Daniel Edotu, Uganda Partners-sponsored student studying law at Uganda Christian University, poses on the Mukono campus.
(Last of four parts – Daniel’s perspective)
By Christine Mirembe
Born on July 7, 1998, in Soroti District, Okudai Village, to Olila Thomas and the late Akiteng Joyce, Daniel Edotu is the first born of nine children. Emerging from a humble background, his family was among the poorest in the village, raising mockery from the community. The parents had a daily prayer – to have some of their children acquire education sponsorship.
Due to financial constraints, Daniel became an “academic tourist,” moving from school to school during his primary education. From Lalle Primary School for primary one and two to Olong Primary School for level three.
“Affording meals, buying washing soap and smearing oil (for skin care) was all a challenge while at school,” Daniel, now age 26, said. “At times I used to survive on raw mangoes for lunch.”
It is at this point – when Daniel was approaching age nine – that his parents’ long-term prayer was answered. He went to Nakatunya Primary School in the western division of Soroti under Compassion International, a child sponsorship organization. They work to release children from poverty by meeting their immediate and long-term needs in partnership with Christian churches.
Map (in red) showing where Daniel Edotu was born
Compassion, a non-profit started in 1952, came to Soroti to partner with a Baptist church to sponsor economically disadvantaged children. With the help of his uncle and father, Daniel was successfully registered among those children under the Compassion program. They got tuition and mattresses, vaseline, soap and scholastic materials, among other necessities.
While under Compassion, students and sponsors exchanged letters. For Daniel, the exchange was with a Virginia, USA, couple, David and Linda Bassert.
“I used to write about the Ugandan weather, whatever I learned in school and Bible verses,” said Daniel, who is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in law at Uganda Christian University (UCU) with the Bassert’s sponsorship through the Uganda Partners NGO.
“God willing,” Daniel said of his future, he hopes to graduate in 2025 and thereafter join the Law Development Centre (LDC) for another year before being a practicing attorney.
It was growing up in a community filled with injustice and having no voice regarding positive change that influenced Daniel to pursue law. He wants to give back by being a voice to the voiceless, especially for marginalized groups like children and women.
Daniel says that his Christian walk has been a door opener to every step in his life and that he would not have been part of Compassion if it was not for church. He credits his humility to his strong Christian family background and being nurtured in Christ both at home and school.
His guiding scripture is Philippians 4:13 that says, ”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Daniel says meeting the Basserts for the first time in October 2024 was an emotional and crucial moment of his life as the couple helped rekindle his future plans.
“Their coming was well timed; they came at a time I needed someone to be there for me – to strengthen and encourage me,” he said. “It meant a lot. I am grateful.”
He also appreciates Uganda Partners for holding his hand after graduating from the Compassion program as he has never missed out on tuition clearance. He thanks many people who are always there for him and above all, God for bringing him this far.
“No one has graduated from my village, so it’s like a breakthrough for the whole community where I come from,” Daniel said. “This motivates me to work even harder. I am not yet to give up.”
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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.
UCU Choir at Baccalaureate in Nkoyoyo Hall, Mukono campus
By Linda H. Bassert
(Last of three parts – returning to the United States)
At the Friday graduation, we were treated as VIPs, seated in a special tent in the center of a u-shaped set of canvas tents, around a central grassy area. Security was tight, but the band was playing, leading the students in graduation gowns into the area, and joy was in the air.
The Vice Chancellor spoke to the students graduating: “We train UCU students to be change makers, to be problem solvers, leaders who will make a difference. UCU graduates have good work ethics, show up and have good relations with others at work. Employers say, there is something different about you. They expect more from you. The world is looking for people who can give hope. Be different, be bold, be Hope. Do not leave God behind. Go with God.”
Then the main speaker at graduation, Graham Yoko, Chief Executive Officer – Accelerated Education Enterprises, added these wise comments:
From Ephesians 2:10 – We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Discovering your purpose in life is not a once-off event – it is a journey. The world needs your light.
From Matthew 5:14, You are the light of the world. This is your identity. And light, by its very nature, must shine. The catch: Shining in a world which often rejects or distorts the truth isn’t easy. My charge to you: Don’t back down, don’t hide your light. The darker the world becomes, the more essential your light will be. Your light isn’t about you. It’s about reflecting God’s Light in you. Trust that the One who called you is faithful to lead you.
He then spoke on Leadership: The world often defines leadership by power, position, or influence. But as followers of Christ, we are called to servant leadership. He referred to John 13:15. As you rise in your careers and as God blesses you with influence, remember your role is to serve, with humility, love, and with the heart of Christ. I challenge you to go MAD: go and Make A Difference!
The graduation then moved to degrees being conferred. Each student with a graduate degree (Master’s or PhD) was presented individually, with their families coming up to the front with them.
UCU Graduation in October 2024
The students with bachelor’s degrees came up in groups by their program (Logistics, Lawyers, Social Workers, etc.), but each name was read out individually before degrees were conferred on all of them, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, by the Chancellor, who is the Archbishop of Uganda. As they exited the field and the next group stepped up, fun tunes were played, including a song “Finally,” which caused many students to break out in dance as they left with their degrees conferred.
Those with “diplomas” (comparable to associate degrees) did not have their names read out, though their names were in the printed programs.
After graduation, we were invited to have lunch in the Library courtyard, with other VIPs.
That night we had a group meeting to reflect on our experience. I have to say that we certainly saw brokenness and suffering in Uganda; but we also saw tremendous entrepreneurial energy; love of pattern, color and artistic expression. Throughout our stay, we witnessed deep faith; and UCU’s deep resolution and commitment to solve problems. UCU Partners plays an active role in this effort.
I felt personally challenged and inspired by the faith we saw and experienced. Could I respond with that same depth of faith in the same circumstances? That question brought me to tears at one point, and Mark assured me that grief was a valid response to some of what we had seen. I’m still seeking that answer, but for me, in part, the answer lies in expanding our personal commitment. We likely will be UCU student sponsors again in the future, after Daniel graduates.
Our trip’s last adventure was a journey to Murchison Falls National Park, with Dorothee and without Mark. The road into the park was lined with troops of baboons, nonchalantly hanging out on the asphalt and the grassy shoulder. We stopped at the falls, one of the largest on the Nile, and learned it is the most powerful waterfall in the world. Before it was named in the 1860’s Murchison Falls, for a British explorer, it was called Kabalega Falls, named for the king of this land, the Bunyoro Kingdom.
There was a viewing spot where we disembarked from our glider, but most of us also trudged up a well-maintained path, where steps were only rocks and roots. This led to a closer view of the falls. You would probably assume that there would be a mist blowing your way from the Falls; instead, it was like being sprayed with a hose by the plunging waters – all of us were thoroughly drenched as we climbed back aboard the bus, and happy our lodge was not much farther.
The Paraa Safari Lodge had lovely deluxe accommodations, comfortable beds with ceiling mounted mosquito netting, TVs in the rooms, and the nicest bathrooms of any of our stay. The buffet offerings were also the most extensive. Our room had a view of the Nile. Nearby, however, was a sign warning you that wild animals were near, and that was the reason we were here.
In the morning at dawn and before breakfast, we piled into several jeeps, with roofs and open sides, and headed out into the park to see the wildlife. The park is the largest in Uganda, with 76 major species of animals. Our guide shared a great deal of information about different species as we were en route. An elephant in the distance, silhouetted against the dawn, was the first animal we spied. Other animals seen that morning included herds of Cape Buffalo; towers of giraffes; parliaments of Ugandan Kob, the national animal and a kind of antelope; smaller Oribi (the smallest antelope), Jackson’s Hartebeest, Waterbuck, and two of what our guide said were jaguars.
Our guide pointed out a lioness sleeping in a tree some distance away. We had previously been told that if we were near a lion, it was important to be extremely quiet – no screaming, no getting out of the jeep, no sudden movements, “because lions like white meat,” our guide suggested with a wink. Evidently, however, a lioness will sleep for two or three days after eating.
Our jeep stopped, along with others, and after the Park Ranger gave approval, all of our jeeps were allowed to drive right up under the tree. We were in the first jeep, and as it parked for us to see her, I realized that if she were inclined to leap out of the tree, she could easily land in my lap! But she only partially opened one eye, closed it again, and kept sleeping.
We later saw a large hippo; four majestic crested cranes, the national bird; a large osprey; a family of Warthogs; many more antelope and giraffes, and in the distance, a herd of elephants. Finally, farther away, we spied an elephant mother and two baby elephants.
Returning to the Safari Lodge for breakfast, we had a bit of time to rest before heading out again in the afternoon, to take a 3-hour boat tour on the Nile. Here we saw many pods of hippos, and learned that Paraa, in the local language, means “land of the Hippo.” We saw gorgeous fish eagles, cattle egrets, flocks of bee eaters and other birds, plus one crocodile. An amazing day!
The next morning after breakfast we loaded our gear back on our glider to return to the Conference Center. We had box lunches on the bus, from the Safari Lodge, ironically labelled “Enjoy your Spoils.” We had Morning Prayer on the bus, and afterwards there was a lot of quiet conversation or napping by tired tourists – or were we pilgrims? A brief stop at a fruit market had our bus mobbed by vendors. Two of our group wanted to purchase Jackfruit, which they were able to do. Our driver bought pineapples, and Dorothee purchased mangoes. Everyone else stayed on the bus.
UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at left, facilitates a reflection session by the Virginia church team
That evening after Evening Prayer, Mark Bartels rejoined us, sharing information on the Uganda Studies program for students from other countries to come to UCU. Then he shared thoughts on behalf of UCU Partners, starting with the question, “How do you help the Ugandans who are helping their own people and country?”
We had already been exposed to many of the current priorities of UCU, such as the need for a Medical building on the main campus, the need for more computer and IT equipment, and a request from the Church Relations Committee for UCU Partners to sponsor two persons for a diploma (associates degree) from one of the dioceses with the fewest resources.
Mark then moved on to the question, “How does UCU Partners discern what to spend money on?”
One of the areas, which has proven most effective, is using funds to help students who have run out of funds, and just need a small amount paid in order to graduate. Another UCU Partners effort coordinates equipment needs with those who can donate and will be arranging for containers of donated medical equipment in the near future.
The third question Mark raised was, “Why Help?”
Our group discussed this with him. One reason is Impact: the dollars we give to UCU will have greater impact than those same dollars elsewhere. Another offered –“Because I’m a Christian, and that’s what Jesus said to do.”
At the same time, Mark reminded us that giving out of guilt is not sustainable. A better reason to give is a response to God’s work in our life – gratefulness – and a response to God’s work in the world. While there are all kinds of examples of people toiling for God with no fruit, don’t take for granted God’s call. He concluded by encouraging us to take some time to process the trip.
The next morning, a number of us took advantage of one more trip to shop for souvenirs or gifts, before we departed for the airport in the afternoon. I still look at the small carved turtle and carved frog I purchased, along with a Ugandan basket, a patchwork apron of Ugandan fabrics, and the two paintings we had previously purchased, and feel the connection to the artistic spirit of Uganda. Purchasing art wasn’t the reason we went, but it certainly was one part of the trip which I found personally enriching, along with my photos of other paintings, sculpture and colors which we saw.
Sometimes you make a difference just by showing up. Going to Uganda changed me. I look at the world a little differently, and certainly look at my own priorities for spending money differently. I still am absorbing the impact of the trip in my life. Our student Daniel is similarly still affected by our coming to see him.
If you are still reading this lengthy account of our trip, thank you for coming along on our journey. I hope you too take the opportunity to visit Uganda and see firsthand the focused and effective work Uganda Christian University is doing, and the impact of its graduates. I hope some of you will sponsor a student, and experience the joys and blessings we have found in doing so. Thanks be to God, that we took the opportunity to go when it presented itself.
