20 , Friday, September 27, 2019 SPECIAL SECTION NewNew VisionVision       @ 25

By Ritah Mukasa oday, all roads lead to Nkumba marks silver jubilee the Nkumba University grounds along Road to celebrate the institution’s 25-year-old and Nigeria. journey, one arrayed Besides, the university also has with great milestones. exchange programmes with a TProf. Wilson Muyinda Mande, the number of contemporaries oversees, vice-chancellor, says they expect over such as the Erasmus Plus Exchange 10,000 people, including the chief programme with FH Joanneuem guest, President Yoweri Museveni, University of Applied Sciences in dignitaries, alumni and well-wishers. Austria. “It will be a memorable day, the peak “We also respect collaborations and of the silver jubilee week that started membership. We have full membership on September 21,” he says. to the Vice-chancellors’ Forum, Inter- During the week, students from University Council for East Africa, different schools of the university Association of African Universities participated in various sports activities, and Association of Commonwealth a fashion show, alumni activities and Universities,” Muyinda says. skits. In addition, cultural engagements, Nkumba University has always a conference to disseminate new participated in the different exhibitions knowledge, as well as a public lecture organised by the NCHE and Buganda by renowned academicians were also –CBS/PEWOSA exhibitions. organised. Muyinda says the university has Governance and management evidently grown over the last 25 years. Nkumba University has a foundation It has contributed enormously in terms body which is entrusted with the of human resource, hence the theme of responsibility of making strategic goals, the Silver Jubilee celebrations: 25 Years mission, vision and philosophy of this of Academic and Professional Service. institution. It also oversees the activities “We are grateful to all who have Students of Nkumba University during graduation. The university is celebrating 25 years of existence of the board of trustees. stood by us over the years, especially The board of trustees is the second those who began the predecessor On Infrastructural development, governing body responsible for the institutions that eventually evolved into Buganda, government ties concerted efforts have been made implementation of strategic goals, the university,” he says. to improve and increase the mission, vision and philosophy of the Nkumba University has always Nkumba has also maintained infrastructure of the university. university. The university has come from far kept good ties with Buganda good relations with the Central The institution has erected a It is also responsible for the Since its inception in 1952, Muyinda kingdom and this has continuously Government and engaged in perimeter fence around the main appointment of some top university says, Nkumba is the only institution EHHQUHpHFWHGLQWKHIUXLWIXO many activities organised by the campus to enhance security for management offi cials. engagements between the two Government. in that has evolved from a students, staff and university property. The chancellor is the titular head parties. For example, in 2015, they hosted humble background. It has transformed This year, the university was WKHRFFDVLRQRIWKH,QDXJXUDO The effort has also involved, among of the university, who presides over itself several times from a kindergarten, privileged to host Kabaka National Liberation Struggle other endeavours, completion of the ceremonial assemblies of and in the to primary school, junior secondary, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II’s Memorial Lecture, organised by main university library. name of the institution. He confers college of commerce and advanced 26th Coronation anniversary the Peace and National Solidarity degrees, awards diplomas, certifi cates studies and fi nally into a university in celebrations at the main campus in ,QLWLDWLYH7KHFKLHIJXHVWZDV Spreads its wings and other academic titles and 1994. Entebbe. President Museveni. Muyinda recalls that the university distinctions of the university “The university’s origin stems from started with only three schools — the Another governing body is the a community infant school way back school of business administration, university council. This is responsible in 1952. This was a vision and an to the human resource development the university and the community. school of commercial, industrial for the formulation of policies within initiative of Ssalongo Erisa Kintu, a of not just this country, but the world When it comes to accommodation art and design and the school of which the university administration businessman,” he recollects. over. and health services, students are education. conducts the day-to-day activities. On July 29, 1951, Ssalongo Kintu assured of unmatched services at However, currently, the scope of the The council is composed of various shared the idea with his two friends; Second to none Nkumba University. academic programmes offered by the sub-committees, which manage the Charles Kisitu Ffulu, the former Dr Francis Kasekende, the university All student residing within the university