Category Archives: Science and Technology

UCU awards exceptional staff at end-of-year community worship

December 11, 2024Faculty, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, Journalism, News, Science and Technology, Sports, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Business, UCU School of Education, UCU School of Journalism, Media and Communication, UCU School of Medicine, UCU School of Social Sciences10 YEAR AWARDS, AWARDS, UCU STAFFEdwin Byarugaba

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:

Research and Grants:

Prof. Monica Chibita

Prof Elizabeth Kizito

Dr. Rosemary Bulyaba

Prof. Eng. Eleanor Wozei

Leadership

Dr. Miria Agunyo

Dr. Gerald Tumusiime

Dr. Innocent Ndibatya

Rebecca Gomes Namirimu

Online Platform teaching and learning

Doreen Kukugiza

Jeremy Waiswa

Arabella Abamwesiga

Comfort Mpiriirwe Tumuhamye

Lorine Akinyi

Josephine Namyalo

Andrew Nyombi

Academic Support

Jean Asasira Mutabule

Claire Arinaitwe

Mwebwaze

Desire Kagaba

Francis Acaye

Beatrice Zalwango

Suzan Ekadu

Administrative Support

Irene Nabwiire

Winnie Thakker

Daniel Kakama

Christine Namatovu Wako

Judith Katoko

Anthony Mukama

Simon Kyalahansi

Deo Maseruka

Nicholas Natuhereza

Shanitah Nuwasasiira

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

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After graduation – What’s next? Recent alum share

November 22, 2024Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, Journalism, News, Science and Technology, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Education, UCU School of Journalism, Media and Communication, UCU School of Law, Uganda PartnersPatty Huston-Holm

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 (2024 Bachelor 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 October who 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 Sh450,000 for 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 – ‘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 and Telecommunications/Intellectual Property and 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.

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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.

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UCU computer student leads best pitching team at national hackathon

June 10, 2024Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, Science and Technology, Students#News, #students, Science and TechnologyPatty Huston-Holm

Charles Muganga presenting his team's pitch at the Agri-Tech Hackathon — Charles Muganga presenting his team’s pitch at the Agri-Tech Hackathon

By Kefa Senoga
Charles Muganga, a final-year student in the Bachelor of Computer Science program at Uganda Christian University (UCU), finds himself deep in agriculture some days. Misunderstanding about what soil nutrients can yield the best crops and how data can clarify that brought him and other peers there.

When the fertility of the garden soil is poor, farmers get low quality produce. Many working the fields devise means of increasing the productivity of the soil, such as using fertilizers to add more nutrients. To apply the necessary fertilizer, a farmer must know what nutrients are deficient and what their soils need. The smallholder farmers add fertilizers based on experience, what is available on the market or what other farmers recommend. Because of the lack of knowledge of the genetic makeup of the soil, blanket application of fertilizers can lead to wrong nutrients applied to the soil, under fertilization or overfertilization.

Muganga (left) interacting with one mentor at the hackathon

Muganga and other Bachelor of Computer Science students came up with ideas that could empower farmers to increase productivity and profitability by understanding the soil data. The idea was presented at an agricultural technology event — the The Agri-Tech hackathon — hosted in Kampala in May at the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT).

A hackathon is an event where, mainly computer programmers, come together to solve a problem or identify new opportunities through software programming. The May event brought together hundreds of young innovators from various universities to design digital tools that could help address critical challenges within Uganda’s agricultural sector.

“We came up with a simple testing kit with a data-driven advisory model that can test for the nutrients in the soil and advise the farmers on what kind of crops to plant,” explained Muganga, who teamed up with computer science students from other universities to develop the concept.

Muganga (second-left) and his team being awarded for the best pitch

The agricultural technology hackathon was held in collaboration with government stakeholders including the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and National Guidance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, and the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

Muganga elaborated that their solution also caters to monoculture farmers who grow a single crop year after year on the same land. He described how their soil-testing kit, which is AI-integrated, can provide farmers with clear guidance, in lay language, on the most effective methods to use to continue sustaining high productivity.

“The AI is intended to avoid using technical terms such as “magnesium” and instead simplify the information for farmers. It will explain the type of manure and the quantity required in practical terms, such as recommending 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of cow dung or chicken droppings,” Muganga explained.

According to government statistics, in 2022, agriculture accounted for about 24.1% of Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product and contributed 33% of the export earnings. About 70% of Uganda’s working population is employed in the agriculture sector.

According to Uganda’s statistics agency, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), between 2016 and 2020, there was an 8 percent increase in households participating in subsistence agriculture, with many more people switching to the sector during the pandemic as a result of job losses. The country also has an aging farmer profile — 55 percent of the heads of the households that practice farming are over 40 years, while 20 percent over the age of 60 years.

The solution that Muganga, as team leader, and his colleagues pitched earned them a reward of sh2.2 million (about $577).

Joyce Ssebugwawo, the state minister for ICT, addressing students at the event

This hackathon that focused on utilizing technology to address agricultural challenges saw the students from different schools develop digital solutions to tackle challenges in four key agricultural areas — soil health, inputs (seeds and fertilizers), value chain issues (logistics and post-harvest handling) and water management.

The digital solutions incubated at the hackathon are expected to solve key agriculture sector challenges, for instance low uptake of improved agriculture inputs, limited access to suitable financial products and low access to reliable weather information, among others.

Uganda’s Minister of State for ICT, Joyce Ssebugwawo, who attended the hackathon, said innovations, such as those pitched at the event, have the potential to offer long-term solutions for problems in agriculture.

“We must acknowledge the persistent challenges that have hindered our progress like limited access to markets for agricultural products and gaps in technology infrastructure which continue to pose obstacles to our development efforts,” Ssebugwawo said.

The next step for Muganga and other incubators is to actualize their ideas for the benefit of Ugandan farmers.

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UCU students advised to safeguard personal information online

February 1, 2024Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, Science and Technology, StudentsPatty Huston-Holm

By Kefa Senoga
It is not uncommon for people to post on the Internet, informing their followers on social media about an impending trip, and where they will be going. However, such actions, according to an online safety expert, could jeopardize one’s security.

Baker Birikujja, the Manager for Compliance and Investigations at the Ugandan Government’s Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO), said when people use social media to share their locations and upload photos of their travels on a regular basis, it makes it easy for people with bad intentions to harm them.

Baker Birikujja, Manager for Compliance and Investigations at the Ugandan Government’s Personal Data Protection Office, addressed students during the sensitization talk.

Making a case for data privacy and security at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Birikujja urged the students to pay more attention about the kind of information they share on the internet and with whom they share what information.

