The Chief Guest, 
The Chancellor of Kampala International University, 
Honorable Ministers 
Your Excellencies Ambassadors & High Commissioners;
Honorable Members of Parliament
Chairman and Members of the Board of Trustees
Vice-Chairperson and Members of the University Council
Vice-Chancellor Kampala International University
Vice-Chancellors of Other Universities
Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Other Members of KIU Management
KIU Academic, Administrative, and Support Staff
KIU Student Guild Leadership
Parents and Guardians
Graduands
Ladies and Gentlemen; in your respective capacities;

WELCOME REMARKS
On behalf of the Kampala International University Council and on my own behalf, I warmly welcome you to the 25th graduation ceremony (the 1st physical graduation after the COVID-19 lockdown) being held on 11th June 2022, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. I congratulate the young men and women for their various academic achievements and their parents, guardians, and sponsors for supporting their academic endeavors. Let me recognize and thank my colleague Council members for the great support they give me as Chairperson to execute our mandate as provided for by the University Charter.

Mr. Chancellor (in absentia but represented here by the Vice-Chancellor as per the Charter), Sir, allow me to congratulate you, the Board of Trustees, the University Council, and the entire University Management on this great achievement which is a clear demonstration that indeed KIU is the best private and 2nd overall University in Uganda. KIU keeps demonstrating its capacity as a learning organization, that is ready to successfully face the challenges that have resulted from the pandemic and related effects. I thank both staff and students for their resilience, clearly exhibited during the recent hard times. 

It is common knowledge that many institutions have been adversely affected and their activities significantly disrupted by Covid-19; and it’s only those that were willing to learn and move forward that have managed to stay afloat, KIU being one of the few of them. I am glad that Kampala International University has led on this front, which is highly attributed to the commitment of all stakeholders of KIU, especially the Chairman Board of Trustees, Al-Hajj Dr. Hassan Basajjabala, and his entire Board.

Chairman Board of Trustees Scholarship  
As may be known, one of the Committees of the University Council is the Appointments and Promotions Committee, which has done a great job in consideration of staff promotions and staff development drives. I wish on this note to congratulate all our staff who were recently promoted to various academic ranks, including Professors. This will no doubt make KIU maintain a high caliber of senior staff to advance teaching and learning, research and innovation, and our community outreach programmes. I also wish to thank the Chairman BOT Hajj Hassan Bassajjabalaba who has offered a 50% tuition fees waiver to postgraduate students enrolling in the 2022/2023 Academic year. This will go a long way as a covid-19 relief strategy that will offer opportunities to humanity globally at this time of great financial and economic hardships. This is a huge milestone in human capital development, with more staff expected on the staff development programme for a sustainable staff capacity supply, especially in the engineering, law, and health sciences.

I commend the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mouhamad Mpezamihigo for his able leadership, the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, the entire management team, the University Senate, academic and non-academic staff, students, our strategic partners, and all key stakeholders that have played different key roles in supporting KIU to make this tremendous contribution to the education sector.

Mr. Chancellor, Sir, I wish to reiterate the exceptional commitment and enormous support of the entire University Council to the vision of KIU. I would like to congratulate the Honourable members of the University Council who continuously and expeditiously bring their intellect and wealth of professional experience to the Council. 

TO THE GRADUANDS:
When I look back now it is clear that when I graduated in 1982 it was just the beginning and so much has happened since then. Sooner than you think, you too will look back on 2022 and say to yourself that it is still the beginning. Let me say that in a world that is on the move, you should be proud for having accomplished what you started. If you are wondering what to do next, KIU is an option - getting back into a new-graduate mindset might help you get back into action and connect with the world. If you want to change the world you must be willing to take risks to have a chance to use your talents when and where they matter most.

Congratulations once again to the graduates, the staff, parents and guardians, and all KIU’s stakeholders. I wish you all a safe journey back home. Have blessed celebrations and stay safe

Prof. Fred Wabwire Mangen, MBChB, DTM&H, MPH, PhD
CHAIRPERSON, KIU UNIVERSITY COUNCIL