REVIEWS

But as a student leader, just like any other leader, it brings with it risks, challenges, sacrifices besides the little benefits that might come with. In Understanding Student Leadership Allen K. Baguma and Alex R. Mujuni highlight the dynamics of student leadership, its challenges and prospects.

The book, dedicated to Yvonne Namaganda the late Budo Junior pupil and a selfless young leader who laid down her life in service of others, is a dissection of the subtle roles and responsibilities that student leaders confront.

Whether born or made, leaders work within four operational zones as the authors point out. ‘The Comfort Zone’ brings with it the hassle free responsibilities as far as leadership is concerned. Here, all things to a leader come or ride easy unlike ‘The Difficult Zone’ where hard, tasking and challenging roles abound.

Many a time, leaders are confronted with 'The Beyond Imagination' challenges. As this zone carries with it unimaginable risks, many leaders fear or shy away from taking risks as far as this leadership challenge is concerned.

Nevertheless, one must be an extremely daring leader in order for one to confront The Impossible task as far as the leadership role is concerned. “They use their God given potential to create a better place for others,” write the authors Allen and Alex.

A student leader will be confronted with all zones of circumstances within which they work towards becoming positively influential leaders.

But, in order for them to help in transforming communities, they should opt to operate within ‘The Beyond Imagination’ and That is Impossible Zone’. This is where attributes as sacrifice and risk taking on the part of leadership comes in. It is no wonder, the zone in which many leaders who had positive impact in society are fondly remembered for, just like Yvonne Namaganda who died a school inferno while trying to save her fellow pupils.

The authors, Allen and Alex tackle many pertinent issues as far as student leadership is concerned. They point out that student leaders should venture beyond the school community and explore the realities outside their schools. The most dynamic impact they can make in society at large is being part of the solutions to the problems in their communities.

Though, the book is written purposely on student leadership, ‘Understanding Student Leadership’ is significant to any other leader in any spectrum or capacity in society. It cuts across all leadership strata and any person who wishes to be a leader or who needs to know they dynamics of positively influential leadership will find it a good read.