678 engineers awarded diplomas at Uganda Technical College

EDUCATION

LIRA- 678 engineers graduated at  Uganda Technical College Lira on Friday. This  was during the 8th graduation ceremony held at the school campus in which the graduands were awarded diplomas and higher diplomas.

Mary Florence Okullu who represented the Minister of State for Higher Education, Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo and delivered his message said the Ministry of Education has introduced formal programmes to address skills needs of disadvantaged Ugandans.

Okullu said the Ministry of education in a bid to improve quality of Higher education in Uganda has partnered with many development partners like Uganda Skills Development Project and Uganda National Education Support Project.

Barbra Irene Omongo, overall best female student  getting her  award  of laptop, clock and certificate

"I am very proud to note that UTC Lira is on its way to become one of the centres of excellence in road construction," Okullu said. She added that the roads in Lira will cease to be what they are now.  

The principal of the college, Paul Mulima said the college is now stable with no cases of undermining each other as was in the past.

He appealed to the graduands to desist from corruptive tendencies. "The world out there has all the opportunities for you to exploit and take advantage of them and to your full potential but always endeavor to give your best on what you have,' he said.

"Please, avoid reckless behaviours; avoid the three cs (Criticising, Complaining, Comparing) of comparison." He urged the students to avoid comparing themselves to each other. "Life is not about comparison, live your own life," he stressed.

He urged them to avoid complaints as God has not come for all, and take care while choosing spouses as those they will chose will greatly impact a lot on their success tomorrow.  "Chose loved ones dear graduants, don't choose wealth or beauty."

"The future is bright if you remain true, kindly be true," Mulima urged the students.  

He appealed to the Government to implement the science scale of the teachers and that the government considers reviewing the payment disparity between those who were enrolled in the 1990s in U4 and the current ones who have different pay scale. "This has left our staff disgruntled,' he said.

 Graduates jubilate after being awarded their diplomas

Mulima also informed the chief guest that there exists a dispute over one acre of land with Ireda Primary School which is hampering the development of the college.

Another issue of great concern Mulima raised was of buildings with asbestos roofs which he said is a health hazards to the college community.

The principal said the college got a Tata lorry in 1984 when it became a college and that is what they are still using at the moment. He appealed to the government to consider giving the college a new truck.

Okullu assured the college that the challenges mentioned have been noted.

Thomas Jefferson Obalim, a member of the governing council who stood for the chairperson congratulated the students who graduated. He also commended the government and development partners for the special support rendered to the college which has enhanced the training capacity of the college.

Obalim noted with concern the decline in academic performance since the last graduation. "The average overall pass rate at the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board UBTEB examination has steeply declined from 82% in the last graduation to 60% in the last semester.'

He said this can be attributed to the indiscipline that had been exhibited in some governing council members, members of staff, and members of the student community that started in late 2016, climaxing in unrest that was witnessed in November 2017 to early 2018.

Obalim said the indiscipline started when some members of the governing council expressed desire in change of the chair of the governing council. He said they did not follow the procedure but decided to pursue a political approach which included fabricating and widely distributing false reports encouraging rebellion among staff and students.

"The entire community was polarised on tribal sentiments on college matters leading to administrative crisis… teaching and learning was greatly disrupted even among the innocent peaceful students resulted into deteriorated academic performance," Obaslim stated.

Lira district chairperson, Alex Oremo Alot congratulated the graduands and assured the college of optimal support. Oremo offered to resolve the land dispute between the college and Ireda Primary School.

Lira RDC Milton Odongo said the people of Lango love everybody and are not tribalistic. "If there were few elements who were trying to bring tribalism, I say this must stop," he said.

Defence State Minister Col. Charles Okello Engola who attended the function as a parent could not hide his excitement and commended government for continuing to develop UTC Lira. "We should change the way of handling problems and engage in dialogue," Engola said of the unrest which took place in the college.

Engola urged the graduands to seek  further studies and not think of getting contracts at the moment.

Courses offered at UTC Lira

The institute offers courses in National Higher diploma in construction (Building and Civil Engineering), National Higher diploma in Electrical Engineering, National Higher diploma in Mechanical Engineering, National diploma in Building and Civil Engineering, National diploma in Water and Sanitation

The old Tata lorry the college has that was given to them by former president Milton Obote in 1984. The college appealed to the government to give them another truck

Engineering, National diploma in Mechanical Engineering, National diploma inElectrical Eengineering, National diploma in Architecture, and National diploma in Informationand Communication Technology.