“Only share information with people you trust, anything you upload on the internet can be stored and used against you,” Birikujja told students during an address on January 24. The event was organized by the Computing Sciences and Engineering Students’ Association in the UCU Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology.

“You may not have something to hide, but there are people who value your data and they could use it for not-good intentions,” Birikujja counseled.

His call came as part of activities to preach the importance of personal information, as the world marked the International Data Privacy Week, January 21 to 26. The International Data Privacy Day is celebrated every January 28.

Birikujja, a lawyer, also referred to the risk associated with downloading some mobile applications (apps). He said some apps collect sensitive information about the phones on which they have been installed, as well as the digital profiles of the users.

In a study conducted from 2018 to 2020, Privacy International, a global agency that works to promote the human right to privacy, reported it was discovered that some menstruation-related applications were sharing certain sensitive information with companies such as Facebook, without user knowledge.

UCU students attending the data privacy awareness campaign at Ankrah Hill on the main campus

“Out of the 36 apps we tested, we found that 61% automatically transfer data to Facebook the moment a user opens the app. This happens whether the user has a Facebook account or not, and whether they are logged into Facebook or not,” Privacy International wrote on their site.

It added: “We also found that some of those apps routinely send Facebook incredibly detailed and sometimes sensitive personal data. Again, it didn’t matter if people were logged out of Facebook or didn’t have an account.”

However, in a response, Facebook said: “Developers can receive analytics that allow them to understand what the audience of their app enjoys and improve their apps over time. Developers may also use Facebook services to monetise their apps through Facebook Audience Network.”

Ddumba Timothy, the interim chairperson of the UCU Cyber Security Chapter, said they intend to organize more awareness campaigns to teach people how to keep their data private. Ddumba said they distributed fliers with information on data privacy, such as teaching readers how to safeguard their passwords, for instance, by changing them frequently.

In 2019, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni assented to the Data Protection and Privacy Bill, making it law. The Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019 protects the privacy of an individual and personal data by regulating the collection and processing of personal information. The Act also provides for the rights of the persons whose data is collected and the obligations of data collectors, data processors and data controllers as well as regulates the use or disclosure of personal information and for related matters.

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UCU alum and software developer on team to help sickle cell patients

December 27, 2023Faculty, Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, Science and Technology, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Bibian Amito at her “get-to-know your workmates dinner” at MTN Uganda. A software developer at the leading telecom company, she was the best student in her class of UCU Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication Engineering and was head-hunted by MTN.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Bibian Amito is more than an average, upstart software engineer. The Uganda Christian University (UCU) alum recruited for Uganda’s leading telecom company, MTN, before her recent graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering has had her fingers and mind in client verification, help for sickle cell victims and more.

Amito didn’t even have to apply for her job. She joined MTN in March 2023, as a graduate trainee on a three-month probationary period. Impressively, her commitment and hard work secured her a permanent position.

Bibian Amito, a software developer at MTN and teaching assistant at UCU. Amito is doing research aimed at developing a smart wearable device for real-time diagnosis of individuals with sickle cell disease.

Since joining the company, she has delved into smart architectural software systems and diverse development tools. Recently, she was part of a team that developed a user interface called Tin Verification that was used by MTN’s internal administrators to check for verification of MTN clients. Previously, there was no system, and developers would query the databases and share raw data with the administrators.

“I have witnessed the dynamic pace of technology, particularly the transition from 4G to 5G,” Amito said. “I have successfully developed mock applications, websites, and APIs.”

Currently, Amito is actively involved in a research project focused on enhancing the lives of individuals with sickle cell disease, a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Sickle cells that block blood flow to organs deprive the affected organs of blood and oxygen that can damage nerves and organs, including kidneys, liver and spleen.

The project involves the development of a smart wearable device for real-time diagnosis, monitoring and health management.

The device aims to facilitate proper follow-up on the health status of individuals with sickle cell disease. The goal is to empower users with continuous monitoring capabilities, enabling them to take proactive measures to maintain their health and prevent crisis attacks. The smart wearable device will also serve as an educational tool, offering valuable insights on healthy living practices for individuals with sickle cell disease.

Through the project, Amito is committed to delivering a comprehensive, efficient, and reliable wearable device that contributes to the well-being of those affected by sickle cell disease.

“I have some dear relatives I have seen living with sickle cell, and they are my greatest motivation for the project,” Mito said.

She envisions a long, prolific career with the telecom. Her future goals include specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning. She aspires to create innovative solutions tailored to her community’s needs, using technology as a tool for positive transformation. She also plans to engage in continuous study.

Leaving scholarship to join UCU

In the early stages of Amito’s academic journey, her aspirations were anchored in the pursuit of a career in surveying. Following the completion of high school, she secured a government scholarship to study surveying.

Her uncle and mentor advised her to study at UCU. He wanted her to study Civil and Environmental Engineering but Amito was offered the Electronics and Communication Engineering program — a field entirely unfamiliar to her.

This unforeseen development posed a challenging decision as she grappled with weighing the benefits of the government scholarship against the allure of private education in a new course.

Her mother encouraged to try out the new course, arguing that most people yearn for new things because “new” usually means better/improved.

“Who doesn’t like new things? Who doesn’t enjoy having a new piece of clothing or a new pair of shoes?” – her mother had asked, rhetorically.

“I lost the love for surveying after I started the new course,” Amito said of the UCU program she began in 2018.

Her four-year journey at UCU not only equipped her with a foundation in electronics and communication engineering, but also ignited her passion for the telecommunications industry. This passion was sparked by a combination of fascination with technological advancements and a profound recognition of the industry’s transformative impact on society.

“The rapid pace of innovation within the industry, from the development of cutting-edge communication technologies to the expansion of global connectivity, captivated my attention,” Amito said. “I found the prospect of being at the forefront of these advancements both exciting and inspiring.”

UCU not only provided her with a strong theoretical foundation, but also exposed her to hands-on projects, internships, and industry insights with experience to adapt quickly to new technologies and methodologies. These and her motivation have been a driving force in her journey from academia to her current role now as a software developer at MTN.

“The exposure to smart architectural software systems and various development tools at UCU has equipped me with the necessary skills to contribute effectively to projects in my current position,” Amito said. “I’ve been able to apply the principles learned in class to real-world scenarios, such as developing mock applications, websites, and APIs.”

Amito, who was the best in her class, also is a part-time Teaching Assistant at UCU in the Department of Computing and Technology.

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

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UIS director shares UCU technology advancement plan

October 20, 2023News, Science and Technology, StudentsPatty Huston-Holm

Rebecca Kangabe, UIS director since July 2022, leads a UCU team with a 10-year data-driven plan.

