Category Archives: UCU School of Business

Top student abandoned scholarship at public university for UCU

November 3, 2023Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

Best UCU student Ninsiima Precious Claire (first class in BBA) receives her accolade from David Mugawe, the UCU deputy vice chancellor (finance and administration), during the commissioning service at the Mukono campus on October 12, 2023. — Best UCU student Ninsiima Precious Claire (first class in BBA) receives her accolade from David Mugawe, the UCU deputy vice chancellor (finance and adminstration) during the commissioning service at the Mukono campus on October 12, 2023

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Precious Claire Ninsiima, 22, is the best student graduate from the October 13, 2023, ceremony. The Bachelor of Business Administration student could have joined a public university, where she was offered a scholarship, but didn’t. Her mother chose Uganda Christian University (UCU) because of its moral principles and image as a Christ-centered institution.

“My mother saw that it was important for me to study at UCU because of its values,” Ninsiima said. “She believed those values would prepare me for the outside world so that no matter what I found after school, I would know how to navigate.”

Of the 986 graduates on the UCU main campus celebration in Mukono, 459 were males and 527 females. The graduation included graduates from UCU’s constituent colleges of Kampala and Arua campuses. Ninsiima starred among the 33 – 20 female, 13 male – who got first-class degrees. Ninsiima, who studied at the Kampala campus, shone as the overall best student with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.78. She was also separately awarded as best female student and best arts student.

Ninsiima shakes hands with retired archbishop Henry Luke Orombi after picking up her award. In the center is Church of Uganda Archbishop and UCU Chancellor Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu. At left is Ass. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, the UCU vice chancellor.

Gilbert Afema was the best male student with a CGPA of 4.60 in a Bachelor of Divinity. Martin Juuko was recognized as the top science student for scoring a CGPA of 4.50 in Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

To Ninsiima, the accolades served as proof to her that she has the ability to excel in any endeavor she chooses to pursue as long as she approaches it with determination and effort.

“It feels good knowing that I was the overall best student,” she said. “It also shows me that I have the potential to do well. I now know that if I put my mind to anything, I can excel at it.”

She commended UCU for instilling merits such as integrity and Christ-centeredness in students. She firmly believes that by embracing these values, students can become better individuals.

“I appreciate UCU’s culture of Christianity,” Ninsiima said. “I didn’t think that there would be an institution where you have something like community worship. This helped me carry on with my spirituality.”

Ninsiima juggled her books with leadership. She was the deputy finance minister at Kampala campus, class representative and chairperson of Class Representatives Association. She said it was tough to balance books and leadership, but because she was an evening student (studying from 5 to 9 p.m.), she managed fairly well.

“Regardless of how tough it got, I had it at the back of my mind that my education was a priority. So, I made sure that my academics didn’t suffer at the cost of leadership” she said. “When it was time for class, I would prioritize that.”

UCU’s impact on her went beyond academics to co-curricular activities such as sports and community outreach. These experiences allowed her to engage with the community and provide valuable service.

“In 2022, I participated in a sports gala which gave me a chance to interact with other students at the university,” Ninsiima said. “It also built team spirit within us at the School of Business as we worked towards one goal to win.”

Her memorable experiences include an outreach to a Kampala slum, where she helped to clean the environment, encouraged people to donate blood and taught residents how to make reusable sanitary towels.

With ambitions to excel in her career, she envisions entering fields such as financial consultancy, financial analysis or auditing, among others. Her passion for business stems from its potential for growth and financial freedom.

“With formal employment, you can only grow as much as your employer wants you to; at each point you have to ask for more salary or wait to get promoted, while with business, if you establish a good brand, and keep working hard, you are able to grow and have financial freedom,” Ninsiima quipped.

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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities, and services, go to www.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.

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Accident shattered Okoth’s leg, but not his dreams

September 20, 2023News, Students, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

Joshua Okoth (left) and a friend. With the help of an artificial limb and crutches, Okoth goes about most of his duties.

By Pauline Luba
When Joshua Okoth was asked about his favorite swimming style, he stared into the sky and, without any hesitation, said: “Freestyle.” He explained further, his choice: “It’s for yourself.”

Okoth was ushered into swimming first as a pastime. He was 12 years old when he went swimming with some of his childhood friends in Entebbe, central Uganda. Initially, Okoth had no intention of getting into the water. However, his friends encouraged him to do so. Once he gave it a try, he did not look back.

This 3.5-minute video, produced by UCU alum, Chris Mutch, shows Okoth in the pool.

For many who know about Okoth’s life history, seeing him as a swimmer is nothing short of a miracle. At eight years of age, one leg was amputated. Okoth was involved in an accident and the only way for his life to continue was to have the leg removed. When that was done, to many, they thought his life would be confined to a wheelchair. But Okoth had other thoughts. With the help of an artificial limb today, he goes about most of his duties.

When he learned how to swim in 2012, it took Okoth another eight years for him to consider taking it up as a competitive sport. He was a student at Nabumali High School in eastern Uganda, when the school opened its swimming pool.

The 23-year-old remembers being part of the congregation at Nabumali High School when one of the coaches recognized him and asked if he would like to join the swimming team. As expected, he was at first hesitant about the invitation. It took a lot of convincing before he decided to give it a shot. When he did, it took him three weeks to overcome the phobia. Okoth was assigned a special coach who guided him through the basics of swimming in a competition.

And now he is a proud swimmer.

“I don’t think of anything when I get into the water,” Okoth said, adding: “It’s a game I enjoy.”

He is constantly inspired by his parents whom he says he wants to make proud, as well as his friends, especially USA acquaintances who keep encouraging him in his pursuit. Okoth says he is who he is because of God’s love.

“I want someone in my condition to know that everything is possible. I dream about a world where the underprivileged are not discriminated against,” says Okoth, a year-one student of Uganda Christian University (UCU), where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance.

He had initially wanted to study to become a pilot, but Okoth says the high fees for the course turned him away from his earlier dream. He now hopes to qualify as an accountant, so he can practice accountancy in the airlines sector.

Okoth’s life goal is to see more support offered for people, and, indeed, athletes with disabilities. While growing up, Okoth says he faced many challenges, given his physical disability. Getting to school was hard, he said, because he had to use a wheelchair, yet his family was also in a state of financial instability. Okoth now is an advocate for schools to provide facilitation for students with physical challenges like his, who can bring glory to the institution through sports.

Okoth is the third born of six children of Emmanuel Onyango, a commercial driver, and Aidah Nabulo, a housewife. He attended Vision Nursery and Primary School, Manjasi High School for O’level and Nabumali High School for A’level. All the three schools are in eastern Uganda.

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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities and services, go to www.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.

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School of Business organizes entrepreneurship camps

September 13, 2023News, Students, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

Participants pose for a group picture with director Christa Oluka and the SoB staff.

By Kefa Senoga
In a bid to instill a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship among students, the Uganda Christian University (UCU) School of Business (SoB) has introduced an International Entrepreneurship Summer Camp to understand what it means to do business in Uganda.

According to Aston Aryamanya, one of the coordinators of the program, the camp was initiated as a result of UCU’s collaboration with Hanze University in the Netherlands. He said the camp is fully funded by the Hanze University Foundation.

Christa Oluka addressing participants at the opening of the camp

“One of the key areas of our collaboration with Hanze is entrepreneurship and promoting practical skills; this is where the idea of starting up this camp emerged,” says Aryamanya, a lecturer in UCU SoB.

From the ideation stage, Aryamanya said SoB has been working with the team from Hanze. However, for this particular camp, the students from Hanze will not participate, though they will be expected in the subsequent ones.

To get the students to participate in the camp, which took place from August 21 to September 1, a call was sent out to those in SoB to submit proposals, which they had to defend before a select committee.

Out of the exercise, 17 students were selected, with representatives from all courses in SoB —Business Administration, Human Resource, International Business, Tourism, Procurement, Accounting and Finance, Economics and Statistics.

Aryamanya said at the end of the camp, held on the Mukono campus, all the participating students were expected to come up with bankable and fundable business proposals.

“The key issue we are addressing in this training is educating the students to value their customer or consumer, to get to know what they need, what their problems are and how they can be addressed,” Aryamanya explained.

At the camp, the students were expected to visit the country’s body in charge of investment, the Uganda Investment Authority, to understand the policies that govern doing business in Uganda. Experts from the country’s business registration agency, the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) were also lined up to talk to the students about patent rights, copyrights and registration. Also, the students were expected to visit the country’s taxman, Uganda Revenue Authority, as well as Uganda Industrial Research Institute for further mentorship.

