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.
