The University of the Sacred Heart Gulu (USHG) today celebrated a milestone of growth and mission as it graduated its fourth cohort of students in a ceremony presided over by its Chancellor, Archbishop Raphael P'Mony Wokorach. Celebrated under the powerful theme, “Be servants of hope guided by faith,” the event was less a graduation and more a commissioning, sending a new generation of ethical leaders into the world.
The ceremony marked the first graduation presided over by Archbishop Raphael P'Mony Wokorach as Chancellor since his installation as the second Chancellor in May 2025, symbolizing a new chapter for the university. The vibrant ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including the Bishop of Nebbi Diocese, The Rt. Rev. Constantine Rupiny; Gulu University Vice Chancellor, Prof. George Openyjuru Ladaah; and the Chairman of USHG Council, Prof. Ephipany Picho Odubuker who doubles as the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Muni University, alongside faculty, family, and community members.
Chancellor’s Address
In a moving homily and graduation address, Archbishop Wokorach tasked the graduates to see their academic achievement as a tool for transformative service, a call especially critical as Uganda approaches a season of national elections.
"The Archbishop emphasized that being a "servant of hope" is an active vocation. He urged graduates not to be passive observers but to actively engage with the world's challenges, using their knowledge to bring tangible solutions, healing, and light to their communities. He reiterated that being "guided by faith" provides the essential moral and ethical foundation for their work. This faith, he explained, would be their source of strength, integrity, and compassion, ensuring their service remains focused on the common good. The Archbishop also reminded the graduates that "in endurance, human deepest strength reveals itself," clarifying that this endurance is not passivity but a spirited and proactive perseverance in the face of adversity"
The Vice Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Jino Mwaka, highlighted the university's steady growth, noting its expansion from just 2 programs in 2017 to 7 programs today. In his address, he also issued a critical challenge to the graduates regarding modern technology. He urged students and graduates to be cautious of the use of technologies, especially AI, reminding them that
"the choice of comfort is the choice of intellectual deterioration."
This caution served as a powerful admonition to use technology as a tool for enhancement rather than a crutch that weakens critical thinking and human intellect.
Looking to the Future
The successful graduation of this cohort underscores USHG's pivotal role in the region as an institution dedicated not just to academic excellence, but to forming men and women of character and service, ready to be true servants of hope.