By Pauline Luba
Whereas the Covid-19 pandemic made technology a cornerstone in the operations of many institutions, for Uganda Christian University (UCU), the virus and education lockdown afforded an opportunity to ramp up its use. And there is no looking back.

Rebecca Kangabe and the team she leads at the UCU ICT Services Directorate have set up an ambitious 10-year plan that is expected to see the university become a data-driven institution using artificial intelligence to predict the necessary resources and drive decisions made by management.

The move by Kangabe and her team come on the backdrop of UCU ramping up online learning after the Covid pandemic affected physical operations. Kangabe says online learning operations at UCU moved from 30% to 80%. For this move, UCU warmed the hearts of many e-learning lovers, with Janet Kainembabazi Museveni, Uganda’s First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, acknowledging the university for the strides it had made in virtual infrastructure.

During a speech at the October 22, 2021, UCU graduation, Mrs. Museveni noted that the institution has a “robust online education program” and encouraged the facility to “share best practices with other institutions.”

UCU established a Learning Management System, known as the UCU eLearning platform in 2014, to prepare for an information technology-driven academic landscape. Assessed and approved by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), the regulators of higher education in Uganda, UCU eLearning platform’s capacity to host students connecting from all over the continent and beyond has since increased.

Students can attend classes online, access reading materials, do assignments and submit coursework/examinations. Likewise, lecturers can teach in real time, record lectures, upload course materials (video, audio and text) and administer examinations.

In 2021, UCU was named best exhibitor in a fair organized by NCHE, where institutions exhibited their e-learning services that reflected the programs taught and their capacity to admit and facilitate learning for students. They also displayed the technological innovations to overcome the challenges caused by Covid-19.

The university also partnered with the Research and Education Networks for Uganda, a not-for-profit National Research and Education Network, for free student access to the learning management system called Moodle. Lecturers also were trained in how to conduct online classes.

Kangabe, who has been the UIS director since July 2022, says UCU spent over sh1.6 billion (about $425,000) on new equipment such as servers, HVC systems for the servers, increased internet bandwidth and new software for student management. It is infrastructure like these that UIS wants to take advantage of to help improve technological operations at UCU. For instance, according to Kangabe, the directorate plans to improve its software that detects plagiarism, as well as the person-view software that assists in monitoring students during online tests and exams.

To support some of these initiatives, UCU emphasizes that every student should own a laptop. For those who are unable to make a one-off payment for the laptops, according to Vice Chancellor Aaron Mushengyezi, the university, in partnership with Equity Bank and tech firm CompConsult Technologies, has rolled out a laptop loan product. Through the partnership, “students are able to acquire a new laptop and pay for it over a period of 1-3 years,” Mushengyezi said during the July 28, 2023, graduation.

All students and staff of UCU have access to on-campus WiFi by logging into eduroam. Provided by RENU, eduroam is a Wi-Fi internet access roaming service for users in research, higher education and further education.

Despite technological advancement, the price of Uganda’s internet is still a hindrance to full adoption of online learning. In 2020, during the lockdown, many universities advised students who could not afford internet for online learning to take a dead year.

A 2019 report by Uganda’s telecom regulator Uganda Communications Commission says Uganda has the highest priced internet in East Africa. One needs sh9,819 ($2.65) to acquire one gigabyte of internet compared to sh8,863 ($2.3) in Kenya and sh8,017 ($2.1) in both Tanzania and Rwanda.

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Software engineer’s journey in juggling work, obtaining Masters

September 27, 2023Faculty, Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, Science and Technology, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Kenneth Musasizi, a software engineer at Uganda Christian University (UCU) upon graduation with a Master of Information Technology in July, is a UCU lecturer.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Kenneth Kabinga Musasizi, a lecturer and software engineer at Uganda Christian University (UCU), chose to get a masters degree to expand his proficiency in software engineering and management of enterprise ICT infrastructure.

“I wanted to make a contribution to the body of knowledge,” said Musasizi, who got his advanced degree in IT in July. “I did research on developing architecture that reduces latency in web applications.”

The best male student in a 2020 undergraduate graduation who started loving computers as an adolescent, Musasizi juggled his Masters studies with teaching as well as software engineering work at UCU.

Kenneth Musasizi was the best male student in 2020 when he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. He started work as a software engineer in 2021.

“As a software engineer, every day is like an emergency day, your availability is always imperative,” he said. “So, I carefully structured my engineering job to run from 9 a.m. to around 5 p.m., reserving the crucial hours from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for my academic pursuits.”.

ICT work is critical and integral in the running of a modern university. .

“We always have to make sure everything is perfect every day because there are many people using the ICT system,” he said.

As a software engineer, Musasizi has worked on numerous projects across the world in the domains that include academia, finance, health, science and research.

“I use technology to solve problems in the community,” he said. “That is what we do as software engineers.”

Full-time work while studying was tough, but he was resolute in finding a way to do it all..

“Commencing my day ahead of the usual schedule allowed me to have time for studies without compromising my professional responsibilities,” Musasizi said.

Musasizi commends UCU, specifically his directorate, and workmates for making it easier for him to balance his job and Masters program.

“Since I studied and worked at the same university, I didn’t have to travel to meet my lecturers or to get learning resources,” he said. “I utilized the UCU library and the lecturers around. I was also able to study online with the multifaceted e-learning system of the University.”

Musasizi joined UCU in 2017 for a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. In 2020, he was among the special students who had a physical graduation at the university amidst the COVID-19 lockdown (Only first-class students were allowed in-person attendance on the graduation grounds.). He was awarded the best male student of 2020.

Musasizi started working as a software engineer in 2021. The following year, he started tutoring students. And this year, upon completion of his Masters, became a lecturer.

He fell in love with technology from a young age. At age 14, he had an interest in programming and cyber security.

“As a child, I always loved being on the computer and playing games on it,” he said. I would be on a computer until my parents told me to stop playing and do something else ‘productive.. So, I started learning about cybersecurity and programming.”

Musasizi is passionate about web and mobile development. His focus is on building scalable and high-performance systems using micro services and enterprise architecture.

During his free time, he enjoys exploring the latest trends in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and affective computing. He also searches for opportunities to share his knowledge and experience.

“Whether I am working on a new project or mentoring a team of developers, I strive to continuously learn and grow as a professional,” he said.

