FORMER WESTERN REGION YOUTH CONTESTANT: Hon. Arinda Daisy Kankiriho Graduates with Civil Engineering Degree at MUST.

By Musa Rwamigoye 

 

Former Western Region Youth Member of Parliament and former Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) Guild President, Hon. Arinda Daisy Kankiriho, has graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering.

Hon Daisy was among the graduands who were conferred degrees in today’s graduation ceremony held at the university’s Kihumuro main campus in Mbarara City.

The 33rd graduation ceremony of Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) took place at the Kihumuro Main Campus Grounds in Mbarara City, along Mbarara-Bushenyi main road after Mbarara-Bushenyi-Ibanda-kamwegye round about and Hon. Sanjay Tanna, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives was the Guest Speaker at the 33rd Graduation.

 

The young engineer, who hails from Kiruhura District, is the daughter of the late Brig. Gen. Patrick Kankiriho and Ms. Deborah Kyokunda Kankiriho.

She attended Greenhill Academy Kibuli and Kampala Parents School for primary, Kings College Budo for O-Level, Vienna College Namugongo for A-Level, before joining MUST where she pursued Civil Engineering.

 

At MUST, Kankiriho made history as the 36th Guild President and the third female guild president in the university’s history, after Sheila Nduhukire and Mariam Iculet Arikosi. She was also the first guild president to come from the Kihumuro Campus, the home of engineers.

Contesting as an independent candidate in May 2024, she garnered 1,499 votes to win the guild race, having served as Vice Guild President in the previous term.

Her leadership at MUST propelled her to national politics where she later served as the Western Region Youth MP.

 

Speaking after her graduation, friends described her as a focused, service-oriented leader who has balanced politics and academics with distinction.

“Leadership is about serving others,” she said in a past interview. “I get satisfaction when I have helped solve someone’s challenge.”

With her new qualification, Hon. Arinda adds the title of Engineer to her profile, becoming one of the few young female leaders in Uganda with both political and professional engineering credentials.

 

The Ministers, opinion leaders, university community and youth from Ankole and Western Uganda have congratulated her upon the milestone. 

On her X page, Hon Daisy who is now a civil engineer posted “My world ; my mother I am glad you get to smile ❤️ With God on my side ;one day we promise to give you the world.”

Later she also posted “God you are great. Today I officially get to be called a Civil Engineer . Your too faithful to fail me ❤️”.

Furthermore on Xpage, Hon Frank Tumwebaze Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries also congratulated Hon Daisy as posted “Congratulations Akaishikyi Ka Munywani-wangye on this great milestone of graduating as a Civil Engineer… Though my brother is gone , he must be smiling & proud of you from his world. I wish you blessings my girl.. Keep putting your trust in God!”

Also Mr. Mukago Dan Rutetebya Chairman LCV, Kiruhura District congratulated her on his Xpage “Congratulations Eng.Arinda”

 

Hon Daisy is the daughter of the late Brigadier Patrick Kankiriho, a highly respected Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) ommander who is remembered for leading successful operations against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Northern Uganda and contributing to regional peace efforts.