The Kyabazinga of Busoga, William Gabula Nadiope IV, has urged newly qualified healthcare professionals to become champions of preventive medicine and ethical practice as Uganda grapples with both infectious and non-communicable diseases.
Speaking at the sixth graduation ceremony of Lubega Institute of Nursing and Health Professionals in Iganga District, the monarch said healthcare workers carry a profound responsibility that extends beyond clinical treatment to safeguarding the wellbeing of entire communities.
A total of 600 students graduated with certificates and diplomas in Nursing, Midwifery, Pharmacy and Laboratory Techniques.
“Your qualification is not merely a certificate, but a responsibility. Communities will look to you for hope, healing and guidance,” the Kyabazinga said.
“Carry the values of professionalism, humility, honesty and empathy wherever you go.”
He noted that Uganda, like many countries, continues to face a growing burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases and called on health workers to play a greater role in prevention through community education.
The monarch encouraged the graduates to promote hygiene, nutrition, immunisation, maternal health and other preventive interventions that reduce disease burdens before patients require hospital treatment.
He also commended the partnership between Busoga Kingdom and the institute, which has enabled vulnerable students to access education through bursaries and scholarship programmes coordinated by the kingdom.
The institute's Executive Director, Prof. Dr Muhammad Lubega, announced that the institution is on the verge of attaining university status after a decade of expansion.
“From just 60 students in 2016, we now host about 2,000 students from across Uganda and beyond,” he said.
“We have secured a letter of interim authority and expect to become a fully fledged University of Science and Technology before the end of the year.”
According to Prof. Lubega, the institution has expanded its international footprint through academic partnerships, including a collaboration with Shenyang Medical School in China focusing on academic exchange and research.
He also revealed that a group of graduates is expected to travel to Germany under a programme linked to the Canada Education Council, offering employment opportunities in the health sector.
First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga praised the growth of the institution and pledged continued government support, particularly for its branch in Juba, South Sudan.
Kadaga emphasised the importance of specialised healthcare training, especially in caring for patients with special needs, as Uganda seeks to improve the quality of health services.
She also urged leaders to strengthen accountability in the implementation of the Parish Development Model and called for strategic engagement by Busoga's parliamentary representatives to advance the region's development priorities.
Prof. Lubega used the occasion to appeal for government intervention to rehabilitate the Iganga–Nakalama–Nawanyago road, saying the route is critical to the institution and surrounding communities.
Commissioner for Health Education and Training at the Ministry of Education and Sports, Hajati Safina Museene, reaffirmed government's support for private training institutions, noting their growing contribution to skills development and healthcare workforce training.
Uganda Health Professionals Assessment Board Executive Secretary Hellen Mukakalisa urged graduates to embrace compassion, humility and continuous professional development throughout their careers.
She said the growing demand for healthcare workers both locally and internationally requires practitioners who are committed to lifelong learning and maintaining professional standards.
Uganda continues to face shortages of healthcare workers in several parts of the country, particularly in rural areas. Government and private training institutions have increasingly expanded enrolment in health-related programmes to help bridge staffing gaps while also responding to growing international demand for skilled medical professionals.
The graduation ceremony attracted religious leaders, government officials, Members of Parliament and education stakeholders from across Busoga and beyond.