Israel Y.K. Lubogo, a Senior Five Arts student at King’s College Budo, has been named the winner of the Rising Star Award at the SMEGAfrica Excellence Awards 2026.
Lubogo’s award was received on his behalf by the outgoing Head Prefect of King’s College Budo, Kato, during the 2nd Annual International Scholar Media Africa Conference, held from August 5 to 7, 2026, at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
The award recognises Lubogo’s work in academic writing, authorship and youth leadership, placing him among a growing number of young Ugandan scholars gaining recognition beyond the country.
Lubogo’s academic journey has been marked by strong performance and an early interest in research and writing.
During the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he skipped two classes, moving from Primary Five at Budo Junior School to Primary Seven at Mwiri Primary School. He subsequently sat the Primary Leaving Examinations and obtained a Super First Grade.
He later joined King’s College Budo, where he completed his Ordinary Level education and is currently pursuing Senior Five Arts.
Despite still being in secondary school, Lubogo has contributed to several published books covering leadership, history, law, culture and racial identity.
Among his works is Servant Leadership: Where Faith Lit the Way, published in 2025 and co-authored with Stephen Mutiibwa Kato. The book explores leadership as a form of service based on humility, responsibility and character. It has also been catalogued in the Makerere University Institutional Repository.
Lubogo has also contributed to A Right to Protect Indigenous Languages: A Threat Against Extinction, which examines the importance of protecting indigenous African languages as a way of preserving culture and identity.
His interest in history is reflected in The History of Busoga: Advanced Level (UACE) Edition, co-authored with Isaac Christopher Lubogo and Jireh Isaac Lubogo. The book is designed to support the teaching and study of Busoga history among secondary school students.
His academic work has also reached international audiences. He is among the contributors to The Lawyer of the Future, which has been published in translated editions, including German, Spanish and Italian. The work examines the changing role of lawyers in an era increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence and digital technology.
The recognition adds to Lubogo’s earlier achievements in creative writing and scholarly engagement.
Speaking after the announcement, Lubogo said the award was a reminder that young Africans can contribute to society through knowledge, creativity, discipline and service.
The recognition also highlights the role of schools such as King’s College Budo in nurturing young people with interests beyond conventional classroom learning.
Established in 1906, King’s College Budo has a long history of producing Ugandan leaders, academics and writers. Lubogo’s achievement adds to that tradition while highlighting the growing participation of young African scholars in academic and public discourse.
His SMEGAfrica Rising Star Award therefore marks not only a personal achievement but also recognition of the potential of young Ugandans to contribute to scholarship and intellectual development on the African and international stage.
