Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth has urged Ugandan graduates to turn their academic achievements into practical skills, businesses and solutions, warning that certificates alone may not guarantee success in today’s competitive economy.Oboth delivered the message on Friday, August 21, 2026, during Makerere Business Institute’s 16th graduation ceremony held at the institution’s Makerere campus. A total of 564 students graduated with diplomas and certificates in journalism, ICT, business and finance.
The ceremony also marked 33 years since MBI began its operations, with Oboth using the occasion to challenge institutions of higher learning to produce graduates who are ready to respond to the changing demands of the labour market.He told the graduands that their certificates should be viewed as tools for opening doors rather than the final destination. According to Oboth, education should equip young people with the ability to identify opportunities, solve problems and create employment instead of depending entirely on formal jobs.The Speaker also called for greater attention to vulnerable children, noting that school dropout, teenage pregnancy and early marriage, child labour, drug abuse and mental health challenges continue to threaten the future of many young Ugandans.Oboth said Parliament would continue advocating for policies that support vulnerable children to remain in school while expanding opportunities for skills development and employment.
He warned that Uganda risks losing part of its future workforce if disadvantaged young people are left without adequate support.He further encouraged the graduates to embrace technology and artificial intelligence while preserving values such as integrity, good judgment and humanity. He said technological advancement may transform workplaces, but it cannot replace strong character and ethical decision-making.Kawempe Division South MP Madina Ntale also urged the graduates to embrace discipline, hard work and self-reliance as they embark on their professional journeys. MBI was established in 1993 by Nathan Itungo, a former Member of Parliament for Kashari South County.
