By Cybernewsug News Desk
KAMPALA, UGANDA — October 19, 2026
Jay Sakaria and Meera Ruparelia represented businessman Dr Sudhir Ruparelia at Victoria University’s 10th Graduation Ceremony held at Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala, on Monday, October 19, as the institution celebrated the achievements of its graduating students and reflected on a decade of growth in higher education.
Sakaria, identified in reports about the event as vice chairperson of the Victoria University Council, and Meera Ruparelia, a member of the university’s Board of Directors, attended the ceremony on behalf of Dr Sudhir, the chairman of the Ruparelia Group, which owns the institution.
Their participation brought together the university’s governance leadership and the business group associated with its development at a milestone event celebrating students who have completed their academic programmes.
The two-day graduation, scheduled for October 19 and 20, is being held under the theme “The Future Is Here”, reflecting the university’s emphasis on innovation, technology, practical learning and preparing graduates for a changing employment market.
According to reports published ahead of the ceremony, the university expected approximately 2,500 students to graduate across the two days, receiving qualifications ranging from certificates and diplomas to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Sudhir Ruparelia’s connection to Victoria University
Dr Sudhir Ruparelia is a Ugandan businessman and investor whose Ruparelia Group has interests across several sectors, including real estate, hospitality, education and other services.
His investment in education forms part of the group’s wider business activities in Uganda. Institutions associated with the group’s education portfolio include Victoria University, Kampala Parents’ School, Kampala International School Uganda and Delhi Public School International.
Victoria University is a private higher education institution established in 2013. Its development has taken place within a broader environment in which private universities contribute to expanding access to tertiary education and providing training in professional and technology-related disciplines.
The presence of Sakaria and Meera at the graduation therefore highlighted the relationship between the university’s leadership structures and the business interests linked to its ownership.
However, institutional governance and academic administration remain important distinctions. While ownership and investment can provide resources for development, the quality of a university ultimately depends on academic standards, qualified teaching staff, relevant programmes, research and the achievements of its students.
The graduation offered an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of the institution’s wider community, including its academic staff, administrators, students, families and supporters.
Muganga recognises the university’s development
Victoria University Vice Chancellor Dr Lawrence Muganga has been associated with the institution’s focus on innovation, digital transformation and practical approaches to higher education.
A report published on October 19 by Spectre Media Uganda stated that Muganga acknowledged Dr Sudhir Ruparelia and the Ruparelia Group for their contribution to the university’s growth.
The recognition, as described in that report, placed attention on the role of investment and institutional support in developing the university.
No direct quotation from Muganga on the occasion was available in the material reviewed for this article. His remarks should therefore not be reproduced as verbatim quotations without an official transcript, recording or independently verified statement.
The wider significance of such recognition lies in the relationship between institutional resources and the ability of universities to expand academic programmes, improve learning facilities and respond to changing professional demands.
For Victoria University, the challenge is to sustain development while maintaining the academic standards expected of a chartered higher education institution.
A graduation centred on the future of education
The 10th graduation comes at a time when universities are increasingly being challenged to prepare students for workplaces affected by artificial intelligence, automation, digital services and changing employer expectations.
Victoria University has highlighted technology and practical competencies as important elements of its academic direction.
Its programmes include Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, Software Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, Nursing Science, Business, Journalism, Tourism, Agriculture and Education, alongside postgraduate courses.
These disciplines reflect the range of professional fields in which graduates may pursue careers, entrepreneurship or further studies.
The university’s emphasis on technology is particularly relevant as organisations across the public and private sectors increasingly use digital systems to manage information, deliver services and improve productivity.
However, possessing an academic qualification is only one component of career preparation. Graduates must also develop communication skills, critical thinking, ethical judgement, adaptability and the ability to apply their knowledge to real-world problems.
Universities are consequently under pressure to demonstrate that their programmes equip students not only with theoretical knowledge but also with competencies relevant to their intended professions.
For graduating students, the ceremony marks the completion of a period of study and the beginning of a new stage involving employment, professional development, entrepreneurship or additional education.
