IUIU graduand dies in road accident

MBALE. She was eager to graduate with other 2,668 students of Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) Mbale main campus but her dream was nipped in the bud after she died in a car accident on the eve of her graduation.
Shamim Mukera, who was due to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Secretarial Studies at IUIU, was among the 11 people who perished in an accident at Busoba Trading Centre, commonly known as Mailo Six on the Mbale-Tororo highway.

Daily Monitor has learnt that Mukera was travelling back home to Butaleja District after picking her graduation gown at the campus last Friday evening.
Mr Yunusu Hamila, the deceased’s elder brother, told Daily Monitor yesterday that his sister had gone to campus to pick her graduation gown. Little did they know that she would not return.
“Preparations for her graduation party were in high gear but it is so unfortunate she passed on before celebrating it. We are saddened by her sudden death and the family is devastated,” Mr Hamila said.

Mr Hamila, also the Butaleja deputy speaker, said they received a call from a stranger who broke the news of Ms Mukera’s death.
“My sister loved studies and she was a God fearing, loving and cheerful person,” he said.
Ms Sarah Naume, a friend of the deceased, told this newspaper that she received a call from the deceased at about 6pm last Friday inviting her for the graduation party in Butaleja.
“I was shocked by the news of her demise. She was a humble and religious young lady,” said Ms Naume, who could not hold back her tears.

Ms Naume said the deceased had planned to open up a stationery shop in both Mbale and Butaleja districts, but her plans have been cut short.
The Mbale District traffic officer, Ms Beatrice Apolot, confirmed the accident and said Tororo Cement trailer UAX 398N collided with a taxi UAT 963L that was heading to Butaleja District, leaving 11 people dead while others sustained serious injuries.
A medical report seen by this newspaper from police surgeon, Dr Bernabus Rubanza, states that Mukera died of multiple injuries on the head.

Government support
President Museveni has pledged to support the university in its pursuit to scale greater heights. President Museveni in his speech read by the Vice President, Mr Edward Ssekandi, also castigated the current education system, saying the country needs more scientists and technologists with capacity to create jobs.
“Our biggest challenge is not access to education but the quality of education,” he said.
He urged institutions of higher learning to incorporate skills in their academic programmes.

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