It was beyond a motivational talk, but a real-life experience of his humble background rolled into the grace that Hajji Haruna Ssemakula shared with graduates of Munaka vocational training school in Mukono Municipality.
Hajji Ssemkula is a businessman commonly known as ‘Hill Water’, for owning quality water companies of Hill water and Hana Water that started years ago, and also Zaisafi company which supplies basmati rice in the country. He is currently the Mukono District National Resistance Movement Vice Chairperson.
After Munaka Vocational Training Principal, Rose Twinomugisha painted a picture of huddles most of the graduates underwent to complete their courses, Hajji Ssemakula assured them that they shared equal rights like any other Ugandan to have an economic well-being.
He opened up to them that as a teenager, entered into a fish dealing business at Lwazi Island for three years.
To avoid losses, he had to smoke the fish as the only preservative method at the time regardless of the challenges associated with the smoking kiln.
“We could dig the kiln, put banana peels beneath, and light them with fire to produce smoke, then put fish on the top. Smoke could get directly into your eyes causing irritation and soreness but could not scratch them with your fingers filled with black carbon stacked on your hands in the process of changing and turning fish.” Hajji Ssemakula shared.
Nonetheless, I used the fish project to buy an engine before buying a transport boat (ekinaala) plying the route of Mukono to Ggaba, which boosted my fish dealing business and the rest is history.
“To the graduates, my humble beginning was full of trials and errors but for you have been equipped with the knowledge. It is possible to start a business or a career and grow big, using the knowledge gained from your institution.” He added.
According to Hajji Ssemakula, becoming an expert in any field doesn’t necessarily connect to one’s origin but commitment and determination, networking, and positive attitude to work.
Munaka Vocational Training Institute located in Kigombya Mukono conducted its fourth graduation ceremony passing out 80 students.
These graduated in various disciplines including motor vehicle mechanics, automotive mechanics, electrical Installation, electronics, hairdressing, and plumbing.
Rose Twinomugisha, the Institution’s Principal told graduates that at the end of everything, there is always a beginning. She added that their graduation marked the beginning of their employment.
She implored them to use the utmost effort and the knowledge gained at the institution to create a difference in the world.
The Institution’s Director Richard Mubiru is grateful to parents and guardians investing in their children saying they have set a good future for them.
Munaka Vocational Training Institute started in 2013 offering three months of non-formal certificates until 2016 when it started offering formal programs of two years at the national level.
It prides itself on maintainable academic standards which enabled it to gain center numbers of the Directorate of Industrial Training-DIT and two center numbers of modular and levels at Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board-UBTEB.
Watch Video of the Graduation Ceremony Below
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