(TOMORROW: Learn more about Daniel)
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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.
Linda and David Bassert with their sponsored student, Daniel Edotu
By Linda H. Bassert (Second of three parts – Meeting Daniel)
Tuesday was a day of great anticipation: we were finally headed to Mukono, to the main campus of Uganda Christian University (UCU), where my husband David and I would at last connect with Daniel, the student we sponsor.
Before that, we would be meeting with Vice-Chancellor Aaron Mushengyezi (who has a nickname of “the Coolest Vice-Chancellor in the country”), and touring some of the campus on foot, then linking up with Daniel at the Community Worship service.
We learned that while an Anglican seminary had been on location since 1913, UCU was founded in 1997, and in 2000 graduated its first non-theological students.
Linda Bassert giving first hug to UCU Law student, Daniel Edotu
Now with a student body of 14,000 students, the university includes 11 schools and faculties.
Every undergraduate student takes the Old Testament, New Testament, World Views, Ethics, Math, and Study Skills. There also is a Study Abroad Program in which students from the USA and other countries come here to study. (We later would learn that the Study Abroad program included concentrations in Global Health, Social Work, and Interdisciplinary Studies.) Degree Programs include Engineering, Social Services, Law (25% of the students, and considered the number one law program in the country), Business (the second largest program), Journalism, Public Health, Agriculture, Education, and Nursing (100 students in the Degree program).
The Vice Chancellor, similar to a University President in the United States, explained that many of the UCU nursing graduates are leaders in nursing in Uganda. The programs at UCU are highly respected due to the Christian ethics and high standards maintained. Employers say they find the UCU graduates are different, and are giving preference to hiring them. UCU graduates bring an attitude of ministry in their fields. This attitude of ministry, and a mindset of seeking solutions to challenges, would be revealed over and over during our visit.
We also learned of a thriving sports program at UCU. The women’s basketball team had recently won another championship, and many Ugandan national athletes have been graduates of UCU.
Church members, Beth and Charlie Monroe, at the Nile River in Jinja
As we headed to the Community Worship service in Nkoyoyo Hall, a large roofed building with a stage and altar at one end, and open sides, I texted Daniel a photo of what David and I looked like. I reasoned it would be easier for Daniel to find his white sponsors than for us to find him in a sea of Ugandan students. When he found us, I immediately had to go over and hug him, and could hardly hold back the tears. At last!
This worship service was our first glimpse of the difference a Christian university makes. The posted theme for the Advent Semester 2024 was: “The power of the Gospel to transform secular ingrained thinking. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.”
Every speaker and preacher at UCU begins with, “Praise the Lord!”
The speaker at the worship service focused on the topic of self-esteem. I was pleased to find that in this way UCU is teaching their students success strategies in addition to academic subjects. She spoke on Romans 12: 1-8, and these key points: Be kind to yourself. Speak affirmations. You are the CEO of your life. A closed mouth is a closed destiny. Set achievable goals. How did we drift where we are? Low self-esteem causes painful wounds. Constantly renew your commitment to the Lord.
After a lunch to which our student, Daniel, also was invited, our group then headed to the Innovation Hub, also the location of the campus Coffee Club.
Sculpture at UCU, demonstration of some work by students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with Education
This hub assists students with their business ideas, leading them in a process through 1) Ideation; 2) Incubation (3 months), with exhibits to show their ideas, seed capital for a second exhibit to show what they have done; and 3) 3) Acceleration, involving one in 10 reaching this stage and getting venture capital funding, fostering the microbusiness economy. As a solution to employment challenges in the country, the Innovation Hub also develops cohorts of 25 cross-disciplinary groups of students who collaborate and have training and support, with the goal of having them graduate and start businesses. The focus is “Let’s not run for the money; let’s meet people’s needs.”
The Innovation Hub also supports research collaboration. UCU is using grants to create teams, to train and teach them how to write grants and to write proposals. The Hub forms a support team for the staff, as partnerships are very important in research, and every program is now required to have community engagements.
The last stop before we headed to our hotel was a visit to the Bishop’s School, a secondary boarding school located very near UCU and where a UCU graduate who is a teacher there gave us a tour. The students study long hours, because the exams they take determine their ability to progress in the educational system. Many students from the Bishop’s School later go on to study at UCU.
Ugandan artwork, painted with coffee on wood
Wednesday is a day I will treasure. We began the day visiting two locations where UCU graduates are making a difference. The first stop was the CALM (Children Alive Ministries) Kindergarten and Primary Day School, whose directors and owners are a married couple, both UCU grads. Ernest Matsiko and his wife, Elizabeth Gim Praise Matsiko, who had done tutoring as UCU students, have a passion to give children a good foundational education at the primary level, so they would do better later at upper levels. This led them to found the school.
The children lined up for morning assembly, all in school uniforms. One of the older students was tapped to do a call and response, leading them in praise for about 15 minutes, to start the day. “Praise God” the older student said.
“Praise God,” the children replied in unison, adding “God is good – All the time. So awesome is His Name!”
The children were also delighted in answering our questions, and asking us questions about our favorite foods, colors and names of our children.
After this stop, we picked up Daniel, who would spend the rest of the day with us. The next stop was a small regional hospital, where the senior administrator is a UCU graduate. We had a tour there, and it was disconcerting, to say the least, to understand the challenges of health care in Uganda.
Wednesday’s adventure also included a brief stop to shop for souvenirs. Daniel helped our group negotiate prices for things we wanted to purchase. I was looking for gifts for grandchildren. We were instructed by Daniel, “Don’t accept the first price!”
As we took our “glider” on to Jinja, there we all then went by boat to one end of Lake Victoria, where over 60 springs supply 30% of the water of the White Nile, considered the source of the Nile River. Some in our group stepped out of the boat to stand on a platform located amidst the springs, and have their photo taken there. We also saw Monitor lizards and many kinds of birds along the shore line, including African weaver birds, which make small basket kinds of nests. Uganda has more than 1,000 bird species.
After the boat tour, we enjoyed a lovely lunch at a golf club overlooking Lake Victoria. Fresh-caught and grilled tilapia for me!
On the way back to Mukono and UCU, via a road dubbed “Pothole Road,” our glider had a flat tire. The noise from the tire burst terrified some goats tied up in the yard of a house nearby, and the goats pulled up the stakes, and ran toward their owner’s house. Small children gathered at the side of the road to watch the excitement, as we stood waiting for those changing the tire to finish. One member of our group started doing magic tricks for the children.
Great cheers went up for our driver when the tire was changed, and prayers of thanksgiving were offered.
After that pause, we headed to campus, made plans to have lunch the next day with Daniel, and then had a delicious buffet dinner with the Vice Chancellor and his wife in a tent on the lawn. The Vice Chancellor quoted former Uganda President Idi Amin in saying, “If they return, we shall have our revenge,” so the dinner was his “sweet revenge” for having been hosted by our church members in the USA.
Thursday was another day spent on the UCU campus, learning more about programs at UCU. The morning began with a tour of Computer Science and Technology programs. This curriculum goal is to give students practical skills to find solutions to problems. Some of the student projects on display were a Robotic Wheelchair prototype, a Smart Home design, and an Automatic waste management prototype – as a sorter to sort plastics out of waste. They use a 3D printer to create models, and emphasize practical applications of what they have learned, as well as supporting business startups. Community outreach in this program includes free computer repair and setup.
New programs include Data Science and Analytics, and Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering: a program UCU Partners has made possible with equipment purchased and then carried over in suitcases by Mark Bartels. This department has industry partners for career guidance and mentorship, and all first-year students in this program are mentored by senior students.
While the tour of the programs within the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology continued on foot, two of us whose bodies were objecting to the walking were given a ride in the glider bus down to a far corner of the campus, where the technology tour would conclude.
To my delight, this put us right next to the Fine Arts and Industrial Arts program buildings in the Tech Park portion of the Mukono campus. We saw wonderful sculptures installed around the buildings. The best sculpture transforms the space it is in. As I gazed at one abstract torso with a book, I was enchanted by the artist’s vision of a student. As I am an interior designer, this was a highlight of the campus tour for me, as we two were able to not only see the sculptures up close, but also view senior School of Education student art projects and paintings, and view a demonstration of a student throwing and forming a cup on the potter’s wheel. One remarkable painting was of faces, painted with coffee, on an irregularly shaped piece of wood.
Our next stop on Thursday was a presentation by the Church Relations Office, as another priority of UCU. The only University owned by the Province of the Anglican Church of Uganda, UCU needs to serve the church, and the University’s mission needs to align with the values and teachings of the Church. They spoke at length of ways they support various dioceses with different needs. For example, the Southern Ankole Diocese is growing coffee as a part of its broader mission to improve livelihoods and promote sustainable development. Agriculture students and Business students have been engaged there.
In another diocese, with extensive wildlife resources, students focused on Tourism and Hospitality Management have been engaged in programs there. This department also offers fellowship and mentorship for clergy children. The church plays a huge role in the economic transformation of the country. Every diocese is unique, and this office has ongoing outreach to the dioceses to seek out ways to support their efforts.
There was also a presentation by the Directorate of Research, Partnerships and Innovation. UCU seeks to be different from other universities. UCU communicates and engages with the community, to identify problems and jointly work together on solutions. This was evident at graduation, where, under the UCU Postgraduate Directorate, descriptions of research by graduates with advanced degrees focused on problem solving in a wide range of areas. For example, one Master’s program candidate had focused on the educational needs of deaf students, how they were being met, and where shortfalls were found.
At this combined presentation members of our group also became solution-focused, sharing thoughts and questions, out of their expertise in a wide range of areas. I learned more about some of my friends from church, and was impressed that all of us, seeing the extraordinary difference that UCU is making in Uganda, were drawn to that solution-based mindset, thinking of ways we might help.
David and I had to slip out of this presentation, so we could adjourn to a campus restaurant for lunch with Daniel and a friend of his, while the rest of the group had lunch on campus together. This was another special memory as I think about our trip. Daniel shared with us that our coming to Uganda to see him had “given him back himself,” giving him a deeper sense of his self-worth and value, and rekindling his passion for his course of study.
Our time with Daniel was short, but very precious, and we continue to stay in touch.
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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.
A team visiting Uganda Christian University (UCU) from Church of the Epiphany, Anglican, in Chantilly, VA, poses at UCU with Vice-Chancellor Aaron Mushengyezi in October 2024.
(NOTE: The next three days will feature one American woman’s account of a recent trip to Uganda and a first meeting with a Uganda Christian University student sponsored through Uganda Partners. On the fourth day – Thursday – there will be a profile of the student.)
By Linda H. Bassert
(First of three parts – before meeting Daniel)
At one point in our trip, it was said, “When you come to Uganda, it infects you.”
In the best sense of that expression, I agree.
The decision to join others from our church on a trip to Uganda, led by Mark Bartels, executive director, Uganda Christian University (UCU) Partners, was easy. My husband and I had sponsored a young man, Daniel Edotu, from the time he was six years old, initially through Compassion International and now UCU. We had never met Daniel who is now in his final year with UCU’s School of Law.
We found out about UCU Partners because a board member is from our church, Church of the Epiphany, Anglican, in Chantilly, VA, and because the UCU Vice Chancellor, and his predecessor, have visited our church. We had encouraged Daniel to apply to UCU because we knew we could continue to help him through UCU Partners. Tuition payments to UCU are tax deductible donations in the United States, as UCU Partners has non-profit status.
