The Hon. Dr. Chrysostom Muyingo, State Minister for Higher Education, representing the Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, Minister of Education and Sports .
- The Chairman and Members of MUST Council
- The Vice Chancellor, Mbarara University of Science and Technology
- Honorable Ministers
- Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corp
- Honorable Members of Parliament
- The Executive Director, NCHE
- Vice Chancellors and Representatives of Sister Universities
- Deputy Vice Chancellors, MUST
- Religious, Civic and Local Leaders
- Members of MUST Senate
- Teaching and Non-teaching staff
- Parents, Guardians and Sponsors
- Graduands and Students
- Distinguished Guests
- Ladies and Gentlemen
I welcome you all to this 30th Graduation Congregation of Mbarara University of Science and Technology. I congratulate all those that are going to be conferred the different Degrees and awarded Diplomas of Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Today is a day of celebration for all of us. We thank God for the gift of life and for the bountiful blessings to all us assembled here today. We also thank the Government of Uganda for supporting the University’s growth and development. Through you Hon Minister, I request on behalf of MUST community, that you convey our special thanks to the President and Commander-in-Chief of Uganda Armed Forces, H.E General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his visionary leadership and continued support to Mbarara University of Science and Technology, (MUST). Through his Government, MUST has been able to grow steadily academically and infrastructurally as we can see on this campus. The Government has continued to provide for staff development across all faculties, as HE President Museveni has always strived to see that employees of MUST get a living wage despite the current difficult times. We will always remain grateful to you and your Government.
MUST Governance and Management
Honorable Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen join me in thanking the University Council led by Dr. Warren Naamara, the Chairman Council, and the University Management led by Prof. Celestino Obua, for the wonderful works they are doing in providing governance and leadership at MUST that has led to today’s celebrations as we graduate a total of 1470 postgraduate and undergraduate students.
Hon. Minister, Likewise I propose that we give the staffs at MUST a resounding applause for delivering on their obligations, of teaching, research, innovations, and services, hence the graduation ceremony that we are witnessing today. This milestone would not be possible without the extraordinary efforts of our dedicated faculties and staff. To each and every one of you, I extend my deepest appreciation and heartfelt thanks. I understand the challenges you have faced, particularly in the light of the recent budget cuts, and yet you have persevered. Yet you adapted, innovated, and most importantly, remained committed to nurturing the potential of our students. Thank you for turning limitations into opportunities. You ensured that the flame of knowledge continued to burn brightly, illuminating the path for our future leaders. Thank you.
Hon. Minister, we recognize that times are really not ideal, but I appeal to you and to the Cabinet in general, that a financial solution for MUST needs urgent attention as this young but very progressive University is likely to become severely malnourished and stunted. I kindly ask Government to consider our very urgent needs for sustainable funding.
On this momentous occasion, at this 30th graduation ceremony of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, my heart leaps with pride and gratitude. Today, we do not only celebrate the achievements of our graduating class, but also the collective triumph of a community built on resilience, dedication, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence.
At this moment I request the graduands to stand up and join me in celebration of our achievement by clapping for:
- The Almighty God,
- For your parents, guardians and sponsors,
- For your Lecturers, Mentors and the University staff.
You can resume your seats. As we celebrate today, I acknowledge your words, Hon. Muyingo, at the 29th graduation ceremony, when you urged universities to diversify funding sources beyond government funding. In response, I am proud to announce that our grant writers have secured several significant awards in 2023, bringing crucial income to support research and capacity building in the university. Hon. Minister, it is encouraging to note that currently MUST stands at over 90 research grants from funding agencies all over the world, but the number could even be higher given the right competitive edge.
Hon. Minister, the motivation for academics to struggle to win research funds is towards seeking solutions to societal challenges, however another driver is towards their professional and career growth which has a direct bearing on the institutional growth. However, I respectfully request you, Hon. Minister to address the matter of staff promotion. Currently, many positions at MUST do not match the staff qualifications. Hon. Minister this hinders our competitiveness internationally, where a staff has a PhD and many years of research and student supervision, but holds a low position of an Assistant Lecturer even though they should be at higher positions such as Senior Lecturer or even Professor. Promotions of academic staff is not only a source of motivation but also lines them up for better competitiveness when applying for grants.
Congratulations and Achievements
Hon Minister, Distinguished Guests, I also applaud the Directorate of Graduate Training for successfully hosting the 8th PhD Symposium and the 18th Annual Research Dissemination Conference of MUST, which encourages junior researchers to address community challenges. Hon. Minister, these have gone ahead and introduced the mentor workshop in a bid to equip our supervisors with valuable research supervision skills.
Recognition
Hon. Minister, one of MUST’s iconic visibility is innovation, through the Centre of Innovation and Technology Transfer, many staff and students have been groomed to stand tall in innovation. Allow me Honorable Minister to give you a few of our achievements that have raised our flag in 2023.
During the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award, held in Darkar Senegal. MUST was represented by 3 junior innovators who won the award of the year. Dr. Moses Ochora Talamoi and his team pitched “Photokabada”, an innovation to provide phototherapy of neonates born with jaundice. The innovation won Africa’s top “Young Innovators for Health’’ award, 2023. They were recommended by Young Innovators for Health Award to lead the innovation sector Uganda in the field of medical innovation.
At the same event, Ms. Nura Izath’s team secured the first runner-up position for their “Autothermo” innovation. This is an innovation of a wearable bracelet that continuously measures and transits temperature readings to a central display screen, for easy identification and timely delivery of thermal care interventions to sick admitted newborns.
Additionally, Mr. Delafrique Deogratias, a student in the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Science won the “Best Student Innovator” award for his “Pipeline” VEP antiseptic wound spray, a herbal formulation from locally sourced medicinal plants.
Honorable Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen, MUST products continue to make a difference nationally as well as internationally. Allow me recognize and congratulate Professor Frank Asiimwe, a MUST alumnus, who played a pivotal role in performing the first-ever kidney transplant at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Uganda! He led a team of Ugandan surgeons, assisted by specialists from Yashoda Hospitals in India, in successfully transplanting a kidney from a living donor to a recipient on December 20, 2023.
Likewise, nationally, Dr. Gladys Atto, a MUST alumnus, received the “Doctor of the Year award” 2023, for her exceptional service to her community, serving as a shining example of leadership.
Honorable Minster, these are some of the few remarkable achievements showcasing the spirit of innovation and excellence that thrives at MUST and her alumni. Congratulations to all achievers for making MUST shine among her peers.
Hon. Minister, allow me say something about Prof. Celestino Obua. I wish to start by congratulating you Professor Obua upon your new position as the Chairperson, Uganda National Examinations Board. The appointment is a sign that the Government has faith in you and trusts your leadership hence entrusting you with this great responsibility of steering the examination assessments in the country. I wish to borrow the words of John C. Maxwell who said, “A leader is the one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” These words well define Vice Chancellor Prof. Celestino Obua. I am aware that your 2nd term as Vice Chancellor ends on 24th October 2024.
MESSAGE TO GRADUANDS
To-day is your day. You are all reaping where you sowed. As you collect your certificates and transcripts, please endeavor to register for next courses viz, Masters and Ph.D. as I have always stressed, learning never ends. A close colleague of mine added that it actually stops two hours after death. When I asked to explain why two hours? He responded by saying, “You need two hours to determine whether you are going to heaven or to hell”. We must not forget to thank your parents, guardians and sponsors. Without their support you would not be here to-day. Finally allow me to appeal to graduands and faculty to uphold the motto of your Alma mater, viz,“Succeed we MUST”.
I say all this for God and my Country.
Thank you for listening to me.