Deputy Chief Justice Tips Ugandans on Overcoming Public Speaking Fear

What the report says

Uganda’s Deputy Chief Justice Moses Kazibwe Kawumi has called on Ugandans, especially young people, to build confidence in public speaking and effective communication, saying these skills are important for leadership, personal growth and public participation. He made the remarks at Makerere University during the launch of Voice Command, a book by communication coach and former Judiciary staff member Apuuli Babigumira, alongside the Mambo Talks Africa initiative.

According to Nile Post, Kawumi praised the projects as efforts to address communication gaps and help people overcome fear when speaking before audiences. He said stronger communication can help develop ideas, inspire communities and broaden the reach of African voices. He also linked public speaking to responsible leadership and national transformation.

Babigumira used the launch to share his own experience of struggling with confidence in school and later developing his speaking skills through practice and engagement in university activities. He said that process shaped his career in communication, public sensitisation and youth leadership. He encouraged people not to let fear, criticism or past setbacks stop them from speaking up, arguing that silence can leave important debates and decisions to less informed voices.

The event also featured testimonies from people who said they had benefited from his training programmes. In a broader sense, the report reflects a familiar theme in Uganda and elsewhere in Africa: communication skills are increasingly viewed as useful for education, civic participation and professional advancement.