By Victor Turinawe
Mentees under the Uganda Christian University (UCU)-Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) mentorship programme have called on their mentors to uphold high levels of confidentiality and privacy when handling personal information shared during the mentorship sessions.
The 2026 UCU-FAWE mentorship class, comprising 41 first-year students from various schools and faculties of the university, is undergoing mentorship under the theme “Mentorship for Academic Excellence.” The programme is being conducted under the guidance of mentors Doreen Kukugiza, Dickson Tumuramye and Josephine Namyalo Mawerere.
During a group work presentation at the launch of the programme, the mentees emphasised that they expected their mentors to offer practical guidance and maintain confidentiality rather than simply act as motivational speakers.
“We expect you, our mentors, not to be motivational speakers. We expect you to portray a high level of privacy. If we share our situations with you, you should not use them as examples in other mentorship classes you conduct elsewhere,” the mentees said.
Responding to the concerns, Kukugiza assured the students that the mentors were committed to protecting their privacy and maintaining confidentiality throughout the programme.
She explained that maintaining confidentiality was part of her professional responsibility, adding that mentees would be informed before any of their information was shared with another person, particularly when additional support was necessary.
“It’s my professional duty to keep everyone safe and to alert you before sharing any of your information in case I feel there is extra help I think you should get from someone else, which I cannot give personally,” Kukugiza said.
Speaking during the mentorship engagement, Tumuramye urged the students to embrace mentorship as a continuous journey rather than a one-day activity, noting that it involves learning, sharing experiences and building relationships that can extend beyond university.
He observed that some mentees might wish to maintain relationships with their mentors even after completing their studies, emphasising that mentorship has no definite endpoint.
“Mentorship does not start today and end in the evening. It starts today and continues tomorrow. It is not a one-day thing; it is a process. Some of you may leave campus but still want us to remain your mentors. There is no endpoint to mentorship; it is a journey,” he said.
Meanwhile, Namyalo encouraged the mentees to recognise their worth, believe in their abilities and appreciate the opportunities they have received through education.
Quoting Ephesians 2:10, which describes Christians as God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, she reminded the students that they had a purpose and a responsibility to make a positive difference in society.
She challenged them to reflect on the impact they hoped to make after graduating from UCU, urging them to consider how their presence at the university would influence the lives of others.
“What difference will the world notice because you are here? What will people say about you when you leave here?” Namyalo asked.
She further emphasised that students should not allow their backgrounds or past experiences to limit their ambitions, encouraging them to recognise their abilities, speak confidently and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
“Your background does not define you. Let your past not define your future. You deserve to be seen, to be heard and to be supported,” she said.
The 41 mentees will participate in both individual and group mentorship sessions throughout the programme, which seeks to support their academic, personal and professional development.
