By Irene Best Nyapendi
Josephine Adal, the overall best student among 558 graduates at the Dec.1 Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mbale College ceremony, wants to improve the lives of others.
The 31-year-old is on her way with a first-class degree in a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.54. Adal was given a hand that she wants to return as a certified social worker.
After attaining a diploma in social work, Adal worked as an immigration assistant, giving not only her skill but some of her earnings to orphans, women and teenage girls, especially teen mothers.
To expand her impact and while still working, Adal sought a degree to stand a better chance of joining big charity institutions such as the non-government organizations (NGO). To fund this next educational step, she took out loans, got small grants from local village saving groups and secured money from friends and workmates, including one coworker who blessed her with $532 for her accommodation and meals.
She is grateful to God for the overall best student award and believes it will set her apart in the competitive world as a high achiever.
“With this first-class degree, I have the confidence to compete on equal footing with any individual,” Adal said. She hopes to now find a seat in the NGO world or government ministries with a mission of helping the needy.
She finds joy in extending a helping hand to the most vulnerable – from providing moral support to the elderly and children living with HIV/AIDS to providing scholastic materials for the education of the unprivileged children in her community.
During the holiday, she embarked on a mission to provide essential items, such as soap, to those in need.
Best male student
In addition to the Mbale recognition of the top student, who was female, the top male student named is Dennis Namanda, who excelled in the Bachelor of Education program with a CGPA of 4.48. Namanda attributes his success to a semester-based study plan, active participation in class, taking advantage of available resources like the e-library and UCU’s holistic approach to education.
“Time management is essential for anyone who wants to succeed in school or in life,” he said.
Of 301 graduates who were females and 257 males, six students scored a first-class degree.
Administrative key messages
Dr. Erisa Kigenyi Mazaki, the Principal of UCU Mbale College, echoed Namanda’s attribution about holistic education as he highlighted the college’s achievements and accomplishments that go beyond academics.
He shared the success of the university football club, where two players from the team, Kevin Mwambu and Emmanuel Mukisa, were called to join the national football team (Uganda Cranes). Mukisa got a nod to play with the team at the AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) championship in 2022. Other stars that were nurtured by the college are Ritah Kimono and Brenda Namapii of the netball team who were drafted into the national netball team (She Cranes).
Muzaki urged the graduates to maintain the values of character, hard work and excellence instilled in them at UCU. Drawing inspiration from Colossians 3:23-24, he encouraged them to work diligently, remembering that their ultimate service is to the Lord.
UCU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), David Mugawe, who represented the UCU Vice-Chancellor, emphasized the importance of graduates having a purpose in life. He urged them to set goals, serving as stewards of the knowledge and values entrusted to them.
“After your graduation, you should be purposeful of what you would like to do because a purposeless life is vulnerable to disruptions,” Mugawe said.
