“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matt 7:24)
You are all warmly welcome! I especially welcome our dear First Year students in the University - this and other Universities.
Life is notorious for laying before you a wide range of options to choose from; and stepping into university is like entering a grand marketplace—rows upon rows of stalls, each shouting for your attention. One stall offers late-night parties and laughter that fades with the sunrise. Another promises easy money through “just this once” shortcuts. Another draws you into endless debates about whether God is real or merely a comforting story. Some stalls display shelves of books and the quiet hum of disciplined study. Others offer friendship, some genuine, some treacherous. And here you are—wallet in hand, with time, energy, reputation, and destiny as your currency.
It is in such a place that a wise father warns his son: “If sinners entice you, do not consent… do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths” (Proverbs 1:10, 15). The advice is not a cage, but a compass. You may take it or ignore it—but you cannot escape the consequences of the path you choose. Jesus, after delivering His Sermon on the Mount, told His listeners there are only two ways to respond: hear and obey, or hear and ignore. Both choices look fine in sunny weather, like two houses—one on rock, one on sand. But when the rains fall, the floods rise, and the winds beat against them, the truth of the foundation is revealed. One stands; the other collapses in ruin (Matthew 7:24–27).
So it is with life here. There is what it seems to be at first glance, and there is what it will prove to be in the end. Not every crowd is worth following, and not every thrill is worth the cost. Some voices will tell you, “Everyone is doing it!”—but remember, “everyone” is not a safe guide when the crowd is heading for a cliff. I urge you, therefore: walk through this marketplace slowly. Look beyond the surface. Ask yourself—Will this choice still look wise when the music fades? Will it still hold value when storms come? Will I be proud of this decision ten years from now?
Life’s greatest treasures are often quiet—faith that anchors you, friendships that sharpen you, knowledge that equips you, and habits that shape your character. No matter which stage of life you are at - it is not too early, and it is not too late: you have an opportunity to discover what lasts. Build on the Rock who is Jesus Christ. Leave behind what destroys. For in the end, your qualification will open doors, but your choices will determine whether you can stand inside them without shame. God bless you all!
Rev. Eng. Dr. Emmanuel Mwesigwa - CHAPLAIN