While addressing the participating students and the SoB staff during the opening of the camp at the UCU business hub, Christa Oluka, the Director of Academic Affairs at UCU, asked the participants to embrace the opportunity provided to them at the training if they wanted to create, and not seek jobs.

Oluka urged the team to find ways of solving community challenges, without necessarily duplicating what already exists. She expressed optimism that future camps will involve students from beyond SoB to be able to help them embrace the idea of entrepreneurship.

The Associate Dean of the SoB, Elsie Nsiyona, asked the students to identify what they have so that they can be able to leverage their competitive advantage.

Bulya Maria Anthony Cindy, one of the students who attended the camp, noted that she expected to learn a lot about the processes of business development and to be guided on the journey of generating ideas and bringing them to life.

Brian Muwanguzi, another student, expressed excitement about the diverse opportunities the program offers. He noted: “This kind of program allows us to explore various sectors and uncover unique ideas.”

Early this year, top managers from UCU and Hanze signed a partnership that was expected to lead to the setting up of an innovation hub at the UCU main campus in Mukono.

At the event, Vincent Kisenyi, the Dean of the UCU SoB, said the hub would widen the school’s scope of operation in training and empowering students by creating an avenue of engaging with the outside community.

In April last year, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, the UCU Vice Chancellor, visited Hanze University, where he established stronger ties with the institution’s administration.

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Ugandan athletes in World University games in China

September 4, 2023News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

Santos Okabo dressed in the Ugandan traditional wear of kanzu (tunic) and jacket at the opening ceremony of the games in China

By Kefa Senoga
When 33 student athletes from 10 Ugandan universities met in July to flag off participants to a global sports competition, one of the items on the agenda was to select the team captain. The athletes were heading to China’s Chengdu city to compete with students from more than 150 countries in the World University Games.

Santos Okabo, a Uganda Christian University (UCU) student in the School of Business, was chosen as team captain. Okabo, who had never been to a world competition, competed and guided others at the July 27-August 8 event in China.

Okabo (left) with UCU head of sports, Sam Rukaiire (middle), and another athlete

Okabo says his duties as captain included representing the team and country in meetings and other leadership engagements during the games. He also was expected to report to the organizers any challenges that Ugandan team members faced during the competition.

As expected, the second-year diploma student of business administration says one of the benefits he got as team captain was the opportunity to interact and share experiences with other team leaders, including sharing contacts with some of the leading athletes from other countries.

At the games, Okabo participated in three races – sprint race of 100 meters and two relay races of 4×100 meters. In the sprint race, where he emerged 6th out of 8, Okabo says he had hoped to perform better, but that two days before the race, he got sick, largely because he was not accustomed to the food being served in China.

He is, however, grateful that they were able to reach the finals in the 4×400 meter relay race, which he participated in with Chan-wengo Godfrey from Makerere University’s Business School, Akemkwene Peter from Ndejje University and Eyit Justine of Makerere University. In that race, the team broke the university national record for Uganda.

Okabo was not the only UCU student at the competition. Olipa Sharif competed in two races of 200 meters and the 4×100 meter relays. However, he and his relay teammates did not make it to the next round.

Okabo (back, left) during the relay race

The third UCU student at the competition was Nyamahunge Jacent, who got eliminated in the semifinals. In the preliminaries, Nyamahunge had emerged third in the 100 meter race for women. The athletes said UCU supported them by financing their requirements while in the camp, including paying for their air tickets.

According to Timothy Kabuye, the coach of the student athletes and one of 20 officials who went to China with the Ugandan athletes, the team could have performed better.

“Nyamahunge Jacent made it to the semifinals in her category even with a foot injury, Okabo ran a personal best while Olipa ran the second fastest best time in the 200 meters that he participated in,” Kabuye explained.

Next on the calendar of the UCU athletes is the Uganda inter-university competitions set for December.

Olipa Sharif and Santos Okabo after the race

At the Special Olympics World Games held in Abu Dhabi in 2019, Nyamahunge won Uganda its first gold medal in the 200 meters race, beating her closest challenger, Mayak Kimura of Japan, by more than four seconds in a lopsided race.

She is also a double gold medalist in the 200 meters and 100 meters at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games.

The other Ugandan institutions that had students at the event in China were Makerere University, YMCA, Bishop Stuart University, Gulu University, Ndejje University, Kyambogo University, ISBAT University, Makerere University Business School and Victoria University.

Okabo says he has been an athlete throughout school. While at Amuda Primary School in northern Uganda Okabo says he emerged the best runner in the Dokolo district, earning scholastic materials and a mattress as a gift.

“After my primary education, I joined Dr Obote College Boroboro in Lira district on bursary. Upon joining UCU, I was also given a bursary,” Okabo explained.

He says his parents — Otile Oscar and Apollo Milly — were good runners during their youthful years, and so are four of his seven siblings.

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New UCU graduate Wanyana narrates her medical school journey

August 28, 2023News, Students, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

Christine Wanyana in her graduation gown.

By Pauline Luba
In her early life, Christine Wanyana saw herself as a lawyer. However, all this was before she interacted with her Senior Four teacher of Biology, who saw her gifts with science. The year was 2016.

According to Wanyana, her teacher reasoned that it would be easier for her to study medicine because she was excelling in Biology. She followed her teacher’s advice and, on July 28, 2023, Wanyana was among the 45 pioneer students of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery course who graduated from Uganda Christian University (UCU).

“The major challenge with being a pioneer student in a course is there is so much uncertainty and, sometimes, that can be frustrating,” Wanyana said. She and her colleagues were admitted for the course in 2018.

She explained that at 16 years when she made the choice to study medicine, she had assessed the impact she wanted to make in the world.

“I believed that with it (pursuing a career in medicine), I could touch so many lives and be the change I wanted to see in the community and in the health system,” said the 24-year-old, who studied at Kampala Parents School for primary, Mt. St. Mary’s College Namagunga for O’level and Uganda Martyrs Secondary School Namugongo for A’level. All the three schools are located in central Uganda.

For those who know Wanyana’s family well, the choice of medicine as a career was not a surprise. Wanyana’s father, Henry Kajumbula, is a medical doctor. Her mother, Abalo Caroline, is a pharmacist. Her grandfather, too, was a medical doctor and so are many of her uncles.

As a student at the UCU School of Medicine, Wanyana says the disruptions caused by the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic were a setback to the momentum she had created soon after joining the school. Beyond the clinical aspects, the School of Medicine emphasizes mandatory community engagement programs, to enable the students to reach out to the sick. The approach is intended to cultivate character and instill empathy in future doctors. However, for some time, community outreaches were suspended at the UCU School of Medicine, in line with maintaining a social distance, a standard operating procedure in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Wanyana says because of the intense nature of studies at medical school, she found herself losing touch with many of her old friends. However, she is happy with the satisfaction that a career in medicine brings. During the time of the placements in hospitals, she says, work would at times get monotonous. However, the news of a successful delivery of a baby or reverting a patient’s medical condition for the better always brought smiles on the faces of the medical teams. She says there were sometimes patients got admitted when many thought they would not survive the sickness, but that such people often brought joy when they were being discharged.

Now that she has completed school, Wanyana is supposed to undergo a one-year mandatory internship in a government facility in Uganda under the supervision of a senior health practitioner. It’s upon the expiry of the internship that she will be eligible for employment as a doctor in Uganda. Wanyana eyes a future as a reproductive endocrinologist — a medical doctor with training to help women become and stay pregnant.

Wanyana also runs a home bakery, where she sells cakes and doughnuts. She says she enjoys chores that make her put her hands into good use. As a student, much of the money she used for upkeep was from the sale of her cakes. At some point, she says the orders she got increased the workload, that she had to turn down some, in order for the bakery business not to stand in the way of her studies.

Whatever she does, Wanyana says she draws inspiration from Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

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UCU aspiring leaders get help from F.U.E.L.

August 23, 2023Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, Students, UCU School of Business, UCU School of EducationPatty Huston-Holm

Some of the 25 pioneer members of the First Undergraduate Experience in Leadership (F.U.E.L.) Program

By Irene Best Nyapendi
The Uganda Christian University (UCU) guild government has started a leadership program, seeking to train students in management skills. The program, dubbed “First Undergraduate Experience in Leadership (F.U.E.L.) Program,” has been implemented at the University of Notre Dame (Indiana), Fordham University (New York) and Ohio State University, among other higher education institutions. .

