On Friday, September 1st, 2023, the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) Convocation held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) where it elected members of the new executive committee.
Dr. Merdard Bitekyerezo was voted in as the new Chairperson and Mr. Solomon Agum as the Vice Chairperson. Other members of the executive elected were Mr. Yoas Ainamazima as the Treasurer and Mr. John Bosco Tumuhimbise as the Publicity Secretary.
The following were elected regional representatives;
Central Region: Ms. Mary Namukisa and Ms. Grace Kimbuggwe (unopposed)
Northern Region: Ms. Dorcus Achen and Dr. Muhangi Richard Opio (unopposed )
Western region: Ms. Mellon Ainembabazi and Capt. Johnson Kwiringira
Eastern region: Mr. Simba Maleka Emmanuel and Mr. Genesis Atukunda Masaba
Dr. Medard Bitekyerezo Chairperson Elect
Dr. Medard Bitekyerezo also known as Biteks was at MUST for both Bachelors’ and Master’s degrees.
This was in 1999 for the Bachelor’s degree and 2005 for the Masters. He was appointed as an Assistant lecturer from 2000 to 2005 and later rose to the rank of a Lecturer from 2005 to 2010 when he left for politics.
As the Member of Parliament of Mbarara Municipality 2011- 2016. Biteks has held a number of positions but the outstanding ones are:
July 2023 – date, he was appointed as the Vice chairman of PTA St. Mary’s College Kisubi also known as SMACK. Dr. Bitekyerezo is at the Frontline of fundraising for the construction of the S. 1 students’ accommodation facility. He has so far raised 730 million UGX and 2,500 bags of cement from SMACK parents.
2022-date, he was appointed the Chairman of Mbarara High School Old Boy’s Association. He mobilized the old boys of Mbarara High School to raise 2 billion UGX to construct a 3-storeyed dormitory that will accommodate appropriately 300 students and was commissioned by the 1st Lady / Minister of Education and Sports Hon Maama Janet Museveni.
From January 2017 to date, Dr. Bitekyerezo has been the Chairman National Drug Authority Uganda (NDA). He Streamlined the human resource manual and refined the NDA organogram to ease governance and monitoring of appropriate service delivery at NDA.
He established the NDA 5-year strategic plan, constructed the NDA laboratory tower, and instituted good corporate governance and leadership in the institution. As John Zenger once said, “Great leaders are not defined by the absence of weakness, but rather by the presence of clear strengths.” We trust that Dr. Medard has all it takes to change the face of the MUST convocation, continue with the projects of the previous executive, and increase MUST’s visibility through networks.
Mr. Solomon Agum – Vice Chairperson Elect
Mr. Agum pursued a Bachelor of Computer Science in MUST from 2006 – 2009. He later returned to MUST and enrolled for a Master of Science in Information Systems from 2014 to 2017. He joined MUST as an IT Officer in 2012 and now serves as the Assistant Registrar responsible for Admissions, Records, and Alumni Engagement. Solomon currently serves as the Vice Chairman of MUST Senior Administrators’ Forum, an association that brings together all MUST senior administrators.
He previously served as the Publicity Secretary of MUST Convocation from 2019 to 2023 where he worked tirelessly to give MUST Convocation a media presence. He was at the forefront of the Annual MUST Convocation Excellence awards given to the best undergraduate graduands during the graduation ceremony.
His calm demeanor, eloquence, and oratory skills have positioned him as a great master of ceremonies. A committed leader with a huge passion for giving back, one of his favorite quotes is from Samar Mubarakmand, “Wherever you go and whatever ends you pursue, you must always fulfill the trust reposed in you by your nation, your parents and your alma mater”.
Mr. Yoas Ainamazima Treasurer
Mr. Yoas pursued a Bachelor of Computer Engineering from 2008 – 2012. He has held positions of responsibility as below:
2012 – to date: Founder & Managing Director-Codinex Computers Ltd
2019; Volunteer-MUST-FAST; Robotics & Artificial Intelligence
Others
March 2023 – to date: church warden, St. Paul’s Katete Church of Uganda
2018 – to date: Treasurer, THE KTC Trusteds Association
2019 – to date; Chairman, Elites Togetherness group (ETA)
2021 – to date: Treasurer, Mbarara ICT Specialists Association (MISA)
2021 – to date; Chairman, Kimbusa Power Team Association (KPTA)
2021 – to date; Investments Team Leader, Smart Elites Development Association (SEDA)
June – August 2023; Leader of Constitution review committee, Katete Unique Families Association
Publicity Secretary Johnbosco Tumuhimbise
Johnbosco Tumuhimbise popularly known as Concord joined Mbarara University as a student in 2009 and graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, specializing in Marketing. His quest for knowledge led him to Aeres University (Netherlands), where he completed courses in milk processing and entrepreneurship; and currently pursuing an MBA with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Startups at Vignan University’s online program (India).
His professional journey has been equally dynamic, with experience in banking, research, business development, and community mobilization. Johnbosco is currently serving as a Business Advisor for Yoba for Life Foundation (Dutch NGO) at SNV, where he supports a network of dairy processors not only in Uganda but also across various countries where this impactful project is being implemented. He is dedicated to leveraging his education and experience to promote the Convocation and its mission.