Visiting the Palace at Kasubi Tombs, in Kampala, Uganda, which is the site of the burial grounds for four kabakas (kings of Buganda) and other members of the Buganda royal family
As excited as we were to be able to visit Daniel in person, I could not have anticipated the depth of what our visit would mean to him, and how much more the trip would impact me.
Our flight on Ethiopian Airlines was over 18 hours long, going through Addis Ababa Airport (Ethiopia) where we changed planes, and flew into Entebbe airport near Uganda’s capital, Kampala. There, on a Saturday night after going through immigration and collecting our luggage, we were also able to exchange our dollars into Ugandan Shillings (UGX). Everyone in our group had created a What’s App account, and this was very useful for group communication throughout our trip.
We then loaded ourselves into a small bus, which in Uganda is called a “glider,” (or sometimes coaster) for the 40-minute drive to a Church Conference Center, where we would be staying for a few days. Driving in Uganda is on the left side of the road in each direction, as it is in Great Britain, so it was helpful that we were not driving ourselves around the country.
Members of our group each had a small booklet with Morning and Evening Prayer, Psalms and Readings, and journal pages, (a journal that now I treasure), and we gave thanks for our arrival, and prayed Evening Prayer on the bus, as would be our habit mornings and evenings for the rest of the trip.
Sunday began early: Up in time for breakfast at 7 a.m. and departure at 8 a.m. To our delight, there were half a dozen monkeys on the grounds between our building and the dining hall. Every breakfast throughout our trip included offerings of fresh pineapple, watermelon and small bananas as well as other options.
Then we boarded our glider bus again to drive to St. Paul’s Cathedral in Kampala and join a joyful worship service there. English is the national language, and I had undervalued the comfort that would bring, to know that anywhere we went, we could understand and be understood.
A team visiting Uganda and Uganda Christian University (UCU) from Church of the Epiphany, Anglican, in Chantilly, Virginia, USA, shares insights and impressions. Included are interactions with schoolchildren and at the October 2024 UCU graduation.
Two others joining our group for most of the rest of the trip were Dorothy Tushemereirwe, from the UCU Development office, and Chris Mogal, a UCU graduate who has a video and photography business that he started while still a student. Chris was hired by UCU Partners to take photos and video to create a video of our trip experience, both for us and for UCU Partners’ use.
Our visit to the cathedral included a tour that highlighted some of the difficult early history of the Anglican and Christian Church in Uganda, which reveres the memories of a long list of martyrs who were tortured and executed for their faith. We learned that Uganda is the country, Buganda is a kingdom and tribe (about 30% of the country), and Luganda is a language.
From the Cathedral and Anglican complex on a hill in Kampala, we then drove to the Kasubi Tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and location of a former Buganda King’s palace, in use from 1856-1884. Any women in our group wearing slacks instead of long skirts were given fabric to wrap around their waists and legs before being allowed into the complex. We made our way to a large round thatched roof building and throne room, surrounded on the complex by other smaller similar structures, still inhabited and cared for today by descendants of the kings’ wives, where we were invited to sit on woven mats on the floor, as our guide shared the history of this place, and more about Uganda.
This was our first opportunity to learn more about the Ugandan and Buganda culture: Kings don’t die – they “disappear.” A king is not allowed to attend funerals, except for his father’s. And a king is buried next to his grandfather, not his father, so he may rest in peace. A man is not allowed to shake hands with his mother-in-law or even watch her eating. A man cannot marry someone in his own clan. The King has no clan, and a former king took a wife from each clan. Today, the king marries one person. Even the architecture told a story. The first three concentric rings in the ceiling structure represent Kings, and each subsequent ring represents a clan.
To my personal delight, the Kasubi Tombs tour concluded at a building where they showed us fabric made from the bark of the fig tree, considered one of the first textiles. This fabric was used as the canvas for many paintings available for purchase. My husband and I purchased two paintings, and I considered that answered prayer, as I had been hoping to find a work of art to bring home from Uganda.
The next day we visited the Anglican Martyrs Museum at Namugongo, a museum built on the execution site where 13 Anglicans and 12 Catholics were tortured, dismembered, and burned on June 3rd 1886, now honored as Martyrs Day in Uganda. Other martyrs who were killed elsewhere, and one white martyr, Bishop James Huntington, also are honored here. Gruesome and graphic sculptures show what happened, paired with a mural on the ceiling showing Angels carrying the martyrs to heaven. An adjacent building built around a small chapel includes other murals on the early history of the Anglican Church in Uganda. On Martyrs’ Day each year about 50,000 persons make a pilgrimage to this Kampala location.
Equally impactful to understanding Ugandan history and deep-rooted Christian faith was our visit to Uganda Christian University’s young medical and dental schools. The UCU Schools of Medicine and Dentistry were founded in 2018 to address an acute need for medical and dental professionals in the country. Already UCU’s School of Medicine is renowned for excellence in Uganda.
Currently, only 50 students are accepted annually in the School of Medicine due to space limitations, though many more are applying for the program. In order to expand the number of students they can take, they want to raise funds to build a location on the main UCU campus, where students could study for their first two years, and then use the Kampala campus for practical studies in medicine for the last two years. To create this building, UCU Partners and UCU will together need to raise $2 to $3 million. Long-term goals include having their own accredited lab, and building an entire teaching hospital complex. Once UCU has its own lab, they can apply for grants.
Uganda has few pathologists, and much lab work has to be sent to South Africa and other countries. I was impressed that UCU’s School of Medicine and School of Dentistry are moving forward in faith, having already written the curriculum for a future Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technology. They also have almost completed the curriculum for a graduate studies program in medicine.
For the UCU School of Medicine, the profession is about compassionate care, and making the world a better place. They shared that their mode of training health care workers is quite unique in including the spiritual aspects of health care. Both the medical and dental schools ask, “Can we create a doctor who will be a doctor and remain a Christian?”
Pediatrics is a major emphasis, because parents will pay money to treat a child who is suffering, rather than to pay for their own care. Uganda also has a young population – due to losses of older generations in previous years of wars and conflict and because the number of children in a family continues as a traditional expectation. There are many young families in Uganda.
Both here and at a clinic we later visited, obstetrics is another major area of emphasis. By the time most women arrive at the hospital, they usually are having birth complications beyond the ability of midwives and others in the villages. Both medical and dental schools do some community outreach, going into underserved communities to have clinics and educate communities on health and hygiene. Complementing the School of Medicine is the main campus’ Nursing Studies program, which graduated its first class in 2012, and which also has a community outreach component to their studies.
(TOMORROW: Meeting Daniel)
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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.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Bonaventure Ssebyanzi Wasswa at his 2024 graduation.
By Eriah Lule “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19 was the spark that lit Rev. Fr. Dr. Bonaventure Ssebyanzi Wasswa’s effort to advocate for the marginalized. This scripture served as the catalyst from the day he set his foot at Mulago Catholic Parish in Kampala, which had a school for the deaf, in its compound in 2008.
Rev. Fr. Dr. Bonaventure Ssebyanzi Wasswa
Having served as missionary with the Spiritans Missionary within the Catholic church and with his background as a primary teacher back in 1995, he couldn’t let the candle burn out. He started teaching in the parish school and later became its Incharge (head teacher).
Ssebyanzi witnessed different challenges and gaps faced by special needs children – especially the deaf – while trying to pursue their education.
He enrolled for a Postgraduate Diploma in Special Needs in 2009 – 2010 and later for a master’s degree in Education Administration and Management, majoring in Special Needs Education, at Kyambogo University, a public institution in Uganda.
It is with such a background and zeal that Ssebyanzi decided to pursue his PhD in Education Administration and Management from Uganda Christian University (UCU) in 2017. He graduated in 2024.
Ssebyanzi’s thesis focused on these hearing impaired students’ transition from lower-primary to post-primary sections like secondary schools and vocational institutes.
“At my master’s research, I looked at the implementation of disability policies in schools, while at my PhD I focused on these students transitioning from lower-primary to post-primary sections,” he said. “In primary schools, you will find numbers, yet in post-primary, you don’t see them, which means many are not empowered to be self-reliant.”
He carried out his research across the different regions of the country and was shocked to find out that the country has only two secondary schools for the deaf. These are located in Mbale in the eastern region and in Wakiso in the central region.
Ssebyanzi’s findings further revealed that whereas the country has one special needs department of education; it is at Kyambogo University. Many special needs schools don’t have specialised special needs teachers but rather any teacher is sent, and they learn on the job.
He further affirmed that children feel more comfortable during school times since they are surrounded by supportive circles that don’t exist at home, which conveyed the kind of treatment they get from their communities.
He recommended that Special Needs teachers should be exposed to other kind of impairments in their trainings; that a National Policy of the Disability could be forcefully implemented; and that civil education and campaigns are launched to raise awareness. This policy should address enhancing educational departments to boost the training of Special Needs teachers and more research and publications on the area of impairment to have a wider literature for reference and advocacy.
But, who is Ssebyanzi? The 50-year-old was born to the late Tiburitio and Mary Namugga Kaweesi of Kalisizo, Kyotera District, in the central part of the country.Ssebyanzi is the second born of the couple’s nine children.
Kalisizo, Uganda – birthplace of Ssebyanzi
Despite his late father being a devoted lay leader in the church, the son initially resisted the calling to follow in his father’s footsteps. At that, after attaining his certificate as a Grade III teacher from Rakai Teachers College from 1993-1995 and teaching for three years, he decided to join the seminary in 1998 and was in formation (training in becoming a priest) for 10 years.
He attended the Urban University in Rome’s affiliate in Arusha, Tanzania, from 1999-2002 for his Degree in Philosophy. He later joined Tagaza College, an affiliate of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, for his degree in theology and majored in biblical theology from 2003-2007.
He was ordained as a priest in 2008 and started his missionary work first in Kampala and later in Mulago.
Currently, Ssebyanzi serves as formator (a priest that trains future priests) at the Namugongo Post Lance Centre, a place he served as the rector but stepped down to pursue his PhD.
His candle for the disabled burns vigorously for a world where they would live better and be self reliant.
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Uganda Christian University has many alumni stories like this one. To support 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.
Some of the awardees who received plaques as part of UCU’s new performance-based staff awards with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi (front, center)
By Irene Best Nyapendi An early November 2024 call from the Human Resource and Administration (HR & A) Directorate of Uganda Christian University (UCU) to Suzan Ekadu found her phone off. Nevertheless, the caller sent her a congratulatory message. When Ekadu, an Assistant Registrar at Uganda Christian University (UCU), finally checked her messages, she straightaway thought she was being transferred to another faculty.
“I hope you are not transferring me again, because I will not go,” she quickly replied, saying she had just been transferred from the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology to the School of Business.
However, she realized moments later that the congratulations were to recognize her for exceptional service to the university.
Annually, UCU has been awarding staff members who make a milestone of 10 years of service. However, this year, it was different. A total of 31 employees were recognized for exceptional service, as part of UCU’s new performance-based staff awards.
Suzan Ekadu receives her award for excellent service from UCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi.
Winning this award not only made Ekadu feel appreciated, but also ignited her motivation to achieve even more.
“This award has shown me that our efforts are recognized,” said Ekadu, who joined the university as an employee nearly 10 years ago. She says through her work, she has learned so much about the policies that shape teaching and learning.
UCU’s quality of education has made an impression on industry practitioners. Ekadu says many universities have been coming “here to benchmark our practices, especially in examination coordination, where I served for some time; this speaks volumes about our commitment to excellence.”
Ekadu was one of the 31 awardees who received plaques on November 26, 2024 at the university’s end-of-year community worship held at the Main Campus’ Nkoyoyo Hall.
Deo Musekura, one of the university’s drivers, and an awardee, could not hide his excitement when he learned he would be honored.