Why practical skills matter
Uganda’s labour market presents opportunities across technology, healthcare, business, education and other sectors, but graduates must compete for positions while employers seek people with relevant skills and experience.
This has increased attention on work-integrated learning, internships, industry partnerships and practical assignments that help students connect classroom knowledge with workplace requirements.
Victoria University has promoted practical learning as part of its approach to preparing students for employment and entrepreneurship.
For students in technology-related disciplines, this can involve developing the ability to work with data, understand cybersecurity risks, build software and apply digital tools responsibly.
For those pursuing health sciences, professional readiness includes technical knowledge, ethical conduct, patient safety and the ability to work effectively within healthcare teams.
Business and management graduates, meanwhile, need analytical skills, financial understanding, communication abilities and the capacity to make informed decisions in changing commercial environments.
The value of these approaches depends on their implementation. Practical training must be supported by suitable facilities, qualified supervisors, relevant industry engagement and reliable assessment methods.
As Victoria University marks its 10th graduation, the long-term measure of its progress will include the performance of its graduates, their professional contributions and the institution’s ability to maintain educational quality.
The significance of the 10th graduation milestone
Graduation ceremonies are important events for universities because they recognise the work of students and the people who support them throughout their education.
They also provide institutions with an opportunity to reflect on their academic programmes, organisational development and future priorities.
Victoria University’s 10th graduation represents a milestone in its development since its establishment in 2013.
The event brings together graduands, families, academic staff, university administrators and invited guests to celebrate the completion of academic programmes across several faculties.
According to published information about the programme, Monday’s ceremony is dedicated to graduands from the Faculty of Science and Technology and the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Tuesday’s session is scheduled to feature graduates from the Faculty of Business and Management and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The arrangement allows the university to recognise students from different academic fields during the two-day event.
The theme, “The Future Is Here”, also places the graduation within the wider debate about the direction of higher education and the skills required in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
For students, the occasion is a recognition of the time, effort and resources invested in their studies. For parents and guardians, it marks an important family achievement. For the university, it provides a moment to demonstrate its educational mission and future ambitions.
Balancing expansion with academic quality
As universities expand their programmes and enrolment, maintaining quality remains essential.
Higher education institutions must ensure that students receive appropriate instruction, have access to learning resources and are assessed according to established academic requirements.
They must also remain responsive to developments in their respective industries without allowing short-term market trends to undermine the depth and credibility of their programmes.
Technology-related courses, for example, require regular curriculum reviews because digital tools and professional practices change rapidly. Health programmes require strong practical training and adherence to relevant professional standards, while law and business programmes must equip students to understand complex institutional and commercial environments.
Victoria University’s next phase of development will therefore depend on how effectively it combines innovation with sound academic governance and quality assurance.
Investment and leadership can support institutional growth, but public confidence also depends on transparent operations, credible qualifications and demonstrable outcomes for students.
The graduation milestone provides a useful point at which to assess these priorities as the institution continues to position itself within Uganda’s higher education sector.
Looking beyond the ceremony
The attendance of Jay Sakaria and Meera Ruparelia on behalf of Dr Sudhir Ruparelia placed the university’s ownership and governance connections among the notable aspects of the 10th graduation ceremony.
Their participation coincided with a celebration of academic achievement and the institution’s stated commitment to preparing students for a changing professional environment.
Yet the lasting significance of the event will extend beyond the ceremony itself.
For the graduands, success will increasingly be measured by their ability to apply what they have learned, continue developing their skills and contribute meaningfully to their communities and professions.
For Victoria University, the milestone brings both recognition and responsibility: to build on its development, strengthen academic quality and ensure that its programmes remain relevant to Uganda’s social and economic needs.
As the institution celebrates its 10th graduation, the achievements of the Class of 2026 provide a reminder that the purpose of higher education goes beyond awarding certificates and degrees. It also involves preparing people to think critically, solve problems, innovate responsibly and contribute to the future of their country.
For Cybernewsug, the key story is therefore not only who represented the university’s proprietor at Munyonyo, but also what the graduation signifies for students, their families and the future of higher education in Uganda.
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