Entebbe: Graduates have been urged to take advantage of available government programmes and funds to develop income-generating projects that will enable them to become job creators rather than job seekers. Speaking at the 27th graduation ceremony of Nkumba University on Saturday, 25 October 2025, the Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa emphasized the need for leaders who can innovate solutions to existing social and economic challenges.
According to African Press Organization, Tayebwa stressed the importance of graduates utilizing their knowledge, skills, and values to transform their lives and those around them. He underscored the necessity for the younger generation to be agile, creative, and proactive in an era characterized by global disruption and innovation. Tayebwa also highlighted the significant role universities like Nkumba play in democratizing the education sector, emphasizing that without such institutions, many secondary school graduates would lack opportunities for further education.
Nkumba University Chancellor, Emmanuel Katongole, encouraged the graduates to display confidence, competence, creativity, and good character, qualities he believes will empower them in professional and community settings. Katongole reminded the graduates that while degrees may open doors, these virtues are essential for maintaining and advancing the opportunities those doors provide.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jude Lubega, expressed gratitude for the government's support, particularly through a tax waiver of Shs4.4 billion, which alleviated the university's tax arrears from 2014 onwards. Prof. Lubega also acknowledged a Shs300 million capitalization grant from the Ministry of Education and Sports for infrastructure development and called for further government assistance in establishing advanced laboratories for artificial intelligence and data science at the university's new ICT centre of excellence.
At this year's graduation ceremony, Nkumba University celebrated the achievements of 2,087 graduates, including 25 Doctorates of Philosophy (PhDs), 418 Masters degrees, 1,025 Bachelors degrees, 217 postgraduate diplomas, 263 undergraduate diplomas, and 139 certificates.