28 NEW VISION, Friday, January 22, 2016 Special Section NewNew VisionVi- pentecostal university ADVERTISER SUPPLEMENT

The UPU Mucwa campus Giving hope to needy students Some of the recipients of By Geoffrey Mutegeki UPU honorary doctorates

t is over 10 years since the Uganda Pentecostal University opened its gates to the Rwenzori region and Uganda at large. In that time, over 3,000 students have graduated from the institution. The oldest university in the RwenzoriI region is located at Kahungabunyonyi and Mucwa extension in town. It has VC Dr. Nasani Batungi Former VC Prof. J. Ntambirweki Katuramu, dean Devt studies Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu campuses in Mengo, and a study centre in . are very many out there who want Regarding sports, UPU has several institution has helped the staff to go The vice-chancellor, Dr. Nasani science courses but do not have the sports facilities that include a football for further studies, which has helped Batungi, says the institution was opportunity,” Batungi says. pitch, volley and netball grounds, many upgrade. established to serve the poor. “The and a badminton court. “We give Johnnie Willy Nuwemujuni, university was founded on the Expansion plans full scholarships to sportsmen and the coordinator of Kamwenge principal of helping needy students “We have land on which we are women; they only pay functional study centre, describes, UPU as a in the region. We have managed to going to construct new buildings, fees. We are committed to educating community university with study fulfil this by giving out bursaries one of which will be a state-of-the-art the whole person,” Twinomujuni centres in Mucwa, Kamwenge and and charging the lowest fees in the structure that will house a library, says. The university has won several Kampala, with the main campus at region,” Batungi explains. conference hall and administration,” trophies among them three Western Kahungabunyonyi in Fort Portal. He says enrollment has been Batungi says. Focus will also be put University Games accolades. The Uganda Pentecostal University growing steadily, with numbers on improving research, recruiting UPU gets students internship originated from the Grotius school Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia rising from 82 in 2005 to over 2,000 more qualified staff, and building placements by connecting them to of law and professional studies. It today. “We partner with districts and more facilities, among others. organisations to get the required commenced operation in February cultural institutions to give half or full Noel Twinomujuni, the academic experience before joining the field. 2001 when it admitted its first bursaries. We also offer bursaries to registrar, says they have two intakes One of the directors, Henry students in law at its campus in bright but needy students,” he notes. in October and March. Tumwine, commends the former vice- Mengo, Kampala. Although it has been in operation He revealed that the institution has chancellor, Prof. John Ntambirweki, At the time it operated as an affiliate for 10 years, UPU is yet to secure a been able to attract students because for the solid foundation on which of another university and continued charter. “The process of accrediting of the its discipline, good learning the university is built. “Prof. to operate as such until July 2004, programmes and having this environment and quality education. Ntambirweki did a good job which when the National Council of Higher university Chartered is our priority. “We have the most disciplined we all appreciate and we shall always Education (NCHE) directed it to I think in the next two years we will students and we have produced respect him for that,” Tumwine notes. register as a separate institution. have a Charter. We are committed many prominent personalities which David Kiiza, a former student, notes to offering high quality education to gives us an advantage over others,” Challenges that if it wasn’t for the bursaries Dr. Nathan Karema, director Ugandans,” Batungi said. Twinomujuni says. “Our library is small and we still have offered, he would not have been able Mbarara Community Hospital Twinomujuni states that they have problems with accommodation, but to finish his degree. Science courses in offing good hostels and that they partner we hope to address all these in the “I got the opportunity to finish sports facilities constructed, however In order to give balance and serve with private hostels to provide good next few years,” Twinomujuni said my degree because of the bursary. I’m happy that as sportsmen we are the people better, the university is set accommodation for the students. Many students from my home district considered in a special way which to introduce science courses. “The university has partnered with Corporate Social Responsibility of Masindi have also benefited has helped students who are good “We want students to be able to get three health facilities to ensure that Grace Katuramu, the dean of and I would like to appreciate the at sports but don’t have money to all they want from this institution. our students get health services. For development studies, notes that administration for that,” Kiiza says. study.” A university that is not doing emergency cases we pay medical bills the university is attached to the Polly Junior a continuing student UPU will hold its 11th graduation sciences is not balanced; we need to for students and cut on school fees community and has social cooperate at the Mucwa campus says: “As a ceremony today at Kahungabunyonyi balance it, because we know there later.” responsibility projects. She says the sports lover, I would love to see more in Fort Portal Municipality.