Succeed we must

As Uganda marks the 58th Independence anniversary, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) takes pride in the Government's total support towards the growth of the institution over the last 31 years.

The council chairperson, Dr Warren Namaara, says MUST has grown to be recognised internationally. He says this could not have been possible without the vision and support of President Yoweri Museveni who has always fronted MUST to champion science and technology for the development of our country.

His words are echoed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Celestino Obua, who also lauds the President for offering sciencebased guidance for the country as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has mitigated the impact on the country, hence manageable numbers of cases even though the country has seen some deaths attributed to the pandemic.

Prof Obua further acknowledges the role played by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, for always looking out for MUST and ensuring that it benefits from developmental projects such as the AfDB/HEST project, which has facilitated institutional infrastructure development and capacity building of staff.  

Through the AfDB-HEST project, MUST today prides itself in a fully-fledged Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology with a state-ofthe-art library, laboratories, lecture rooms/workshops and hostels at the Kihumuro campus.

The faculty offers four engineering programmes, including bachelor of science in:  biomedical engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, computer engineering, petroleum engineering and environmental management.



These infrastructural developments at the MUST Kihumuro campus have helped shape the skyline of the new Mbarara city. Under the same project, MUST has been able to put up a business incubation and income-generating project at Buhoma, a Gorilla Tracking Camp located in Kayonza sub-county Kanungu district, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

The Gorilla Tracking Camp has six luxurious bandas, a conference centre, a restaurant and bar, which will suit the desiresof domestic and foreign tourists. The AfDB-HEST project has also supported cross-cutting issues, such as special needs students and staff, gender mainstreaming and HIV/AIDS.

These are fully being implemented at MUST. The project has supported staff through capacity building — MUST provides funding for 11 candidates and 26 candidates for master's and PhD programmes respectively. Additionally, 68 undergraduate candidates from all faculties received full scholarship.

The university is grateful for another grant, the Eastern and Southern African Centres of Excellence Phase II (ACE II), funded by the World Bank. MUST hosts one of the 24 ACE II grants, the Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicines Centre of Excellence (PHARMBIOTRAC), which is building a critical mass of specialised human resource to advance pharmaceutical biotechnology research on traditional medicines and development of natural medicinal products for socio-economic development of Uganda and Africa.

With well-equipped laboratories and several acres of green gene banks, the centre currently trains students from several African countries, like Benin, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Southern Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, who are enrolled for master's and PhD programmes Obua also hails the COVID-19 National Task Force and the health ministry for the unparalleled management and control of the pandemic.

He says in line with the guidance from the National Task Force and that of the health ministry, MUST management, through the Faculty of Medicine, have put in place standard operating procedures (SOPs) to guide students and staff to prevent infection or spread of the coronavirus.

"Our priority as an institution is the safety and protection of students and staff, including their physical, mental and psychosocial health. These SOPs are to provide practical guidance on ensuring that the university is safe for students, staff and visitors during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," he says.



Obua urges Ugandans to take the presidential directives seriously. "COVID-19 is real. Do not listen to any propaganda or misinformation that says otherwise. On September 7, MUST woke up to a cold morning when one of their own, Dr Peter Sebishimbo Mugisha, succumbed to the virus. The nation has lost a rare human resource, a dermatologist, with an enviable character of dedication and diligence to his profession," he says.

"Still we continue to appreciate the selfless work that our clinicians who are at the frontline of the fight against the pandemic. Their commitment to saving lives while risking their own, is a sign of selfless service and society will forever be indebted to them," Obua adds.

He says MUST will continue to make the necessary arrangements in preparation and response to the pandemic, working jointly with the district task force, led by the Resident District Commissioner and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. Happy 58th Independence Day. Uganda, MUST Stay safe, "Succeed we Must!" 

The writer is the Acting Public Relations Officer at MUST