Chairperson of the University Council of Uganda Christian University (UCU), Professor Alfred Olwa, has called upon graduates to uphold integrity, faith, and servant leadership as they begin their next chapter beyond the university gates.
Delivering his message through the Vice Chairperson of the University Council, Mrs Barbara Sekatuka, during the 26th UCU Graduation Ceremony (Part II) held at the main campus in Mukono, Prof. Olwa congratulated the graduates for their perseverance and commitment, describing the occasion as “a testimony to God’s faithfulness.”
“Today, we gather not only to celebrate academic achievement but also to give glory to God, who is the source of all wisdom, understanding, and success,” he said. “You have reached this milestone through dedication, perseverance, prayer, and faith.”
Although he could not attend the ceremony in person due to his engagement at a Global South Fellowship conference in the USA, Prof. Olwa emphasised that UCU’s mission extends beyond academic training to nurturing moral and spiritual values.
He reminded graduates that education is a lifelong journey, urging them to remain learners, innovators, and leaders whose impact is measured not by wealth or status but by the difference they make in people’s lives.
Quoting Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” — Prof. Olwa encouraged the graduates to remain steadfast in faith amid economic pressures and ethical dilemmas.
He also expressed appreciation to parents, guardians, and sponsors who supported the graduates through their studies, as well as to the UCU management led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi for steering the university with a vision anchored in Christian values.
Prof. Olwa further acknowledged the government, donors, and institutional partners who continue to support the university’s programs and development initiatives, before sending the graduates forth with a blessing:
In his address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi reaffirmed UCU’s commitment to advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on good health and well-being through impactful interventions in maternal and newborn health.
He revealed that through the “Seven Mothers Initiative,” UCU has partnered with Mukono General Hospital to expand its maternity ward, doubling delivery capacity from three to six beds. In Tororo General Hospital, the university has helped establish a High Dependency Unit (HDU) for mothers with life-threatening childbirth complications, while in Amolatar District, UCU upgraded the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Amai Community Hospital, serving over 25 newborns monthly.
These interventions, worth US$72,000, have been led by alumni of UCU’s Master of Public Health Leadership Program.
The Vice Chancellor also highlighted major academic partnerships — including a UGX 240 million European Union grant won by the Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology in collaboration with Wächter University, Germany — and the renewal of UCU’s MoU with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to offer exemptions for accounting and business students.
UCU’s Faculty of Engineering was recently recognised with a bronze award at the 11th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week in Kenya. At the same time, new programs in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Electrical Engineering are set to begin next intake.
The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences' staff and PhD students participated in research training at the German Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture, strengthening agricultural innovation and value chains.
The School of Journalism, Media and Communication also shone, with student Brian Adrian Kabogoza winning Best Student Film at both the 2025 Uganda Film Festival and the Kaduna International Film Festival in Nigeria, while alumnus Doug Langa won Best Soundtrack. Mr. John Semakula, Head of Undergraduate Studies, earned an international research fellowship in Sweden.
In sports, Prof. Mushengyezi celebrated UCU’s success ahead of hosting the Inter-University Games in December, noting that UCU athletes represented Uganda at the FISU World Games in Germany.
He concluded by urging graduates to embody the university’s motto of “A Complete Education for a Complete Person.”
The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and UCU Chancellor, His Grace Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, urged graduates to become “ambassadors of peace” as Uganda heads toward the 2026 general elections.
He reminded the congregation that education is a divine calling to transform society through faith and action.
This graduation saw 568 students conferred with degrees and diplomas, including nine PhD graduates — among them senior clergy and educators such as Grace Nantaja, Head Teacher of Mengo Senior School, and two archbishops from Zambia and South Sudan.
The overall best student, Ms Naziwa Shabrina, scored a CGPA of 4.76 in the Bachelor of Business Administration, equivalent to 95.6%. The best male student, Mr Odinand Elim Joshua, scored 4.62 in the Bachelor of Divinity.
Of the graduates, 22 attained First Class Honours — 12 female and 10 male — with women continuing to outperform their male counterparts despite representing 44% of the cohort.