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UCU students reap rewards from Google Developer Student Club

June 21, 2023Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, Science and Technology, StudentsPatty Huston-Holm

Patience Ankunda, who started the Google Developer Student Club at UCU and became the first woman to hold such a position in Uganda

By Pauline Luba
It was a simple request. Patience Ankunda was asked to help start a tech club at Uganda Christian University (UCU). At the time, she was a second-year student of Bachelor of Science in Architecture at Uganda’s Makerere University. She went to UCU and didn’t look back as she became a new UCU student, enrolling for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

Ankunda abandoned her Makerere, government-sponsored course, which she had already studied for two of the four years, for a privately-sponsored one at UCU. And she was at peace with the decision.

“I saw computer science creating different opportunities for me in the future, which it is already doing now,” Ankunda, who graduated in 2021 with a First Class degree in computer science, told Uganda Partners during an interview last year.

For her switch of programs, she says many people branded her a failure because they thought she was substituting a more prestigious course for a lesser one. And many more people prophesied that she would not go far in life with a career in computer science.

Looking back, Ankunda believes the real spark of her love for computer science was her joining the Google Developer Student Club (GDSC) at Makerere University. She says the club helped her realize her love for technology.

“I was able to learn more about tech before I started to study it,” Ankunda said in late May 2023. “I got a number of opportunities and that boosted my confidence.”

Google Developer Student Clubs are university-based community groups for students who are interested in technology and cutting their professional teeth in developing applications. In the GDSC clubs, the learning is usually peer-to-peer, with emphasis on creating local solutions for local challenges. There are more than 1,900 college and university chapters across more than 100 countries in the world.

When Ankunda completed her switch from Makerere to UCU, she helped to found the GDSC in the latter university and later headed it, becoming the first woman to hold such a position in Uganda. Considered the most successful story of the club at UCU, Ankunda is already implementing the knowledge she gathered from both the classroom and her peer-to-peer interaction in the club. She likely will always be found at the intersection where technology meets business, finance and fitness.

She has co-founded Culipa, a financial technology company offering digital payment solutions for individuals and businesses of all sizes. With Culipa, Ankunda believes she is keeping the GDSC slogan of innovate, inspire, and ignite alive. Culipa has a mobile application that enables individuals and businesses to send and receive money – something that Ankunda believes is helping to make the lives of people better.

As part of its recruitment drive, on May 26, the GDSC UCU chapter held a sensitisation meeting, targeting the university’s fresh entrants.

Jasper Ashaba, the current club lead at UCU, urged first-year students to join the club, giving himself as an example of a beneficiary of serious membership in the club. Ashaba says a Ugandan transport and tracking company hired him to build for them and help them to manage their networks. From gigs like these, Ashaba says he is able to pay for his amenities at the university. Just like it is expected for any working student, there are times when the work has clashed with Ashaba’s time for class work.

“Every night, I pray to God to give me wisdom to be able to properly manage my time well,” Ashaba says.

Arthur Yawe, a first-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, said the session with freshers on May 26 gave him the opportunity to appreciate more the influence of technology in people’s lives.

Hassan Bahati, a member of the club, communicating to new students

“I will join the club,” Yawe said. “I want to learn new skills and get opportunities.”

Hassan Bahati, a member of the club, currently in his final year at the university and a student of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, said the club offers opportunities for a diverse array of talents.

“I’m in my third year, and I’m grateful for all I have learned from this club, as well as the opportunities that have come my way,” said Nabirye Joan, a student of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. “I advise others to join it.”

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UCU teams up with German university to promote eLearning in rural areas

December 29, 2021COVID-19, News, Science and Technology, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

UCU Faculty members and Mukono local government officials after the meeting

By Dalton Mujuni
Koome Island, which is among the largest of 84 Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria, has fishing possibilities, stunning sunsets and more. What the Koome archipelago of 17 islands lacks for its 20,000 residents is technology. Until now.

Uganda Christian University (UCU) has partnered with a German university, Hochshule Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences (HNU), to provide solar energy to the islands. The development is a boost to Koome students who have struggled to participate in e-learning that was accelerated necessarily in the Covid pandemic. They faced challenges of access to electricity to power mobile phones, computers, radios and televisions.

Ugandan schools were in a lockdown for one year, from March 2020. When they were opened for in-person learning in March 2021, it lasted only three months, before they were shut down again in the first week of June 2021 due to a rise in the Covid-19 infection rates. Universities and other higher institutions of learning have since opened, with the rest of the schools expected to be opened in January 2022.

Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito, Dean for the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (right), explains relevance of the project to stakeholders

A recent Uganda Bureau of Statistics household survey shows that the rate of access to the national electricity has increased to 57%, of which 19% are on-grid and 38% off-grid connections.

The solar power project, named the “Implementation of Solar Mini-Grids for Digital Learning Models in the rural areas of Uganda” was launched at the UCU’s eLearning lab at the main campus in Mukono, central Uganda. The event attracted stakeholders from the Electricity Regulatory Authority as well as members from UCU faculties to harmonize strategies for the project’s implementation.

The project aims to install solar panels on poor households on the island to foster digital learning. The implementation of the project will unfold as a multi-disciplinary initiative involving all the faculties at UCU since each has a role to play in the transformation of communities.

Speaking at a press conference, Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito, the Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at UCU, stressed that all the institution’s faculties are relevant in this project due to its diverse nature.

The agricultural officer in charge of Koome island, Obed Nsubuga, commended UCU and HNU for spearheading the project on the island.

Dr. Stephen Kyakulumbye, the team leader of Online Distance Learning at UCU, expounded on the modalities of the Distance Learning model intended to be introduced in Koome. He noted that if appreciated by learners, the model will improve diversity in learning, since teachers who are hesitant to cross Lake Victoria to the island will be brought closer to the islanders virtually.

The project is expected to be funded by HNU, to the tune of Euros 1m. ($1.15 million), according to Inken Hoeck, the HNU Africa Institute representative at the conference. He said the project has already registered success in the southern African country of Namibia.

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UCU Partners donates $50,000 to UCU’s eLearning platform

November 22, 2021COVID-19, News, Science and Technology, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

UCU Guild President Kenneth Amponda Agaba (blue shirt, holding microphone) during an online conference hosted in the eLearning lab at UCU

By Yasiri J. Kasango
Efforts by Uganda Christian University (UCU) to upgrade its eLearning platforms have gained momentum after Good Samaritans donated funds to assist.

UCU Partners has donated $50,000 (over sh170m) to the university to expand the platform. Mark Bartels, UCU Partners executive director, said the organization contributed the funds following a call by the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, for external funders to support the eLearning infrastructure.

“The idea to support eLearning came from UCU,” Bartels said. “In all of the support that UCU Partners offers to UCU, we seek to meet the most important needs of the university. When the Vice Chancellor communicated this need to us, we were glad that we had some funds available to donate to UCU towards achieving its goal.”