“This program has given me confidence in the future of UCU,” said Timothy Ddumba, Mukono Campus Guild President. He believes F.U.E.L. will birth top-notch leaders while closing the gap of mentorship from one guild government to another.

“It is possible [for other guild governments to adopt the program] because the students trained might be part of the next leadership,” he said of the eight Saturday sessions with 25 student participants in June and July 2023. “The impact it creates could inspire the need to sustain it.”

UCU Guild president Timothy Ddumba addressing students during one of the F.U.E.L. sessions

The free mentorship and training program is meant for students who are interested in student leadership, especially those who are already leaders in the guild government.

Melissa Kamikazi Nsaba, the guild vice president, and Christy Asiimwe, the minister for presidency, are program leaders.

Asiimwe, a student in the School of Education, said the vision of the program is to be a foundation of transformational leaders who champion and spread the core values of UCU.

“One of the reasons why we started this program is to nurture transformational leaders who are ready to transform the university and the world in a Christian way,” she said.

Unlike F.U.E.L. implemented at secular universities, the UCU program looks at nurturing and equipping students with leadership skills grounded in Christian values. It is hoped that the classes will ignite leadership potential and empowerment among the students.

“I believe this program is good for the students because it helps them improve their managerial skills and abilities as future leaders, achieve better project leadership and improve risk management,” Asiimwe said.

She explained that by equipping and training those who wish to lead, those who vote them into power or are under their command are less likely to suffer the consequences of unsatisfactory and inadequate leadership.

Emmanuel Golyo, one of the beneficiaries of the program and a student of a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology, said he was taught what it takes to be a good leader. “I learned to understand and embrace the dynamics of the university and discovered how I can best serve to my fullest potential,” he said. He said the program helped him clarify his leadership and vision of self holistically.

During the course of the training, different speakers were invited to coach and mentor the trainees, speaking from real-life experiences.

Golyo said the program gave him a platform to understand the importance of team building and group motivation. “During each session we had a number of physical and interactive activities that nurtured in me the spirit of working with others on a project,” he said.

Mary Mangadalene Namwanje, a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration, explained that the sessions enlightened her on how to be a problem solver as a leader. She learned the characteristics of a good team and how to build it.

Namwanje is now knowledgeable about governing authorities, hierarchy and bureaucracy.

“Through the sessions I attended, I learned how to deal with different authorities, conflict resolution and decision making,” she said.

The students trained in effective communication, branding and documentation as well as public speaking.

“While attending one of the sessions, we heard testimonies from former guild officials. One of the things they shared was how to balance life, responsibilities, relationships and work,” Namwanje said.

The students also were taken through lessons on discovering themselves in leadership.

The F.U.E.L. Program is one of the pledges the guild president wrote in his manifesto on creating an environment to nurture future leaders. The seminars were sponsored by the guild budget.

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Vice Chancellor’s wife mentors students toward meaningful lives

August 21, 2023Students, UCU School of Business, UCU School of EducationPatty Huston-Holm

Some of the students who attended the inaugural May “Talk to Mama Pesh” mentorship forum pose for a photo with their mentors, including Mama Pesh.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Should I get into a serious relationship now? Is it the right time to get married? How do I know if I have the right partner? How do I know if I am in a bad relationship? What about sex? How do I achieve academic excellence with all these pressures? How do I grow my career?

Patience Rubabinda Mushengyezi, fondly known as “Mama Pesh” (short for Mother Patience), has been guiding Uganda Christian University (UCU) on these topics and more during monthly forums since May 2023. The monthly “Talk to Mama Pesh,” sessions are designed to be open, honest and informal.

Patience Mushengyezi addressing students during the first “Talk to Mama Pesh” forum. She was with fellow mentors Faith Musinguzi (left) and Jolly Kavuma.

Mama Pesh, wife of Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi for 26 years, has been working with university students for over 20 years. She has nurtured over 12 non-biological children from childhood to graduation. She is a premarital counselor for young couples, mentor for young adults and leader at church. She is a mother of four. She is a Deputy Registrar at Makerere University,

“I developed a passion to talk to university students about values and morals to help open their eyes on things that can destroy their lives,” she said. “These are issues such as addictions, which lead to mental challenges and failure to complete their studies.”

Mama Pesh said that she was further inspired by the Bible, in the book of Daniel 1:8, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself…”. Mama Pesh acknowledged that vices of drug or substance abuse, sexual immorality, wrong relationships and unwanted pregnancies are not limited to secular universities.

“I love the UCU motto of ‘Centre of Excellence in the Heart of Africa’ because my desire is to have academic excellence with values,” she said. “I am passionate about all students, both male and female. When we talk to them, they grow into responsible citizens, wives, mothers, husbands, fathers and have strong Christian families in the future.”.

Students discuss among themselves before the question-and-answer session with mentors at a “Talk to Mama Pesh” session.

One of the goals of the forum is to provide young people a platform to be mentored into leaders of today and tomorrow. The forum is meant to be “a secure space where young people can discuss freely with mentors about issues that affect their academic, social and spiritual lives.”

Mama Pesh emphasized that the end goal is to see that students achieve academic excellence with values. She also provides a safe space for the students that would like to share with her privately away from the presence of their colleagues.

Mama Pesh does the mentorship in partnership with the office of the Vice-Chancellor, Directorate of Students’ Affairs, the Chaplaincy, Counseling Unit and the Guild. In addition, she invites experienced counselors and mentors for the forum. The value of peer mentors is learning from someone who has more recently been where they are.

The forum has become a beacon of inspiration in the lives of UCU students.

Jackson Leoru, a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with Education, found the forum beneficial because it helps students prepare to be adults. “Through the forum, I got guidance to make healthy choices that create a positive impact in my life in school and in relationships,” he said.

He said he will pass along to others such learning as relationships need patience and prayer. “I learnt that sometimes you may see someone and think he or she is the one meant for you, yet they are actually not the ones, so we need to pray about it and also be patient.”

Natasha Alinda poses for a photo with Mama Pesh after one of the sessions at UCU main campus in Mukono.

Natasha Alinda, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, said the program is a good foundation upon which a student can build themselves “in order to be first and foremost a very good child to their parents, a very good student in school, and a good citizen in their nation.”

Through the forum, Alinda (a residential assistant at the female’s main university hall) has discovered the value of intentionality and self-worth. “I learned to value myself and carefully choose the people I associate with as well as the friends I make,” she said.

She adds that as a student, the talks have taught her to schedule and maneuver around student leadership, friendships and education.

“I am so grateful to Mama Pesh for sparing time amidst her busy schedule to talk to us and hold our hands through this journey of life at no cost because so many people are charged to get such guidance,” she said.

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UCU Arua campus hits 20-year milestone

August 11, 2023Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, News, Students, UCU School of Business, UCU School of Education, UCU School of Social SciencesPatty Huston-Holm

UCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi waters a tree planted at the UCU Arua campus during a visit in July

By Pauline Luba
From a trade school to a lay readers training college and now part of the Uganda Christian University (UCU) family, the Arua campus has shown a marked growth in both enrollment and importance to the community in the northwestern part of Uganda.

This year, the UCU Arua Campus marks 20 years of being part of the UCU family and 64 years of being a training institute. Before the campus was made a theological college and part of UCU in 2003, it was offering diploma and certificate courses in theology and also training Lay Readers in the region. However, in 1959 when it was established by the African Inland Mission under the leadership of its first principal, the Rev. Robert Booth, the institution was named the Rural Trade School.

When UCU took over the facility, it had four departments — Theology, Business Administration, Social Sciences and Education — all offering bachelor’s degrees. The facility also had 80 students and 27 staff. However, 20 years down the road, the four departments have still been maintained, but with an increase in student enrolment to over 650 and about 100 staff members.

UCU has since constructed a multipurpose hall, which also doubles as the University Chapel. Another building is the library and a block for lecture rooms to accommodate the increasing number of students. University education at the facility has been decentralized to train the much-needed human resource in the districts at more affordable rates.

In July, UCU Chancellor, who is the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu visited the facility, located in northwestern part of Uganda, for the first time as its chancellor, during one of the campus’ activities to mark 20 years.

UCU leadership, led by the Chancellor, His Grace Kaziimba Mugalu (center), at the celebrations in July

UCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Assoc. Prof. John Kitayimbwa and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) David Mugawe, were among the team that went with Kaziimba to Arua. While welcoming Kaziimba, the UCU Arua Campus Director, the Rev. Julius Tabbi Izza, said that he was optimistic for future opportunities of development for the campus.

