Zadock Amanyisa || Tayari News
BUSHENYI – The Deputy Speaker of the 11th Parliament of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa has challenged Valley University of Technology (VUST) and other universities that have acquired charters to focus on good quality education delivery instead of rushing to offer courses that have no impact on society.
While officiating as Chief Guest at the 6th graduation ceremony of VUST in Bushenyi District on Friday, 9th January 2026, Tayebwa congratulated VUST upon attaining a charter status but said the milestone demands a lot, noting that getting a charter is a remarkable achievement and a clear vote of confidence in the University’s governance, academic standards and strategic vision.
“Attaining a charter within a record period of nine years as a private university is no small feat and places VUST among a few other universities in Uganda which have demonstrated a high level of commitment, discipline and alignment with the national higher education standards,” Tayebwa remarked.
Noting that the charter status positions VUST as a permanent pillar of higher education, research and innovation for Greater Bushenyi and Uganda at large, Tayebwa, who is the Ruhinda North County Member of Parliament, told the gathering that it confirms academic credibility, institutional maturity and national confidence in the University.
“Now we are going to demand a lot from you because without a charter, we would count you, but now you have come to a club of universities, where we demand more especially in terms of focused education, in terms of ensuring that you don’t divert and start running after money, and you go to courses that have no impact. So, as we celebrate, remember that the challenge has become bigger with a charter on board, but I am very sure that you will match the requirements,” he added.
He told the graduands upon completion of their courses that the graduation ceremony marks the successful completion of an important chapter in the lives of the graduands.
“You have demonstrated discipline, resilience and commitment, and you should be proud of your achievement. As you leave this institution, remember that graduation is not the end of learning but the beginning of greater responsibility to yourselves, your families, your communities and the nation,” he held
The Deputy Speaker reiterated the NRM Government’s commitment to supporting unemployed graduates with start-up capital in a bid to minimise the unemployment challenges.
“In the next financial year and other subsequent years, the president has already directed us to establish a graduates’ fund so that if there is any graduate who has spent two years without getting a job, they should be able to gain or access very affordable capital for the startups so that they can be job creators rather than job seekers. This is a strategy that the president and the NRM government have focused on, and I hope it will be one of the gains that you will protect come 15th January.” He pledged
VUST Vice Chancellor, Dr Enos Rwashema, said that the university is “steadily transforming into a centre of excellence through science and technology,” adding that the institution is committed to developing skills, fostering innovation and generating the new technologies that contribute to society advancement, including responsibility and self-motivation.
“We aim to achieve this by offering high-quality, student-centred hands-on education that selects sufficiency, planning, resilience, organisation, time management and confidence abilities.
We nurture innovation among our students and staff by creating opportunities for developing practical solutions to community challenges while actively engaging relevant stakeholders to address society’s needs.” He told the gathering
Over 700 students graduated in post-graduate, Bachelor, Diploma and certificate courses, of which 280 were males, and 452 were females.