Private students get first class degrees
Mar 21, 2004
YOU may call it the prize of running an extra mile. Laban Musinguzi Kashaiza sums it up in three things - Hard work, prayer and focus.
By Denis Ocwich and Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
YOU may call it the prize of running an extra mile. Laban Musinguzi Kashaiza sums it up in three things - Hard work, prayer and focus.
When he joined Makerere University three and half years ago, people told him it was a tall order getting out of the campus with a First Class honours degree. But now he looks back and smiles: “It is achievable!â€
Aged 24, Musinguzi is one of the students who received more ululations than the others during Makerere’s 45th graduation ceremony at the Freedom Square last Friday. Of the slightly over 3000 graduands, about 30 of them were awarded first class undergraduate degrees.
A Bachelor of Social Works and Social Administration (SWSA) government-sponsored student, Musinguzi earned the academic dignity, with a 4.72 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPU).
“You have to work hard right from the word go and be focused,†he says.
And to him, the type of primary and secondary school one went to does not matter, but one’s determination to make it.
He did not go to any of the top City schools, but paved his way through ‘third-world’ schools, and scored 23 points in History, Economics, Divinity / Geography (HED/G) at A’Level from Rwantsinge High School, Mbarara.
“You have to forego certain things like disco if you want to achieve. And you don’t have to be selfish. If you don’t know something, ask friends,†advises the guy who is planning his master’s degree around Human Resource Management.
Although he had no money to hold any graduation party, Musinguzi is all smiles.
His former coursemate, Doris Kwesiga too is over the moon. But her case is special, that of a daughter following in the footsteps of the mother and father. Both her parents, Joy and Jassy Kwesiga are professors.
Ten years ago, Doris Kwesiga was the best in Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) at Nakasero Primary School. Now the 23-year-old is brandishing a first class degree.
Kwesiga, an old girl of Gayaza High School, advises: “Once you get to campus, it is different from secondary school. Sometimes life on campus can get so free, but you should not be side-tracked.
So you make sure that at least everyday you read something and do your research, and pray to whatever God you believe in.â€
Surely Doris has done the Kwesiga family proud by keeping the blood of academic excellence flowing.
The Faculty of Arts, recorded a high First Class score. Five out of the 666 graduands have first class degrees(18 other Arts students graduated with first classes on November 21).
The fresh First Class graduates include Rodney Muhumuza, 23, a private-sponsored student of the Bachelor of Tourism (B.T.M) whose uncle had to work hard to pay his fees (sh600,000 per semester).
He owes his success (with CGPA of 4.48) to personal creativity. “The lecturers always appreciated the way I presented my work. Its kind of exciting to get a first class, and I take it with some pride,†he says.
“But I have to be on the job hunt.†Later, he wants to pursue a master’s in International Relations.
Another student from Tourism, Esther Mwesigwa, 23, was equally overjoyed to scoop a first class honours, although she says its normal to get a top grade.
“Sometimes you have to be determined right from the start.
Then you got to have commitment and a positive feeling towards what you are doing,†says Mwesigwa, who joined campus with 24 points (HEG/D combination) from Lugazi Mixed School. Her next move is to look for a job as she plans for a Master’s in Business Administration.
The other heroic story is that of Louislordnay Bakyenga, 23. Here is a young man who always craves to be among the top, and gets his target. He mumbles, “If you have a first class as your target, just know how to programme yourself and be at the right place at the right time. Then follow the time-table, and you will get things coming your way.â€
The former SWSA student has jumped to the top out of the blue. In 1999, Bakyenga, who sat his UACE exams from St. Joseph’s Vocational School, was the second best student in Mbarara district, and third best from the Western region.
“I am definitely excited, it is a lifetime achievement,†smiles Bakyenga. He hopes to pursue a Master’s degree in either Public Health or Human Rights.
From the Institute of Psychology, three students were on top form in the Bachelor of Community Psychology. The best of all was the exhilarating story of a married mother of two, who took courage to get back after years out of class.
“I won’t say I worked harder than everybody else, but I gave it the best,†says Annette Twahirwa, a technical assistant with the Civil Aviation Authority. She scored 4.78 CGPA. “As a born-again christian, I just want to thank God.â€
Another Community Psychology student, Jane Josephine Nakyejwe, 23 is also singing victory songs: She is one of the first class icons.
“I feel happy,†she giggles, then recalls how she managed. “I was not performing so well in first year, I picked up in second year. We have a library at home, so I spent most of the time in the library reading.â€
Daughter to Dr. Pelegrine Kibuuka, head teacher of St. Peter’s SS, Nsambya, she says it was about hard work, prayers, faith and patience.
“Sometimes performance in one level may not mean that you are going to perform the same way all through,†reasons the first class lady.
Dr. Edward Kirumira, the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, which this time round had 17 students graduating with First Class, agrees that performance at the university is not about which school one went to.
“The interesting thing is that many of the private and evening students are getting first class degrees. So it tells a lot about the number of young people who are left out on admission (for government scholarship) yet they could be very bright students,†Kirumira says.
He adds, “When students from upcountry schools come here, they compete and even out compete these other students (from good schools).†He says the students from upcountry do not perform well in A’Level because of different circumstances, but once at university, they shine.
About the social sciences performances, Kirumira says, “The 17 students we have had in first class is the highest number ever, out of which 11 are from SWSA.â€
Meanwhile, John Lutalo, who got a first class degree in SWSA, is the first one to get a degree in his humble family. His father could not even pay his fees.
