Pastor Nyamuhaki Partison of Jesus Generation Ministries Uganda has urged freshers to embrace purpose, responsibility, and perseverance as they embark on their academic journeys.
Speaking during the university’s orientation exercise today, 7th August 2025, Pastor Nyamuhaki, who is also a trained medical doctor, took a spiritual turn in his address, grounding his message in Ecclesiastes 3:1: “There is a time for everything, and everything on Earth will happen at the right time.”
“I am a medical doctor, but today I didn’t come to offer injections,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the students. “I also happen to be a spiritual leader and pastor with Jesus Generation Ministries. I feel privileged to speak to you, especially during your first days at Nkumba.”
He called upon the students not to forget the promises they made to God and to themselves before setting foot at university. “Many of us vowed to be responsible if only God helped us reach campus. Now that you are here, don’t let forgetfulness rob you of your assignment,” he cautioned.
Drawing from his personal experience, Pastor Nyamuhaki shared a deeply emotional testimony of how he got to university. “I don’t come from a privileged background. One Sunday, my church members collected Shs100, 500, some gave Shs200, others Shs1,000 to provide me with pocket money. I had a sponsorship, yes, but that gesture gave me hope.”
Pastor Nyamuhaki Partison // Joshua Baleete
He reminded students that, while it might not have been a church that financed them, someone somewhere made a sacrifice. “Someone may have given up buying land, a trip to Dubai, or a new suit just to make sure you reached here,” he said. “You are not alone. You carry the hope of your families and communities. Your younger siblings are watching you, believing that if you succeed, they too can make it.”
He challenged the idea that “the sky is the limit”, noting that “The sky is no longer the limit. You are your only limit. And that limit comes when you forget that for every season, there is a time.”
Pastor Nyamuhaki warned against distractions, particularly those that come disguised as fun and freedom. “You didn’t come here to trade or tour,” he said. “Not everyone who calls you to go on a tour to Jinja is your friend, not everyone who invites you to the ‘market’ has good intentions, you are in a vulnerable state, and people will be trying to find a way of distracting you from your goal. Remember why you came and stay focused.”
He emphasized that challenges would arise, both academically and financially, but urged students to stay resilient. “There will be mornings with no bread at hostel. That’s campus life,” he said. “You’ll feel unsupported. We’ve all been there.”
The pastor shared a moving anecdote from his second year at university: “It was so tough that I would wait for people to throw away leftover soap on Saturday, collect it, mold it together, and use it to wash on Sunday.”
At a particularly low point, he recalled being tempted to accept financial help from an older woman through a cousin, in exchange for companionship. “But I remembered those who believed in me, the church that had given all they had. I walked away from that temptation, walked all the way back to Camopus, and by God’s grace, I am here today.”
He closed with a powerful reminder from Joshua 1:9: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or discouraged. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
“To all of you feeling discouraged or overwhelmed already, remember: you are not alone. Every successful person has walked through fire to get where they are.”
Before concluding, Pastor Nyamuhaki led the new students in prayer, committing their academic journeys to God.
According to the Dean of Students, Mr. Christopher Kimuli, orientation is a key exercise held at the start of each semester to usher in new students & help them settle into university life. “With guidance, students can navigate university systems and achieve their academic goals.”