By Isaac Akugizibwe

KIU, Main Campus- Former KIU Guild Union Attorney Sharif Ntume says he used his time at Uganda's leading private university while harnessing social capital alongside gathering academic knowledge. Ntume, currently at LDC, Mbarara Campus, is excited that he will receive honors for a bachelor of laws at KIU's 30th graduation ceremony on November 23rd, 2024.

Ntume is a member of a distinguished group, from which came two guild presidents, Moses Ebye and Godfrey Agaba, alongside whom he will graduate this Saturday, November 30th, 2024. That aside, he served as minister for justice and constitutional affairs in two consecutive Guild Union governments.

"I have always been a leader right away from my former school. When I joined KIU, I associated myself with very many clubs and different activities. I was the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister for two Guild Union regimes 2022/2023 and 2023/2024," he explained.

"I was the public relations officer (PRO) for the Kampala International University Muslim Students Association and once the chairperson of the Legal Committee of the Students Initiative for Human Rights. I was also the principal coordinator for the prestigious Forum for Ideas (FFI) and I have been the class coordinator for my class," he added. 

These leadership positions exposed Ntume to many people in and beyond KIU, which expanded his social capital tremendously. 

"First of all, holding different positions has strengthened my social capital; I have been in a position to know a number of people. At least I know 90% of the law students on campus. Many students got to know me as Chief Justice for the position I have held for two years. I don't take that for granted," he narrated. 

"Secondly, my leadership skills have been built; a case in point is when I was the Principal Coordinator of FFI. I learnt a lot, and this is due to a number of mentorship series and guidance from FFI Senior Members like Mr. Obadia Ismael Otim, our patron. I am surely proud of FFI," he added.

When asked about what he enjoyed most in the four years at KIU, Ntume said, I enjoyed so much the leadership positions I held, and I think that's one thing that has been giving me happiness." 

"Two, I enjoyed the course I was doing. I really enjoyed reading the law, and sometimes I could miss reading cases. It's funny, but that's it. Three, I liked being with my friends, and I am proud of the family I have got from KIU.

Ntume joined KIU in August 2020 and was greatly attracted by the institution's international reputation and diversity in population. 

"When I was at my former school, Kyagambiddwa Senior Secondary School, we used to admire students in big schools and mostly international schools. I got to know Kampala International University when I had come to Kampala for my first time to study at the university. I was so much impressed that it was an international university. Coming from a village school, I saw this as an opportunity for me to socialize with students from all over the world," he explained.

 Message to Fellow Graduands

The advice I give my fellow graduands is for us all not to think that having graduated we are so special. We have grown up hearing that education is the key to success, but experience shows that it's not. Trustworthy and hard work is the key. The degree we have attained will not feed us because actually very many people are educated. Education is just helping us to make it somehow easy for us to achieve. However, the rule of the game shall always be "without hard work, no success." 

Future Endeavors

Currently, I am undertaking a postgraduate diploma in legal practice at the Law Development Centre-Mbarara campus. For the whole of next, I will still be focusing on passing LDC very well. Personally, I am so flexible that whatever opportunity comes to me at a particular time, I undertake it. As such, what to do next shall always depend on the prevailing circumstances.