He said the campus had become a home to a number of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic due to their huge presence in the region. Last year, the campus won a regional award as the best higher institution of learning in West Nile for 2022. The criteria for selecting the awardees involved assessing their economic sustainability, operational effectiveness, level of technology adoption, progressive leadership and culture, as well as social and community contribution, commitment and perseverance.

The campus, however, still faces a major challenge of threats on its land. Izza said that the about 100 acres that the facility sits on are under threat from some individuals in the community. Izza, therefore, asked for the process of transferring the land title from the particulars of the African Inland Mission to the trustees of the Church of Uganda or UCU to be expedited.

Among the plans in the pipeline is elevating the campus into a constituent college, a massive student recruitment strategy expected to garner 1,000 learners by next year, beautification of the environment and infrastructure, implementation of the multi-billion masters plan project, development of an endowment project and a staff recruitment plan as well. To achieve the intended plans, Izza argued that unity among the key stakeholders will be crucial.

Jimmy Siyasa, the UCU Public Relations Officer, said there was hope that the Arua campus would morph into a fully-fledged college sooner than later. “In short, there is much to hope for,” Siyasa said.

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Masendi grateful to the Navigators for transforming her life

August 2, 2023UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

Beatrice Masendi says when she joined the Navigators in 2011, she was able to fit in the group because of the mentors she was assigned.

By Kefa Senoga
While growing up, Beatrice Masendi says some aspects of Christian salvation did not make much sense to her. And that forced her to begin equating her faith to politics. All this happened despite Masendi being a child of a lay reader. Lay readers are non-clergy who are authorized to preach and to conduct some religious services, but are not permitted to celebrate the Eucharist.

However, some of the mysteries that Masendi had regarding her faith were unraveled when she joined Navigators, a ministry that shares the gospel of Jesus and helps people grow in their relationship with Him through Life-to-Life discipleship, leading to spiritual generations of believers.

Soon after joining the Navigators in 2011, Masendi says she was mentored in faith.

“It’s hard to understand the Bible sometimes,” she said. “But at the ministry, I was advised to pray before I read it, so that the holy spirit would guide me when interpreting the scripture.”

According to Masendi, it was initially challenging to fit in the group, but because she was attached to great mentors in the ministry, she was able to successfully go through this process.

At the time Masendi joined the ministry, which is marking 90 years of existence this year, she was nursing a son who had cancer. That meant that there were occasions she missed worship and prayer sessions to be at her son’s side. But it did not deter the people she often prayed with from always following up on her, to establish if all was well with her and her family.

At Uganda Christian University (UCU), the Navigators organization works closely with the chaplaincy. Masend, a Mukono resident,i says members of the ministry have not only had an impact on her life, but also on those of other members of the UCU community.

“There is a man who joined the Navigators and, after some few months, he invited his brother into the ministry. After a few weeks, he invited two of his sisters,” Masendi stated.

Narrating how most of the people join the Navigators, Masendi explains that when new believers are called upon to give their lives to Christ during the church service, the navigators team is always there to take them up for discipleship.

“They take your phone contacts and continue to follow up on your spiritual growth by mentoring you,” Masendi says.

“Sometimes, if my son needed urgent medical attention, I would miss the prayer sessions. I would call and tell them I was taking my son to the hospital,” Masendi said, noting that whenever they returned home, some of the people from the prayer group would visit them at home.

Eventually, her son died of cancer at age 15, in Senior Three. Two months after the death of her son, Masendi separated from the father of the boy.

“The Navigators did not abandon me, they were always calling me and sending me messages to strengthen me,” Masendi recalls. And this is despite the ministry being mostly composed of young people, some of whom have parents as old as Masendi, who is now 53 years.

“I got depressed after losing my son; when you face such issues, you need to have counseling,” Masendi explains, adding: “I am at peace now; I don’t have a high-paying job, but I’m satisfied. I have never slept hungry; my daughter is currently in Senior Five, and I pay my rent dues on time.”

Masendi earns a living by selling clothes, snacks and juice.

The mother of two says that she has also mentored many students into knowing Christ, most especially when she still had a business at the UCU School of Business at the Ankrah facility.

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UCU student dinners offer networking platforms

July 14, 2023News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Business, UCU School of Journalism, Media and Communication, UCU School of LawPatty Huston-Holm

Cutting cake at last year’s dinner of the UCU School of Journalism, Media and Communication (JMC) are (Right to left) UCU’s JMC Head of Undergraduate Studies John Semakula, Corporate Communications Manager at Umeme Peter Kaujju, veteran journalist and chief guest John Kakande, School of JMC Dean Monica Chibita, Managing Editor for Nation Media Group in Uganda Tabu Butagira and student leaders.

By Pauline Luba
“People are lonely because they build walls, instead of bridges.” That timeless quote, by Joseph Fort Newton, an American 20th Century priest and author, is relevant today and fitting to social and networking opportunities at universities.

For university students, including at Uganda Christian University (UCU), dinners among students, faculty and professionals are among the ways of building these bridges to support and not interfere with studies. Of the 11 faculties/schools, one third usually have such dinners.

The live band that performed at last year’s School of Journalism, Media and Communication dinner

In July last year, after a four-month preparation, the UCU community, majority from the School of Journalism, Media and Communication (JMC), alumni and invited guests descended on Silver Springs Hotel, Bugolobi in Kampala, for their annual media dinner.

Held under the theme “Media Ethics under Attack,” the dinner hosted students, UCU alumni, and media and public relations practitioners.

At the dinner, Ugandan veteran journalist, John Kakande, advised the students that to earn respect, journalists should be able to produce “believable, accurate and impactful stories.” It is such stories, Kakande argued, that will influence policy and bring the desired positive change in society.

From a meal and networking to live jazz music and speeches, most of which were by renowned media professionals who painted for the students a picture of the kind of journalist today’s job market needs, the evening’s activities gave the students value for their time and money – at just sh100,000 (about $27) that they paid for the dinner.

“We were blessed to have a very talented team,” one of the organizers, Elsie Tukahirwa, said when asked how they managed to pull off the event. “Many students offered services, such as photography and decorations, at a subsidized fee.”

A screengrab of Uganda’s Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka (left) presenting a plaque to a student at last year’s UCU Law Dinner. Right is Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi.

And several other faculties, too, hold annual dinners. The UCU School of Law, for example, also held its dinner last year, at an event where students used the opportunity to socialize. At the event, the student leaders of the UCU Law Society, an umbrella association of law students, were recognised. And this year is not any different. Students from both schools are again organizing their annual dinners.

Tukahirwa said it is the duty of the students to “push for their dinners to take place.” She adds that sometimes some students do not wish to have one, because of the level of commitment and engagement required to organize it.

This year, the UCU School of Business will host its dinner on July 22, at Silver Springs Hotel, Bugolobi. At the dinner, according to the organizers, there will be recognition of outgoing student leaders and introduction of new ones.

Elsie Tukahirwa at a dinner she helped organize last year.

Sidney Mugenyi, a third-year student pursuing Bachelors in Procurement and Logistics Management, and is one of the organizers of the July dinner, said they have faced challenges of funds and marketing of the event to the students.

“In spite of the challenges, this dinner is important because it will provide a platform for the students to get entrepreneurship advice from sector players,” Mugenyi explained.

John Semakula, the Head of the Undergraduate Department at the School of JMC, said the dinners are a platform for students to interact with colleagues in different years of study.

The students also invite special guests from the industry who give them tips on how to be a successful professional, Semakula explained.

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Out-of-class experiences help prepare students for careers

July 5, 2023UCU School of Business, UCU School of Journalism, Media and Communication, UCU School of Social SciencesPatty Huston-Holm

Kefa Senoga during his internship at New Vision

By Irene Best Nyapendi
The 11 undergraduate faculties and schools at Uganda Christian University (UCU) have classroom and hands-on learning opportunities. Students are especially encouraged to apply for internships that may be paid or unpaid and year-round or during the one of three semesters each year that students do not have classroom lectures. These experiences reinforce the meaning of studies and make graduates more employable.

Merick Wandera, a UCU Bachelor of Business Administration student interning with the Uganda Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development, is among students reaping the advantages of applying his education in the context of the work world. He also recently was named the best intern among student workers at this government site.

“I am so glad that my internship was fruitful because after I emerged as the best intern student,” he said. “They advised me to consider going back there after graduation so that I can join their team.”

Wandera said he had a great internship experience and got new knowledge about governance and finance. He learned that the first role of the government is to provide services to the citizens and not to make profits.

“I used to wonder why the government continues to fund projects that didn’t produce any profit, but during my internship, I learnt that the government is after offering services and not making profits,” Wandera said.

