Meet Pius Lugonja, the Best Performing Student of the MMU Class of 2026
Pius Lugonja, a student of the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, recently graduated as the overall best student in the Class of 2026 at Mountains of the Moon University with a CGPA of 4.7.
He shared his story with Dorcus Murungi.
Who is Pius Lugonja?
I am a 25-year-old graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Mountains of the Moon University. I hail from Buwama in Mpigi District. My father is Mr. Dennis Ssebagala and my mother is Ms. Mbabazi Florence.
How does it feel graduating as the overall best student of the Class of 2026?
I was overwhelmed with joy, especially when my name was announced. I give thanks to Almighty God who enabled me to achieve this milestone. I am also very grateful to my lecturers and the entire MMU community for providing an enabling environment that made it possible for me to excel.
Can you share some tips on how students can maintain good grades while at university?
It is important for students to get serious right from the start of their course. There is a tendency for some students to spend much of their time partying and clubbing during the first year, only to realize later that they need to be serious when it is already too late.
Personally, I started concentrating from the very beginning. I later formed a discussion group with some friends, and we used to revise and discuss after classes. This helped me a lot to remain focused and contributed greatly to my good performance.
I was also motivated by visitors from Ghent University who came to MMU in 2023. They informed us that admission for a Master’s scholarship at Ghent required one to have scored an average of 70% in every course unit. This inspired me to work harder because I hoped to qualify for such a scholarship.
There are some students, especially the new generation (Gen Z), who think that Agriculture is only for farmers. What is your message to them?
It is wrong for people to think that Agriculture is only for farmers. We need to drop that mentality because agriculture is the backbone of our country. The agricultural industry is expanding, and we need to embrace it.
I am very satisfied that I chose to study Agriculture at MMU because it even gave me the opportunity to travel to Germany for a summer school at the University of Troisdorf. I do not think I would have received such an opportunity otherwise. I therefore encourage the youth not to despise Agriculture because it is actually one of the best courses to pursue, with many opportunities.
Is there anything in particular that you are currently undertaking?
Yes. I am currently working as a research assistant on several university projects. I also assist some students in my field with their research work. This is helping me to gain practical experience, and I am thankful to my lecturers for giving me this opportunity.
Does this mean you are already working and earning good money?
I may not be earning a lot of money yet, but I am grateful because my involvement in these activities helps me build networks, which are very important for any career. I encourage all graduates to take up opportunities that come their way, even if the pay is small, because this is how they gain work experience and exposure to the labour market.
By the way, how does it feel graduating from MMU?
I feel very confident that I chose the best institution for my education. Before joining, I knew little about this university, but I learned about it through a friend of my father who works in the Ministry of Education. He informed us that MMU is a government institution that is performing well.
I am glad that I joined this institution with committed staff and a very conducive environment for learning. If you are in your Senior Six vacation, I encourage you not to hesitate to join this wonderful institution.