A defining moment arose during my tenure as a Senior Trade Officer. I was coordinating Uganda’s Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Affairs. During this time, I was asked to lead a delegation to a high-profile technical meeting. At the time, I still considered myself young. I compared myself to the seasoned voices I had watched represent their countries with such confidence.

In that moment, the weight of national representation settled on my shoulders. It felt like a mantle I wasn’t sure I was ready to wear. Yet, what amazed me wasn’t just that I was technically prepared. Our team had worked diligently to develop Uganda’s position paper, of which I had absorbed every detail. It was the strength I discovered in quiet, simple, intimate moments with the giver of wisdom and courage. These moments grounded me more than any written brief.

I had studied the technicalities thoroughly. I had learned from mentors and superiors I deeply admired. But what this experience demanded went beyond training. It required me to draw from inner conviction. In the meeting room, I wasn’t just Elizabeth speaking. I was representing the voice of over 45 million Ugandans. That representation had to be marked by unwavering integrity. Even when others softened their stance or backed down, I remained firm. I channeled the steadfast leadership I had observed in my boss, Mr. Steven Kamukama.

Never Truly Alone

The three day meeting was both intense and intriguing. When a position is entrusted to you, it comes with demands, privileges, and lessons in equal measure. I discovered something profound: People seek for you because of what you carry. In that meeting, I carried the title Head of Delegation. This meant that any country seeking Uganda’s backing needed to speak with me, Elizabeth, the Head of Delegation. The title, short-lived as it was, opened doors and commanded attention.

The Heart Behind the Title

Deeper reflection taught me an important lesson. What we carry will only truly help others if our hearts are aligned with God’s purpose. A title on its own doesn’t create a lasting impact. The title doesn’t make a difference. You make the difference. I make the difference through how we steward the titles entrusted to us.

Every role, every platform, every title is a sacred assignment. The world measures influence by positions held, but God measures it by His purpose fulfilled. As we carry these titles, let us remember that they are simply vessels. It is the heart behind the role surrendered to God that turns influence into genuine impact.

The Ultimate Question

The question isn’t about what title you hold. Instead, it’s about how you are using it. Are you serving God’s purpose in the lives it touches?

When we understand that our positions are platforms for divine purpose, we stop seeking titles for their own sake. We start stewarding them as sacred trusts. In that COMESA meeting room, I learned that true authority comes not from the badge we wear. It comes from the conviction we carry. It comes from the purpose that drives us ahead. The moments that test us often teach us who we really are. They also teach us whose we really are. I am for Jesus. What about you?

Elizabeth R.A. Kiguli