As a result of the internship, he is more conversant with the process of formulating sound economic policies and accountability for public resources aimed at achieving a sustained economic growth and development for the country.

Kefa Senoga, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Journalism in Media and Communication, applauded one UCU lecturer for preparing him for his two internships – one with the New Vision newspaper and one with Uganda Partners.

“I am so grateful to Mr. John Semakula, the lecturer, who taught us how to shape and write an article with a capturing introduction, good middle and end, which made me stand out amidst other intern students at New Vision,” Senoga said, adding that his writing skill was reinforced during an Economics and Business Journalism class.

At New Vision, Uganda’s biggest media house, Senoga learned more than honing his writing skill. His biggest lesson was in time management. He discovered that at school, students are given ample time to write an article, yet in the newsroom, completion deadlines were shorter.

“At campus, we were given three weeks to submit our work, but at New Vision, I was given the same article and asked to hand it in in two hours. I had to be at New Vision at 8:00 a.m. every morning, dressed professionally and ready to take on assignments,” Senoga said.

Both for Uganda Partners and New Vision, Senoga learned to apply the rules of accuracy, balance, truth and objectivity. He discovered that not all stories written are published, but was fortunate and inspired that all of his did appear in the New Vision print newspaper during his internship.

Sarah Thon Nyanachiek, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration who interned at Smile Again Africa Development Organization in Juba, South Sudan

To Sarah Thon Nyanachiek, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration, a paid internship at Smile Again Africa Development Organization in Juba, South Sudan, gave her an added opportunity to build her career skills. She said she frequently applied the theoretical knowledge she learned from class, gained a clearer view of what it meant to be in the professional world and realized the importance of teamwork.

“I improved my communication skills by engaging with people from different walks of life since my profession is all about working with different communities,” Nyanachiek said. “During my internship, students and staff members from the agency worked together in the implementation of the project, and this increased our productivity,” she said. Where there was no cooperation, she suffered with heavy workloads as a result of others not delivering the tasks in time as required by the supervisor.

Doreen Nyakato, a finalist pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration, who had an internship at Ahumuza Child Development Center

Doreen Nyakato, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration, gained more skills on strategic planning and managing an organization’s finances during her internship with Ahumuza Child Development Center. Among her applied skills were putting vouchers in the system and paying fees using checks for this organization under the Bunyoro Kitara Diocese that looks after the vulnerable members of the community such as orphans and widows.

“Every day was a learning experience for me,” she said. “However, my major take away was the lessons I got from my office supervisor who taught me to better align an organization’s financial status to their goals and objectives.”

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UCU upperclassmen reinforce value of ‘soft skills’ to younger peers

July 3, 2023Students, UCU School of Business, UCU School of LawPatty Huston-Holm

Doreen Naiga and Solomon Esadu offered career guidance and mentorship as well as tips on how to best use social media, write cover letters and create a Curriculum Vitae during a May 27 workshop at UCU.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
As she waits to graduate, Doreen Mbabazi Naiga is already giving back to Uganda Christian University (UCU) through equipping the continuing students with what most call “soft” but nevertheless vital skills. Naiga, who will receive her Bachelor of Laws degree when she graduates in July, partnered with Solomon Esadu, also a student pursuing a Bachelor of Laws in his fourth year, to reinforce employability skills of communication, teamwork and more..

“We saw that after finishing school, students face a challenge of getting jobs because they lack some of these soft skills like perfecting their Curriculum Vitae,” Naiga said.

Some of the students who attended the May training at UCU’s Nkoyoyo hall.

Naiga said they wanted to be proactive at offering students knowledge on some of the softer skills they need to get a job. Along with their organization, United Nations Association of Uganda (UNAU), Naiga and Esadu organized a one-day workshop on May 27, 2023, at UCU on the theme of “Career exploration and professional developing: Mapping your future.” UNAU works in conjunction with UN agencies to achieve aims and objectives of the UN.

Naiga and Esadu were among 20 delegates selected by the Africa UNAU. Naiga was inspired to join the fellowship because she wanted to be part of the solution.

“I wanted to be in a position where I am able to help and influence communities,” she said.

Esadu joined UNAU because he is passionate about leadership and social development.

As delegates, they were offered a skilling program, mentorship, training and workshops where they learned about what they need to do in their community. At the workshop, the two passed some of this knowledge along.

“We learned that more people in society would love to obtain the same skill, so we brought it to our brothers and sisters at UCU to help them understand the skills they ought to have as they go to seek for jobs,” Esadu said.

Esadu noted that with so many graduates hunting for job opportunities in the competitive work world, soft skills make one stand out.

Esadu cautioned students about spending many hours on the internet just watching fun videos, but rather invest that time networking on the various social media platforms and learning about potential employers.

Doreen Mbabazi Naiga training students on how to stand out in a competitive job market.

He also encouraged students to volunteer while they are still in school so that by the time they graduate, they would have acquired more experience needed and desired by employers. He commended the university for the soft skills it offers through the undergraduate course units of Writing and Study Skills. However, he observed that students don’t realize how important the course unit is early in their studies, necessitating that students re-study it later.

“The students were able to learn and re-learn some of the pertinent issues they have not been paying much attention to such as resume writing,” Esadu said of the workshop. “When the speakers emphasized them, they got to understand them more.”

Eborty Ntami, a governance and peace fellow with the United Nations Development Program, taught students how to write an attractive Curriculum Vitae (a resume), how to answer interview questions, how to prepare for an interview, among other skills.

“I urge you to aim at having an attractive CV, to read about the job details and understand them before you apply and carry out research about the organization you are applying to,” Ntami said.

Ntami emphasized that having knowledge about a company before going for the interview not only increases the student’s chance of being hired, but also helps that student decide whether the company will be a good fit.

According to Ntami, knowledge, networking, empowerment, inclusiveness and persistence are key in determining what people become. She encouraged the students to be ready for opportunities when they come and to leverage on Information Technology to overcome in the dynamic world.

“Interviews are always tricky,” said Alex Kaitale, a student pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration, after the workshop. “I am now prepared for the marketplace. I am sure I will submit the appropriate documents and respond to interview questions in the right way.”

Elijah Biimbwa, a second-year student of a Bachelor of Tourism in Hospitality Management, said he learned about the importance of networking.

“I learned that we need to network to increase our access to job opportunities, increase our visibility and advance our career. It is important for us to engage with others,” he said, adding that he also learned to make the best use of his social media platforms to network.

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Archbishop Kaziimba acknowledges UCU growth during visit

April 13, 2023UCU School of Business, UCU School of MedicinePatty Huston-Holm

The archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu poses for a picture with the 25th Guild Government and Director of Student Affairs (DOSA) Bridget Mugasira (front row, third left).

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Uganda Christian University (UCU) has come out of the Covid pandemic and lockdown with its first School of Medicine (SoM) graduates, a new building on the Mukono campus and recognition of faculty elevated to high-level leadership positions, among others. These are among what the UCU Chancellor and Church of Uganda Archbishop, His Grace the Most Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, observed in a recent visit.

As the head of the university, the Chancellor has the responsibility to oversee the university’s activities and ensure that it is running smoothly. By conducting annual visits, the Chancellor evaluates the progress made by the university in terms of academics, research, student life, and other areas. He also ensures that the university is complying with government regulations and university policies.

Kaziimba, who began his position as archbishop and UCU chancellor in March 2020, learned about UCU’s progress and challenges during an official visit on March 15. He said he was impressed with the development at the university and the hard work of the university leadership, administrators and students to maintain UCU as an outstanding Christian institution.

Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu greets Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi.

Kaziimba expressed special appreciation to UCU Vice Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, and his team for their efforts. Mushengyezi gave a report on some of the achievements of the university, including the first graduation from the SoM, started in 2018 and with a pioneer class exiting this July.

“This is a great achievement for the university as it sends out its first doctors into the medical world to shine for Christ in the marketplace,” Mushengyezi said.

He reported that despite the financial challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the university has been able to construct a three-floor building on campus, which is now roofed with interior finishing ongoing. Recent infrastructural works have enhanced the beauty of the green campus.

“We have paved the parking lot at the Kivengere building and the walkways connecting it to Maari, Nkoyoyo, Noll, Mirembe, and Kivebulaya blocks,” Mushengyezi said. “We plan to continue paving other walkways and parking lots on campus and renovating some old buildings.”

The Vice Chancellor revealed that the university intends to diversify its revenue streams by exploring other investments that the university has been discussing with potential partners. The proposals include the development of the university’s land in Ntawo, which is under constant threat by squatters and land grabbers.

