By Mercy Auma Gabriella
A team of three from the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Department of Computing and Technology went to Gayaza High School, upon invitation for a Careers’ Day on Saturday, June 18, 2022. The team included Justine Mukalere, Patience Ankunda and myself, Mercy Auma Gabriella.
We set off from UCU in a private 14- seater van courtesy of the University. We carried along with us branded publicity materials, including UCU brochures, banners and flyers. But most importantly, our UCU-molded personality.
On sight, we were greeted by the Head Girl of Gayaza High School, who led us past the other teams from companies ad organizations like the Ministry of Works, Law Society, and Civil Aviation Authority, among others. She ushered us to a tent labeled “UCU”. Before we could even start setting up, a swarm of girls gathered around hovering over us with anticipation to hear what we had to share with them. Immediately, we introduced ourselves and began to interact with the young women.
The Career Day was organized in a way that Senior six and Senior five girls had the first hour of interaction with all the facilitators. They would then be followed by Senior four and Senior three girls for the next hour, then lastly, the Senior two and Senior one girls.
Our Experience: “Demystifying Uganda Christian University”
I speak for my colleagues when I say, the Gayaza girls were highly inquisitive: They wanted to know what UCU is, what it stands for, and how the university could serve their diverse career path interests.
Some of them had myths UCU was “strict” and “law and theology-centered”. In fact, they may have been surprised that we were wearing trousers instead of extremely long, nun-like skirts. In the delusion, they likened the strictness to that of a secondary school.
Blessedly, Ankunda and I, both of us alumnae of UCU, and most recent graduates readily debunked the myths, to the students’ satisfaction: Matter of fact, they later marveled at the fact that UCU has many science-oriented courses it offers including Engineering, Information Tech, Agricultural Sciences, Computer Sciences, Accounting and Finance, and many more.
In sum, several of the students that approached the tent with questions left satisfied and certain that the University had something to offer in order to support their different passions. From agriculture enthusiasts to robotics fans, the girls were each guided on the courses they could take to further their passions.
Overall, I would like to thank God, UCU, the Department of Computing and Technology, and the three representatives from the Department for making the experience worthwhile for both the students of Gayaza High School and the University as a whole. More outreaches need to be done so that UCU’s bright light that has been shining for the past 25 years, is not hidden.
