education 22 August 2026 Parliament of Uganda
Speaker Urges Graduands to Prioritize Innovation and Enterprise Over Paper Qualifications
Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oboth, has advised Ugandan students that practical skills, integrity, and enterprise are more critical for job market success than mere academic credentials. He emphasized the need for education to equip individuals with skills, character, and the courage to create opportunities, especially in the face of a rapidly evolving economy. Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/index.php/news/4574/speaker-graduands-embrace-innovation-and-enterprise
Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oboth, has urged Ugandan graduands to focus on practical innovation, integrity, and entrepreneurial endeavors for job creation, rather than solely relying on academic certificates. Speaking at the 16th graduation ceremony of Makerere Business Institute (MBI) on Friday, August 21, 2026, where 564 students received diplomas and certificates, Oboth stressed that education must go beyond documents to impart essential skills and character.
“Today you receive a certificate; tomorrow the world will ask what you can do with it. Education must, therefore, give us more than documents. It must give us skills, character and the courage to create opportunities,” Oboth stated. He highlighted the evolving role of tertiary education in preparing students for both national and global economies.
The Speaker also acknowledged the significant challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children, including school dropout rates, early pregnancies, child labor, and mental health issues. He reiterated Parliament’s commitment to advocating for policies that support these children, ensuring they remain in school and are provided with pathways to acquire skills and opportunities, emphasizing that Uganda cannot afford to neglect its future workforce.
Encouraging the graduands, Oboth advised them to embrace technological advancements like Artificial Intelligence while maintaining their humanity. He urged them to build enterprises, generate employment, and leverage their skills to address societal problems. “Artificial intelligence will transform the workplace, but it will never replace character, judgment, and integrity,” he remarked.
In response to concerns from private institutions regarding operational costs, the Speaker assured administrators that Parliament would work towards an enabling policy environment for affordable, high-quality education. Hon. Madina Ntale, MP for Kawempe Division South, echoed the call for hard work, discipline, and self-reliance among the graduates as they embark on their professional journeys.
This event also marked MBI’s 33rd anniversary, having been founded in 1993 by Hon. Nathan Itungo. The institution awarded diplomas and certificates in Journalism, ICT, Business, and Finance.
Source: Parliament of Uganda