By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer
Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. John Chrysostom Muyingo has encouraged Lira University graduates to embrace research and innovations to avoid job seeking and idleness.
“I challenge you to use the knowledge and skills acquired to tackle real world challenges and contribute to community development,” Muyingo said. He made this call while representing the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni at the sixth graduation ceremony of Lira University in Lira City West Division on Friday January 17th ,2025. A total of 581 graduated with Masters, Bachelors and Post-Graduate Diplomas in different academic fields.
The Minister reminded the graduates that society expects them to leverage their education to drive development and address community issues. He emphasized that education should equip individuals to solve societal challenges.
Hon. Justice Dr. Benjamin Joses Odoki, the Chancellor, Lira University, amazed by the relentless turnover of new innovations from students and staff of Lira University. “For 6 years in a row, I have been delighted during every graduation to learn about breakthrough research and cutting-edge innovations coming out of Lira University and the accompanying national and international awards,” Odoki asserts.
He adds, “It is my prayer to government that the Lira University grant allocation for research and innovations be increased significantly in order to expand the possibilities of discoveries and hatching of innovative products that can create companies, jobs and provide import substitution for our country.”
The Retired Chief Justice lauded President Yoweri Museveni for his vision of expanding higher education access through increasing public universities in Uganda. “While many might have considered it a waste of resources, the contribution of Lira University to the knowledge economy and to solving real life problems through research and innovation is a testament of your wisdom and foresight,” he observers.
Odoki prays that Lira University and other such new universities receive all the necessary support from the government to empower them to contribute to the knowledge economy even more.
He congratulated the new Lira University Council upon their selection to serve the Beacon. “I have heard great reports about the 3rd Lira University Council already under the able stewardship of this highly seasoned and experienced public servant, Mr. David Opio Okello who is leading a team of equally experienced and passionate Council Members determined to take the Beacon to the next level.
The Chancellor hailed the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jasper Watson Ogwal Okeng on his reappointment for another five years; a big endorsement of his great leadership. “I thank the Deputy Vice Chancellor, the University Secretary and the Management team at large for being such a great winning team! In Lira University, I see synergy, steady progress and continuity! Keep up the good work the chemistry!” he applauds.
He thanked the academic staff for the great job they do which is evidenced by the beautiful graduation “we are holding today, and also the growing number of staff qualifying with Master’s and PhD’s as well as non-award research grants you have won so far.”
To the students of Lira University and those Senior 6 Leavers out there looking for a university, Odoki says, “Lira University is a great platform to explore your talents and abilities, to showcase them and to master, incubate and scale them for the good of humanity.”
He congratulated the new graduates on their achievement and wished them the best in the job market. He adds, “Like that saying goes, “May you always dare to do great things in life.” Don’t be satisfied with a job, be satisfied with making the maximum potential benefit out of your talents and skills. Thank you for your disciplinary qualification, but it should not limit you. Like the author of the book of Ecclesiastes said, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Take that advice. Hate corruption and sloppiness and embrace clean old fashioned hard work. Make service to humanity your cardinal motivation.”
Odoki lauded parents and guardians for choosing Lira University. “Thank you for investing in your children’s education, and for working with Lira university staff to provide oversight and parental audit to ensure value for fees!” he says.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng praised President Yoweri Museveni for establishing Lira University in Lango sub-region and the Government’s continued support to the institution.
VC’s Speech excerpt
Health Science academic programmes
Lira University was established to specialise in training health science practitioners. We are offering programmes in Nursing (General), Nursing (midwifery), Public Health, Counselling Psychology and Medicine and Surgery. New programmes, including Public Health Nursing, Paediatric Nursing, Physiotherapy/ Sports Science and Dentistry will be introduced gradually. Masters in Maternal and Neonatal health, Masters of Public Health are now running and graduands will be presented today.
Partners
Lira University was started in partnership with SEED Global Health, that provided the first lot of lecturers in Nursing and Midwifery. Today the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery will present their first cohort of masters graduands.
Lira University also works with other partners, including Vice Chancellors Forum, Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CU U L), Research in Education Network (REN U), Erasmus/AHEAD-European Union, Public Universities in Uganda, Makerere University Business School, Bournemouth University, Pool Charity Hospital, University of Odisse Belgium, Rotterdam University.
Ministry of ICT, Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Public Service etc. Local partners in providing accommodation to our students and staff, Lira being a non-residential university. We value our partnership with these “local” partners. There are 51 gazetted hostels around the campus. Seven of them are provided with wireless Internet by the university with support from Research Education Network, Uganda (RENU).
Message to parents and sponsors
My dear parents and sponsors, I know it has been very long years of sacrifice and sometimes going without salt. But this is the time for you to stand to be counted. You have contributed enormously to the development of our country as your son or daughter today joins the world of productive force. We rejoice with you today. But please continue mentoring them into useful Ugandans
Graduands
This is only the beginning of a journey to the outside world. Out there is different, unlike at the university where the only decision you are taking is choosing to attend a learning session or not. But whatever you choose to do please keep in touch with Lira university and remember to keep healthy.
Challenges
Your excellency, allow me to highlight some challenges that we are grappling with here.
1.1. Lack of accommodation for students
Lira University is located, in a rural setting (about 12 km from town) where suitable housing is inadequate, particularly for students on government sponsorship that normally come from outside. Lira District.
The allowances from government are too inadequate to pay for the few private hostels around the campus. We propose that student allowances should be increased in the short run, but government should consider constructing halls of residence for students. Meanwhile there is also need for a central cafeteria on the campus to serve the staff and students during the day.
L.2. Lack of accommodation for staff
The Campus is located over 12 km from town where accommodation for staff is lacking. This is even more acute forstaff that is in the Teaching Hospital. Much as the other staff maybe able to commute from Lira town, it is not possible for hospital staff since their work schedule demands night and other special duties.
Staff in the library also have to stay late in the evenings and would need night duty rooms. We are requesting for about 5 bn. shillings. To start constructing semi-detached staff houses to address this problem.
