Private sector to link with varsities

UGANDA Investment Authority (UIA) Executive Director Dr. Maggie Kigozi on Saturday said she is going to link Nkumba University to the private sector in Uganda, report Davis Weddi and Gereshom Musamali.Kigozi was presiding over the 5th Nkumba University graduation ceremony where a total of 409 students graduated with 14 postgraduate degrees, one postgraduate diploma, 185 bachelors degrees, 175 undergraduate diplomas and nine certificates.A total of 250 students graduated in business administration tourism, hotel and catering had 73 and education had 69.Present at the ceremony were Malawi University Vice-Chancellor David Rubadiri, Land Board Chairman Besweri Mulondo and former Bank of Uganda governor Sulaiman Kiggundu.Kigozi said it was important for industries and the university to have links so that research undertaken in the universities is applied in the industry.“The current business environment requires both education and entreprenuership. It is therefore very crucial for industries to work with universities so that the research generated can be utilised to secure patents and make products,” Kigozi said.She said over the last 10 years, the UIA has worked with industries to create 200,000 direct jobs.