Bartels added that given the restrictions in Uganda due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the significant increase in eLearning needs, it was a natural place for UCU Partners to make a contribution.

Students attend virtual conference in eLearning lab.

“We know that these funds will make a difference for so many students, even after the Covid-19 restrictions are eased,” he said “We have been so impressed with the way UCU has led universities in Uganda in terms of eLearning.”

“It is always exciting to support a project that has shown promise with few resources, knowing that additional resources will make a big difference,” Bartels added.

At a recent virtual dialogue to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on education institutions, Mushengyezi advised government and schools to follow the online learning path that his institution has taken in order to reduce effects of Covid-related lockdowns on studies.

In March 2020, when the government of Uganda imposed a total lockdown on academic institutions in the country as precaution to limit the spread of Covid-19, UCU embraced eLearning and it is one of the few universities in Uganda teaching during the lockdown.

“We have invested in infrastructure of electronic learning and have something to share with other institutions,” Mushengyezi said at the dialogue, adding that such a move will not only keep students from lagging behind because of the pandemic, but also enable them to continue studying on their own time.

UCU Partners is a US-based non-profit charitable organization committed to raising public awareness about UCU by seeking material and spiritual support for students and other projects in the university.

The University ICT Services (UIS) technical manager, Rebecca Kangabe, said the contribution from UCU Partners will go a long way towards purchasing cooling equipment for the servers. “The funds will also go towards improving the internet service capacity of the university and the PS link from 1GB to 10GB,” she said.

The increase in the PS link is expected to boost the communication at UCU, making the internal emailing system faster and also simplifying the teaching on the Big Blue Button.

Kangabe commended UCU Partners for the generous contribution.

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

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Farewell to UCU’s longest-serving lecturer from the UK

March 12, 2019Science and TechnologyEngland, math, priest, Uganda, Uganda Christian University, United KingdomPatty Huston-Holm

Dr. John Smith working a math problem on the white board in his UCU Tech Park apartment (UCU Partners photo)

By Patty Huston-Holm

Legend has it that the Rev. Dr. John Denmead Smith loves mathematics so much that he counts his steps every day when walking to teach his classes on the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono campus.

“Well, I suppose I have done that,” the noted math teacher reflected in his British accent. “I hadn’t thought much about it really, but I do know precisely how long it takes me to get there.”

The rapid steps from his T1 apartment in UCU’s Tech Park area to a single-level building below the campus’ student dining hall took 10 minutes. The last week of February 2019, he walked them one last time. On March 11, he boarded a plane in Entebbe to fly to his Beverley, England, home – for good.

John Smith with a former student, Alex Kamoga, who calls the math instructor “a great pillar in my life…he paid all my school fees.” (UCU Partners photo)

“Dr. John,” as he is known, has been a fixture at UCU for 13 years. Hailing from the United Kingdom, he is UCU’s most tenured teaching faculty from the Western World.

“I won’t be back this time,” John said while stuffing clothes and papers into an opened green suitcase on his apartment couch. “I’m not sure how I feel about it really. But I thought about leaving a year ago. I am 75, you know.”

In truth, John, born in 1944 in the United Kingdom, will turn age 75 on June 13. In the days before leaving the university campus and with the acknowledgment of the difficulty in summarizing a quarter-century of living, he checked off six key areas:

Bachelor, master’s and doctoral degrees in mathematics from Keble and St. John’s colleges with the University of Oxford (England);
One year of teaching math at the Royal University of Malta in the Mediterranean at age 22;
Two years at the College of the Resurrection (known as Mirfield) in England to become a priest at age 28;
Thirty-two years (age 30 to 62) teaching math at an elite, boys’ boarding school called Winchester College;
Thirteen years as a math lecturer at Uganda Christian University; and
A girlfriend or two but never married.

Why mathematics?
“From when I was a small child, I always liked numbers, adding and multiplying them. I was about 17 when geometry hooked me in. I found the shapes and sizes and properties of space fascinating. It just went on.”

Why the priesthood?
“Even as a child, it occurred to me that I might want to be a priest some day. Then, when I was at Malta, a priest suggested the vocation. And somehow, it did work out that way. At Winchester, I was a chaplain and a math teacher. I would go into the boarding houses and say prayers with the boys before their confirmation class. I was never a parish priest, but I did work part time in a parish.”

What about family?
“I was told our family original name was “Smelt” and not “Smith.” Ihad a brother, David, who died. I have an older sister who lives two miles down the road (in England) and lots of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. I enjoy company, but I don’t mind being on my own. Look at Albert Einstein. We remember him for his intelligence and theory of relativity and not necessarily his family.”

Why Africa?
“For a long time, I wanted to come and serve in Africa.”

Why UCU?
“When I was preparing to retire from Winchester, my Bishop (the late John Taylor, a former missionary in Uganda) suggested Uganda Christian University as a place for me to carry on both as a priest and a teacher. Stephen Noll (former UCU Vice Chancellor) agreed. While I haven’t functioned formally as a priest here, inevitably being a priest influences the way that you live and work and how you relate to people.”

At UCU, John Smith taught undergraduates, generally around 35 in a class and mostly in foundational courses, but also in such subjects as financial management and linear algebra. He reached roughly 2,500 students in 13 years.

“I tried to help them, to make them think,” he said. “I hope I did. I yelled at a few students, which wasn’t right, I suppose. I caught a couple cheating and that required a lot of meetings. But mostly it was enjoyable here.”

While most students at his school in Winchester were white, John was amazed at “how quickly I didn’t see color” in the students at UCU. A few students became special friends over the years with more than a few getting their tuition and other expenses paid by the math teacher they call “father.” Some came for dinner that his Ugandan helper fixed once a week in his modestly furnished apartment.

When he wasn’t teaching, he mostly stayed in the apartment. John’s occasional, always brisk walks out the university gate were generally to buy rolex (an egg-and-bread local food) on the street.

Prior to coming to Uganda, John published a couple research papers that garnered academic attention. He pulled out one on yellowed, stapled paper. The title was “Ptolemaic Inequities with Odd Powers.” Ptolemy’s theory is that inequality becomes equality when four points on placed a certain way on a circle.

“Not sure why I kept this,” he said, turning it over. “It was important to me at a time, but not so much now.”

Discarding items is part of moving on. A small TV set went to the housekeeper. In early March and from John’s UCU apartment, eight pairs of shoes were scattered on the floor and books and clothes were on a table, trying to make it into three bags with 13 years of accumulation. A worn, open Bible rested on four, stacked plastic chairs.

“I have 27 people I would like to say goodbye to and give a few more things to,” he said, referring to the number of names handwritten on a piece of paper. “Twenty-seven. That is a pretty good sum total, don’t you think?”

