Last year, Uganda Christian University (UCU) celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of students of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Dental Surgery. Next month, the university will graduate the second cohort of the students of the two courses at its 25th graduation. Milestones like these keep pulling more students to the courses and the university. One such group is the new students who joined the UCU School of Medicine as freshers in May. Kefa Senoga recently spoke to them about their early impressions of the school.
Nakakande Joan – ‘spiritual and Christian values’
I am pleased with everything at the UCU School of Medicine. The facilities are excellent, and the environment is conducive for learning. UCU has met my expectations.
One of the things that attracted me to the university is its foundation on Christian principles. Since joining the institution as a student, I have experienced this firsthand. At UCU, we receive a holistic education that seamlessly integrates academic excellence with spiritual growth.
I chose to pursue a course in medicine at UCU over other universities because, as a Christian institution, it offers me a unique opportunity to be shaped into a quality doctor who embodies spiritual and Christian values. Besides, I have interacted with some graduates of the UCU School of Medicine and I noticed that they are spiritually-grounded.
When I enter the medical field, I aim to develop a sustainable healthcare model that addresses the needs of the less privileged. I believe UCU’s strong focus on community engagement, research and interprofessional collaboration will provide the knowledge, skills and the network I need to achieve this goal.
I am particularly interested in oncology and neurology, with a stronger inclination towards oncology because I aspire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of cancer patients and their families. Cancer is a devastating disease that affects millions of people worldwide, and I want to contribute to the efforts to combat it. I am hopeful that the UCU School of Medicine will provide me with a deeper understanding of the biology of cancer, diagnostic and treatment options, and comprehensive patient care.
Tumusiime Ivan – ‘Christ-centered’
During an outreach that students of UCU made to our secondary school, UCU representatives spoke positively about their university. Now, as a new student, I am pleased to say that I have witnessed everything they promised.
UCU is an excellent university that is Christ-centered and nurtures its students exceptionally well. It instils good morals, a strong work ethic and discipline among its students. There is also a good student-teacher interaction that ensures a better understanding of what the lecturers are teaching.
I strongly believe UCU medical school will shape me into a skilled surgeon who is able to save people’s lives.
Nanteza Agatha Suubi – ‘can be demanding’
I appreciate the facilities and the friendly learning environment at the UCU Medical School, which is why I chose it for my medical studies. Having visited the school before, I fell in love with the place. After joining UCU Medical School, I also came to appreciate its cultural diversity, which provides good exposure.
While medical school can be demanding, I trust that the one at UCU will provide the support needed to manage the challenges. With the resources, facilities and guidance from the school, I am confident that I will achieve my goal of becoming a surgeon.
Mugisha Derrick – ‘expertise of lecturers’
UCU School of Medicine is set up for the students to be able to achieve a high academic excellence; it is strategically located hence making movement easy for the students who are from within Kampala. It also has strong industry connections and job placement records.
Given the expertise of lecturers, such as Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, who are seasoned medical practitioners, I am confident I will successfully graduate from UCU as a skilled medical professional. I expect to benefit significantly from their wealth of knowledge and experience.
I selected the course of medicine at UCU because the field demands discipline, hard work, a Christ-centered approach and an unwavering dedication. I am confident that UCU embodies these qualities and will nurture me into the future doctor that I aspire to be.
The facilities have met my expectations. However, I’ve noticed that the number of students in the school keeps increasing every intake, which calls for some enhancements. For instance, the dining area needs to be expanded to accommodate the increasing number of students.
Kajuga Natalia Agaba – ‘right place for me’
After I completed my high school examinations, one question that kept ringing in my mind was “What next?” This was invariably met with the response: “I’m going to study human medicine.”
Although my study plan was not yet set, UCU School of Medicine drew my interest the moment I started researching suitable universities. I later discovered that UCU School of Medicine was the right place for me to start my medical journey.
I aspire to be an exceptional medical practitioner with a great understanding of service and faith.
Nsubuga Victoria – ‘psychiatry intrigues me’
Since joining UCU, I’ve noticed that it’s an exceptionally well-organized university. This applies not only to the facilities, but also to the staff.
UCU is deeply committed to empowering learners to reach their full potential. It’s here that I’ve realized I can utilize this environment to fulfil my aspirations of becoming the excellent doctor I want to be.
As a new medical student, I am still exploring various specialties. However, psychiatry intrigues me because delving into understanding how people think would be a fascinating journey.
