Annet Nabakooza breastfeeds her baby during the graduation ceremony

By Francis Emorut

A total of 379 students have graduated with diplomas and certificates in catering at Jimmy Sekasi Institute of Catering in Budo, Wakiso district. The 7th graduation on Friday had 312 females and the rest males.

The director, Grace Sekasi, advised the graduands to be professional and avoid behaviours that would lead them to contracting HIV/AIDS.

“We want you alive. Don’t live irresponsibly. Your predecessors have never disappointed us,” she added. Sekasi said the National Council for Higher Education would soon register the institute.

“Many graduates from this institute are rejected from higher institutions when they want to pursue further studies, but we are trying to have it registered,” she said.

Sekasi explained that the Council rejected the school because it was occupying a small piece of land since its inception, but was optimistic that they would be registered after acquiring land in Budo.

Sekasi asked the graduands to respect their parents and be disciplined if they were to succeed in life. The institute that started in 1989 has produced 3,500 graduands to-date some of whom are placed in high hotel industry.

The founder, Jimmy Sekasi, was killed by the Lords Resistance Army. The chairman of the board of governors, Charles Nalyaali, explained that the objectives of the institute were to promote excellence and professionalism in the hotel industry.

Nalyaali pledged to support the management in imparting skills to the students so that they can develop the economy. He said the graduands should be empowered to access capital in banks to start businesses.

Nalyaali, the managing director of Equity Bank, encouraged them to apply for loans. He appealed to the graduates not to be job-seekers but job-creators.