news Friday, july 29, 2022 ebenezer 9 First birding course students spread their wings School of Business By Eriah Lule (This article was edited from the August 2021 published version) Forty students who enrolled for the inaugural birding course class at the Uganda Christian University have flown the nest. The students, who have been studying since February 2021, graduated at a lowkey ceremony held at Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Nkoyoyo Hall in May 2021. They were awarded certificates recognising them as birdwatchers. The three-month course, taught as an evening programme, was conducted at the UCU’s Kampala campus. The course was made possible through a partnership between UCU and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, where the university won a sh238 million (about $65,000) grant to train students, especially those pursuing the degree of Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management in the School of Business. The students were taught the economic potential of the birding industry, important bird birding tour company, areas as well in Uganda, professional bird guiding as a career, marketing bird watching locally and globally, establishing and running a as conservation and protection of bird habitats. Uganda has more than 1,000 bird species, according to the African Wildlife Foundation, making the country one of the richest destinations for birding in Africa. More than half of the continent’s bird species are in Uganda. “We have a big gap in the tourism industry, but with such training, the industry will grow faster,” said Agnes Joy Kamugisha, one of the graduates. “During the training, I had the opportunity to learn how to associate with my customers, how to develop good business ethics, bookkeeping and many other things that Fact Uganda Christian University was I launched in 1997, with only 270 students. believe when I put into practice, my business will live to see its 30th birthday,” Kamugisha added. Mary Kajumba, an official from the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, who spoke at the graduation ceremony, said one of the major aims of the agency is to equip citizens with employment skills and empower them to be able to set up projects that can solve the high level of unemployment in the country. “Birding is one of the areas that doesn’t UCU Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi (second from left) helps cut cake at the birding course graduation. Also pictured are Mrs. Mary Kajumba of the Private Sector Foundation; Assoc. Dean of the School of Business Mrs. Elsie Nsiyona; and Dr. Martin Lwanga, former Dean of the School of Business “ Students were taught the economic potential of the birding industry, important bird areas in Uganda and professional bird guiding as a career. School of Law By Eriah Lule (This article was edited from the August 2021 published version) Amponda Kenneth Agaba believes that to rise, one must lift others. True to this credence, he has participated in many charity causes, while rising to positions of leadership. One of those leadership positions while finishing his Bachelor of Laws degree in 2021 was that of Guild President of Uganda Christian University (UCU). Among his charitable causes at that time was the founding of a not-for-profit organization, the Amponda Foundation, a vehicle to boost others. As a fourth-year student at UCU, and through the Amponda Foundation, Agaba was pivotal in the lives of students living in distress during the two lockdowns that Uganda had due to the Covid-19 Amponda packing Covid relief food items that were donated to the needy in 2021 pandemic. Uganda had a threemonth lockdown from March to June in 2020 and for 42 days, from June to July in the same year. “We came to the rescue of students, mostly those who were in hostels,” he said, adding that they provided food to students in hostels at Kyambogo University, as well as at UCU. In addition to the food items, Agaba said they gave out money to help students with other survival needs. The university students have not been the only beneficiaries of Amponda Foundation. Good Samaritan Primary School, an institution in Mukono for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), is one of the beneficiaries of the foundation’s goodwill. The foundation teamed up with the UCU Guild government, students and well-wishers from the Mukono community and mobilized resources, such as scholastic materials, sanitary pads and foodstuffs to help children at the school. The foundation also donated $225 toward the building of a PWD-accessible shopping centre in Mukono. While dishing out donations during the Covid-19 lockdown, Agaba’s charity struggled. He says the closure of education institutions was a barrier to securing more funds. That’s when a UCU alumnus, Herbert Mukuru, who also runs a similar charity - Upendo Mikono - came to the rescue. Agaba first met Mukuru at the latter’s restaurant. The next time he met Mukuru, he was in their class, soliciting donations, which they could take together to PWDs. need much capital,” she said. “I am convinced we are training job creators and not seekers…We hope that this project is rolled out to other universities being approved by the National Council for Higher Education.” Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, the UCU Vice Chancellor, said the course fulfills his objective of imparting skills-based learning. “I didn’t understand the aim of the project at first, until I was given a lecture on how practical it was, fulfilling my long-term desire of creating skillsbased courses that can bridge the gap between industry and the classroom,” Mushengyezi said. UCU is the only institution of higher learning offering a course in birding. Johnnie Kamugisha, a professional birder and the CEO of Johnny Safaris, is optimistic about the impact of the birding project. “This project will produce professionals for our industry. I assure you that with such a course, we shall uplift the tourism industry in this country,” Kamugisha, one of the course’s instructors, said. Ex-Guild President Amponda lightens burdens of the needy examples of previous help offered In 2016, when Agaba joined A’level at Gombe Secondary School in central Uganda, he successfully contested for the position of Scripture Union leader at the school. As a leader, he thought of a signature activity that would leave an indelible mark. At the time, there were brilliant, needy students who could not afford the fees at the school. Agaba and his colleagues rolled up their sleeves and began a fundraising campaign among students and other members of the school community to help these disadvantaged students. On many occasions, they contributed money to the school’s financial aid purse. From this purse, the school got money to meet the tuition fees of the students in need. At one point, they collected up to sh700,000 (about $200) from students, for this cause. And that was not all. Agaba also often rallied his fellow students to donate items, such as soap, which they would take to patients at the nearby Gombe Hospital. all over the country after
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