His remarks were made during this address at the 30th graduation ceremony of UMU, Nkozi. Zziwa stressed that education comes with the responsibility to uphold honesty, integrity, and moral values, urging the graduates to use their knowledge to champion the rights of the disadvantaged and marginalized.
He pointed out that educated individuals should foster understanding and combat social issues like religious intolerance and coercion. Bishop He also highlighted the gap between higher education institutions and society, urging universities to engage in community transformation to ensure their influence extends beyond academics.
He further encouraged the graduates to become advocates for social justice and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable groups.
“There is a disunity between higher education institutions and society today. The talk of the ivory tower must make meaning to the surrounding communities, and this makes it incumbent on our institutions to engage in relevant community transformation so as to benefit social growth,” Bishop Zziwa remarked.
The ceremony, themed “Celebrating our Heritage and Positioning Uganda Martyrs University in the 21st Century,” coincided with the 60th anniversary of the canonization of the Uganda Martyrs. Archbishop Raphael Wokorach of Gulu Archdiocese, who chairs the UMU Council, urged the graduates to emulate the Uganda Martyrs by standing for truth and justice, even in challenging circumstances.
A total of 2,104 students graduated in various disciplines, with special honorary doctorates conferred. Notable recipients included the former Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese John Odama, recognized for his commitment to preserving human dignity, and Fabian Kasi, managing director of Centenary Bank, for his contributions to accounting, banking, and finance.
UMU vice-chancellor, Patrick Kyamanywa, also celebrated a significant milestone, noting that 54.7 per cent of the graduates were female, marking progress in gender empowerment. Additionally, UMU conferred seven PhDs, the highest number awarded in a single ceremony by the university.
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