Five days before the awards ceremony, while on duty at UCU’s Kampala Campus, he received a call from the Human Resource Directorate, informing him of the good news.
“I was pleasantly surprised and overjoyed to hear that I would be among the staff recognized. This shows that the people I work for appreciate what I do,” said Musekura. He has worked for UCU for four years.
During the awards ceremony, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Mr. David Mugawe, explained how the awards were established.
“Last year, the University Council asked management to create a way to reward outstanding staff,” he explained.
The evaluation criteria included staff performance, contributions to research and grants, leadership roles, and excellence in teaching, using the blended learning methods on Moodle. Feedback from students was also an important part of the evaluation process.
Mr. David Mugawe addresses students and staff in Nkoyoyo Hall.
Mugawe emphasized the need for timely performance reviews, noting that some staff missed out on recognition this year due to incomplete evaluations. Each awardee received a plaque, and a financial reward.
“This will be an annual event. Let us make sure all evaluations are done on time so we can recognize every deserving staff member,” Mr. Mugawe said.
The performance-based awards aim to create a culture of excellence and commitment at the university.
The staff evaluation is initiated by staff and approved by their supervisor. The evaluation forms include the staff’s key performance indicators and key result areas.
UCU Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi acknowledged that while no one is without flaws, the contribution of the staff who received awards have been commendable.
Deo Musekura (center) receives his award from UCU Vice Chancellor Aaron Mushengyezi. Left is Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Assoc. Prof. John M. Kitayimbwa
He encouraged the staff to keep striving for excellence in order to maintain the “UCU standard of excellence.”
Prof. Monica Chibita, the Dean of the UCU School of Journalism and one of the awardees, advised her colleagues not to focus solely on recognition while working, but to appreciate the university’s generosity.
Some of the staff members who were recognized for exceptional service are:
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.
Idd Basaija is using journalism to advocate for social change
By Irene Best Nyapendi In 2022, residents of Karusandara in Kasese, a district in western Uganda, threatened to boycott an election that the Government was organizing. Their reason? The Government had been silent on their plight for a long time. They accused the government of dishonesty, claiming that the people were often misled by “empty promises”, especially during election campaigns.
So, what was their plight?
The residents said that they had been demanding a land title for the 11,475 acres of land they are occupying, protection from wild animals that escape from the Queen Elizabeth National Park and rehabilitation of their roads. And that since none of those was forthcoming, they would not participate in an election to choose a parliamentary representative for the area.
That 2022 story was brought to light by Idd Basaija, a journalist with Uganda Radio Network. After publishing the initial story, he engaged Uganda’s minister in charge of lands, Judith Nabakooba and continuously followed up on the residents’ demands.
Idd Basaija (left) with journalists from Egypt and Burundi, discussing a story idea
In Uganda land ownership is handled in two ways like in Great Britain. A buyer may enter a leasehold contract for 49 years or 99 years, with ownership of the land reverting back to the original owner at the end of the contract. Or a buyer may purchase the land in a mailo contract, and it doesn’t revert to the original owner like in the case of a leasehold. This is helpful to know when purchasing and building on land in Uganda. Only 9% of the land in Uganda is mailo land making it very valuable. The registration of each transaction is important when purchasing land so there is a clear title before building on the land.
Basaija’s persistence paid off when the government began processing land titles for the residents of Karusandara, a significant step towards addressing what residents described as “decades of neglect.” Possession of a title for the piece of land someone is occupying gives them added security from land grabbers, something that is common in Uganda.
Basaija, an alumnus of Uganda Christian University (UCU), has dedicated his life to championing social change and amplifying the voices of the marginalized people through his journalism, in order to inspire action from the people who hold positions of power.
In another of Basaija’s many articles that amplify voices of the marginalized, he raised alarm over the many people who were facing starvation in Kasese following the destruction of their gardens by elephants that had strayed from Queen Elizabeth National Park.
One of the farmers said the elephants destroyed about two acres of his garden of potatoes, which he said was the only source of livelihood. Sadly, part of the money that was used in the garden was from a loan he had acquired for farming.
And he has also had a fair share of challenges in the profession. In 2021, while covering a story about Queen Elizabeth National Park, he published a story that there were people growing marijuana within the park. It is forbidden to grow marijuana in Uganda, unless for medical and other authorized purposes. Rather than enter the park to establish authenticity about the allegations, Basaija relied on peers to provide him information.
When his editor inquired whether he had personally seen the 100 acres, Basaija, feeling the pressure of the moment, affirmed the claim, despite not having seen the garden. The story was published.
The situation escalated when a team from Uganda Wildlife Authority, the managers of the park, contacted him, demanding that the story be pulled down because it was inaccurate.
This experience, however, helped him realize the importance of interviewing credible sources and ensuring accuracy of information before publication.
Basaija draws experience from being a radio presenter, a writer, and an editor, to not only report news, but ignite social change and challenge perceptions in a profession sometimes misunderstood. He is the current bureau chief for Uganda Radio Network (URN) in Kasese, Bundibugyo and Bunyangabu — districts in western Uganda. He has worked at this news agency since January 2020. URN is a Ugandan radio news agency that provides daily ready-to-use news and information for 120 media houses.
“For me, journalism is not about the money,” said Basaija, who graduated from UCU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication in November 2013.
Basaija’s articles often feature stories of individuals who are most times not taken seriously, ensuring that their voices are heard and their struggles acknowledged.
“I never write a story on a social issue without following up with the people responsible.”
Basaija says his journey into pursuing a journalism course was not as straight as he would have preferred it to be. His first university of choice did not admit him for the course. His second university of choice offered him a course in development studies. But was not where his heart was. It was at that point that he convinced his father, to support him pursue the course at UCU.
He is passionate about environment and health reporting, having won grants in these areas. His stories on family planning have formed discussions among development partners. He is a media trainer and an advocate for independent journalism.
Currently, Basaija is pursuing a fellowship in Gender Communications at the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communication in Kenya. He aspires to continue his education by enrolling for an MA in Journalism and Strategic Communication at UCU.
In addition to his work at URN, Basaija is a commercial farmer. His passion for agriculture blossomed in 2019 while he was searching for a job, leading him to the idea of dairy farming. Currently, he manages both a dairy and poultry farm.
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.
Guest of honor Michael Nuwagira Kaguta (AKA Toyota) signs on a dummy cheque for sh20million ($5,298) that he handed over to UCU.
By Pauline Luba Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) recent Global 5K Run was more than just a sports event. The run also was a celebration of community spirit with alumni, students and other supporters across the globe coming together to make a difference.
Spearheaded by Dickson Tumuramye, the UCU Head of the Honors College, the event harnessed fundraising for scholarships to help students in financial need. This year’s run showcased both the local and global reach of UCU’s community with participants running, cycling or walking their five kilometers (three miles) in whatever part of the world they called home on designated days in October and November.
Runners and organizers posing with the cheque
Started in 2015, the Global 5K is an event where students, individuals, friends and families participate from wherever they live to raise support for financially challenged Honors College students. Honors College is a leadership development program for the top undergraduate students at UCU. Through this program, the future leaders of Uganda are nurtured, mentored and educated.
In addition to logistical details like securing running kits and bibs, Tumuramye and his team organized weekly planning meetings to strategize on how to pull off a successful event. The planning sessions involved members of the Honors College, Alumni Association, guild leaders, presidents of different students’ clubs and the UCU Law Society.
Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi rewarding one of the participants
On the day of the Nov. 2 event from the Mukono campus, not even the early morning downpour could dampen the spirits of the runners. By 8:30 a.m., the participants had gathered at the UCU basketball courts. For the next more than one hour, they engaged in an aerobics session as a precursor to the run, where participants set off for the five kilometers (about three miles) at 10 a.m. The chief guest at the event was Michael Nuwagira Kaguta (also known as Toyota), a younger brother of Uganda President Yoweri Museveni.
Among the other guests was Wasswa Balunywa, the former principal of Makerere University Business School, who charmed the crowd with aerobic dance moves. Balunywa shared an inspirational message about the value of education and the importance of giving back to the community. His words struck a chord with many in the audience, reminding them that supporting future generations is both a duty and a privilege.
Through the sale of running kits and bibs, along with contributions from supporters, UCU raised about sh33 million (about $8,741). Nuwagira contributed sh20 million ($5,298), while UCU added another sh10 million (about $2,649), and several members of Parliament donated sh2.5 million ($662) collectively. The funds will go toward scholarships for students in need.
At left, Guest of Honor Michael Nuwagira Kaguta (informally known as “Toyota”) poses for photos with runners. Second-left is Dickson Tumuramye, one of the organizers.
Nuwagira, who pledged to continue mobilizing resources for the cause, said: “Education is the most important thing anybody can achieve.”
Tumuramye, who extended an open invitation to anyone willing to join in supporting future events, noted that the financial boost is a testament to the power of community involvement and a reminder that even modest contributions can have a profound impact.
Thomas Aquinas Mugisha, a year-four student of Bachelor of Laws, who participated in the run, said: “It was a great day and we were happy to raise funds to support our fellow students through school.”
The impact of these funds, the gathering of these people, and the shared energy of this day have all shown that with each step, the UCU community can pave a path to greater opportunities for students. And for every participant, whether running on campus or thousands of miles away, the Global 5K Run has become an annual reminder of the power of unity and the importance of education.
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.
Annet Musiimenta (left) with other PhD students during the October 25 graduation.
By Pauline Luba From a pioneer student at Uganda Christian University (UCU) to a PhD-holding lecturer shaping future minds, Annet Musiimenta’s story is as inspiring as it is transformative.
Musiimenta’s journey, marked by resilience, faith and an unwavering commitment to education, began in a modest home shaped by hardship and hope. As the third-born and the eldest daughter in a family of eight children, she learned early the weight of responsibility that her position in the family bestowed on her — she had to set a good example for her siblings.
With the head of the family being a reverend, theirs was a family that also was expected to set an example to the community.
As she grew up, Musiimenta found financial constraints as they would for any modest-income family. Musiimenta’s mother died when the daughter was just in Primary Three, so she was largely raised by a single father, and, later, when her father remarried, the stepmother stepped in to give a hand to her dad.
As a reverend, it meant Musiimenta’s dad was a cleric in the Church of Uganda. He thus had to contend with relocating to several places as he served the Lord. Such relocations meant moving with his entire family. As such, Musiimenta and her siblings could only attend schools in areas where their dad was transferred. She attended Katerere Primary School in Kanungu district, Nyakabungo Girls and, finally, Kinayasano Girls in Rukungiri for her O’level and A’level, respectively.
When she applied to UCU in 1997, it was initially to study theology to fulfil her father’s wish. However, during her application at UCU, the secretary of the academic registrar advised her to reconsider as she was too young to qualify for ordination upon graduation. It was difficult to take it in, but Musiimenta and her father eventually opted for a Bachelor of Arts with Education, which she completed in 2000.
From 2001 to 2003, Musimenta was in Norway, pursuing a Master’s in Philosophy of Education. She says studying in Norway exposed her to new perspectives and a culture that helped to enhance her academic life and transform her personal growth.
Upon her return from Norway, Musiimenta was employed as a lecturer in the UCU School of Education from January 2004. Since then, her responsibilities have included developing a course outline and study materials, teaching, assessment, curriculum review and supervising research.
To enhance her career prospects, as well as to become an expert in her field of knowledge, in 2017, Musimenta returned to school, to pursue a PhD. And the journey was not without its challenges — juggling full-time teaching responsibilities, doctoral studies and family to withstanding the financial strain that a course of such magnitude can cause. The university paid tuition, but Musiimenta had to meet the other costs associated with the course. She graduated five years later.
