Iganga, (UG):- The Kyabazinga of Busoga His Majesty William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope Kadhumbula IV has commended Lubega Institute of Nursing and Health Professionals for prioritizing science education which has seen the institute’s vigorous growth through laying a foundation for socio-economic transformation and development.
The Kyabazinga, who is also the institute’s chancellor was on Friday presiding over the 4th graduation ceremony at the campus situated at Buseyi village, Nakalama sub-county in Iganga district where he first commissioned a magnificent and multi-billion Gabula block alias Gabula pentagon and a new Scania school bus before proceeding to the graduation arena.
At least 530 June and December 2023 finalists graduated both with diplomas and certificates in various courses offered at the institute which include Nursing, Midwifery, Nursing extension, Midwifery extension, pharmacy, medical laboratory technology, clinical medicine and community health, Records and information management, bakery and others.
“Every year we’re seeing a growing number of students and the existing infrastructure like the Gabula block has been set up and now the institute can also confer diplomas. During the commissioning of the Gabula block, I learnt with interest that it will create an avenue for more professional courses with higher academic acquisition,” Kyabazinga said.
He said the Kyabazingaship values the relationship with the fast-growing institute and commended the central government for emphasizing science education, adding that “the institute shall therefore be a cornerstone for the establishment of a university in our region in the near future.”
The Busoga premier Dr. Joseph Muvawala challenged the graduates to be kind to patients by treating them based on their oaths, quoting their school’s anthem which emphasizes that they were chosen by God to love and serve. He also urged the Basoga to embrace the Busoga anthem citing that the disciplines of the land are embedded in the anthem.
The Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje commended the institute’s Executive director Prof. Dr Muhamadi Lubega Kisambira for the great work and also for stretching beyond by serving the Muslim fraternity as the UMSC chairman and the Kingdom as the first deputy premier.
“We thank Dr. Lubega for the 20 annual scholarships to UMSC which are benefited by two students from each of the ten Muslims in the country. We also thank him for other scholarships offered through other institutions,” Mufti Mubajje said before asking parents to specialize their children in various courses.
Mufti urged the graduates to love and serve like their school’s anthem goes in part, challenging them to be committed to their work and refrain from abusing patients. He however urged Muslim leaders to encourage their people to embrace government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM).
The function was attended by representatives from the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council (UNMC) led by their deputy registrar Ms. Nakaye Aidha who led the Nurses and Midwives in taking oaths. Other representatives were from the Allied Health Professional Council, Ministry of Education, High Technical and Vocational, Education and Training, Allied Health Examinations Board and UNMEB.
The Executive director Prof. Dr. Lubega said the school is growing in various ways, noting that it is seated on 30 acres of land after starting with only 7 acres seven years ago. He said their ambition is to turn the school into a university to address the shortage of health workforce in the country.
“Your Majesty, the current African population encumbers the greatest prevalence of diseases in this world and yet only 3% of the total health workers are available to treat these illnesses. But we can contribute to the health workforce that can go down and treat people in the villages, giving us pride and our ambition is to turn this school into a University In Shaa Allah,” Dr. Lubega said.
He however asked the Kyabazinga to demand President Museveni the pledge of shs1.8b which he promised in 2019 as support to the completion of the Gabula block which was then on the foundation stage.
“A few hours ago, you were launching our new Gabula block which was started in 2019 with President Museveni laying the foundation stone. At that time he pledged to help us with shs1.8b to put up that block,” he remarked.
“I want to report to your majesty that we have never gotten that grant but I thank Allah that we were able to complete it the way it is. When you meet him like I know you do Your Majesty, please remind him that a promise is a debt and we demand it even though the block is done,” Dr Lubega added.
The function was attended by a number of dignitaries from all rounds of the department not limited to politicians, religious and cultural leaders, health officers, and educationists, among others.
The woman Member of Parliament for Buyende District Hon. Nakato Mary Annet, who sits on the parliamentary health committee thanked the school for supporting the government and congratulated the graduates while emphasizing the need to upgrade in their respective courses and also serving diligently with kindness.
“We thank Dr. Lubega for the initiative of putting up this institution and I want to urge the nurses at all levels to upgrade and know that it is not necessary to mistreat or harass patients but to be kind to them. I urge you to be committed to work once enrolled in government and avoid absenteeism based on the stand of being pensionable,” Hon. Nakato exclusively said.
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