Vice President Jessica Alupo has called on universities and tertiary institutions across Uganda to strengthen practical skills training and science-based education, saying employability now depends on graduates’ ability to adapt to a private-sector–driven, technology-led global economy.
Alupo delivered the message on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during Lira University’s 7th graduation ceremony on Friday, November 21, where 454 students – 256 males and 198 females – were conferred degrees and diplomas from faculties including Education, Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, Management Sciences, and Computing and Information Sciences.
The ceremony was held under the theme “The Beacon @10: A Journey of Impact.”
“Universities Must Match Industry Needs”
In her keynote address, Alupo emphasized the need for higher education institutions to embrace science, technology, and hands-on training to ensure graduates are competitive in the job market.
“I appeal to universities to equip students with skills needed by the private sector. As the Government attracts more investments, the demand for a skilled workforce will increase. Students must be responsive to a global economy driven by science and technology,” she said.
Gov’t Reaffirms One-Primary-Per-Parish Policy
Alupo reiterated the NRM Government’s long-standing commitment to expanding access to education through its policy of establishing:
• one primary school per parish,
• one secondary school per sub-county, and
• one technical school per district.
According to the Vice President, 90% of parishes now have a primary school (80% government-aided), 90% of sub-counties have a secondary school (67% government-aided), and all major regions now host at least one public university.
She commended Lira University for offering market-relevant academic programmes and equipping graduates with employable skills.
Private Sector Holds the Jobs
Alupo reminded graduates that the public sector employs only 469,216 people out of Uganda’s 46 million citizens, underscoring the need for graduates to innovate and seek opportunities in the private sector.
She added that the NRM Government continues to create a favourable environment for investment, industrialisation and job creation.
“When we import, we donate jobs to foreigners. More industries here mean more jobs for our children,” she noted.
The Vice President also encouraged graduates to uphold discipline, integrity, excellence, and responsible lifestyles.
University Leaders Commend Government Support
Chancellor Justice Dr. Benjamin Joses Odoki praised President Museveni for ongoing infrastructural investment and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to quality teaching and impactful research. He noted that Lira University’s alumni had gained a reputation for “effective and efficient service delivery” in workplaces across the country.
Minister for Higher Education Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, represented by Geoffrey Onyango, applauded the university’s growth and efficiency—particularly its ability to issue transcripts and certificates on graduation day, a practice many institutions struggle to maintain.
VC Calls for More Funding
Vice Chancellor Prof. Jasper Ogwal-Okeng expressed gratitude to the government for supporting campus expansion but appealed for additional funding for:
• student hostels,
• staff housing, and
• tarmacking of the university’s 26km internal road network.
Celebrating a Decade of Impact
As Lira University marks ten years of existence, the 7th graduation ceremony highlighted not only academic achievement but also the institution’s growing role in northern Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