On October 25, she was among the 1,189 students who graduated at the UCU Main Campus in Mukono. The university bestowed on her a PhD in Education Administration and Management.
Musiimenta says completing the PhD has given her a deeper appreciation of the struggles that students face. She says she has now become more patient and understanding, recognizing the balancing act many students must perform between their academic and personal lives.
Her PhD research focused on student support systems during school practice, where she explored how university and school administrators could collaborate to improve students’ practical experience. Musiimenta advocated formalized partnerships between educational institutions and schools, believing that such collaborations could help prepare students more effectively for the realities of the teaching profession.
She advises education institutions to ensure that the education they provide addresses real-world challenges and societal needs. She believes that universities should tailor learning experiences to prepare graduates for the job market, emphasizing the importance of individualized learning and career-oriented education.
Despite her demanding academic and professional life, Musiimenta remains grounded in her faith and family. She is a devoted Christian who enjoys singing at fellowships, tending to her garden and spending time with her family and close friends. Her strong spiritual beliefs have been a source of strength through life’s ups-and-downs, helping her maintain perspective and purpose. Musiimenta credits her husband, children, siblings and mother-in-law for inspiring her up the academic ladder.
As she looks to the future, she envisions a system where learning is both personal and practical; equipping students with the skills they need to thrive. For Musiimenta, education is more than a career — it is a calling.
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.
Allen Tayebwa with her parents during graduation at UCU’s Bishop Barham University College
By Irene Best Nyapendi Allen Tayebwa’s graduation at Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Bishop Barham University College (BBUC) is nothing short of a miracle. Growing up in a family with 16 siblings and an unemployed father, the idea of going to school after a secondary education seemed financially impossible.
“I had no hopes of joining the university,” she recalled. “It was a miracle that my dad took me to the university because he had not done so for any of my older siblings because of financial constraints.”
Even when Tayebwa received a half bursary from BBUC, paying the other half was a constant struggle. Her father, Jonathan Babara, sold his land, where he had built rental houses as his main source of income. However, the proceeds from the sale of the land were still not enough to meet the tuition requirements for the three years of Tayebwa’s studies.
Allen Tayebwa with her two awards – the Academic Excellence Award (for first class) and The Pinnacle Award (from the alumni association)
Babara supplemented income by selling bananas from his garden and milk from his two cows. With that not enough to meet the tuition burden, he took out loans to cover her expenses.
“He would save every little bit he earned until the loans were paid off,” said Tayebwa, who worked doubly hard at school to keep sacrifices from going to waste.
During the second semester of her first year, Tayebwa faced a challenge when her father was unable to raise funds for her accommodation in a hostel near the university. Fortunately, she found the home of Abraham and Kate Akampurira, who welcomed her with open arms.
“I think it’s God who led me to them,” she said.
Kate met Tayebwa when the former joined the university three weeks later than the rest and needed someone to guide her. Tayebwa offered to do that, and they instantly became friends.
So, when Tayebwa was facing challenges of accommodation, the Akampurira family welcomed her into their home, where Tayebwa’s family occasionally sent meals.
Tayebwa also received help from the family of Shepherd Abakundayesu, who would send her money for food. Such kindness enabled Tayebwa to focus on her studies without the worry of going hungry.
Support and hard work paid off.
On November 15, 2024, at the university’s commissioning service in Kabale, the UCU Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Rev. Dr. John Kitayimbwa, announced Tayebwa, a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration graduate, as the overall best student with a GPA of 4.73 of 5.0.
Allen Tayebwa receiving her award for academic excellence from the UCU Chancellor, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu. Extreme right is the BBUC Principal, Alice Jossy Kyobutungi Tumwesigye, and on the left is the Chairperson of the college governing council, the Rt. Rev. Gaddie Akanjuna.
For a minute, the room was silent, and people wondered if Tayebwa was present. She was, indeed, present, but in shock. A few minutes later, she walked to the podium, with tears of joy rolling down her cheeks.
“I was shocked to hear my name,” she said, smiling. “Yes, I worked hard, but I did not know I would be the overall best student. It was like a dream come true.”
Currently, Tayebwa’s father is preparing a mega thanksgiving ceremony, to express gratitude to God for the achievement of this first child among 16 siblings to graduate from a university.
The graduate attributes her success to a combination of prayer, hard work, mentorship and support. She also credits UCU and the guidance of mentors, including Shepherd Abakundayesu, Mugabe Dickens, and Kate Ensiteriyeitu, who played significant roles in her educational journey.
“I hope to offer help in eradicating poverty and equipping people with the knowledge of how they can come closer to God,” she noted.
Babara said his daughter “has made me so proud.” Babara noted that even while it was painful to “look” for the tuition, he is now filled with joy, and praying that he will be able to educate Tayebwa’s younger siblings, too.
Tayebwa attended Rushasha Salvation Primary School and Rukondo Primary School and, later, St Jerome Secondary School Ndama for her O’level. She had her A’level studies at Kyamakanda Secondary School. All four schools are in western Uganda. At Kyamakanda, Tayebwa Tayebwa studied on a bursary, courtesy of Compassion International.
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.
Archbishop Kaziimba Mugalu presents the Best Male Student award to Dismas Nuwaine.
By Kefa Senoga As a student at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Dismas Nuwaine often ushered people to their seats at the Sunday services at the university’s Nkoyoyo Hall, as well as during the community worship sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Nuwaine’s ushering service in the chaplaincy ended as he completed his undergraduate studies at the university. At the 25th UCU graduation held at the main campus in Mukono on October 25, Nuwaine was recognized as the best male student among the graduates. Nuwaine, with a GPA of 4.79 of 5.0, received a Bachelor of Journalism, Media and Communication.
Eight years ago, this honor and his church service would seem a surprise as Nuwaine wasn’t religious and didn’t toe the line. In fact, during his early secondary school life, he was expelled from his school, St. Joseph’s Vocational School in Mbarara, western Uganda. His crime? He masterminded a school strike.
During the October 24 commissioning service, Dismas Nuwaine and his family receive Nuwaine’s Best Male Student award from, in center, UCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi.
Before 2018, Nuwaine says he was nothing close to the person people came to know at UCU. He describes himself as having been unruly and far from Christian values. Nuwaine believes that his turning point was his expulsion from St. Joseph’s Vocational School.
His new school, Makerere High School Migadde in central Uganda, he says, played a significant role in his transformation.
“The school was premised on the foundations of evangelism and Pentecostalism,” he said. “While there, I accepted Christ as my saviour and something about me changed: My old habits died, and I took up very new appropriate habits.”
Nuwaine was able to complete both his O’level and A’level at Makerere High School Migadde after which he joined UCU to pursue a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication.
From the moment he set foot at UCU, Nuwaine says that he committed himself to prioritizing and managing his time effectively.
“I needed to make the best out of the colossal sums of money that my father was paying for me to acquire an education,” says Nuwaine, the youngest child of Katukore Blazio and Katukore Goretti, of Sheema in western Uganda.
His typical day on campus would start as early as 7 a.m. and often stretch until nearly midnight. Since he was involved in numerous activities beyond academics, his days included various church-related responsibilities, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the community worship and on Sundays during the church service.
Most evenings, Nuwaine says, he would go for a jog or play soccer, followed by a visit to the library for extra reading. Amidst all the busy schedule, for a person aspiring to be a journalist, Nuwaine always endeavoured to watch prime news on Ugandan TV at 9 p.m.
He also was a student leader. He represented the School of Journalism, Media and Communication in the university’s parliament and also was the university’s deputy student leader in charge of information. While in his second year, Nuwaine also joined the UCU Honors College for a two-year leadership training program. The Honours College is a constituent program and a leadership development initiative of UCU.
He says that balancing the responsibilities that came with the leadership required him to master effective time management skills to stay on top of all his commitments.
However, by year three, some of the responsibilities, Nuwaine says, were taking a toll on him. He thus had to scale down on some commitments to focus more on academics.
In his last year at the university, he got a rare opportunity to represent the institution as part of a team of four students that participated in Uganda’s national university quiz that was aired on TV from November to December 2023. The team emerged second in the competition. Each of the four students and their coach was rewarded with a cash prize of sh500,000 (about $140) and a laptop, while the university was awarded equipment worth sh15million (about $4,000). According to Nuwaine, much of the knowledge he gained from the quiz competition helped to enrich the answers he gave during exams.
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.
(Left to Right) Dismas Nuwaine, best male student; Robinson Asiimwe (Christy’s father); Mr. Graham Yoko, the CEO of Accelerated Education Enterprises, who was the chief guest at the graduation ceremony; Christy Asiimwe, best overall and best female student; and Bishop Alfred Olwa, the chairperson of the UCU council.
By Irene Best Nyapendi On October 25, 2024, Christy Asiimwe was named the best overall student at the 25th graduation ceremony of Uganda Christian University (UCU). A week later, on November 2, Robinson Asiimwe was recognized as the overall best graduate at the Institute for National Transformation.
Robinson was pursuing the Oak Seed Executive Leadership Course, an intensive, six-module program specifically designed to cultivate transformational leaders. Christy was pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Education, where she garnered a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.8 out of 5.0. Robinson’s was 4.83.
Robinson and Christy do not just share a surname. The latter is the daughter of the former. Robinson was full of smiles as he witnessed his daughter get the best overall student award from among more than 1,000 graduates. .
Christy Asiimwe with her parents on the commissioning day at UCU. Extreme left is Mr. David Mugawe, the UCU Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration, and the Vice Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi.
“I was very happy for my daughter,” he said. “However, I wasn’t surprised to learn that she was the best overall student because she is self-driven, and I believed she would excel.”
At Christy’s graduation, Robinson not only attended the ceremony, but also got a photo opportunity with his daughter and the ceremony’s chief guest, Mr. Graham Yoko, the CEO of Accelerated Education Enterprises, along with UCU council chairperson, Bishop Alfred Olwa.
Just like the kind of training Robinson just graduated from, while at UCU, the 25-year-old Christy also got training in leadership. As a member of the Honors College, the training Christy received emphasized the tenets of academics, leadership, mentorship and service. The intention of the training is to produce a cadre of leaders who are practical, relevant and innovative.
Peggy Noll, the wife of UCU’s first vice chancellor, Prof. Stephen Noll, was Christy’s mentor during the latter’s time at the Honors College. Writing about her experience with Christy, Peggy Noll expressed her excitement meeting a student who was “serious about her faith as well as her education.”
“Christy’s long-term goals include working in education, possibly curriculum development, and becoming a servant leader in that sphere,” Peggy wrote in the article.
During a recent interview with Uganda Partners, Christy said she hopes to pursue a master’s degree in curriculum development and education management. With that training, she expects to influence educational policy, and shape a curriculum that is more responsive to the needs of Uganda’s youth.
“I would love to build effective and affordable systems of education because many of the good education systems are not affordable,” she explained.
To Asiimwe, the accolades she earned at UCU serve as proof that with God, all things are possible. She attributed her success to the university’s supportive staff, excellent facilities, and its emphasis on character development and professionalism. She said the virtues that have been imparted in her have helped prepare her for the marketplace.
Born and raised in Kampala, Christy has been a high achiever and maintained top grades since primary school. She attended City Parents Primary School, Gayaza High School for O’level, and Shekinah Christian International School.
Peter Mugume, a senior lecturer at the UCU School of Education, said Christy was an intelligent, disciplined and punctual student. Even when it rained, she would still be the first student to arrive in class.
“Christy was informed,” he said. “She would consult, and often wrote excellent assignments.”
Christy sharing a light moment with her fellow first-class graduates
Mugume said when Christy competed for elective positions as a student leader, he wanted to discourage her from it, thinking it would affect her performance. But it did not.
