By Muduku Derrick Brian
The Vice-Chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU), Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, has toured the various stalls at the Guild Bazaar that is happening at the UCU, Main Campus. Mushengyezi visited the business stalls on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
Mushengyezi expressed his delight at the Guild Bazaar, which started on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 and its positive impact on the businesses of students and the community at large.
“This initiative is a good idea that is done to provide essential services to students at low prices.” Also, it is set up to encourage businesses among students and in the larger community around the university to thrive, “he said.
Mushengyezi adds that the Guild Bazaar is one of the activities that the Guild Government can utilize to leave a positive impact on the students that they serve.
Mushengyezi says that he is grateful to the 24th UCU Guild Government for organizing the Guild Bazaar and is looking forward to them engaging in more activities with the student fraternity.
According to Atenia Stuart, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, the Guild Bazaar is intended to bring services closer to students.
“Students are forced to move far away from campus to get services such as getting gas for themselves to prepare their meals.” “We as the Guild, have decided to bridge that distance for them in this period,” he said.
Atenia adds that the Guild Government is charging some fees from the businesses for them to operate within the university premises.
“We charge the traders according to the size of the business and the amount of profit they reap from the bazaar at the end of it all,” he said.
Atenia says that the money realized from the Guild Bazaar will directly go to the Guild fund, from where it will be used to aid students facing tuition challenges.
Julius Lwalanda, a seller at the stall of Stabex International, a gas selling firm, says that he is privileged to be selling products within UCU.
“This is my first time here and I am glad that the students are buying the gas.” I am happy because I am tapping into the strong market potential of students, which I have been lacking, “he said.
Lwalanda says that the prices are favourable for the students. “A gas cylinder outside there is Shs. 145,000. However, we have reduced it to Shs. 130,000 for the students,” he said.
He is grateful for the opportunity that the Guild Government has given his company to work within the UCU premises.
Anita Nalubwama, a student pursuing a degree in Procurement and Logistics says that she has benefited from the Guild Bazaar.
” I managed to get a nice phone cover at a much cover at a cheaper price. I was finding it difficult to reach Kampala to get another one,”she said.
The Guild Bazaar is a traditional occurrence organized by reigning Guild Governments at UCU that happens at the start of every semester. Businesses of students and those from outside the Campus are allowed into the premises of the university to provide services to students.
