KIU, Western Campus – As the lockdown, which was extended by President Yoweri Museveni for another 21 days on 14th, April crawls on, many KIU Western Campus students are looking for new ways of keeping themselves busy. 

Although they have their studies to contend with in regards to e-learning platform, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

In this regard, Alfred Omwony, a second-year medical student who is quietly in isolation at his parents’ home in Kireka decided to take on a new hobby - graphic design.

After revising from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., Omwony gathers his manuals and tutorials, plus some videos he downloaded from the internet, and sets on polishing his graphic design skills.

“I did an online course in graphic design last year but, I think it’s not enough. So, I decided to download some videos and tutorials, which guide me in my learning process,” Omwony said.

When we asked him whether it doesn’t pile on the stress since it also involves reading, he answered that though the tutorials include reading, it is not stressful because, for him, it’s a hobby.

“No, it’s not stressing. Because actually, it involves more practice than reading. The tutorials and videos just guide me,” Omwony says.

However, he also has other activities he engages in. His daily routine is generally the same; he wakes up usually at 7:00 A.M. and meditates for 30 minutes, before writing a poem.

He then has breakfast and does some house chores, rests a bit and has lunch. Later in the afternoon, he revises for two hours, works on his graphic design skills and writes another poem before having dinner.

“After dinner, I usually participate in an online debate forum called Timeless Mission. Immediately after the debate, I meditate and pray and then go to sleep,” he explains.

Omwony, who says he goes to sleep at 10:00 P.M., advises his fellow students to develop a new routine of self-enhancement towards a particularly valuable activity during this quarantine. 

He also advises them to keep safe in this lockdown because they have their future ahead of themselves.