Samuel Kisakye2026-10-072026-10-072026-07-22https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11951/2321This study investigates the spiritual decline among undergraduate students at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda which is one of Africa's oldest and most prestigious Universities. Against the backdrop that Uganda is a deeply religious society, where 85% of youth identify with faith traditions, this research addresses a growing concern over diminishing spiritual engagement among university students, with chaplaincy reports indicating a 40% drop in spiritual participation by students' third year. These were previously spiritually active students. Employing a mixed methods research design, the study engaged 83 participants comprising undergraduate students (n=70), lecturers (n=5), and Christian/spiritual leaders (n=8) through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Thematic analysis of the data revealed seven principal factors contributing to spiritual decline: academic pressure (53% of students), technological distraction (49% of students; 88% of spiritual leaders), social influence and peer pressure, exposure to secular worldviews (100% of spiritual leaders), university freedom and self-discipline challenges (75% of spiritual leaders), perceived institutional support limitations, and reduced spiritual commitment. Notably, while 86% of students affirmed spirituality's emotional and moral value, only 29% integrated it into their academic decisions, suggesting a compartmentalization of faith. Lecturers and spiritual leaders looked at spirituality holistically as a formative force influencing character, academic performance, mental health, and leadership capacity. The study identified structured mentorship and discipleship programs as the most strongly endorsed intervention (84% of students; 100% of lecturers and spiritual leaders), including offering more flexible spiritual activities, encouraging the university and faith organizations to work together, incorporating ethics and values into academic courses, and making smart use of digital platforms to reach students where they already are. These findings contribute to the emerging conversation about spirituality in African universities, while challenging the view that spiritual formation is outside the university's responsibility. The study offers practical recommendations: structured mentorship opportunities, flexible programming of spiritual activities, stronger university and faith groups partnerships, and thoughtful use of digital tools. Future research should follow students over time to understand how their spiritual engagement changes, and should extend this work to other universities to see whether these findings hold beyond the Makerere context.enDissertation