Mushengyenzi informed the Chancellor about the appointment of two UCU Associate Professors to higher positions of responsibility in the region.

“Rev. Can. Assoc. Prof. Olivia Banja was appointed vice chancellor of Ndejje University, while Assoc. Prof. Martin Mwanje Lwanga was appointed director general at the Eastern and Southern Africa Management Institute (ESAMI) in Arusha, Tanzania,” he said.

UCU Chancellor Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu

The Chancellor expressed gratitude to Mushengyenzi and university leadership for the impressive developments on campus and encouraged the leadership to continue in their efforts to make the university a “Center of excellence in the heart of Africa.”

During his visit, he held meetings with guild student leaders, academic registrars and administrative assistants.

Guild cabinet officials presented university student challenges. The Guild prime minister, Aaron Tahinduka, requested a change in the tuition policy which requires students to have cleared all outstanding arrears before sitting their exams. He made a case that students who have a tuition balance of less than Sh500,000 ($133) be allowed to sit for exams.

“Tuition challenges still stand as a big problem to student’s well-being which affects many as they are likely not to complete their studies,” he said.

The 25th guild government shared with the Chancellor their plan of starting a sh100 million ($26,609) campaign to solicit money for the guild fund.

“We will be blessed if the Chancellor launches the 100 million shillings campaign and connects us to partners and sponsors for this cause,” Tahinduka said.

Kaziimba expressed appreciation for a guild presentation and the guild fund drive.

“We have a very brilliant guild leadership; they gave me their report, and I appreciate their level of maturity,” he said.

Melissa Kamikazi Nsaba, the guild vice president, said that in a world that is “going too liberal and materialistic,” an archbishop’s visit is the prescription the young people need to refocus them on God.

“He is a very good example to us as leaders,” Nsaba said. “He shows us the kind of leader the Bible calls us to be.”

Kaziimba said he appreciated the academic registrars and administrative assistants for their dedicated hard work every day to make UCU a center of excellence in the heart of Africa.

Academic registrars also spoke freely with the chancellor about their work and what they think can enable them to perform even better and help in achieving the university’s objectives.

“It was refreshing to receive counsel and encouragement from our Chancellor and spiritual leader. We were encouraged that the work we do is not in vain and it is valued by God,” Andrew Ayebare, the academic registrar at the faculty of nursing, said.

The Chancellor toured the School of Business on Ankrah (Besania) Hill. The day was crowned by a Lenten service at Nkoyoyo hall, where Kaziimba preached on “Overcoming temptation” like Joseph did in the Bible in Genesis 39.

The Chancellor said prayers and blessed student and sports leaders. He commended the sports teams and urged them to use sports for evangelism.

Emmanuel Ayella, who is on the university volleyball team, was excited to see the archbishop for the first time. He was overjoyed to know that Kaziimba is a fan of the English football team Arsenal, just like him.

“Today is literally the best day of my life,” Ayella said. “I used to just see him on YouTube and TikTok, but today I am so excited to see him and even more excited to hear him say he is an Arsenal fan.”

The Archbishop proceeded to UCU Mbale University College, UCU’s eastern region campus, where he met with the senior management, students guild and staff. The UCU Mbale guild president, Daniel Kunya, was particularly pleased with the Chancellor’s visit.

“We have shared a lot with him and we have learnt a lot from him, especially regarding unity as an essential factor in the progress and success of the university,” he said.

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UCU teams up with Hanze University to empower innovation

April 6, 2023News, Students, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

UCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi and the President of Hanze University of Applied Sciences Dick Pouwels (at front) pose with teams from UCU and Hanze University.

By Kefa Senoga
Many students, including those pursuing business-related courses at Uganda Christian University (UCU), have been graduating from the institution into a world of job-hunting. But that trajectory may be reversed if a collaboration plan involving UCU and the Dutch-based, Hanze University of Applied Sciences is achieved.

Top managers from the two institutions – UCU and Hanze – signed a longstanding partnership that will lead to setting up of an innovation hub at the UCU main campus in Mukono. The School of Business Innovation Hub will house display units for students’ products, office space and a conference centre.

Vincent Kisenyi, Dean of the UCU School of Business (SoB), said the hub will widen the school’s scope of operation in training and empowering students by creating an avenue of engaging with the outside community

The major purpose for setting up the hub is to foster entrepreneurship and skills development by equipping beneficiaries with practical ideas on how they can start up and manage their businesses.

Kisenyi said that Hanze University, through Hanze Foundation, helped to solicit money that was used to establish a business hub in Thelma Hall, but that it is now too small to accommodate even the students from SoB.

He noted that they are again collaborating with Hanze University to build a bigger, storied structure. “We have registered an increase in the number of students, as well as made entrepreneurship a course unit across all the courses in SoB and that is why Thelma Hall is no longer sufficient,’’ Kisenyi explained.

During the launch of the business hub at Thelma Hall in November 2020, UCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi noted that the institution’s partnership with Hanze University would scale up UCU’s vision of becoming a market or industrial-oriented establishment.

Dick Pouwels (middle), President of Hanze University of Applied Sciences Dick Pouwels takes a tour of the UCU Hamu Mukasa main library.

“We are grateful to partner with Hanze University, and we shall be able to develop other products and projects,” Mushengyezi said, noting that many students graduate from different institutions of higher learning and fail to get jobs because they have academic knowledge without real-world application abilities and that the incubation will help develop those skills.

In mid-April 2022, Prof Mushengyezi visited Hanze University, where he established stronger ties with the institution’s administration and programs.

The ceremony to unveil the site where the business hub will be built was graced by the Hanze University of Applied Sciences President, Dick Pouwels, who also serves as Executive Board Chair, at Hanze University, located in the northern Netherlands. Hanze affiliates are in the process of raising funds to help set up the hub. Pouwels visit to UCU was intended to fortify the already existing partnership between the two institutions in the different areas of collaboration and capacity building.

According to Pouwels, the progress in academics, innovations and research at UCU and Hanze University is the first concern in their collaboration. He said that their goal is to promote community development and international relations.

Namigadde Patience, a year-three student of Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance at UCU, said she expects the hub to create a firm foundation for business students, which will enable them to become job creators. After the SoB students held an entrepreneurship exhibition at UCU, Namigadde turned her project into a business that she is currently running. She makes hair sprays from natural products such as coconut, cloves and rosemary, among others.

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Missionary Mary Chowenhill says farewell after decade at UCU

February 28, 2023News, Students, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

Mary Chowenhill, center, with some UCU graduates she mentored in entrepreneurship.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Mary Chowenhill came to Uganda Christian University (UCU) to teach children about the love of God. She did that and more. Now, Mary, an American missionary with the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders (SAMS), is leaving UCU after a decade of ministry.

In 2012, SAMS sent Mary to UCU on a mission to teach the Mukono campus Sunday school pupils about God. Seeing the need at a larger scale, Mary expanded the ministry to their teachers and to the Sunday School teachers of the diocese in Mukono.

“I won’t trade my time with the children for anything because I love children, and the children love me,” Mary says confidently about her work.

Sunday School
One Sunday in the same year, while Mary was attending Sunday school at UCU, she was bothered by the lack of enough teachers to cover all the classes. The classes are in age groups of 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 plus 13 and above. She chose 7-9 which had the greatest need. Since then, Mary has been part of the Sunday school ministry at UCU which hosts over 300 staff and local community children, ranging from babies to young adults, especially during the holidays on Sunday mornings.

The 70-year-old has been a spiritual mother to scores of children that have gone through her hands.

“It is precious to be able to be part of their lives, and it was exciting watching my Sunday school children getting confirmation,” Mary recalls with joy and satisfaction of a mother witnessing their son or daughter blossom into an adult.

Student entrepreneurship
Mary was soon quickly moved to skilling adult School of Business students for their life after the university. “I had a conversation with school of business lecturers in 2013, and they told me they were having a problem with parents calling to say their children were not getting jobs,” she says.

The school then embarked on looking for ways to bridge the skills gap of its graduates.

Mary Chowenhill at the UCU Mukono Campus

She proposed embedding an hour of practical lessons into the entrepreneurship class, an idea that was bought by the school. Mary has a masters degree in economics and entrepreneurship education besides a degree in International Relations.

Florence Gimadu, a lecturer at the school of business, says Mary is passionate about entrepreneurship. She admires her dedication to reducing the levels of graduate unemployment.