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The faculty members at Uganda Christian University are mostly from Uganda, but other professors come from around the world to provide curriculum. To support programs at UCU, go to www.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at mtbartels@gmail.com.

Germany student reflects on experience studying in Uganda

February 28, 2019Science and TechnologyEurope, Germany, International, Leipzig University of Applied Sciences, Science, Uganda Christian University, Uganda PartnersPatty Huston-Holm

Christian Heddergott at Uganda Christian University (UCU Partners Photo)

NOTE: Over the years, hundreds of students have come from around the world to study at Uganda Christian University (UCU). Christian Heddergott is one of these students. A master’s student of Environmental Engineering from Leipzig University of Applied Sciences in Saxony, Germany, he began taking UCU classes in August 2018. Some of his experience is reflected here in an interview edited for clarity.

By Brendah Ndagire

How did you hear about Uganda Christian University?
Leipzig University of Applied Sciences in Saxony, Germany, and UCU have a partnership. I was checking some study abroad databases, and I identified UCU. I have always wanted to do a semester abroad and recognizing that my University has a partnership with UCU, I decided to have a semester in Uganda. I had never been to Sub Saharan Africa, and this was a great opportunity for me, mostly because it gets difficult to travel and experience new ideas, culture and perspectives later in life. It is usually easier when you are younger and a student. I have always been interested in new cultures in new countries, and that’s part of why I am here.

Can you briefly describe what you study?
I am a student in the master’s program in Environmental Science. And I am here for two semesters. Initially, I was supposed to be here for one semester (August to December). Currently, I am considering doing a master thesis and after speaking with my supervisor, I decided to stay for another semester. To be honest, I really like it here in Uganda. Living in a new country for a few months is a short period. To really settle down, to get to know people, and cultivate meaningful friendships, it takes a long time. That is why I am staying for another semester.

How is your program (Environmental Engineering in Germany) different from UCU’s Environmental Science?
The difference is that in Germany, the Environmental Engineering Program focuses more on renewable energy, high technical stuff and sanitation. Because in Uganda there is more need for environmental sanitation, in UCU’s program, there is more focus on sanitation, water treatment, and waste management. I noticed that one problem, which also is discussed in lectures here at UCU, is that Mukono as a city struggles with waste and water channel management. When it rains, water channels are filled with trash and plastics, which creates health problems. For example, when the rain water is not able to move, it becomes breeding grounds for mosquitos, and people get exposed to malaria-carrying mosquitos and so forth. The general similarity between Germany and Uganda is identifying, studying and solving environmental problems.

What about the difference in class sizes and the teaching methods?
Class Sizes: Here at UCU, I am having many classes on water and sanitation, and in class we are 10 students. In my university, within my class, we are 25. My university has around 6,100 students, and my faculty has 790 students (all engineering). One huge difference is that Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK Leipzig) offers a combination of practically oriented teaching and application-oriented research. Our regionally unique selling point is the wide range of engineering programmes. Together with the areas of economics and cultural studies, we offer a wide variety of degree programmes and research opportunities at seven faculties. In general, my university is relatively a small university within Germany.
Method of Teaching: My classes here are very dialogue-based compared to German classes where the lecturer comes, summarizes his/her materials and then leaves the class. I would say that there are challenges to each method. The main challenge with dialogue-based classes are that they can be a little bit distracting especially when everyone wants to discuss, (students) can get off topic, and the lecturer has to collect everyone and bring them back to the original topic. On the other hand, in my classes in Germany, the main point is to make a class more efficient, the challenge being that lecturer may give you a bunch of materials, in the shortest time possible, but with little time to process and engage with material.

What classes have stood out for you here at UCU?
Water, waste management and sanitation. It was really interesting to learn about basic things such constructing a pit latrine, or identifying and protecting water sources/tables. All of these are related to daily human needs we take for granted back home.

What do you think is the most positive aspect of studying at UCU?
UCU is an international university, attracting students across Africa, North America and Europe. It has good international community that supports international students. The university is used to the process of having international students. I find that special and rich in a way that I am not only building relationships with Ugandan students, but also with other international students. For example, everyday I meet students from the central African Republic, Burundi, Nigeria, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, etc. I find that really interesting. I don’t know where I could have had the opportunity to meet so many people in a formal context with different cultural backgrounds and experiences.

Other aspects?
The UCU campus, the way it is organized. It is really beautiful. Everywhere you look, it is really clean, and it looks like they put in a lot of work and care to make it look nice. I find it interesting that the university has an actual campus. I say that because at my home university, there are just several buildings in the middle of town, no place to hangout, no campus. Just imagine a university in the middle of Kampala.

UCU is a Christian university and your university back home is not. How has that impacted your study abroad experience/process?
I have learned that undergraduate students study courses outside of their specializations including the New and Old Testaments, Worldviews, Health and Wholeness, and Understanding Christian Ethics. In Germany, our program is very scientific and when you are studying mechanical engineering, it is very rare to combine science and Christianity. Here, everything is linked to the Christian identity. Students have community worship, there are street preachers, and the main campus has a church. That has been biggest difference and observation for me. I can’t speak for all universities in Germany but my university is not related to any religion.

What observations have you made on socio-cultural differences between Uganda and Germany?
In Uganda people seem to be relaxed and you can have small talks with literally everyone on the street, in the supermarket, in the food line at the dining hall, etc. But in Germany, people seem to be busy all the time. You wouldn’t just talk to everyone you do not know, especially when you are in small town in a village people would look at like, “what are you doing?”

I grew up in small village, and people there they know each other, but if someone came out of town and started greeting everyone, people would strangely look at that person. In Uganda, it is the opposite, people are always curious, asking questions and are welcoming. I think that is the biggest difference. And the common thing we all have is that people genuinely care about family and friends.

Would you recommend UCU to students from your home university?
I would definitely recommend it. I would tell them to think about studying at UCU. Since it is a Christian university, they need to be flexible to adhere to the rules such as the campus curfew, no alcohol, smoking in public, etc. But it is really a great university and that’s why I decided to stay for another semester.

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For more of these stories and experiences, visit https://www.ugandapartners.org. If you would like to assist a current UCU student or otherwise support the university, contact Mark Bartels, Executive Director, UCU Partners, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org or go to https://www.ugandapartners.org/donate/
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UCU Partners agricultural science, engineering program scholarship recipients

February 14, 2019Scholarship, Science and TechnologyEducation, Scholarships, UCUPartners, Uganda, Uganda Christian UniversityPatty Huston-Holm

(NOTE: In the fall of 2018, Brendah Ndagire, UCU Partners’ Communications Associate, came on the Uganda Christian University Mukono campus to interview some UCU Partners scholarship recipients. For a 10-day period, UCU Partners features a summary of their feedback. To support students like these, contact Mark Bartels, executive director, UCU Partners, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org or donate directly at: https://www.ugandapartners.org/donate/)

Name: Byakatonda Gerald

Program:
Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurship

How has the scholarship helped you in your course of study?
It has provided funds for my tuition, accommodation and other fees at the university.

