Uganda Catholic Social Training Centre graduates over 300 students

By Juliet Lukwago
Uganda Catholic Social Training Centre (UCSTC), an extension of the Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi held its 11th graduation ceremony at which 324 students were awarded diplomas and certificates in various disciplines.

There were 52 male and 272 female graduands, who were awarded certificates and diplomas in hotel management, fashion designing, business administration and management, hotel, institutional catering and tourism, fashion, design and interior decoration, accountancy, project planning and management and office administration and secretarial studies.

The other course included business administration and management, social development, guidance and counseling.
It was revealed that there are new coursed that would incorporated.

They include Social work and social administration, gender and development studies, adult and community education, food science and nutrition and recreation and events management.

The other include travel, tourism and hospitality, purchasing and supplies management, human resource management, records and information management, marketing, public relation and customer care. Computer fundamentals and applications, language (English, Swahilli and French), catering, and other business disciplines.  
      
Archbishop of Gulu Diocese, Bishop John Baptist Odama hailed the management for maintaining the high standard of the institution and cautioned students against immoral behavior.

He also urged the Government to support private institutions, saying they play a big role in educating the masses. Odama also asked the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) to allow the institution operate without any hindrance, citing the council’s recent threats to close some universities. 

The Director of the centre, Elizabeth Namaganda, said that the institution is considering setting up branches at Lira, Kabale and other parts of the country to meet the growing number of students. She said that the move would bring services closer to the people.

“At the moment we have 30% students from the central region at our Rubaga campus with the rest are from up-country,” Namaganda said.

 She said that UCSTC was founded in 1969 by the Uganda Episcopal Conference as National Social Training Institute with the blessing by the now late Pope Paul VI, who unveiled the plaque.

“This institute was founded by the Grail community, an international movement of lay women committed to offering services through various professions in spirit of the gospel. The institution was then put under the ownership of the Uganda Episcopal conference,” Namaganda said.

 The senior education officer of higher education, Timonty Ssejjoba, who represented the Education Minister Jesca Alupo, the chairman board of Governors UC STC, Bishop Charles Martin Wamika of Jinja Diocese and many other dignitaries attended.