By Isaac Akugizibwe

KIU, Main Campus -Allan Amanya has already pictured the moment his name echoes through the air during Kampala International University’s 31st Graduation Ceremony on July 26, 2025,  a moment he’s worked tirelessly for and will never forget.

Amanya, who enrolled in 2022, will receive a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management a degree he believes has armed him with the tools to tackle the environmental crises reshaping the planet.

“Environmental management is an all-round course,” Amanya said. “It’s unique because it gives you practical answers to the world’s environmental challenges.”

Leadership was as much a part of his university life as lecture halls. He served as finance minister for the Afro-Arab Youth Council’s KIU chapter, vice president and later head of general duties for the Tooro Students Association, and a Guild Union member of Parliament representing the School of Natural and Applied Sciences (2023-2024).

In 2023 he was also appointed cultural minister in the Guild Union and project coordinator for the Tooro Students Association.

Those roles, he said, taught him “how to mobilize people and resources” — skills he hopes to deploy in the fight against climate change at both national and global levels.

The road to graduation was not always smooth. During his first semester he nearly dropped out after failing to find affordable housing.

“Most places were very expensive and in poor condition,” he said. “I was ready to give up, but some friends helped me secure a decent hostel.”

With commencement in sight, Amanya is weighing his next move. He plans to pursue a postgraduate degree in 2026 and eventually work in policy or research aimed at mitigating climate change.

His advice to students still on campus: start strong, seize every opportunity and cultivate relationships with lecturers and administrators.

“Be committed from day one,” he said. “The connections you build here will carry you far.”