She was a student leader in the guild government, a class representative, and in charge of religious affairs in the Honors College. She said she was able to juggle her work by strictly adhering to the timetable she set.
Her secret to academic excellence was by grasping the concepts during lectures, sitting in the front row, and making detailed notes during lectures.
“I was engaged in so many activities, but I made sure I attended all my lectures so that I could get first-hand information from the lecturer,” Christy said.
Soon after her final exams in September 2024, Asiimwe was employed at Acorns International School, where she had her internship from January to April 2024.
Christy’s father owns Shekinah International School. Ordinarily, one would expect her to work at that school after university. But that has not been the case.
“I wanted a different environment, to work under people I am unfamiliar with and to learn to absorb pressure from people who cannot easily favor me,” she said. “That way, I would be better prepared for the world of work, which is not always a bed of roses.”
At the October 25 UCU graduation, Christy was separately awarded as best female student. Dismas Nuwaine was the best male student, having garnered a GPA of 4.79 out of 5.0; he received a Bachelor of Journalism, Media and Communication.
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.
By Kefa Senoga Growing up, Caeser Lubangakene witnessed the suffering that people in northern Uganda faced as a result of a civil strife occasioned by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) – a Joseph Koney-led, rebel group that waged a war against the country and its people for nearly 20 years.
As a child growing to adulthood, he experienced trauma and observed how charity organisations and people extended a hand to the affected. His primary school was attacked by the LRA. When older, he saw how his mother, a nurse, cared for victims of the LRA war that started in the mid-1980s.
Caesar Lubangakene
“I would spend most of my (spare) time in the wards with my mother,” the Uganda Christian University (UCU) alum recalled of his teen years. “Whenever a land mine hit a vehicle, I would see bodies being ferried into the hospital.”
While the region where he lived returned to normalcy by 2006, such observations have had an indelible impact on the humanitarian worker that Lubangakene has become.
Lubangakene started school in Gulu, a district in northern Uganda. While he was in Primary Two at Negri School, Lubangakene was among those who escaped when the facility was attacked by the LRA.
His uncle, who was living in Kampala at the time, did not want to leave anything to chance, so he evacuated his nephew to Uganda’s capital, from where Lubangakene studied, until he completed a university degree. From St. Joseph’s Primary School Nabbingo, near Kampala, he joined Bishop Cipriano Kihangire, Luzira, a suburb of Kampala. After A’level, Lubangakene headed to UCU, where he pursued a Bachelor of Public Health.
Even though Lubangakene, the youngest of three children, studied in Kampala schools, during the holidays, he would return to northern Uganda to spend time with his mother, Grace Achelom, who was a nurse at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.
When not in the wards or the staff quarters of the hospital, Lubangakene and his playmates would be busy by the roadside, admiring “big” vehicles of non-governmental organisations transporting humanitarian aid workers. It is those vehicles, Lubangakene says, that made him admire humanitarian aid work.
Today, Lubangakene, a 2012 graduate of UCU with a First Class degree, serves as the regional grants manager for a Christian international relief agency that provides primary healthcare, food, clean water, and education programs in Sudan and South Sudan. Due to the conflict in the region and the sensitive nature of his work, he prefers not to disclose the name of his organisation.
Lubangakene joined the agency upon completing a Master of Science in Global Health program at the Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, where he studied from 2015 to 2017. In his current role, he oversees grants management.
“Since I was promoted to the regional office, I have been supervising a team of grants managers in different offices; my role is to make sure we are applying for funding, identifying available funding opportunities or we are reporting or giving accountability on the funding that we have received,” explains Lubangakene, who has experience developing systems for quality assurance for different projects in East Africa and India.
For him, humanitarian work is more than money. He says as a Christian, he has a duty to make a difference and reduce human suffering.
Having grown up during insurgency in northern Uganda, Lubangakene says he knows full well what living in a war-affected area means.
After his master’s studies, Lubangakene was offered an opportunity to work with a research firm in the USA, but he declined, opting to work in South Sudan, reasoning that the latter provided a more hands-on role in humanitarian work.
In 2021, Lubangakene unsuccessfully contested for a parliamentary seat to represent one of the areas in northern Uganda in the national Parliament.
He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health. He began those studies in October 2024 at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
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.
By Christine Mirembe Unemployment among Ugandans aged 15-24 is improving slowly. According to World Bank data via macrotrends.net, it was 4.5% for that age group defined as “available and seeking employment” in 2023 – slightly less than in 2022. For unemployment, low statistics reflect positive career moves.
While Uganda Partners continues to feature successes for seasoned Uganda Christian University (UCU) alumni, we decided to highlight a few more recent graduates to learn about the days leading up to graduation and their initial transitions from university life.
These five new alumni share some of their triumphs, including the value of work experience before graduation and UCU’s reinforcement of Christian faith, and struggles such as the university-required, pre-graduation signature sign offs and cost of gowns and certificates. Graduation day starts as early as 3 a.m. to arrive by 7 a.m.
Pauline Luba – ‘never settle for mediocrity’
Pauline Luba (2024 Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, School of Journalism, Media and Communication) “You reach a point in your academics when you worry if you will make it to the tent, but to make it especially with your friends means a lot,” she said, noting clearance signatures, cost and time as obstacles to overcome.
Pauline, who graduated with a Grade-Point Average (GPA) of 4.32 of 5.0, expressed frustration about the UCU graduation signature clearance process. One expensive journey back and forth to the Mukono campus was because an office from which she was supposed to get a signature was understaffed. When occupied, only one person dealt with all the graduates.
Another challenge was an unexpected increase in cost for gowns and certificates of sh50,000 ($13) from July 2024 to October 2024.
“It was difficult,” she said. “Sh450,000 ($119) is not easy to produce.”
At that, Pauline shared how her pre-graduation work experience and the UCU Christian environment have been helpful since receiving her degree. She has worked as a writing intern for the USA-based Uganda Partners NGO for 18 months. Prior to graduation, she also was an intern for TotalEnergies EP Uganda, an oil and gas production and exploration company. With her interest in oil and gas, she hopes to retain her Total position to dive deeper in that sector over the next four years. This opportunity has given her a chance to dive into a different field and still apply her communications knowledge to write stories and interact with various people.
From UCU, Pauline carries on her reinforced faith in God, worktime adaptability and humility. All these have helped her to navigate work.
“Be still and know God,” she said. “Remember that failure is not failure but rather a learning point. You can achieve everything you put your mind to, and never settle for mediocrity.”
Kairanian Rooney – appreciates UCU friends and connections
Kairanian Rooney(2024Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology) In his current position as a graduate engineer at Infra Consulting Services (ICS) Limited based in the United Kingdom, Kairanian is part of a team providing integrated planning, management and engineering services in the transport, property, environment and natural resources sector.
Like Pauline, Kairanian’s final days toward graduation were a bit hectic with frustrations about getting signatures from faculty not present and/or long lines.
“The only signatures I got with ease were from the Guild President and the warden,” he said.
Unlike graduates from Octoberwho paid Sh450,000 ($119) for graduation gowns, Kairanian paid Sh400,000 ($105.85), which was the fee in July this year.
“We moved to the tents, and I met up with some of my colleagues and friends and we did some catching up,” Kairanian said of graduation day. “After the graduation ceremony at campus, my dad and stepmother took me for lunch to celebrate the day. I later attended a friend’s graduation party in the evening.”
Currently, he appreciates the friends and connections he made at UCU and advises future graduates to cherish these connections.
For future aspirations, Karanian, , who graduated with a GPA of 4.11 of 5.0, sees himself as an established registered engineer doing his masters’ degree and working at a big transportation project.
Kakooza Paul – ‘have fun, but do your best to excel’
Kakooza Paul (2024 Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology) Graduating in July 2023 with a GPA of 4.08 of 5.O, Paul, unlike some of his peers, describes his graduation preparation journey as a smooth one. He credits this to his planning. He set apart a full 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. day to acquire signatures.
Financially speaking, Paul says that UCU being a private university, one must be ready for added costs so the Sh450,000for the graduation gown did not come as a surprise to him.
“Graduation day was nice because of the people around that day,” said Paul, who described the ceremony as similar to finishing an exam and thinking about what to do next.
Paul is now working with Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), a government agency that manages, develops and maintains Uganda’s national roads. Credit for the ease of his work goes to colleagues as well as UCU’s curriculum with communication skills and engineering knowledge.
His advice for current students: “Make friends…Have fun, but also do your best to excel in your studies. Have dreams… Thank God, your parents, guardians, lecturers and friends.”
Byaruhanga Francis – ‘hone future skills, and stay on top of data’
Byaruhanga Francis (2024 Bachelor of Law, School of Law) Currently working with KTA Advocates in the Technology, Media andTelecommunications/Intellectual Propertyand Sustainability Team, Byaruhanga Francis hopes to have a master’s degree and to be further established in his career over the next four years.
“My family arrived quite early, we were driven to campus in an SUV,” he said of graduation day. “Among those present were my mom and dad, my youngest brother and my only sister. We celebrated with a sumptuous lunch and were joined by my close friends from the USA.”
At UCU, Francis had the opportunity to participate in unique co-curricular activities like the Inter University quiz last year. Such activities shaped his world view, improved his work ethic and leadership opportunities that enhanced his skills.
“For future graduates, I’d advise them to embrace emerging fields of work such as AI, Space Law, Artificial Intelligence and Web 3,” he said. “They need to hone future skills and stay on top of data such as in the Future of Jobs report by the World Economic Forum.”
Christy Asiimwe with the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop of Uganda and Bishop of Kampala – ‘grateful to God for his goodness to me’
Christy Asiimwe (2024 Bachelor of Arts with Education, School of Education) Topping the October 2024 graduating group with a CGPA of 4.80 of 5.0, Christy Asiimwe credits her success to God. She applies UCU virtues of Christ-centeredness, perseverance, integrity and professionalism as her take away from her three years at the university.
In addition to focusing on studies, Christy was part of the Honours college and the UCU writing centre.
“With these, I will be able to support people as they become all God has called them to be, especially through engaging in education management and curriculum development studies and practice in the next few years,” said Christy. “I was exhausted after graduation, but really happy about how everything went and grateful to God for His goodness to me.”
Lucky for her, she was already teaching English and Literature at Acorns International School before graduation so she had no worries about job hunting but rather got back into her busy teaching schedule.
Christy advises future graduates to enrich themselves with as many productive experiences from the university because the skills and character they develop are invaluable in the field of work.
”Having a personal relationship with God and living for Him is what binds everything together, making it possible for everyone to succeed,” she said.
To support UCU 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.
The new UCU alumni executive team is sworn in during Community Worship in Nkoyoyo Hall. Terms run for three years, ending in 2027.
By Eriah Lule The Uganda Christian University (UCU) Alumni Association ushered in a new era of leadership during a three-year term, swearing-in ceremony at Nkoyoyo Hall on the Mukono campus.
The Executive hands over a “check” of sh10 million ($2,657) to management towards the construction of the Bishop Orombi ICT Complex at Arua Campus. UCU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi is at right.
On August 18, 2024, the university community witnessed the 2024-2027 swearing-in of the new committee, with Emmanuel Wabwire re-elected as Chairman for a second term. Wabwire, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies from UCU and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Catholic University of Milan, is the Executive Director of Faraja Africa Foundation, a Social Enterprise in Kampala.
Amponda Agaba Kenneth, a 2021 UCU School of Law graduate who is pursuing his career at Agaba Muhairwe and Company Advocates, assumed the advocacy role of Speakership.
The election was held at a time when the Association was reflecting on significant achievements made over the last three years. Under the outgoing leadership of Wabwire as Chairman and Oboth Julius as the General Secretary, the Association worked to maintain a strong connection between the university and its alumni, both locally and internationally.