With Mary’s help, over 450 students have learned how to apply their School of Business knowledge with real-world skills. She has trained students to generate ideas of their own and helped them build startups and entrepreneurial enterprises such as making jewelry.

“Through practical lessons, the students learned what worked and what didn’t,” she says.

Mary is optimistic that the UCU School of Business can be the best in the country. Her dream is seeing people refer to the School of Business as the star school at the top of the hill (UCU is built on a hill) and realizing many opportunities of scholarships for the students at UCU.

She recently played a pivotal role in launching a business incubation hub. The hub under the School of Business also services students from other courses.

“In 2019, the Hanze Foundation in the Netherlands gave us money to start an incubation hub where young people can come and work on developing their business ideas,” says Mary, who is an administrator at the hub.

The hub gives aspirational students an opportunity to bring their ideas to life, according to Gimadu, who adds: “Mary has helped us get funders. She has taught and mentored students at the hub without expecting any salary for it.”

Aston Aryamanya, a lecturer and trainer at the incubation hub, describes Mary as a determined person who makes things happen.

“Most of the things at the hub are from her dedicated effort, right from the tiles in the main room of the incubation hub, to the walkway that leads to the hub,” he says.

Two cohorts of students have so far been trained at the hub and 18 successful businesses have been hatched.

Mary approves of the way UCU has been a good steward of the environment in that the development on the beautiful campus on the hill has not tampered with the natural beauty.

“I am pleased with the way the campus is being transformed into a much more pedestrian and ecologically friendly place,” she says.

She dreamed of adding to the beautiful scenery when she gave birth to the idea of a mural that happened in 2022 with the support of Jack Klenk, a board member of the Uganda Partners NGO. The mural, which is located near Thelma students hall in the middle of the Mukono campus, creates a serene atmosphere for the UCU community. The designs and themes painted on the mural reflect the university’s Christian values with many stories hidden in the pictures.

After UCU
In late April, Mary will return to live in Florida, USA.

The thought of bidding farewell to her UCU home and friends makes Mary teary-eyed but as a missionary, that is part of the life she chose – moving on to the next destination where God is calling her. According to her, everything happens solely because God opens doors and closes others.

Mary says her greatest role as a teacher is to help others understand that our labor on earth should be for God’s glory.

“We must always place the needs of others before our own,” she says, revealing the inspiration behind her missionary work at UCU.

She believes UCU is on the right path of awakening students to be missionaries with programs such as Mission week.

Even in her retirement, she will continue serving God’s kingdom as she plans to start a ministry teaching churches the importance of mission in the lives of building God’s church.

Her final thought and challenge for the church today?

“A church that has no one going out should ask themselves where the great commission is,” she said.

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UCU student pushes the gospel of climate change

January 6, 2023News, Students, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

On September 3, Charles Lwanga Miti participated as a guest runner in an environment conservation marathon in western Uganda

By Vanessa Kyalimpa
August 20 is the birthday of Charles Lwanga Miti, a year-two student of the Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance at Uganda Christian University (UCU). Miti chose an unconventional way to celebrate his birthday in 2022, by walking 50 miles from Kampala in central Uganda to Jinja in eastern Uganda.

Miti’s walk was in one way a celebration of the ideals that his name stands for in the Luganda dialect. In Luganda, a local language widely spoken in Uganda, Miti means trees. No doubt that Miti’s initiative was to create awareness about climate change. Titled “The Climate Walk,” Miti documented the initiative on his social media pages, with the hope that he would spread his initiative far and wide.

And, yes, he did.

Miti shared information about what CLAN does

Soon after the walk, Save Soil, a global movement, reached out to him to become their youth representative in Uganda. The goal of Save Soil is to show governments across the world that their citizens want policies that revitalize ecology and soil.

Miti at a tea plantation. He says farmers are increasingly finding it difficult to register bumper harvests because of longer dry spells.

Also, as a result of the awareness that Miti created, two weeks later, on September 3, he was invited to participate in a marathon in western Uganda as a guest runner.

But what could have sparked Miti’s interest in environmental conservation? “Through my experience as a farmer, I noticed that farming has been really difficult due to the longer dry spells,” he said.

Miti, who has been farming since 2015, explained that as a result of the recent longer dry spells, the harvests are not as high as previously was the case.

He started farming by growing tomatoes, but later diversified to green pepper, strawberries and watermelon. Later, he also started rearing goats and poultry.

However, because of the need to professionally run his business enterprise, as well as to increase its size and profitability, Miti enrolled for the accounting and finance course at UCU. Being in a community of youth, he started an initiative called the Climate Awareness Network (CLAN). He said he had discovered the need to sensitize the students more on the effects of climate change and what role the learners can play to mitigate them.

“It bothered me that many students believed combating climate change was not their role, but rather of policymakers,” he said.

“I knew that with the country’s largest population being youth, there wouldn’t be a better way to fight climate change without them being involved,” Miti added.

CLAN has partnered with student leaders of UCU to conduct outreaches, sensitizing people about the dangers of polluting the environment. For instance, it partnered with the student leaders to participate in cleaning Bugujju, a community that neighbors UCU.

Miti has learned to use resources at his disposal to amplify his message about the effects of climate change. Writing on the Standard e-platform, Miti makes a case for the need to understand what climate change is and what role one can play to mitigate it.

“Climate change affects us all, and so solving it is everybody’s responsibility, especially you, the youth,” he wrote.

Because Miti feels his is a noble cause, he is pitching to the Director of Student Affairs (DOSA) at UCU the idea of a like-minded club at the university, with the goal of championing environmental conservation and mitigating the effects of climate change.

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Partners board member Jack Klenk on his divine calling at UCU

January 2, 2023News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Business, USPPatty Huston-Holm

Jack Klenk (second-left) during his visit to UCU in May 2022. Second-right is UCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi. At right is the Rev. Dr. Larry Adams. At left is Jack’s wife, Linda.

By Vanessa Kyalimpa
Healthy rather than destructive competition in business is what Jack Klenk, a Uganda Christian University (UCU) Partners board member, prescribes. In addition to the necessary knowledge and skills, one should follow the “ethics and values” of business to achieve success, he says.

“You do not succeed in business if you are only competing with other people; you have to work together and things come to you voluntarily, including customers,” Jack said recently, during an online interview from his home in the United States. The interview was based on his activities with UCU Partners and UCU.

Jack describes Uganda as a very friendly country

He noted that a good business system is competitive, but not in the sense of hurting other people in order to be successful. So, to do entrepreneurship, you need not only the practical skills, but also the ethics, and that’s where a coach or a mentor comes in handy, he counsels.

“The UCU incubation hub should be an avenue to cross-pollinate business acumen, which is abundant in Uganda, with Christian values, and then entrepreneurship will flourish,” Jack says, referring to the application model under UCU’s School of Business.

“I hope it (the incubation hub) will prepare people with the skills to do well in a competitive environment, and not with the purpose of hurting other people, but rather to do your very best in order to help other people and glorify God.”

Jack’s involvement with the Anglican Church in Uganda dates back to 1964, when he first came to Uganda after an opportunity opened up to study at Makerere University and to be a teacher.

Since then, Jack has visited Uganda countless times, with his latest trip being in October 2022, to be part of the activities to mark UCU’s 25 years of existence.

Growing up in a Christian family, Jack says the virtues he learned had a big influence on his decision to come to Uganda. Since his family was involved in missions, they would have missionaries frequently stay at their home and at their church.

“We would always be hearing about what God was doing in other countries; this was very formative for me growing up,” he said. “When I went to the university, I had other involvements that helped me to understand and appreciate cultures of other countries; I even had a roommate from Uganda.”

He says he knew full well that he was not just an American, but also a Christian who had to be involved with other Christians to serve the Lord, and, therefore, when it was time to visit Uganda, he did not find it difficult to make the decision.

Jack describes Uganda as a “very friendly country” and he says he was overjoyed to discover so many brothers and sisters in Christ in the country.

“When I first came to UCU before Prof. Stephen Noll became the Vice Chancellor, the situation was very different from what it is right now,” he said. “The university has since expanded in numbers, in facilities, and in its impact on the country, and all those things have been wonderful to see.”

Although growth is linked to challenges, Jack says the most important thing is that UCU is centered on God, as the Alpha and the Omega, something which sets the institution apart. He says the institution will remain a special university and continue to make an impact in the country and beyond if it retains that special identity.

Everything we do is a divine calling, and so does Jack consider his involvement with UCU. Although some people are called in a very particular way, for instance, the prophets, he said that he has been called to follow through with his role as a Christian and a servant of God.

