Over 900 graduate from Cavendish University in Uganda

_________________

Over 900 students graduated from Cavendish University in Uganda (CUU) during the institution’s 14th graduation ceremony held at the Commonwealth Resort Hotel in Munyonyo, Kampala, on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

Presiding over the ceremony, former President of Nigeria and CUU Chancellor, Goodluck Jonathan, urged graduates to embrace innovation in order to contribute to the continent’s economic growth.

The former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (second right), a Germany official Arno Boertzler (third right) and Peruth Kyobe (right) engagement officer at CPA posing for a group photograph with the best performing students, sponsors and university officials during the 14th graduation ceremony of Cavendish University Uganda at Speke Resort Convention Centre Munyonyo in Kampala on August 21, 2025. (Photo by Francis Emorut)

“In this changing global economy, you are required to innovate fearlessly and seek to solve problems in communities,” Jonathan said.

He encouraged the graduates, drawn from more than 47 nationalities across Africa, to be resilient in order to succeed globally.

Drawing on the theme of the ceremony, "Empowering futures, cultivating leaders for a global tomorrow", Jonathan said leadership is not about power or positions but about service with integrity.

“CUU has equipped you with the skills to innovate. As the African proverb says, If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together,” he said.

Quoting former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Jonathan said knowledge is power and commended parents for investing in their children.

Dr Bernard Paul Mono, acting director general of the East African Development Bank, urged the graduates to fight for relevance, noting that nobody likes laziness.

“Go and do what you have heard from the presenters and succeed. You can be the next Nelson Mandela if you put into practice what we have told you. As you go out, serve with integrity,” Mono said.

Prof. Olubayi-Olubayi, chairperson of the University Governing Council, citing John 1:1, urged the graduates to use their knowledge to reshape Africa.

“No African country can become rich by selling raw materials such as oil. The wealth of our nations is between our ears. We must fight for the economic liberation of Africa,” Olubayi-Olubayi said.

Dr Olive Sabiiti, the University Vice Chancellor, advised the graduates to leverage technology such as Artificial Intelligence to remain competitive in the job market.

A cross section of graduates during the 14th graduation ceremony of Cavendish University Uganda at Speke Resort Convention Centre Munyonyo in Kampala on August 21, 2025. (Photo by Francis Emorut)

“We have properly trained you. Your task is to redesign the future. It is your time to fly,” Dr Sabiiti said.

Dr Sabiiti revealed that the university had redeveloped its campus in Mukono with the goal of hosting the Health Sciences programme, which CUU is preparing to introduce.

“It is only what you do that will change the world. Make networks, manage your resources well and lift others as you shine,” Dr Sabiiti said.

Delivering the commencement address, Dr Vincent Ogutu, Vice Chancellor of Strathmore University in Kenya, advised the graduates to develop values and uphold integrity as a foundation for success.

“Your wealth is in things you can do. You may steal my phone and everything I have, but I can get new ones. Therefore, if you want to be rich, you have to utilise the capabilities you have,” Dr Ogutu said.

Established in 2008, CUU is ranked among the leading private universities in the country.

Assoc. Prof. Olutayo Osunsan, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university, said CUU is grounded on three major pillars, namely employability, affordability and ethical leadership.