Storm scatters Ndejje University graduation
Oct 18, 2004
A rainstorm marred a graduation ceremony at Ndejje University on Saturday. The storm lasted about seven minutes.
By GerEsom Musamali
A rainstorm marred a graduation ceremony at Ndejje University on Saturday. The storm lasted about seven minutes.
Many injured people were rushed to Bombo Military Hospital and other clinics in Luweero and Kampala.
Chancellor retired Bishop Yokana Mukasa had just conferred degrees on 110 Bachelor of Business Administration graduates, when the skies broke loose and scattered the tents.
The bright, shiny early afternoon, ideal for the open-air function, suddenly turned into a furious hailstorm at about 1:00pm. Everybody watched in astonishment as the tents were lifted up in the whirlwind.
The fleeing guests crushed into parked vehicles, or were hit by the metallic tent props falling back from the sky. Some were trampled on.
A woman trapped in a tent was hurled a distance away. She was in a fit when she was taken to hospital.
Winnie Nakazi, a female part-time lecturer of Luganda at the university, said she was injured in the head and was receiving treatment at home on Busabala Road.
It was not clear how Bishop Mukasa, vice-chancellor Bishop Michael Ssenyimba, Luweero LC5 chief Haji Naduuli and National Council for Higher Education chairman Prof. Frederick Kayanja escaped.
The New Vision saw some visitors, including Prof. George Kinoti, of the Nairobi-based African Institute for Scientific Research, get away in a car. The former head of Daystar University, Stephen Talitwala, also escaped in a car.
A total of 361 candidates received various certificates, diplomas and degrees.
Frederick Matovu received a BBA post-humously.
Bishop Mukasa said in a speech before the chaos that the graduands should strive to show that their education was not counterfeit. A total of 361 candidates graduated.
Ends
A rainstorm marred a graduation ceremony at Ndejje University on Saturday. The storm lasted about seven minutes.
Many injured people were rushed to Bombo Military Hospital and other clinics in Luweero and Kampala.
Chancellor retired Bishop Yokana Mukasa had just conferred degrees on 110 Bachelor of Business Administration graduates, when the skies broke loose and scattered the tents.
The bright, shiny early afternoon, ideal for the open-air function, suddenly turned into a furious hailstorm at about 1:00pm. Everybody watched in astonishment as the tents were lifted up in the whirlwind.
The fleeing guests crushed into parked vehicles, or were hit by the metallic tent props falling back from the sky. Some were trampled on.
A woman trapped in a tent was hurled a distance away. She was in a fit when she was taken to hospital.
Winnie Nakazi, a female part-time lecturer of Luganda at the university, said she was injured in the head and was receiving treatment at home on Busabala Road.
It was not clear how Bishop Mukasa, vice-chancellor Bishop Michael Ssenyimba, Luweero LC5 chief Haji Naduuli and National Council for Higher Education chairman Prof. Frederick Kayanja escaped.
The New Vision saw some visitors, including Prof. George Kinoti, of the Nairobi-based African Institute for Scientific Research, get away in a car. The former head of Daystar University, Stephen Talitwala, also escaped in a car.
A total of 361 candidates received various certificates, diplomas and degrees.
Frederick Matovu received a BBA post-humously.
Bishop Mukasa said in a speech before the chaos that the graduands should strive to show that their education was not counterfeit. A total of 361 candidates graduated.
Ends