By Christine Mirembe
Unemployment among Ugandans aged 15-24 is improving slowly. According to World Bank data via macrotrends.net, it was 4.5% for that age group defined as “available and seeking employment” in 2023 – slightly less than in 2022. For unemployment, low statistics reflect positive career moves.
While Uganda Partners continues to feature successes for seasoned Uganda Christian University (UCU) alumni, we decided to highlight a few more recent graduates to learn about the days leading up to graduation and their initial transitions from university life.
These five new alumni share some of their triumphs, including the value of work experience before graduation and UCU’s reinforcement of Christian faith, and struggles such as the university-required, pre-graduation signature sign offs and cost of gowns and certificates. Graduation day starts as early as 3 a.m. to arrive by 7 a.m.
Pauline Luba (2024 Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, School of Journalism, Media and Communication)
“You reach a point in your academics when you worry if you will make it to the tent, but to make it especially with your friends means a lot,” she said, noting clearance signatures, cost and time as obstacles to overcome.
Pauline, who graduated with a Grade-Point Average (GPA) of 4.32 of 5.0, expressed frustration about the UCU graduation signature clearance process. One expensive journey back and forth to the Mukono campus was because an office from which she was supposed to get a signature was understaffed. When occupied, only one person dealt with all the graduates.
Another challenge was an unexpected increase in cost for gowns and certificates of sh50,000 ($13) from July 2024 to October 2024.
“It was difficult,” she said. “Sh450,000 ($119) is not easy to produce.”
At that, Pauline shared how her pre-graduation work experience and the UCU Christian environment have been helpful since receiving her degree. She has worked as a writing intern for the USA-based Uganda Partners NGO for 18 months. Prior to graduation, she also was an intern for TotalEnergies EP Uganda, an oil and gas production and exploration company. With her interest in oil and gas, she hopes to retain her Total position to dive deeper in that sector over the next four years. This opportunity has given her a chance to dive into a different field and still apply her communications knowledge to write stories and interact with various people.
From UCU, Pauline carries on her reinforced faith in God, worktime adaptability and humility. All these have helped her to navigate work.
“Be still and know God,” she said. “Remember that failure is not failure but rather a learning point. You can achieve everything you put your mind to, and never settle for mediocrity.”
Kairanian Rooney (2024 Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology)
In his current position as a graduate engineer at Infra Consulting Services (ICS) Limited based in the United Kingdom, Kairanian is part of a team providing integrated planning, management and engineering services in the transport, property, environment and natural resources sector.
Like Pauline, Kairanian’s final days toward graduation were a bit hectic with frustrations about getting signatures from faculty not present and/or long lines.
“The only signatures I got with ease were from the Guild President and the warden,” he said.
Unlike graduates from October who paid Sh450,000 ($119) for graduation gowns, Kairanian paid Sh400,000 ($105.85), which was the fee in July this year.
“We moved to the tents, and I met up with some of my colleagues and friends and we did some catching up,” Kairanian said of graduation day. “After the graduation ceremony at campus, my dad and stepmother took me for lunch to celebrate the day. I later attended a friend’s graduation party in the evening.”
Currently, he appreciates the friends and connections he made at UCU and advises future graduates to cherish these connections.
For future aspirations, Karanian, , who graduated with a GPA of 4.11 of 5.0, sees himself as an established registered engineer doing his masters’ degree and working at a big transportation project.
Kakooza Paul (2024 Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology)
Graduating in July 2023 with a GPA of 4.08 of 5.O, Paul, unlike some of his peers, describes his graduation preparation journey as a smooth one. He credits this to his planning. He set apart a full 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. day to acquire signatures.
Financially speaking, Paul says that UCU being a private university, one must be ready for added costs so the Sh450,000 for the graduation gown did not come as a surprise to him.
“Graduation day was nice because of the people around that day,” said Paul, who described the ceremony as similar to finishing an exam and thinking about what to do next.
Paul is now working with Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), a government agency that manages, develops and maintains Uganda’s national roads. Credit for the ease of his work goes to colleagues as well as UCU’s curriculum with communication skills and engineering knowledge.
His advice for current students: “Make friends…Have fun, but also do your best to excel in your studies. Have dreams… Thank God, your parents, guardians, lecturers and friends.”
Byaruhanga Francis (2024 Bachelor of Law, School of Law)
Currently working with KTA Advocates in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications/Intellectual Property and Sustainability Team, Byaruhanga Francis hopes to have a master’s degree and to be further established in his career over the next four years.
“My family arrived quite early, we were driven to campus in an SUV,” he said of graduation day. “Among those present were my mom and dad, my youngest brother and my only sister. We celebrated with a sumptuous lunch and were joined by my close friends from the USA.”
At UCU, Francis had the opportunity to participate in unique co-curricular activities like the Inter University quiz last year. Such activities shaped his world view, improved his work ethic and leadership opportunities that enhanced his skills.
“For future graduates, I’d advise them to embrace emerging fields of work such as AI, Space Law, Artificial Intelligence and Web 3,” he said. “They need to hone future skills and stay on top of data such as in the Future of Jobs report by the World Economic Forum.”
Christy Asiimwe (2024 Bachelor of Arts with Education, School of Education)
Topping the October 2024 graduating group with a CGPA of 4.80 of 5.0, Christy Asiimwe credits her success to God. She applies UCU virtues of Christ-centeredness, perseverance, integrity and professionalism as her take away from her three years at the university.
In addition to focusing on studies, Christy was part of the Honours college and the UCU writing centre.
“With these, I will be able to support people as they become all God has called them to be, especially through engaging in education management and curriculum development studies and practice in the next few years,” said Christy. “I was exhausted after graduation, but really happy about how everything went and grateful to God for His goodness to me.”
Lucky for her, she was already teaching English and Literature at Acorns International School before graduation so she had no worries about job hunting but rather got back into her busy teaching schedule.
Christy advises future graduates to enrich themselves with as many productive experiences from the university because the skills and character they develop are invaluable in the field of work.
”Having a personal relationship with God and living for Him is what binds everything together, making it possible for everyone to succeed,” she said.
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