How would do you want to use your degree and why?
I want to do many things. First,I want to be a crop scientist. I have worked with farmers and found out that they have challenges such as crop diseases, poor yields, among others. Becoming a crop scientist will give me the opportunity to offer solutions to such problems. Secondly, I want to start FARMHELP-AFRICA, an organization that would seek partnership with farmers and other stakeholders.I will also become a professional farmer of coffee and oil palm in Uganda. Lastly, I want to be agricultural-entrepreneur and christian-principled leader for young people who lack a professional example to direct them into farming business.

What do you want to say to your sponsor?
I want to thank them for their genuine support towards my academic journey.

Name: Kucel Newton

Program: Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurship

How has the scholarship helped you in your course of study?
It has been of great help to me since I am always guaranteed to do my examinations.

How would do you want to use your degree and why?
I want to become a professional farmer with a holistic background in caring for consumers of what I will produce. I see the rising population in Uganda and the World at large; hence, there is a need to improve food supply for this rising population. I have also seen farmers selling products contaminated with chemicals not minding about the consumers and with this; I am looking at producing good and safe food for my consumers.

What do you want to say to your sponsor?
May God bless her in everything.

Name: Mutesasira Ivan

Program: Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering

How has the scholarship helped you in your course of study?
I have attained knowledge and skills in the engineering field, and how to appreciate and live with others.

How would do you want to use your degree and why?
I want to become a good engineer who will work with people in society. I also want to help other people/children who have problems with studying when I become a practising engineer. Further in the future, I want to be a professor of Civil Engineering.

What do you want to say to your sponsor?
I appreciate the support, love, and efforts they have put in to see that I become an important and great engineer who will benefit the society I live in. May God bless her!

UCU Partners scholarship awardee straddles aspirations in science and business

November 25, 2018Scholarship, Science and Technologybusiness, Chemistry, Scholarships, Science, Uganda Christian University, Uganda PartnersPatty Huston-Holm

By Patty Huston-Holm

On paper, Matende Wilson Paul is a Uganda Christian University (UCU) business student. He has a diploma and is working on a bachelor’s degree.

In his head, “I’m a scientist,” he said. In between studies, Wilson Paul, as he prefers to be called, teaches chemistry at his alma mater, Vision High School, Nakifuma (Mukono District).

It’s a strange combination – one that he admits with uncertainty about where it will take him. For now, however, he has written a chemistry book (the science part) and is selling it (the business part). It’s called “D1-I Must Pass Chemistry.” (The D1 is a protein with many functions and interactions.) His book has been reviewed and verified as accurate and valuable by academic teachers of science and chemistry. As of autumn 2018, he sold 70 copies at 15,000 shillings ($4) each.

“I don’t care about making money,” Wilson Paul, age 22, said. “I just want to help students get through chemistry easier than I did.”

In truth, chemistry came easy for Wilson Paul despite no chemistry teacher or class when he was at Vision High School. He and eight classmates formed a class. They studied without books and lab equipment. Despite their passion and learning, they knew the lack of a formally approved curriculum and deficient experimentation tools would cripple them when applying for entrance into related university programs.

“I have no paper to say what I know,” he said.

And like many students, funding to continue education was a barrier. Born to teenage parents who eventually separated, Wilson Paul was raised by his grandmother, going to primary school behind Mukono’s Colline Hotel.

He “felt like a failure” until he met Mary Chowenhill, a Florida resident living and teaching entrepreneurship at UCU. Together, they started teaching Sunday School in 2013, including one trip to western Uganda’s Masindi village to guide 400 children. They lost touch. Then, two years ago, they reunited with Mary’s proposal that Wilson Paul study business at her sponsorship. It happened through UCU Partners.

“It was like bringing me back from the dead,” Wilson Paul said. “I can’t tell her how much that meant to me or how much she means to me now.”

While Wilson Paul is uncertain about his future after finishing at UCU, he knows he will have one foot in science and one in business.

“I want to do both,” he said. “Mary reminds me that God has a purpose for everything and everybody, including me. I’ll keep searching.”

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If you are interested in supporting students who are making a difference in the communities around Uganda such as UCU Partners Scholarship Recipient Wilson Paul is, contact Uganda Partners’ Director @mtbartels@gmail.com or click on the “Donate” button in the upper right corner of this page.

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Equipment Transforms Allan Galpin Health Centre

November 7, 2018Science and Technology, UCU School of MedicineEquipment, Health, Medicine, Uganda Christian UniversityPatty Huston-Holm

View at entrance to UCU (Mukono) Medical Centre

By Alex Taremwa
Inside Allan Galpin Health Centre, the Uganda Christian University (UCU) clinic, sits Akankwatsa Yunia, a third-year Mass Communication student. She has been waiting for just a minute before the doctor calls her to pick up her laboratory tests. She can’t believe it.

“This has taken shorter than expected,” she says with a smile, recalling, “Back then, we used to wait here for over 30 minutes, and we would even be asked to wait longer.”

The new developments have been brought about by acquisition of a first of its kind, GYAN laboratory chemistry analyser. The fully automated, Belgian-made equipment with standard control can test over 20 laboratory samples at a time.

According to Zac Tamale, a laboratory technician at Allan Galpin, this has given a significant boost to the diagnosis of patients due to its revolutionary technology. It also has reduced the number of staff and student referrals the clinic makes to external, “more sophisticated” hospitals. Previously, the university incurred extra costs in referring patients to affiliated hospitals such Namirembe Church of Uganda Hospital, Mengo Hospital.

“With this machine, we can monitor variations in hypertension, blood pressure, cholesterol and fat, bone profiles, blood calcium and iron in the body,” Tamale explains.

Zac Tamale, senior lab technician at Allan Galpin Health Centre, operates the new machine.

In addition to the above list, the machine has the capacity to explore liver, kidney and heart related complications.

According to the World Health Organization’s core medical equipment information, the chemistry analyser can perform tests on whole blood, serum, plasma, or urine to determine concentrations of analytes such as cholesterol, electrolytes, glucose and calcium. This helps diagnose and treat numerous conditions, including diabetes, cancer, HIV, STD, hepatitis, kidney deficiency, fertility and over- and under-active thyroid problems.

