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IUIU Rector Urges Students to Strive for Excellence

• 04th November, 2023 9:55pm
• 4 minutes read

The Rector of Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) Prof. Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda, engaged in a candid discussion with students to address pressing issues on campus with students on Friday 3rd November 2023 at the main campus in Mbale.

The event was attended by various university officials, including the Vice Rector in charge of academics Dr jamil serwanga, the Vice Rector finance prof Kaziba Abdul Mpaata, the academic registrar Dr. Halima Wakabi Akbar, and the university coordinator Mr. Siraj Mukhwana and other members of staff was aimed at enhancing the overall university experience, provide a platform for the academic leadership to engage with the student body directly addressing a range of issues and presenting solutions to enhance the university's operations.

In his speech, Rector Gyagenda expressed his affection for the students, He extended his gratitude to the university management team, the guild president, and the entire student body.

Gyagenda shared a bit of his personal history, revealing that he was born in western Uganda's Sheema district to an imam father and a peasant mother. His educational journey began in 1962 at Itendero Primary School, where he had to walk two miles to get to school. He shared memories of his humble beginnings, living with a prayerful grandmother, and emphasized that privilege should not be taken for granted.

He recounted his journey from being appointed as the first warden at IUIU to becoming the university's Rector.

The Rector delved into the history of IUIU, explaining that it began in 1974 following the OIC conference when Uganda became a full member of the OIC.

He highlighted that IUIU has distinguished itself as one of the most lenient and inclusive universities with core values centered on faith and creativity. The university is committed to becoming a self-sustaining institution through initiatives like a farm and a halal lab. Furthermore, IUIU aims to internationalize its offerings and is seeking sponsorships from OIC and other member states.

The Rector urged students to prepare for the world beyond IUIU by engaging in projects and activities that can generate income. He praised the dedicated team's efforts in maintaining the university's reputation.

During the interactive session, students voiced their concerns which included a request to review the 60% tuition policy to do tests by the administration, more support for students' activities like sports, water shortages, and slow work in the rehabilitation of washrooms in hostels.

Prof. Gyagenda emphasized that this policy could not be abolished entirely, as the university faces financial challenges that require substantial funding. He highlighted that many of the issues raised by students, such as facilities and inadequate resources, ultimately hinge on the availability of funds.

The Rector acknowledged the challenge Of the delay in the rehabilitation of the hostels and emphasized his commitment to addressing it. He mentioned the ongoing initiative to improve the toilets, which started with the construction of the Fass toilets, as part of his tenure's infrastructure development.

However, he cautioned that implementing all the solutions simultaneously might risk collapsing the university, emphasizing the importance of responsible financial management.

In his presentation, Dr Jamil Serwanga proposed an initiative to ensure that every room is equipped with a whiteboard. This step is intended to create a conducive learning atmosphere while also addressing the issue of financial mismanagement among students.

The Academic Registrar, Dr. Halima addressed concerns related to the timely graduation of students, assuring that the pass-out process would be expedited. The university is also actively working on providing health insurance to students.

The vice-rector for finance Prof Kaziba Mpaata pointed out that students have been tampering with water taps, leading to water shortages in various areas of the university. As a solution, these stolen taps have been repaired and welded back into place to prevent further incidents.

In conclusion, Prof. Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda emphasized the need for students to strive for excellence and work towards achieving first-class results in their exams. Prof. Gyagenda also urged the students to uphold academic integrity and avoid any form of cheating in examinations. He expressed gratitude to everyone for their sincerity and active participation during the deliberations. Additionally, he shared his vision of having paved walkways throughout the campus to address the issue of dust.