A total of 1289 students have been awarded with degrees, diplomas and certificates of Team University on Friday during the 14th graduation function held at Pope Paul Memorial Kampala. Among the graduates 266 were from South Sudan while 42 were from the republic of Kenya.
David Ndindirize the chairperson board of trustees who also heads Marketing at the University said they decided to have two graduation functions in a year to enable growing number of graduates to have enough space for the function.
“We graduate approximately 2600 students annually who cannot fit on this ground together with their parents,” he said.
Ndindirize said in the next graduation they will be celebrating 25 years of existence. More females graduated with diplomas as more males graduated with degrees and masters.
A total of 353 females were awarded with diplomas compared to 272 males who got their diplomas 198 females were awarded with degrees compared to 223 males while 22 females were given Masters compared to 26males.
Prof. Tarsis Bazana Kabwegyere explained why few females graduate with degrees than males elaborating that they are always busy organising and feeding the family.
He gave the illustration of a cork, a hen and chicken. When you feed them the cork eats until the feed is over whereas as a hen eats once it gives to the young ones three more times as it ate. This is the reason why females don’t continue their studies in big numbers compared to males.
He said the worst disease a man suffers from is ignorance. Majority of Ugandans are dying because of ignorance, the search for knowledge should keep on if we are to reduce on ignorance
Kabwengyere was astonished to find out that in this era Uganda is leading in drunkenness in the whole of Africa and 5th in the whole world.
“Some people think it’s a big achievement to lead in drunkenness but remember a drunkard person is useless to the family, society and the nation which indicates backwardness of highest level,” he said.
Kabwengyere still wondered if all those drunkards that put Uganda in first position are not educated.
“When this government came in power in 1986 there was only one university producing very few graduates. Now we have 50 universities when we are being ranked first in alcohol taking which means most of the drunkards are educated but very ignorant,” he said.
In some countries like Japan and Cuba life expectancy is over 100 years see what is here a child of 60 years is old enough to die. He urged graduands to have thirsty for more education, those with masters go for PHDs because the more you know the more you discover.
He further urged the graduands to avoid being a problem to the society instead to be a problem solver.
“Let integrity be your first tool whenever you’re going to serve as product of Team University. Don’t be among those who promote corruption in the country,” he said.
He said he was very happy to be associated with Team University. Thanks to other countries especially South Sudan and Kenya for sending their children in big numbers to Team University.
Betty Namisango Kamya the Inspector General of Government who was the chief guest at the function told the general public that they are the ones nursing corruption in the country
“When your person dies in Mulago due to lack of medicine which the government bought but was stolen by big people, they will come to buy you a coffin and in return you praise them for helping you in a getting a decent burial forgetting that they are among those who contributed to your person’s death.
She said corruption should be a talk right away from primary to University level if we are to get out of this problem. She added that corruption is not only in government sector but has also penetrated in the private sector.
She urged Team university graduands to be change agents of corruption in their respective places.
The guest speaker, Kimutai Keitany the Principal Administrative secretary, Executive office of the president state house Kenya urged the governement of Uganda to teach children Swahili which should become national language.
“In Kenya everyone knows Swahili and even teaching weather Mathematics or biology are taught in Swahili which enables learners to master on what is taught,” he said.
He urged graduands to avoid taking step behind instead of going forward.
“You dont need to go bacķ to Ntungamo or Mbarara since you’re in Centre you can take step going to Ķenya, Tañzania or any other country but not going back home,” he advised.
