Empowering Leadership
Through Education:
How Future Generations University Influenced Jackson
Sseryazi’s Mandela Washington Fellowship Journey”
In many communities, waste management is only considered when it becomes a community-wide problem. Jackson, as sanitation supervisor in Kampala, has long understood waste management requires proactive planning and community involvement. Jackson’s vision, however, extends beyond sanitation; he is deeply passionate about education and empowering the marginalized. His journey as a Mandela Washington Fellow, combined with knowledge gained from his master’s from Future Generations University, has enabled him to integrate these interests into a cohesive strategy for community development.
Jackson’s commitment to education runs deep. Outside of his professional duties, he participated in the YALI RLC East Africa program at Kenyatta University in 2020 under the Business and Entrepreneurship Management track. He served as events chairperson for the YALI Chapter of Uganda Committee for two years until 2023. In recognition of his service, the U.S. Embassy in Kampala nominated him in February 2023 to serve on the U.S. Exchange Alumni Network Uganda Council, where he currently holds the position of Events and Outreach Coordinator. Through this role, he was first exposed to the Mandela Washington Fellowship. Jackson’s friends who’d received this auspicious fellowship inspired him and motivated him to apply. On his fourth application attempt, Jackson was selected as Mandela Washington Fellow in 2024, a testament to his perseverance and dedication.
His determination was driven by a desire to bring innovative solutions back to Uganda. Knowing that education is a critical tool for lifting communities out of poverty and having overcome significant obstacles to access education himself, Jackson now helps marginalized families secure scholarships for their children to continue their primary and secondary education. To date, he has successfully supported five children to return to school.
Since starting the master’s program in 2023, Jackson has already seen its impact resonate through his work in the Nateete Market where he oversees sanitation standards for low-income earners and marginalized communities. He successfully gathered five partners to collaborate to improve health, sanitation, finances, and green spaces in these communities. His selection as a Mandela Washington Fellow marked a turning point in his journey, broadening his perspective on leadership and the role of education in community development.
Throughout the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Jackson frequently shared the lessons and strategies he learned from the Future Generations University master’s program, particularly the SEED-SCALE approach. His peers, representing 17 different African countries, drew inspiration from his work and began to see him as a leader in community-driven development. This recognition has fueled Jackson’s commitment to integrating education into his leadership vision. He believes that by educating communities about waste management and empowering children through education, he can create a ripple effect of positive change that will uplift the most vulnerable populations in Uganda.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship has had a profound impact on Jackson’s leadership skills and vision for the future. “The Fellowship improved my public speaking skills and allowed me to collaborate with other bright minds across Africa,” Jackson reflects. “It helped me form a clearer vision for leadership in Uganda.” His experiences during the Fellowship have not only enhanced his ability to communicate effectively but have also solidified his commitment to driving sustainable change in his community, as mobilized through the Future Generations University master’s program.
Jackson Sseryazi’s journey from the slums of Kampala to the Mandela Washington Fellowship is a testament to the transformative power of education and proactive leadership. By combining the practical knowledge gained from the Future Generations University master’s program with the global insights and networks provided by the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Jackson is well-equipped to lead initiatives that address both waste management and educational disparities in Uganda. His story serves as an inspiration to others who aspire to make a lasting impact in their communities, demonstrating that with perseverance, knowledge, and the right opportunities, anything is possible.
