General
Graduates Advised to Adopt Soft Skills to Supplement their Professions
The Executive Secretary of Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB), Mr. Oyesigye Onesmus (CPA), has advised graduates to adopt soft skills to supplement their professional experience. According to Mr. Oyesigye skills such as truthfulness, patience, time management, trustworthiness and honesty are some of the traits a person who would like to get a job and sustain it should exhibit.
“Employers find it difficult to let go of the few trustworthy workers. They also fear to employ unmanageable workers who are liars, impatient and dishonest,” he said.
Presiding over the Award Ceremony for Diploma and Certificate Students of the Centre for Lifelong Learning, College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University on Saturday, 19th January 2019, Mr. Oyesigye advised parents to always guide and support the interests of their children when it comes to academic journeys.
“On so many occasions, parents have forced their children to undertake certain courses and the results have not been good. You want your children to fulfil your dreams. Let the children determine their academic journeys and professional paths. You duty is to guide not to make for them decisions. Let them create their own career paths” he said.
He encouraged students to make use of the Government loan scheme to advance their level of education.
The National Coordinator of the Centre for Life Long Learning Mrs. Rose Atugonza, emphasized discipline and hard work among students when she said, “Discipline is the key to success in one’s life. With discipline and hard work you are ready to succeed in this competitive world,” she advised.
The Centre for Life Long Learning was the first Centre at Makerere University in 1922; under the Centre for Continuing Education. The Centre focuses on bridging the gap between individuals who are unable to come to the University through the intra-mural programmes with the University community. It helps in making University learning relevant to the community through identifying their learning needs and designing as well as offering problem-solving programmes in a flexible and non-formal manner; and promoting partnerships and collaborations with development agencies for technology/knowledge transfer.
Addressing the graduands, the Deputy Principal CEES, Assoc. Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda tipped the new Diploma and Certificate holders on how to prepare for the job market in the competitive world.
“Be flexible in life and to always adjust when the need arises. Be productive and accountable. And if you remember to observe the traits of a good leader, the world will be an easy place for you to enjoy,” he counseled.
Representing the Dean, School of Distance and Life Long Learning-Dr. Alex Okot, Dr. Ronald Mukuye congratulated the graduands upon the great achievement in their lives. He advised them to enrol for further studies and to widen their networks.
Article by Rachael Kanyi, Volunteer, Mak Public Relations Office
Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.
The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.
Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.
After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.
Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.
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