Former presidential candidate Prof VenansiUs Baryamureeba has said God has instructed him to join President Yoweri Museveni and his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Prof Baryamureeba told graduands at the second graduation ceremony of Ibanda University in Western Uganda that he had closely discussed with God on joining NRM.
“I have been having a close discussion with my God for the last two years and we have agreed together that I should join NRM as my political party,” said Baryamureeba.
Baryamureeba hails from Ibanda district, an NRM stronghold.
In the 2016 presidential election, Museveni beat Museveni in Ibanda district.
The country over, Baryamureeba polled 51,086 (0.55%) of the total votes cast while Museveni garnered
5,617,503 votes (60.75%)
In the heat of the presidential campaigns, Museveni stung Baryamureeba, saying he had failed to head a village — in reference to his role as vice chancellor of Makerere University.
What Baryamureeba said at Ibanda University Second Graduation Ceremony
Speech by the Chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba at the 2nd Graduation Ceremony of Ibanda University – Friday 26/ Oct/2018
The Guest of Honour
Honorable Members of Parliament Present
Distinguished Government Officials in your respective capacities
Religious Leaders and Judicial Officers Present
Chairperson Board of Directors and other Directors of Ibanda University
Chairperson and Members of the University Council
Vice Chancellor and Members of Management of Ibanda University
Members of Senate of Ibanda University
Distinguished People from Ibanda in your respective capacities
Staff and Students of Ibanda University
Parents and Graduands
The Media
Distinguished Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
I feel humbled and honored to officiate as Chancellor at the 2nd graduation ceremony of Ibanda University. Over the past 10 years, Ibanda District has transformed greatly and Ibanda University (IU) is part of this great transformation and success story.
However, in our vicinity there are other Universities like Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Kampala International University (KIU).
So it is important that Ibanda University brings out its uniqueness and establishes its niche for it to remain competitive.
On the other hand, Ibanda University cannot work in isolation; it needs partners locally, regionally and globally. Global education networks have made it possible for universities to share learning resources, teachers, libraries etc. like never before.
The starting point for Ibanda University is to identify key networks and subscribe to them to become a member.
This will not only raise the university’s profile and public image but will also create linkages that will enable it to undertake ground breaking research and innovations and impart 21st century skills to the students.
As they say “charity begins at home”; Ibanda has great sons and daughters in many high profile positions in Uganda and beyond. Let us rally them to support Ibanda University in various capacities.
We need to also rally academia from across the globe especially those who have retired to support Ibanda University from wherever they are.
For those who can spend a short period at Ibanda University campus should also be encouraged and supported to do so.
For any University to succeed it needs good students, staff, management, senate, council, and directors. Let me thank all of you for a job well done and urge you to keep the candle burning.
In regard to the students, Ibanda University should:
(i) Prepare the students for the world of work by imparting to them 21st century skills. 21st Century skills are 12 abilities that today’s students need to succeed in their careers during the Information Age.
These skills are intended to help students keep up with the lightning-pace of today’s modern markets. The 21st Century skills are:
1) Critical thinking;
2) Creativity;
3) Collaboration;
4) Communication;
5) Information literacy;
6) Media literacy;
7) Technology literacy;
8) Flexibility;
9) Leadership;
10) Initiative;
11) Productivity; and
12) Social skills.
(ii) Prepare the students to embrace the private sector through having startup projects and/ or companies.
(iii) Ensure that the students have role models including local role modes that they can relate to easily and be inspired.
(iv) Ensure that the students integrate with the community through engaging in community projects that are aimed at solving high impact community challenges.
(v) Enable the students to form business joint ventures.
(vi) Enable students to be innovators in areas they are passionate about. You can not give what you don’t have. Get innovators to interact with the students and inspire them to innovate. The University must create an innovation culture… I will also personally spare 2-4 weeks annually to come to Ibanda University and share with the students.
Now to you Graduands of class 2018, what is it that is going to propel you to success? Its just simple- dream big and work hard on your dream(s). So as graduates you need to face the world head on and with determination to succeed. There are a few basics that should be part and partial of your daily life; namely:
(i) Develop a saving culture so that you can accumulate funds for investment in gainful ventures.
(ii) Work hard … hard work pays.
(iii) Persevere and never give up … Most people give up at a time when success is about to strike i.e. when success is about to knock on the door.
(iv) Build your network… your network is your net worth.
(v) Choose your friends wisely … “Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are.” Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future’’.
This is to say that you can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. The bible says we must choose our friends wisely, and if we walk with the wise we will become wise.
Specifically, in Proverbs: 13.20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
(vi) Just know that humility is a virtue; so be humble; humble yourself before others.
(vii) Plan for your career path.
(viii) Protect your reputation. Proverbs 22 has good guiding verses and I will quote a few here for you:
1 If you have to choose between a good reputation and great wealth, choose a good reputation.
2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The Lord made them both.
3 Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later.
4 Obey the Lord, be humble, and you will get riches, honor, and a long life.
5 If you love your life, stay away from the traps that catch the wicked along the way.
6 Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life.
11 If you love purity of heart and graciousness of speech, the king will be your friend.
12 The Lord sees to it that truth is kept safe by disproving the words of liars.
13 Lazy people stay at home; they say a lion might get them if they go outside.
(ix) Exploit your talent while still on earth.
Traditionally, the parable of the talents has been seen as an exhortation to Jesus’ disciples to use their God-given gifts in the service of God, and to take risks for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
These gifts have been seen to include personal abilities (“talents” in the everyday sense), as well as personal wealth.
Matthew 25:14-30 talks about the Parable of the Talents:
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
So ladies and gentlemen what ever talent you have put it to good use so that you can fully account to God when the time finally comes without any regrets.
For God and my country, I thank you.