has widened over time. different functions of the university. parish chief of Nkumba village and secretary, says Nkumba graduates are university receive meals. The “Today, we boost of over 120 Aside from that, the university Zefania Mpanga, a civil servant. The contributing to humanity in both the accommodation is very conducive accredited programmes in various senate is the supreme academic body two welcomed the idea and the three private and public sectors worldwide. and spacious. One such is the female disciplines in the six schools at PhD, responsible for making the policy agreed to become trustees. Prominent “We have produced over 20,000 hostel called Nnabagereka. masters, postgraduate diploma, academic decisions of the university. among those invited to join them graduates over the last 25 years and The university also offers health degree, diploma and certifi cate levels,” The chairperson of the senate is the were late Nelson Edmund Nkalubo next month, we shall be holding our services to its students through the Raymond Fred Buyinza, the head of vice-chancellor. Ssebugwawo and Prince Besueri K. L. 22nd graduation ceremony,” he says. university clinic, which has qualifi ed marketing, says. Finally, the university management is Mulondo. The infant school was started The university will be hold its 22nd and committed doctors and nurses. The six schools include the responsible for the day-to-day running on February 6, 1952. graduation ceremony next month. On quality assurance, Nkumba schools of business administration, of the university. It ensures smooth This gradually grew into a primary, On the other hand, Nkumba is well- university strives to excel through commercial, Industrial art and design, operations and is headed by the vice- junior secondary and then vocational known for having an upper hand in monitoring and evaluation education, law, social sciences and chancellor. secondary School in 1969. In 1974, it the teaching of business, it is second mechanisms, as well as external sciences. The contribution to development became an advanced level commercial to none. This is in line with the assessment of university programmes The university also has distance of human resources by the school. In 1980, the trustees agreed university’s vision of being the leading and facilities by the National Council learning outreach co-ordinating offi ces university is testament to the to transform the school into Nkumba national, regional and global hub for for Higher Education (NCHE) and the in Kyegegwa, Kasese, Nakasongola, institution’s commitment to provide College of Commerce and Advanced academic and professional excellence. Inter-University Council for East Africa Amuria and Gulu districts. an environment that enables the Studies (NCCAS) for wider curriculum. Similarly, their mission of providing (IUCEA). Muyinda is quick to add that the cultivation of competence, confi dence, In 1994, they transformed NCCAS quality education that cultivates This helps to ensure that the university acquired the Kampala creativity and character in the into a university, hence the birth competence, confi dence, creativity and university programmes are nationally campus in 2015 to bring its unique academic, professional and social of Nkumba University, which was high moral character in teaching and and regionally accredited and education experience close to the interactions. inaugurated in June 1994 as a non- learning, research and community internationally competitive. people living and working in and That is how the institution has denominational, community private engagement has steered them to Also, the university sports teams have around Kampala. managed to produce informed and not-for-profi t institution. It was excellence. an enviable culture of outstanding Elsewhere, due to its commendable graduates, who think critically, chartered by the Government of Kasekende adds that the university’s sports performances amongst its peers image and academic excellence, communicate effectively and act Uganda in 2006. corporate philosophy is embodied in in Uganda and the East African region, Nkumba attracts students from all responsibly in an increasingly Since then, the university has grown its motto, I owe you, which expresses a with a number of trophies being corners of Uganda and beyond to the competitive national and global tremendously to contribute enormously mutual obligation between members of scooped. entire East African region, Ethiopia environment. ADVERTISER SUPPLEMENT NEW VISION, Friday, September 27, 2019 21 22 NEW VISION, Friday, September 27, 2019 ADVERTISER SUPPLEMENT Nkumba stands tall in sports, academics

