Leading the Design Future: Action In Africa's Unwavering Commitment to Leadership and the Legacy of Lewis
The work of Action in Africa (AIA) is focused on providing critical resources such as education and healthcare, but what underscore our work is fostering sustainable, local leadership: turning participants into community drivers. AIA’s effort to educate, inspire, and empower people to become the next leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs in their country is rooted in the belief that true, lasting progress must be driven from within the community itself.
AIA integrates leadership development directly into its operations and community-suggested programs, including the Women-to-Women group, Adult English lessons, the After-School Program, and the Holiday Program. This model ensures that initiatives address local needs while cultivating leadership skills. A key component of this strategy is the deliberate hiring of our local Country Director, David Masiko, and reliance on the Ugandan team for consistent, on-the-ground leadership. This guarantees that the majority of goals, projects, and ideals are conceived and executed by the community members they are designed to serve. The goal is to develop transformational leaders characterized by humility, responsibility, and a commitment to reinvesting success locally.
The story of Lewis Bisaso Nakabaale serves as a powerful example of AIA’s leadership development in action. His journey reflects the organization’s mission to transform adversity into achievement through opportunity and mentorship. Lewis’s life demonstrates how AIA’s support fosters not only academic success but also humility, professional discipline, and a deep sense of civic responsibility, the hallmarks of a true community leader.
Upon graduation, Lewis was recognized as an Outstanding Leader.
“I have demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout my university career, culminating in significant achievements and initiatives that have left a lasting impact on both the university and the national level.”
Lewis is the Founder and First President of the IUEA Engineering Society.
“I established and led the primary body for all engineering students at the International University of East Africa (IUEA), setting a standard for other engineering organizations within the university and nationally,” he noted.
He also served as President of the Ugandan Students Community at IUEA, where he represented and led Ugandan students within a highly diverse community comprising more than 32 nationalities, promoting national unity and cultural exchange. Throughout his academic journey, Lewis was a dedicated Class Coordinator, ensuring effective communication and coordination among his peers from enrollment through graduation.
During his tenure in leadership roles, Lewis cultivated a strong sense of belonging, positive competition, and high-profile representation.
“I represented the university’s engineering students at prestigious national events, including the UNESCO Conference organized at Speke Resort Munyonyo, which was a great milestone to achieve,” he shared.
The Outstanding Leader Award recognized his vibrant, visible, and consistently front-running leadership qualities, setting a benchmark for his peers. Reflecting on his journey, Lewis said:
“My journey began with invaluable mentorship from Action in Africa, where I served as an ambassador. This experience was instrumental in shaping my initial leadership skills—teaching me the importance of respect, effective communication, and working with diverse individuals. These lessons encouraged me to prioritize leadership alongside academics. I firmly believe that true university success is a combination of academic excellence and tangible, impactful achievements, and in twenty years, I aspire to contest for the presidency of Uganda.”
Lewis also commended Vice Chancellor Emeka Akaezuwa, Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr. Lakshmi Bhabuu, Dean of Students Natasha Sonnet, and Dean of Engineering Abdulsalam Shema, PhD, MGBCN, for recognizing and validating his leadership at the university level.
Action in Africa has not only nurtured Lewis into leadership, but also individuals such as Shadia Nakayaga, our Scholarship Assistant, who served as Secretary of Female Affairs on the Local Council Youth Committee of Nakuwadde; George William Nsereko, our Communications Fellow, who served as Acting President of the Mass Communication Association at Kampala International University in 2022 and aspires to contest for Member of Parliament in the future; and Nabaale Sheilah, our Secondary Scholarship recipient, who served as Head Girl at Riverside High School Mbazzi—along with many other students serving in leadership roles.
Ultimately, Action in Africa’s focus on leadership is sustained by rejecting dependency-creating models and instead investing in the indigenous capacity of the Nakuwadde community. This approach ensures that the positive impact of our work continues long after any external involvement concludes. Lewis’s story is one of many that prove when local communities are empowered to lead, they rise to the challenge and become the architects of their own lasting transformation.