Through the members of the UCU Partners board, and the organization’s Executive Director, Mark Bartels, Jack said they are much involved in several activities in the university, and now UCU Partners has even taken on the Uganda Studies Program, where Americans come and study at UCU.

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UCU sports men and women shine at October graduation

December 19, 2022News, Sports, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Business, UCU School of Journalism, Media and CommunicationPatty Huston-Holm

UCU sports women pause with their medals during their graduation. Left to right: Basketballers Rose Akon, Agatha Kamwada, Sera Precious Yaweh and Aziida Nabayunga.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
A large number of Uganda Christian University (UCU) sports personalities exchanged their football and basketball jerseys for caps and gowns at UCU’s 23^rd graduation ceremony – a reminder that education and athletics can go hand in hand.

Samuel Lukaire, the Sports Administrator at UCU, said the university develops talent by recruiting young players who have shown potential to grow in their sports discipline. Along with attending classes, the players are trained and exposed to competitive games as UCU also has hosted major national sports events, often selected as the venue because of the Mukono campus modern sports facilities. Among the competitions that have been hosted at the UCU main campus in Mukono are the Inter University Games Uganda in 2007 and 2013, the East African University Games in 2014, and the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization in 2017.

UCU athletes share graduation thoughts

“The university engages in as many sports disciplines as are available in the university competitions,” Lukaire said, noting that they have teams for basketball, volleyball, rugby, football and netball. Other sports disciplines that UCU participates in are athletics, badminton, chess, wood ball, karate, taekwondo, handball, swimming and lawn tennis.

Some of the sports graduates at the October 28, 2022, ceremony, which also was an event marking 25 years of UCU’s existence, talked to our reporter.

**Rodgers Kukundakwe, Bachelor of Business Administration.**

“As players, we’ve been able to study, play, and eventually graduate.” Kukundakwe, a football center back, said, adding a reminder that for one to achieve success at university, they have to manage their time well. He thanks God for the successes registered as a player, including being on the team winning the University Football League in 2019 and the Association of Uganda University Sports games the same year. Kukundakwe is grateful to the university for meeting the costs of his tuition, meals, and accommodation throughout his stay at UCU.

**Francis Jurua, Bachelor of Business Administration.**

“At UCU, much as you are on a sports scholarship, education is given priority,” Jurua, a footballer, said. He adds that the university’s emphasis on education helped him balance both studies and games.

Sera Precious Yaweh, Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
While studying at UCU, Yaweh played for A1 Challenge, a basketball team in Uganda. She attributes her victory of completing studies and graduation to God. She says that she had to go to school during the day and attend training twice a week in Kampala, about 15 miles away from school. And, as a student, she dedicated most of her weekends to playing basketball for her team. Some of the games would be played late in the night, and, as a member of the team, she had to be available for them. With such a schedule, Yaweh says she had to sacrifice several hours of sleep to read books at night and participate in group discussions with her colleagues.

**Muhammad Lubega, Diploma in Business Administration**

“It was not easy to balance books and football, but I pray we go out there and make history,” Lubega said. He also expressed gratitude to UCU and his family for all the assistance he got during his three years of study at the institution.

**Geoffrey Gaganga, Bachelor of Science in Economics and Statistics**

Gaganga was the captain of the UCU football team. Gaganga, who played in the midfield position, explains that it wasn’t hard for him to balance books and games because it’s something he has done since secondary school. He encourages fellow players to put as much effort in their academics as they do in sports because their profession will come to their rescue once they retire from professional sports.

**Rose Akon, Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance.**

Akon emerged as the best defensive player, rebounder, and most valuable player of the year, after her team won the 2022 National Basketball Association Women’s Championship. She attributes her achievement to being able to manage time well.

“While at university, I rarely got the time to relax and have fun,” said Akon, noting that her life rotated around the basketball court and class. Her greatest inspiration, she says, has been her family. During school, Akon says she discovered another side of her – laziness. However, she said the fact that she understood herself well enough gave her the opportunity to push herself beyond comfortable limits, in order to register success.

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Miss UCU to represent Uganda at World Miss University pageant

December 2, 2022News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

Miss UCU, Charity Achan Bongomin, attending a youth symposium in Kampala, Uganda.

By Asenath Were
Miss Uganda Christian University (UCU) is representing Uganda at the World Miss University competitions scheduled for December in Seoul, South Korea.

Charity Achan Bongomin, a UCU School of Business student, was selected following the Miss University Africa Uganda competitions that were held June 9-11 at the International University of East Africa (IUEA) in Uganda.

“After the Miss University Africa Uganda competitions, the coordinator asked four of us to submit studio photos that were later sent to the people who had reached out to Uganda and asked for a delegate to represent the country in the world competitions,” Bongomin explained how she got on the list of the participants for the December 2022 pageant.

Charity Achan Bongomin talking about the Miss University competitions.

At the Miss University Africa Uganda competitions held in June, Makerere University’s Elizabeth Atwesigye, a second-year student of Bachelor of Arts in Music, was the eventual winner.

Miss UCU, Charity Achan Bongomin, posing for a picture.

Bongomin, who won the inaugural Miss UCU pageant on April 9, 2022, says the chance to participate in the World Miss University competitions means a lot to her. “It will give me a platform to meet important people at the world stage to whom I can bring forth ideas about the different issues that affect youth globally.”

The World Miss University is a global beauty contest that started in 1986. Every year, about 70 contestants participate in the pageant.

Bongomin, who is currently in year three at UCU, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, says she grew up being called a model in her family, especially by her aunts who said they admired her tall height. The nickname “Model,” she says, stuck in her mind. She now contemplates venturing into modeling on a commercial basis after completing school.

Bongomin commended the UCU community for all the support she has been given ever since the university’s beauty pageant in April.

“I will do everything within my powers to market UCU so that people see the kind of products that the university produces,” she said in April after being crowned Miss UCU.

She also lauded her parents – Benjamin Lanekeny Bongomin and Gloria Awor – for “supporting and encouraging” her.

Bongomin attended St. John’s Day and Boarding Primary School in Entebbe, Bishop Cipriano Kihangire Senior Secondary School Luzira and St. Mary’s College Lugazi for O’level. Mount of Olives College Kakiri in Wakiso district is where she studied her A’level. All the four schools are found in central Uganda.

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Taxi business keeps UCU student in school

November 25, 2022News, Students, UCU School of Business, UCU School of Social SciencesPatty Huston-Holm

Tabura (foreground) and one of his taxis

By Vanessa Kyalimpa
When one listens to the story of Jonan Tabura, a student of Uganda Chrsitian University (UCU), the most likely conclusion is that he is a living testimony of someone who has been pushed by fate to achieve success.

Tabura, a UCU graduate with a Bachelor of Human Resource Management working on a UCU Master of Development Monitoring and Evaluation, has a taxi business more about destiny than desire. It started small – with one cab – and has grown to two 14-seater passenger vans, or taxis.

When many people his age and education level would shun the job of being a cab driver, Tabura readily welcomed the offer. He had no source of income to continue with his undergraduate studies. So, when his sister presented to him the opportunity to drive her car as a cab, Tabura welcomed it with open arms.

From the cab business, he was able to save money which he topped up with a loan to purchase a commuter passenger service van. At the time, Tabura says he would make anywhere between sh60,000 and sh70,000 (about $15.6-$18.3) per day as a cab driver.

“While growing up, I was always told that it’s better to start small,” Tabura said. “Because that mantra had been ingrained in me, I opted to save some money that my sister was paying me as a cab driver and, with the additional money from the loan, I bought a van for public transport.”

The proceeds from the passenger service van business were enough to enable him to pay back the loan and save more money from which he acquired a second van. From the two vans, Tabura said he would earn a daily income of sh240,000 (about $63), which he used to enroll for an undergraduate course in the UCU School of Business.

Tabura’s might sound like a story of a man without any challenges in the business until you listen to it in full. One obstacle that reinforces fate over plan is that with no deliberate mastery, he had to develop the skill of fixing minor mechanical vehicle problems while employing skilled mechanics for major issues.

Although his business is growing faster than he had anticipated, like any other enterprise, he continues to face obstacles, namely financial. One such obstacle for people in the transport business is high fuel prices, which have nearly doubled in the last year. Unfortunately, he says, they cannot increase the transport fare at the same rate.

He admitted that there have been times when he considered giving up, particularly when his cars were involved in accidents and he had to pay for the damage caused and, at times, the medical expenses of people injured in accidents.

He encourages students who want to start their own businesses to do so, but to keep in mind the balance of entrepreneur gratification and challenges.

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