Bukalasa college passes out over 1,000 agriculturalists

3rd June 2024

The pioneer cohort of 35 were part of a total 1,443 backlog of 2019/2029 graduands who were passed out at the college's 58th graduation ceremony in Luwero on Friday, May 31, 2024.

Graduands celebrating after been passed out at the college's 58th graduation ceremony in Luwero on Friday. Photo by Frederick Kiwanuka
NewVision Reporter
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#Bukalasa Agricultural College #Graduation ceremony #Luwero

Luwero-based Bukalasa Agricultural College has passed out it's first cohort of internationally accredited graduates whose diplomas and certificates are recognised worldwide.

The pioneer cohort of 35 were part of a total 1,443 backlog of 2019/2029 graduands who were passed out at the college's 58th graduation ceremony in Luwero on Friday, May 31, 2024.

The new development follows a recent upgrade of the college into a centre of excellence in agricultural training which the Government implemented under the World Bank-funded Uganda Skills Development project (USDP).

The five year long Bukalasa upgrading project which the education ministry implemented with guidance from Dalhousie University of Canada, among other components involved development of a new competence-based curriculum which is more hands on and relevant to the needs of employers 

Employment opportunities

Agriculture state minister Bwiino Kyakulaga,  who was chief guest at the graduation ceremony, urged the 1,443 graduands to take advantage of the immense opportunities in the agricultural sector to get employed or employ themselves.

Kyakulaga said employed or not employed, agricultural graduates have the potential to explore job opportunities in the agriculture, industry, services and ICT sectors.

"You were trained to use your skills regardless of whether you are employed or not. If you can't get employed why not think about creating employment for yourself," Kyakulaga said.

He asked the graduands to be agents of change among their communities and help to propagate government messages of modernising agriculture by aiding farmers to choose enterprises that suit them.

Kyakulaga thanked Bukalasa Agricultural College for playing a vital role in the development of  Uganda's agricultural sector, through provision of skilled manpower.

He said the national agricultural policy highlights skilled personnel as a major challenge facing Uganda's agricultural industry.

The minister said Bukalasa was helping in bridging the skills gap between sectors whereby graduates from the college do not face a mismatch between the kind of skills they get and the kind of skills that are demanded on the market.

Jenifer Oyulu an assistant commissioner who delivered a motivational speech to the congregation, urged the graduands to be confident in the execution of their duties so as to win the trust of the communities that they serve and work closely the communities and support government programs.

College principal Gilvan Kisolo said Bukalasa signed a formal agreement with Dalhousie whereby Bukalasa graduates who are desirous of going for further studies, get direct admission to Dalhousie without sitting for interviews.

Call for a perimeter wall

Kisolo and Bukalasa governing council chairperson Jonny Mugisha appealed to the Government to help secure the college land and other properties by constructing a perimeter wall.

They also asked the Government to recruit staff as per the reviewed structure and also endeavor to seal staffing gaps whenever they arise

The Bukalasa academic registrar, Samuel Galiwango said the college realised a 37.2 per cent increase in the number of graduands from the previous 900 to this year's 1443. He said the college registered a stunning performance whereby 97 graduands got first-class awards.

Galiwango said the graduands were assessed through classroom work, practicals, industrial training, special projects and farm practice.

The highlights of the day included speeches, cultural performances by students and awards of gifts to the best-performing graduands.

Guided by Dalhousie University of Canada, the Bukalasa upgrading project also involved overhauling of the university infrastructure and retraining of academic staff both here and in Canada.

About the college

Currently having about 2,000 students, Bukalasa Agricultural College started as a cotton breeding centre in 1920 before transforming into an agricultural training college in the 1950s.

In 2019, Bukalasa started offering a new competence-based curriculum which has more practical skills and whose diplomas will have international accreditation.

In implementing the USSDP program, Bukalasa is networking with three sister colleges of Rwentanga farm institute,sesse farm institute and Kaberamaido technical institute.

Besides agriculture, the government, under the same USSDP program, promoted centers of training excellence in the sectors of manufacturing (Uganda technical college Bushenyi), building construction (UTC Elgon ) and in road construction ( UTC Lira).

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