Some of the key achievements highlighted during the ceremony was the Association’s donation of $2,657 (sh10 million) towards the construction of the Bishop Orombi Information Technology Centre complex for the Arua Campus, which will be a one-stop tech center to positively impact the education system in Uganda’s West Nile region.
The previous Executive group also donated a training kit for the UCU Canons, the University’s male basketball team. The kit was a symbol showing the association’s support towards the struggling department.
The purchase of an Alumni van was another major milestone, significantly improving the Association’s ability to conduct its different engagements as well as generating a surplus income.
The digital era brought about by the pandemic saw the Association embracing online platforms to engage alumni through virtual events and regular updates like the General Assembly in 2021, while physical engagements, like the Homecoming events in 2022, to mark the university’s 25th anniversary, and Prayer Breakfast in 2023, were well received.
“We try to establish different projects to earn some income but also support our alma mater in its capital project developments,” said Wabwire. “This helps us to increase our relevance and influence among the Alumni community and entire University body.”
Joshua Mukisa, a 2014 UCU graduate of a Bachelor of Education, is one alumna who sees the Association’s embrace of technology as necessary and unique. The Association held an online election and peaceful transition, a mark that set the bar for other institutions.
“There has never been a peaceful alumni election in University history in Uganda, having one online is something new,” he said “We have set a bar that other institutions can benchmark and learn.”
Despite successes, the Association faces persistent challenges like low alumni participation in its activities, limiting alumni engagement and the growth of regional chapters, prompting it to call for greater involvement from alumni leadership.
As the new committee takes charge, the focus is on strengthening the Association’s financial base, expanding its international chapters, and enhancing alumni engagement across all regions. With a strategic work plan in the pipeline, the Association remains optimistic about its future, hoping to build on past achievements to make an even greater impact on the UCU community.
Wabwire acknowledged obstacles but emphasized the importance of unity and commitment to the Association’s goals.
“We must all work together to ensure that UCU continues to be a place of excellence, not just for current students but for alumni as well,” he said.
As the new leadership embarks on its mandate, the Association remains committed to fostering a vibrant and supportive alumni network with hopes of a brighter and more connected future for all its members.
To support UCU 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.
Stacy Angel Ndawula and Jude Mulumbye at the moot competition
By Pauline Luba Personal data is a key driver of an election cycle in any country. From the time of registration, voters leave personal information that becomes useful during the campaigns, as well as during the elections. The data provided by the voters is useful in determining where the rallies are organized and how the campaign messages are tailored.
The theme of personal data during elections was the subject of a recent law moot (simulated) competition in Kenya, where students of Uganda Christian University (UCU) not only participated, but also returned with honors.
Stacy Angel Ndawula and Jude Mulumbye showcased their debate prowess in the competition, both relevant and timely, given the rise in the use of biometric technology in developing countries, including Uganda, and its implications on privacy of the data of the voters. Biometric technology is the science of using automated methods to recognize people based on their biological and behavioral characteristics.
Ndawula and Mulumbye are year-three students pursuing a Bachelor of Laws at UCU.
The moot focused on a hypothetical case involving the East African Civil Liberties Union against the Electoral Commission of Umoja. The case touched on issues of data privacy in elections, specifically addressing concerns about the security and the use of personal data collected through biometric systems.
According to Ndawula, the challenge was to find a balance between ensuring electoral integrity and protecting individual privacy rights.
“Moots expose you to what to expect in the legal field,” Ndawula noted, adding: “They help you grow skills in research, speech and analysis.”
For four months, Ndawula and Mulumbye worked on their memorials (written arguments), researching extensively and preparing for the oral rounds.
“You sacrifice a lot for the moot,” Ndawula said, emphasizing the long hours and the pressure to perform well at the regional stage. Despite never having participated in a moot before, she was determined to challenge herself and improve her confidence.
The path to Kenya was no easy feat for Ndawula and Mulumbye. They were among a select few chosen from class moots held at UCU in their second year. The students were then evaluated and encouraged to apply for various moot competitions. Ndawula had qualified for the Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot, and Mulumbye had his eyes set on an international platform to test his skills. After four months of preparation, they both stepped up to represent Uganda in one of East Africa’s most competitive moot events. Daystar University of Kenya won the competition, beating Africa Nazarene University, also from Kenya.
One of the unforgettable moments for Mulumbye was the impact of their team work. He credits Ndawula for keeping him aligned during the arguments.
“There were moments where I would forget a provision or a case, and Ndawula would write it on a sticky note, and vice versa” Mulumbye recalled. This didn’t go unnoticed by the judges, who commended their seamless teamwork and legal knowledge.
The competition wasn’t without its challenges, though. The team often stayed up all night, reading through cases and legal provisions as they prepared for each round.
“The stress was overwhelming,” Mulumbye admitted.
The draws for the semifinals again pitted UCU against Daystar University. This time, however, the UCU team was edged out, with a narrow score of 58 to 57. While they didn’t make it to the finals, the performance of Ndawula and Mulumbye earned them the title of the best Ugandan team in the competition.
Ndawula, who was ranked the best oralist in the overall competition, encouraged her fellow students to participate in moots, adding that though the preparation is time-consuming, the skills one gains, from research to time management, make it worthwhile.
Mulumbye highlighted how the moot sharpened his oratory skills and gave him invaluable insight into court procedures.
“Now I know how to submit and raise preliminary questions in court,” he said. “This experience has also taught me time management and the importance of teamwork.”
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.
Cynthia Atim is a final-year student for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Uganda Christian University’s School of Medicine.
(What’s an average day like for a UCU medical school student? This second of a two-part story is designed to provide some insight. Today is focused on a year-five student.)
By Kefa Senoga “Meet me at Roy Billington Ward in the Sir Albert Cook building.”
That is what Cynthia Atim, a final-year student of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) School of Medicine (SoM), told me when I informed her I had arrived at Mengo Hospital. This is where the UCU SoM is based, and I was here to spend a day with Atim, as she goes about her duties as a medical student.
It was a new day, and a new week. The day – Monday October 21, 2024, – was already buzzing with activity. As I made my way to Roy Billington Ward, everything seemed in motion, from the doctors in their white coats and stethoscopes around their necks, to nurses in their white uniforms.
“Today is a major ward round day for internal medicine,” explains Atim, who was wearing a white coat emblazoned with her name and the UCU logo. “What we do is learn from most patients on the ward.”
She says the ward rounds are like learning sessions for them as medical students. It is during the rounds that they work with senior doctors to check on the status of patients and discuss treatment plans.
As we approach the bed of the first patient that Atim is set to clerk, she explains that this moment is about interacting with the patient to collect essential information regarding individual health. It includes asking questions about symptoms, medical history, lifestyle and other relevant details.
“It’s important to gather that information from patients because it helps us understand what led them to seek medical care,” Atim explains. She adds that it also provides insights into the potential illnesses the patient may be experiencing.
For this particular patient, difficulty in breathing and chest pain were what had brought her to the hospital three days ago.
“How many times have you been admitted?” Atim asked the patient. Lying on a blanket spread on the floor was the mother of this young adult patient, who quickly replied, “She’s never been admitted before.”
After the clerking, Atim headed to the nurses’ station to jot down some of her findings.
“It’s better to listen so that you can go back and write,” Atim says, stressing that sometimes there’s a lot of information and so you have to note down, so you can to remember while presenting to the senior doctors when they come.
“Besides, at the end of the day, they also expect a report about the patients,” she notes.
As we make our way to another patient, we pass a hospital caretaker, whom Atim greets warmly: “How is Jajja?” she asks. Jajja is the Luganda word for grandparent. From what I observe, Atim’s relationship with the patients and other people around the hospital community is rooted in respect.
At the next patient’s bedside, we find Marie and Samuel, Atim’s student colleagues, who were clerking the patient. Atim joins them as they attend to this elderly woman experiencing shortness of breath and difficulty in lying flat.
According to Atim, this patient has cancer on the walls of the uterus. However, it has spread to the lungs. The patient is already going through her cycles of chemotherapy.
But the reason for her admission into the hospital is shortness of breath and difficulty lying flat. “She’s here to investigate the cause of her breathing issues, which she hasn’t experienced before, despite her cancer diagnosis,” Atim explains.
About three doctors later join Atim and her colleague to assess this patient. It’s at this moment that Atim and her two colleagues are meant to present their findings to these doctors, which they do, effectively.
Afterward, the same group moves to Atim’s previous patient. Atim presents her findings to the doctors. According to the feedback from the senior doctor leading the team, Atim’s findings have captured the most essential details.
The next session takes place in the intensive care unit, which I’m not allowed to access. However, according to Atim, their interest is a patient who underwent surgery and now requires a physician’s review. Since their facilitator was the one they had called for the review, he took them along, to assess the patient.
I observed that a day is almost nonstop action for a medical student. Atim says that they remain with no choice but to endure the demanding schedules because there is a lot to cover, and they need to acquire the knowledge to be able to practice effectively.
As we make our way to Luke Ward for Atim’s next session, we meet one of Atim’s instructors, who asks her to speak with her classmates to create time for a lecture later that day. She politely explains that their schedule was already crowded, with lectures going late into the evening.
At the Luke Ward, we joined Atim’s other classmates in a session where the case study was a patient with edema. According to Atim, edema refers to the swelling caused by the accumulation of excess fluid in the tissues, which can affect various parts of the body, including the limbs.
Following that session, the facilitator led the class into another round of history-taking, which involved revisiting what they had practiced earlier in the day — gathering patients’ medical backgrounds, symptoms, and other relevant information. Notably, Atim stood out as one of the most active participants in this group of about 15 students, frequently responding to the questions posed by the facilitator.
“History is important. It’s the first thing you do for the patient before you even send them to the laboratory,” Atim told me at the end of the class session. It was now 1.30 p.m and Atim had just 30 minutes for her lunch, before settling in for a lecture at 2 p.m.
As we wrapped up our appointment, Atim shared her passion for surgery, noting that it’s the field she hopes to specialize in.
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.
Linda Obukor Ojore, year-three Uganda Christian University School of Medicine student, arrives outside Nassolo Ward, Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, at 7:30 a.m.
(What’s an average day like for a UCU medical school student? This two-part story is designed to provide some insight. Today is focused on one year-three student.)
By Patty Huston-Holm It’s Monday morning in the 35-bed Nassolo Ward at Mengo Hospital on Cathedral Hill Road, Kampala, Uganda.
At 8 a.m. Linda Obukor Ojore, 22, talks to a woman slightly older. Writing carefully in block letters, Linda, wearing a white coat emblazoned with her name and the Uganda Christian University (UCU) logo, records answers to questions about the woman’s sick child who nearby sleeps with a breathing tube through his nostrils and saline solution entering his body intravenously through his wrist.
“His third admission,” Linda writes about the boy, aged four-and-a-half years. In blue ink, she documents that the child recently has been to other hospitals with symptoms of vomiting and convulsions and one diagnosis of malaria that does not appear to be a reason for any illness now.
“He has no ‘hx’ (history) of chronic illness, no asthma or epilepsy,” she writes as the mother speaks in English and the father, silent, stands nearby, and as both parents show a phone video of the boy walking days earlier. Linda speaks English and Acholi dialect, but only English here.
“No drug or food allergies,” the mother says, and Linda writes.
Year-three UCU School of Medicine student, Linda Obukor Ojore, left, shares a light moment with Dr. Rhoda Mayega at Mengo Hospital during a 12:30 p.m. break from a lecture class facilitated by the doctor.