“Since it’s the first degree, it is interesting, but there is a challenge of the family’s expectations, since they are looking at me as the light of the family,†said the 24-year-old who has a job at the Prisons Department.
YOU may call it the prize of running an extra mile. Laban Musinguzi Kashaiza sums it up in three things - Hard work, prayer and focus.
When he joined Makerere University three and half years ago, people told him it was a tall order getting out of the campus with a First Class honours degree. But now he looks back and smiles: “It is achievable!â€
Aged 24, Musinguzi is one of the students who received more ululations than the others during Makerere’s 45th graduation ceremony at the Freedom Square last Friday. Of the slightly over 3000 graduands, about 30 of them were awarded first class undergraduate degrees.
A Bachelor of Social Works and Social Administration (SWSA) government-sponsored student, Musinguzi earned the academic dignity, with a 4.72 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPU).
“You have to work hard right from the word go and be focused,†he says.
And to him, the type of primary and secondary school one went to does not matter, but one’s determination to make it.
He did not go to any of the top City schools, but paved his way through ‘third-world’ schools, and scored 23 points in History, Economics, Divinity / Geography (HED/G) at A’Level from Rwantsinge High School, Mbarara.
“You have to forego certain things like disco if you want to achieve. And you don’t have to be selfish. If you don’t know something, ask friends,†advises the guy who is planning his master’s degree around Human Resource Management.
Although he had no money to hold any graduation party, Musinguzi is all smiles.
His former coursemate, Doris Kwesiga too is over the moon. But her case is special, that of a daughter following in the footsteps of the mother and father. Both her parents, Joy and Jassy Kwesiga are professors.
Ten years ago, Doris Kwesiga was the best in Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) at Nakasero Primary School. Now the 23-year-old is brandishing a first class degree.
Kwesiga, an old girl of Gayaza High School, advises: “Once you get to campus, it is different from secondary school. Sometimes life on campus can get so free, but you should not be side-tracked.
So you make sure that at least everyday you read something and do your research, and pray to whatever God you believe in.â€
Surely Doris has done the Kwesiga family proud by keeping the blood of academic excellence flowing.
The Faculty of Arts, recorded a high First Class score. Five out of the 666 graduands have first class degrees(18 other Arts students graduated with first classes on November 21).
The fresh First Class graduates include Rodney Muhumuza, 23, a private-sponsored student of the Bachelor of Tourism (B.T.M) whose uncle had to work hard to pay his fees (sh600,000 per semester).
He owes his success (with CGPA of 4.48) to personal creativity. “The lecturers always appreciated the way I presented my work. Its kind of exciting to get a first class, and I take it with some pride,†he says.
“But I have to be on the job hunt.†Later, he wants to pursue a master’s in International Relations.
Another student from Tourism, Esther Mwesigwa, 23, was equally overjoyed to scoop a first class honours, although she says its normal to get a top grade.
“Sometimes you have to be determined right from the start.
Then you got to have commitment and a positive feeling towards what you are doing,†says Mwesigwa, who joined campus with 24 points (HEG/D combination) from Lugazi Mixed School. Her next move is to look for a job as she plans for a Master’s in Business Administration.
The other heroic story is that of Louislordnay Bakyenga, 23. Here is a young man who always craves to be among the top, and gets his target. He mumbles, “If you have a first class as your target, just know how to programme yourself and be at the right place at the right time. Then follow the time-table, and you will get things coming your way.â€
The former SWSA student has jumped to the top out of the blue. In 1999, Bakyenga, who sat his UACE exams from St. Joseph’s Vocational School, was the second best student in Mbarara district, and third best from the Western region.
“I am definitely excited, it is a lifetime achievement,†smiles Bakyenga. He hopes to pursue a Master’s degree in either Public Health or Human Rights.
From the Institute of Psychology, three students were on top form in the Bachelor of Community Psychology. The best of all was the exhilarating story of a married mother of two, who took courage to get back after years out of class.
“I won’t say I worked harder than everybody else, but I gave it the best,†says Annette Twahirwa, a technical assistant with the Civil Aviation Authority. She scored 4.78 CGPA. “As a born-again christian, I just want to thank God.â€
Another Community Psychology student, Jane Josephine Nakyejwe, 23 is also singing victory songs: She is one of the first class icons.
“I feel happy,†she giggles, then recalls how she managed. “I was not performing so well in first year, I picked up in second year. We have a library at home, so I spent most of the time in the library reading.â€
Daughter to Dr. Pelegrine Kibuuka, head teacher of St. Peter’s SS, Nsambya, she says it was about hard work, prayers, faith and patience.
“Sometimes performance in one level may not mean that you are going to perform the same way all through,†reasons the first class lady.
Dr. Edward Kirumira, the Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, which this time round had 17 students graduating with First Class, agrees that performance at the university is not about which school one went to.
“The interesting thing is that many of the private and evening students are getting first class degrees. So it tells a lot about the number of young people who are left out on admission (for government scholarship) yet they could be very bright students,†Kirumira says.
He adds, “When students from upcountry schools come here, they compete and even out compete these other students (from good schools).†He says the students from upcountry do not perform well in A’Level because of different circumstances, but once at university, they shine.
About the social sciences performances, Kirumira says, “The 17 students we have had in first class is the highest number ever, out of which 11 are from SWSA.â€
Meanwhile, John Lutalo, who got a first class degree in SWSA, is the first one to get a degree in his humble family. His father could not even pay his fees.
“Since it’s the first degree, it is interesting, but there is a challenge of the family’s expectations, since they are looking at me as the light of the family,†said the 24-year-old who has a job at the Prisons Department.