On October 30, 2025, Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, Vice Chancellor of African Rural University (ARU) and a Senior Ashoka Fellow, delivered thought-provoking insights at the Ashoka Workshop centered on ” 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭” at Kabira Country Club, Kampala. His address focused on repositioning social entrepreneurship within a traditional African context, emphasizing deep-seated values and the transformative Visionary Approach employed by ARU and its founding organization, the Uganda Rural Development and Training Program (URDT).

The Foundational African Context of Social Entrepreneurship
In his remarks ,​Dr. Musheshe challenged the notion that social entrepreneurship is a new concept, asserting that it has always been the “way of life” in African societies. He argued that communities were naturally structured for collective growth, self-reliance, and survival through shared visions and commitment. This innate collective spirit and the drive to innovate for communal well-being form the historical and cultural basis for truly sustainable social ventures.

Key messages from Dr Mwalimu Musheshe’s Submission at the Ashoka Gathering
​During this engagement, Dr. Musheshe’s address centered on how Ashoka Fellows should focus on the following key areas for long-term sustainability
​ Prioritizing Purpose and Values over Financial Acquisition
​For a social enterprise to achieve long-term sustainability, Dr. Musheshe stressed that its motivation must be driven by a “higher purpose” and strong values, not by financial acquisition. He stated the modern obsession with constantly asking, “Where do you get the money from?” as a dangerous distortion. Money, he argued, is secondary—a mere tool that follows when a strong vision and higher purpose are firmly established.

​ Authentic Design Ensuring their strategies are generative and authentic to their original, visionary design, rather than being reactive to external funding dictates.

​Using the authentic design of URDT and ARU ‘s visionary approach model, Dr. Musheshe tasked all Ashoka Fellows to prioritize Authenticity over Reactive Bandwagoning by following their original carefully designed organisation visions and mission.

​ Values as Collateral Building ventures on an unshakeable foundation of integrity and trust, where a strong reputation replaces traditional economic collateral.He listed the five core resources in this value system:integrity,​Dignity,​Transparency &Accountability,​Friendship
and ​Love
​ Collective Approach Working with systems where the principle of fairness and shared vision drives decisions, moving away from the “winner takes it all” mindset.
About the workshop

​The workshop titled “Sustaining Impact Through Innovation: Advancing Social Entrepreneurship for Systemic Resilience and Long-Term Impact,” was a high-level Strategy Lab and dialogue session. It was organized by Ashoka East Africa in collaboration with the Philanthropy Forum Uganda
​The Core Theme was Rethinking Organizational Sustainability—specifically, shifting institutions from a reliance on external funding (grant dependency) to systemic resilience achieved through innovation and enterprise. The event attracted a select, cross-sectoral group, including Ashoka Fellows, Civil Society leaders, Policymakers, Philanthropic actors, and Private Sector representatives, all focused on establishing strategies for merging mission with margin and building organizations that are thriving through enterprise.