On this day, 18 beds in Nassolo Ward are filled with children intermittently crying and being entertained with cartoons and happy-and-you-know-it and Jesus-loves-me songs from parent phone screens. Most days, the 35 beds above a tending parent who sleeps and prepares food on the floor are not enough, according to Dr. Rhoda Mayega, a doctor for 15 years and now also mentoring UCU School of Medicine students in their third, as with Linda, and the final, fifth year of studies.
“We have one nurse for all of these,” Dr. Mayega said. “In the section with babies under 28 days, we also have only one nurse.”
From her office near where Linda documents a year-three course-required case study, Dr. Mayega described equipment health care deficiencies including heart/blood pressure monitors, syringe pumps, throat scopes, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) breathing machines and X-ray, radiology diagnostic equipment.
“We have no ventilators,” she said. “Even mattresses and clean sheets are scarce.”
Next to where Linda recorded a male child’s condition, a father held his sick baby girl as a worker sanitized and flipped the child’s mattress, soothing clean sheets and a pillowcase for her return with a blanket the daddy brought. Above the beds were the words “Let the little children come to me.”
Linda continued writing.
“He has minimally improved … prior to discharge,” she penned. This referenced the boy’s condition before referral to Mengo Hospital. This is one of Linda’s course-required case studies. The parents know she’s a student and approve.
Placing her stethoscope in a large pocket of her jacket, Linda thanked the parents
Linda Obukor Ojore, right, during a morning critiquing session of her patient assessment. Classmate Wanyenze Angelina is at left.
and walked into a nurses’ office, where she further transcribed her notes – this time in red ink – that she would use when giving her oral report before a doctor and her classmates.
Thirty minutes later, huddled within earshot of the parents and still-sleeping child, as well as her classmates who stood in a half circle and near a water bottle filled with disinfectant, Linda spoke, seriously and appreciatively, accepting corrections to her report from Dr. Joseph Ssali.
At one point, he asked her to describe a convulsion, casually referenced as “fits,” in more medical terms. In another part of a 45-minute session, Dr. Ssali asked students to define hypoglycemia, a low-blood sugar condition with shaking and dizziness among symptoms.
“All of us have to have two cases right now,” Linda explained when leaving the ward for a lecture. “What I did this morning is what I need to do with one more patient. We learn from the doctors, from each other and even the patients.”
Most of the doctors at Mengo, including the UCU School of Medicine dean, Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, were trained through Makerere University, which has had a medical school for 100 years, compared to the six years since the five-year program was launched at UCU. The UCU School of Medicine collaborates with Mengo, a private, non-profit local referral hospital. Makerere gives its medical students hands-on experience with Mulago Hospital, which, as a national referral institution, has more specialized medicine in such areas as neurology and cardiology. The two hospitals are 4.9 kilometers (3 miles) apart.
Some patient notes from Linda Obukor Ojore
UCU is the newest medical school in Uganda. It was launched in 2018 with nearly 100 current alumni in a country with one doctor per 25,000 people. The World Health Organization recommends one doctor per 1,000 people.
Linda, who was born near Mbale and attended primary and secondary school in Kampala, wants to be among UCU’s July 2027 class with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree. Linda and more than 40 classmates are half-way to that goal, which is followed by Uganda’s one-year, required internship.
“I can’t remember not ever wanting to be a doctor,” she said.
When walking across the street from the children’s ward and passing a vendor selling juice and blankets, Linda reflected that her “desire to help people” may have started when her younger brother had congenital heart failure. He had to be flown for surgery in Germany because it wasn’t performed in Uganda.
At 10:30 a.m. in a small room near the UCU School of Dentistry laboratories, Linda and two dozen classmates prepare to share definition, frequency, symptom and cause information and answer Dr. Mayega’s questions about two unhealthy bodily functions – vomiting and diarrhea. Two classmates provide discussion points via a WhatsApp PDF that all students view from their phones or laptop device screens.
“What is the difference between acute and chronic?” Dr. Mayega asked. “What might be symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance? What might be the cause of blood in the stool? How can you determine dehydration without equipment?”
The definition of acute is symptoms less than two weeks; chronic is more than two weeks. Confusion, dizziness, skin color may indicate an imbalance of minerals or electrolytes. Blood in feces could indicate E.coli or salmonella. Without a watch, the medical professional can check the hydration-related responsiveness of color returning to skin with a three-second count.
“Mango one, mango two, mango three,” Dr. Mayega said as students squeeze a finger with the opposite hand to determine color response in three seconds.
“This is harder than I expected,” Linda said. “But being able to relate what is in the classroom to patients is rewarding.”
At 12:30 p.m. and before dashing to a canteen for a snack or lunch prior to afternoon studies, Linda, who has her current sights on pediatric medicine, added that time with doctors and the Christian-based emphasis at the hospital and university is likewise a positive with getting her degree from UCU. In addition to the financial challenges that most students face, one barrier has been seeing people die.
“I watched four people die – three adults and one child,” she said. “I had to realize that doctors can’t save everybody, and that dying is part of life. I will do what I can.”
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Uganda Christian University has many student stories like this one. To support 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.
Bridget Aber, a student in the UCU School of Business, on court
By Pauline Luba Bridget Aber’s introduction to basketball came from an unexpected route – through her passion for traveling first, the sport second. She quenched her travel thirst in high school when she discovered that members of the school’s basketball team often traveled out of the school to play.
Aber, therefore, hatched a plan to start playing basketball, so she, too, could get travel opportunities. When she got to the basketball court, the game became too enticing for her to leave, thanks largely to coach Koma Hendrix Iverson. The year was 2019.
All the sweat that Aber has broken since then has now earned her a national accolade – the country’s best defensive player for 2024 in Uganda’s national basketball league, named by the Federation of Uganda Basketball Association.
Bridget Aber during one of the games
Aber, a standout basketball player for the Uganda Christian University (UCU) women team, the Lady Canons, feels recognitions like what she’s just earned, push her to grow stronger and to improve in the game. Uganda’s basketball season is usually a long one, typically lasting anything from nine to ten months. During all that time, Aber and her teammates competed against 11 teams from both universities and clubs.
Despite the challenges of balancing her academics and sports responsibilities, Aber is determined to excel in both areas. She acknowledges the difficulty of managing time, especially when traveling for games, but remains committed to prioritizing her studies and training.
At UCU, Aber is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration.
Mentally, Aber has grown significantly since she first started playing basketball. In the early days, she would panic or get frustrated easily, but over time, she has learned to stay calm and focused. Understanding that not every game can be won, she has developed the ability to handle losses with grace, as they keep pushing for more wins.
Just like it is the case with many athletes, injuries are part of the trade. For Aber, they have been a significant challenge in her basketball journey. She has experienced several, including an ankle injury that took her a month for recovery and a healing knee injury she sustained not long ago.
Aber credits her growth in sports to the guidance from the athlete’s siblings around her. Her two brothers — Phillip Wokorach and Gwokto Thomas Innocent — are always available for inspiration. Wokorach plays for Uganda’s national rugby team and also plays professional club rugby in France with Club Orléans. Gwokto plays rugby for a Ugandan club, the Heathens.
Additionally, she says the UCU basketball coach, Nick Natuhereza, has played a significant role in her development as a basketball player.
Bridget Aber recently was named Uganda’s best defensive player for 2024 in Uganda’s national basketball league.
Aber is the youngest of seven siblings. She grew up under the care of a single mom in Kampala. Despite the challenges she faced following the loss of her father while in Primary Seven, she has been resilient to life’s obstacles. This resilience, she says, was implanted in her by her mother, Ayot Lillian Rose. Aber’s late father, George Ojok Gwokto, worked as a salesperson at an insurance company.
Aber attributes much of her strength to the valuable life lessons her mother imparted in her. From Ayot, Aber learned to be kind, God-fearing, and generous without expecting anything in return. These lessons shaped the person she is today, both on and off the court.
Aber encourages young girls to remain prayerful, focused, and passionate about the game while avoiding distractions that could derail their progress. For her, the journey in basketball has just begun. With passion, determination and faith, she says the sky’s the limit.
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.
The pioneer students of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Management program with some School of Business administrators
By Irene Best Nyapendi Uganda Christian University (UCU) has introduced a new PhD program — the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management. The program, which is the first PhD in the UCU School of Business, started with four modules. The module leaders are professors carefully sourced from some of the world’s best universities.
By benchmarking against world-class universities worldwide, such as the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom and the University of Agder in Norway, UCU aims to generate a new model of PhD training and elevate the standard of PhD education in the East African region.
Rev. Assoc. Prof. John M. Kitayimbwa, the UCU Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs, addresses the pioneer PhD students during orientation.
The Rev. Dr. John Kitayimbwa, the UCU Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, commended the Dean and the administration of the School of Business for developing the program, noting that the university conducted extensive research and market analysis, which revealed the need for innovative business education.
Kitayimbwa explained that unlike historical PhD training models, where African scholars are often paired with retiring professors, limiting exposure to cutting-edge ideas, this program brings together experienced and young professors.
“Traditional PhD models tie scholars to retiring professors, limiting them to outdated ideas,” Kitayimbwa said. “Pairing students with seasoned and young professors ensures they receive up-to-date research training to tackle challenges and provide relevant solutions for the next 30-40 years.”
This unique approach ensures research relevance, fostering innovative ideas. The ultimate goal is to unlock research potential for sustainable development and prosperity across the continent.
Kitayimbwa urged the pioneer students to strive for excellence and aspire to do work that can appear in well-respected journals.
“The PhD is as short or as long as the quality of the student,” Kitayimbwa said. “The students are given a maximum of seven years to complete the PhD, but you can also complete it in two-and-a-half years.”
Dr. Henry Mugisha, the Head of the Department of Post-Graduate Programs in the School of Business, led the team that developed the program. He said that the program was inspired by the need to initiate a new way of PhD training that focuses on generation or research content worthy of publication in well-respected academic journals during the training. This is a shift from the monograph PhD model that characterizes PhD training, at least in Uganda at the moment.
(From left to right) Professor Danson Kimani from the University of Sheffield; Dr. Henry Mugisha, the Head of the Department for Postgraduate Programmes; Mrs Elsie Mirembe Nsiyona, the Associate Dean of the School of Business; and Winnie Thakker Kasujja, one of the pioneer students.
He noticed that the School of Business did not have a PhD program, yet UCU needed to engage in and contribute to knowledge creation in business at an advanced level.
Mugisha said his inspiration was to debunk the misconception in Uganda that you cannot have a PhD if you are not subjected to periodic sit-in examinations. This makes this PhD unique because the mode of delivery is new in the country.
“We are using a practice-relevant approach, focusing on writing, disseminating research findings, and solving societal problems,” Mugisha explained. “Unlike traditional coursework and examination methods, our program yields a paper addressing a specific concern at the end of each module.”
This program aims to generate knowledge, address business-related problems, and equip students with first-class research, writing and dissertation writing skills.
The first cohort was welcomed with an October 10, 2024, orientation session. With 30 enrolled students, the first class commenced on October 19, 2024
The program has specialized tracks in Finance, Strategic Management, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management, International Business, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Accounting — all of which are critical areas for driving positive change in business ecosystems in Africa and beyond.
Participants in the program are expected to benefit from a collaborative learning environment that offers mentorship. Students will have the opportunity to work closely with distinguished faculty on research projects, publications, and teaching opportunities.
The program has two options to accommodate the candidates’ backgrounds and goals. First, there is a PhD in Management by Coursework and Research, and a PhD in Management by Publications.
The PhD in Management by Publications is a tailored program that examines the foundational principles and evolutionary dynamics of the management field, alongside key catalysts driving change within the discipline. It requires a minimum of three years and a maximum of seven years to complete.
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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