Prof. Wilson Muyinda Mand is the vice- chancellor of Nkumba NKUMBA University. He talked to Ritah Mukasa about UNIVERSITY some of the university’s achievements. OPENED ITS Can you DOORS TO describe for us your THE PUBLIC journey as a university? Nkumba IN 1994 universityQ opened its doors in 1994, which makes WITH LESS it 25 years today. It was launched by the late Hon. THAN 1,000 James Wapakhabulo, the then chairperson of the STUDENTS Constituent Assembly. The university was licensed by the education ministry. this institution this long and By that time, the National later listen to the President’s Council for Higher Education words of wisdom. Over was not yet in place. In 2006, 10,000 people are expected we received a charter, making to attend. us one of the few chartered universities in the country. Can you give us a sneak We started off with a few peek into the future? faculties. These included; arts, Nkumba nursing students attend to Prince David Wasajja during a university function We plan to intensify distance business and social sciences. and online programmes to We have now grown to six and vertically. Vertically, I to the people? education experience close to serve the people who desire faculties. mean that whereas in 1994 In terms of spreading out, the people living and working to study but lack time to We also have programmes we only awarded degrees we have taken huge strides. in and around Kampala. attend classes. These can such as law, criminal justice, and diplomas, we now have Apart from our main campus Besides, we are also study from wherever they are journalism, environment, postgraduates, masters and in Nkumba, the university providing business education during their convenient time. public health, nursing, among PhDs. acquired the Kampala to people from distant We also plan to come up others. Campus premises in 2015 districts. These study by with at least four niches, In that way I am sure we How have you managed to along Kabakanjagala Road correspondence and only including nursing and have developed horizontally take your services closer so as to bring its unique come together during exams midwifery, to address the in their particular districts. problem of shortage of nurses, who are the frontline What is your enrolment? staff in all health facilities. When we started off 25 years Another niche is public ago, we had less than 1,000 health, in addition to business students. We have grown studies. overtime and now look We want to strengthen forward to a population of Prof. Muyinda Mande research in order to produce over 10,000. However, we still new knowledge since its face stiff competition from including stars such as Peace known that a country without mushrooming universities Proscovia. We have made a new knowledge can hardly and tertiary institutions. tremendous contribution in develop. We also plan to Competition aside, we have WKDWoHOG cement our partnerships with realised that today, many On the other hand, we have other universities. So far, we people opt for short courses steered research projects at are in partnership with seven that enable them to earn the university. For example, universities and we hope to money quickly and shun we spearheaded the Oluwoko add more. longer courses. Notably, the research project that is We are also working on an number of students sitting for LQWHQGHGWRoJKWPDODULD arrangement of equipping our A’level seems to be reducing, Also recently, some of students with practical skills hence a decline in applicants. our professors developed in addition to the courses mosquito repellents and a they are pursuing. Just like its Are there any outstanding tool for detecting mental mandatory here, regardless achievements you would health. . of the course a student is like to share with us? studying, they must acquire Despite the challenges, Take us through what we computer skills. In sports, Nkumba University has should expect today we shall continue to invest continued to dominate in I am happy to announce in the department, but also GLIIHUHQWoHOGVRIDFDGHPLFV that the President Yoweri specialise in particular games; and in sports. Museveni accepted to grace not just every game. We are proud to say this memorable occasion. We that 75% of the team that chose to invite him not only What are some of the participated in the recently because he is the President challenges you are facing? concluded Olympic games of the country, but also Our challenges largely included our students and because he introduced and revolve around the issue of alumni. Also, our volleyball encouraged liberalisation limited resources. Nkumba team has continued to carry policy, which is why Nkumba University is largely a 8JDQGD VpDJKLJKGXULQJWKH University came into community university striving different games in countries existence. to provide educational such as Rwanda, Egypt, We want him to see the services to the entire world, Tunisia among others. They fruits of his policy. The and its resources mainly come have performed better, hence President is expected to from the fees, which are not representing our institution unveil the monument to promptly paid. The university well and the country at large. commemorate our 25-year continues to explore ways The national netball team, journey. of overcoming this, and which recently played in We are also going to have that, indeed, constitutes Liverpool, UK had many of an exhibition of various DVLJQLoFDQWDVSHFWRIWKH our students. Some were works from different faculties. QHFHVVDU\UHpHFWLRQLQWKH continuing students, while After, we shall recognises course of the Silver Jubilee others were our graduates, the people who have served celebrations.