After three years of training, 28 students of the Institute of Human Resource Development (IHMD) on Friday graduated, obtaining diplomas and certificates. ABUBAKER MAYEMBA was on hand to capture the action.

Being their first graduation, the event was held at Hotel Africana’s Katonga hall, where the best-performing students were recognised for their achievements. The event was graced by management experts, including Kampala Capital City Authority executive director Jennifer Musisi and Uganda National Roads Authority’s Allen Kagina.

Musisi, who was the chief guest, urged the graduates to always work hard and to be in line with their work ethics. She cautioned them to be ready for the hurdles that await them in management, arguing that it is not that easy to lead.

“While restructuring, people want to, literally, burn you and do bad things to you and your family but you should hold your ground,” cautioned Musisi.

The principal of IHMD, Kenneth Kawooya, observed that they equipped the students with the right tools to make them better managers. He said that whereas some institutions feed their students with theory, IHMD gives them practical skills.

“These skills, beyond the actual hairdressing and the like, will take us an [extra mile] to skill human resources in Uganda. We are putting skills in use so that they are transferred to where they work,” said Kawooya. “We see them transforming the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of Uganda.”

He revealed that the institute was planning on opening campuses across the country with the aim of promoting human resource courses. At the same event, Jennifer Kaggwa, who is part of IHMD’s steering committee and former commissioner of human resource at URA, launched her book.

Titled Restructuring; A Practitioner’s Perspective, the book aims at helping people in management on how to effectively run their firms. Musisi, who wrote the book’s foreword, termed it as inspirational and will do a great deal in guiding others.

Kaggwa, who is now Unra’s director for Human Resource, said she was inspired to write the book because of the failure by professionals to document their experiences. In the book, she focuses on sacrifice, transformation and the value of change.

Makerere University’s Institute of Psychology has already adopted the 150-page book for its Masters of Human Resource students. One can grab a copy from any major bookstore at Shs 50,000.

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