.
MTN Uganda’s support aligns with its Ambition 2025 strategy, focusing on the sustainability and
health of the populations it serves. This contribution is set to offset the significant costs previously
incurred by PSDS, amounting to UGX 1.5 million weekly, for their impactful Saturday events at the
university. By alleviating these financial burdens, MTN Uganda is enabling PSDS to concentrate more
on its core mission—cultivating a healthy, informed, and drug-free student body.
Simon Avutia, the Chief Community Officer at MTN Uganda in Kampala, expressed his enthusiasm
about the partnership, stating, “Our involvement with PSDS and the broader Makerere University
community reflects MTN’s deep commitment to the well-being of Ugandans. Through the MTN
Changemakers initiative, we seek to empower organisations like PSDS that are making a real
difference on the ground. This project is a shining example of how strategic support and collaboration
can foster a more sustainable, healthy future for our youth.”
“This support forms part of MTN Uganda’s broader commitment to contributing positively to the
communities in which it operates. By leveraging its resources, technology, and platform, MTN is
dedicated to supporting health, education, and economic empowerment across Uganda.”
PSDS’s work, powered by this generous support, promises to bring about a significant reduction in
drug abuse and addiction at Makerere University. The project not only aims to rehabilitate those
affected by substance abuse but also to prevent the onset of such issues in students, through
engaging and relatable mediums like edutainment.
Primetime Students Development Services Ltd Founder, Pr. Martin Ssemp, applauded MTN Uganda
for the support.
“This equipment significantly lowers our weekly expenditures on the public address system, allowing
us to redirect our resources toward other impactful initiatives. This strategic allocation of funds will
further empower us to achieve our overarching goals,” he said.
Makerere University has more than 40,000 students. MTN Uganda’s philanthropic arm, MTN
Foundation has earmarked UGX 500 million for 25 selected projects across the nation, spanning
economic empowerment, education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene.
This initiative is part of a broader commitment to invest in the nation’s future, targeting youth, women,
persons with disabilities, and rural communities across five regions of Uganda.
Over the last decade, the MTN Foundation has dedicated UGX 30 billion towards more than 250
projects in education, health, youth empowerment, water, sanitation and hygiene, and humanitarian
response significantly impacting communities nationwide and cementing its position as a catalyst for positive change and development in Uganda.