A group of nine students who have been taken care of by Kabale Diocesan Office of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) have graduated across different universities. 7 of the students graduated at Kabale University on Friday, October 25 2024, while another one graduated at Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara and the other graduated from Marwadi University in Gujarati, India.
Speaking at a reception prepared by the Kabale Diocesan Office which looks after orphans and Vulnerable Children, the project’s Business manager, Mr. Everest Tumwekwase thanked the graduates for achieving their desired goals and persisting to remain in school till the end. He said the reason for gathering them is to congratulate them upon graduation.
We started when we had many children, but a number of members dropped along the way. But we thank you for persisting up to the end. Congratulations. Thank you for your resilience, determination and hard work – Everest Tumwekwase.
The names of students who graduated are:
1. Ishimwe Jonan with Bachelor of Arts with Education
2. Owayezu Jeniviva with Bachelor of Arts with Education (Kabale University).
3. Mucunguzi Vincent with Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Kabale University).
4. Nabireba Cosma with Bachelor of Agriculture and Land Use Management (Kabale University).
5. Kyomugisha Immaculate Bachelor of Agriculture and Land Use Management (Kabale University).
6. Timwine David with Bachelor of Agribusiness Management (Kabale University).
7. Atuheire Patricia with Bachelor of Information Technology (Kabale University).
8. Ahereza Savior with Bachelor of Laws (Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara).
9. Akakikunda Maria Bridget with Bachelor of Pharmacy (Marwadi University in Gujarati, India).
The graduates expressed their appreciation and gratitude to Kabale Diocese for supporting them in pursuit of their education. They promised to also extend a helping hand once they have been employed. One of the graduates, Ms. Akakikunda Maria Bridget, a graduate of Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy from India, thanked Kabale Diocese which incorporated her into its family and paid her school fees, to the extent that she got a scholarship to study Pharmacy from India
The members of the committee for the project expressed their appreciation to the graduates and congratulated them upon the success they had registered. Mrs. Edvinah Tugume, one of the committee members said they had called the graduates together, not to admonish them this time but to celebrate their success and to congratulate them upon graduation in different courses. She thanked them for being patient since studying for a degree needs patience.
Mrs. Jacinta Tinzarwa whom children of the project call ‘kaaka’ said that graduating with a degree is saying thank you to the sponsors and to the students themselves. She advised them not to be swallowed by the world now that they are going into it looking for jobs and settlement, but to face it with hope and enthusiasm.
Always remember where you came from and remember that there is somebody who has been caring for you. Thank you for persisting to the end and keep your sponsors in prayers and do not forget that you are still members of this project. Congratulations once again – Jacinta Tinzarwa.
Mr. Begambagye Silver, also a member of the board and retired Secondary School Headteacher said that the wealth of a parent or guardian is the educated child. He thanked Bishop Callist Rubaramira for initiating this project to help the children. He also appreciated the graduates for having succeeded in their education journey. He urged them to remain disciplined and continue working hard and above all remain God fearing in order to be successful in life. He implored the graduates to exploit all the available avenues and go for further studies since life is full of competition.
The vision of the project of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Kabale Diocese has been to make formal education accessible to the needy orphans and vulnerable children as means to alleviate poverty in the community, thus creating loving and nurturing homes for orphaned children. Since its inception in 2003, about 400 children have so far benefited from the program and over 500 are still benefitting, in primary schools, secondary school, vocational/technical schools and universities.