August 11, 2025, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) welcomed the Senior Five Biology class from Uganda Martyrs Secondary School, Namugongo. This inspiring career guidance event was organized by the school’s alumni (both students and staff) and parents currently at MUST. The visit aimed to broaden the students’ understanding of academic pathways and motivate them to strive for excellence.
The delegation was received by a team led by Dr. Esther Mugyenyi, a MUST staff member and a parent at Uganda Martyrs SS. She encouraged the students to “aspire to become the best version of yourself” through goal-setting, hard work, and personal discipline.
She share the her 10 key guidelines to help the students be the best version of themselves and they are as:
- Believe in Yourself: Self-belief is the foundation of greatness. Trust in your abilities, even when others doubt you. Remember, every successful person started with a belief that they could do it.
- Set Clear Goals: Know what you want to achieve. Whether it’s excelling in your exams, becoming a good leader, or helping others, having clear goals keeps you focused and motivated.
- Seek support from friends, teachers, parents. Every parent and teacher is rooting for you and your wellbeing. Do not wait for the perfect moment to ask. Asking for help and support is not weakness
- Work Hard and Stay Disciplined: Success doesn’t come overnight. It requires dedication, hard work, and discipline. Be consistent in your efforts, and don’t shy away from putting in the necessary work.
- Make choices and take actions that reflect and align your core values. If you value Honesty (telling the truth, returning items to their rightful owners rather than keeping them), Respect (do you value other peoples opinions, treat others equally regardless of their background, listening attentively when others are speaking?), Responsibility (completing your housework/homework in time…avoiding time wasting on snap chats because you value your education, Compassion (helping a classmate that is struggling with studies or personal issues, volunteering in community), Hard work and perseverance (continue to practice those maths calculations for self improvement, Integrity (stand up against unfair treatment/bullying, doing the right thing even when no one is watching, kindness (encouraging one is feeling down, sharing resources/time with those in need
What do you do when no one is watching? Does it reflect your aspirations & character?
- Learn from Failures/mistakes: Failures are not the end; they are opportunities to learn and grow. When you stumble, analyze what went wrong and use that knowledge to do better next time. acknowledge your progress. Recognize and appreciate your achievements, no matter how small.
- Be Kind and Respectful: Aspiring to be the best is not just about personal gains. It’s also about being a good person — showing kindness, respect, and integrity in all your dealings.
- Embrace Continuous Learning: Always seek knowledge beyond the classroom. Read, ask questions, and be curious. The world is full of opportunities for those eager to learn.
- Reflect, take accountability and Adjust: Regularly get a me time, reflect, assess your progress, make adjustments to your plan or focus eg time table for reading a hard subject, sports time, and continue learning/working towards your growth
- Stay Positive and Resilient: Challenges are part of life. Maintain a positive attitude and resilience. Strive to see the best in people. Remember, every difficulty is an opportunity to grow stronger. Learn from your setbacks, adapt to challenges, remain positive!
Addressing the visitors, Prof. Joseph Ngonzi, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, introduced the programs offered by the faculty, outlining the qualifications and requirements for admission. He urged the students to discover their purpose early, remain authentic, and stay focused despite challenges. He challenge the students about the ability to balance the scale in life so as to be successful. He Challenged them with key questions like : How can I make it in the sea of many choices? What resources are within my means to succeed? He pointed out that the world today is looking for problem solvers NOT sympathy seekers and tasked the students to take on the world with determination
The visit’s highlight was an address by Vice Chancellor Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika. She warmly welcomed the students, applauded the Uganda Martyrs SS Namugongo Alumni Association at MUST for their initiative, and shared the university’s rich history. Prof. Byakika also narrated her academic journey from Primary One to earning a PhD, explaining what she studied, her profession, and the path that led her to become the Professor of Internal Medicine she is today. She guided the students on the diverse professions in the field of medicine, advising them to make informed career choices by consulting experienced professionals for firsthand insights.
Prof. Byakika further encouraged the students to live with purpose, maintain healthy lifestyles, and avoid destructive behaviors such as alcoholism, drug abuse, and sexual immorality. She concluded by wishing them success in their studies and expressed hope to welcome them back to MUST as future students during orientation. She encouraged the students to pray about anything they want to achieve in life, give their best in all that they do, and that they should be fine when failure comes their way. “what matters in life is not how many times you fail but rather how many times you get up.” Chase your goal in life and have a purpose is the other emphasis she made.
Dr. Dickson Kalungi, a representative from the Academic Registrar’s office, spoke about career growth and development. He shared information on the available programs at MUST, their career paths, and scholarship opportunities. His session created a lot of engagement among the students.
A heartfelt vote of thanks was given by Mr. Alex Nakibinge, Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences at Uganda Martyrs Secondary School, Namugongo. He expressed his deep appreciation to Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) for their exceptional hospitality.
Mr. Nakibinge particularly thanked the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika, for taking time out of her busy schedule to personally welcome and speak with the students. He also extended his gratitude to the deans and the entire university administration for their warm reception.
Finally, he offered a special acknowledgment to Dr. Esther Mugyenyi, a MUST staff member and parent at their school, along with other parents, for their dedicated efforts in ensuring the welfare of the entire visiting team throughout their stay.