This development comes at an opportune moment as UCU opened doors for students in the newly opened medical school in conjunction with Mengo Hospital starting with the September 2018 intake.

The Allan Galpin Director of Health Services, Dr. Geoffrey Mulindwa, said the new acquisition, coupled with the expertise and know-how that the centre currently boasts, will help the community around the university considering that it is the first of its kind in Mukono.

“The clinic now has the capacity to carry out diagnosis on body organs like the liver and kidneys and to help clinicians improve on diagnosis and treatment planning,” he says. According to the statistics since the chemistry analyzer was installed, the number of patients has grown by over 23%, suggesting that public confidence in the clinic named after a missionary has been improved.

Dr. Mulindwa said the chemistry analyser will “improve on timely decision-making to have better outcomes and cut the cost considering that UCU is delving into medical education to integrate faith, service and learning.”

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For more information about how you can help support equipment to make a difference in UCU education, contact Mark Bartels, UCU Partners executive director, at mtbartels@gmail.com.

Also, follow UCU Partners on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

University’s First Engineering Guild President Promotes Science, Math and Technology

November 4, 2018Science and Technologyengineering, Science, Uganda Christian University, Uganda PartnersPatty Huston-Holm

Bruce Mugisha Amanya (in tie) during final hours of Guild President Campaign (UCU Partners photo)

BY DOUGLAS OLUM
Following a hectic week of speeches, music, riding in poster-plastered cars and on the shoulders of guys wearing his picture on their T-shirts, Uganda Christian University engineering student Bruce Mugisha Amanya emerged as the Main (Mukono) campus 2018-2019 Guild President.

Amanya’s 1,000 supporting votes edged him ahead of two rivals, making history as he became the first engineering student to obtain the student body leadership spot in the university’s 21-year existence. Amanya, in his third year pursuing a Bachelor of Civil and Environmental Engineering degree, isonly the second guild president from the university’s Faculty of Science and Technology. An Information Technology student was chosen in 2005.

The day after his late-night Nov. 2 victory, Amanya reflected on his background, his reason for running and his goals for the next year. Among questions during the campaign was how an engineering-type person – someone known for inventing and innovating – would manage leadership.

“The fact that I am a scientist, very many people, which is quite unfortunate, do not see me as a leader,” he said. “They think I can probably play better with mathematics and numbers, than with dialogue and advocacy. But it is very difficult for an engineer to succeed if he is not a leader. We experience leadership directly in the field – managing people, time, equipment or money.”

According to Amanya, engineers have resource management and problem-solving skills. He referred to building structures such as roads and bridges as work where engineers are “co-creators with God.”

While representing all students, Amanya plans to further disprove the common misconception that scientists could not make good leaders by helping to market science courses and build a wider and more engaged Science and Technology alumni base. He wants to make the public aware that UCU is more than the “law school.”

“I had my internship at the Parliament of Uganda,” he recalled. “The very day I reported, I met the Sergeant at Arms and he asked me: What is your name? I told him my name. He asked where I was from. I told him UCU. Immediately he asked me, ‘Are you a law student?’” When Amanya clarified that he was enrolled in civil engineering, the official was surprised that such a program existed.

“Those questions triggered something in me,” he said. “We are right in the city centre but people do not know that we offer engineering courses. I want to resolve that through my leadership.”

Over the next 12 months, Amanya said he plans to lobby for more funding towards science students’ projects from the university, advocate for incorporation of some essential courses not yet being taught by the faculty, ensure that specialist supervisors are brought on board to guide students’ innovative projects, set up an innovation week, cut guild expenditures on trips to support students and form a students tribunal comprised of class representatives to scrutinize guild budget and ensure total accountability and transparency.

“We need to market ourselves. But we cannot market ourselves when we don’t graduate our students. Last year, almost half the total number of finalist students of engineering did not graduate because they did not have anyone to supervise their final-year projects,” Amanya noted.

“I want to see our alumni take on projects within the university as a way of giving back. The university needs to prioritize them after graduating them. That is how we can also advertise them, using what they have done,” Amanya said.

Sitting at a table and near an older brother, Ayesigye Brian Mugisha (he arrived to congratulate), the new guild president concluded with a story of a young man selling mangoes. The story is about a youth advertising his product by shouting.

“People were not buying until he reached an old woman,” Amanya said. “She told him that people are not buying your mangoes because you are not giving them the reason to buy. Sit down, pick a mango, cut and begin eating. People will come and ask you how sweet the mangoes are, then you will ask them: Do you want one? Bring money, and they will buy. That way, the boy managed to sell all his mangoes.”

New guild president, seated, with his brother who traveled to Mukono to issue congratulations (UCU Partners photo)

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If you are interested in supporting UCU programs like those in science and engineering, contact Mark Bartels, UCU Partners’ Executive Director, at mtbartels@gmail.com. Also follow our Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin pages.

UCU Covers Ground in Science Education Thanks to Uganda Partner’s Equipment

October 31, 2018Science and Technologyengineering, Science, UCU Partners, Uganda Christian UniversityPatty Huston-Holm

Okot Francis, laboratory attendant, with liquid limit cone penetrator

By Alex Taremwa
Uganda Christian University (UCU) started out as a theological college. Slowly, the university transformed into one of the predominant arts and humanities’ institutions of higher learning in Uganda and produced the best lawyers, journalists, business leaders, teachers and social workers.

Over time, however, a vision was born to integrate the Christian spiritual values into sciences to better meet the needs of the country and as such, a Faculty of Science and Technology (FOST) was created with two departments – Civil and Environmental Engineering and Agriculture and Biological Sciences. These are housed in a new storied building in the Technology Park area of the UCU Mukono campus.

The need then was to build state-of-the-art laboratories and equip them to the standard that would allow students to create groundbreaking discoveries to improve the community, the graduates’ career opportunities and the university’s brand.

Making science real
Hellenah Dushime, a third-year student of Food Science and Technology says that ever since the Chemistry and Biology Labs were fitted with equipment from UCU Partners, her studies took a new twist.

“Before we were always told in theory what the equipment was and how it worked,” she said. “With the equipment, I can now do my practical assignments here and learn firsthand how things are done. This is what I call science. You can’t teach it like history.”

Her most used equipment are the deep freezer, where her samples are safely stored, and the analytical balance donated by contributors to UCU Partners.

Reaching beyond students
Okot Francis, the laboratory attendant since 2015, has noticed a great increase in the use of the equipment. He says that besides the students who are now a permanent fixture in the labs, the external community users such as researchers doing independent experiments have expressed interest in using the laboratories.

He believes if the university could secure accreditation for the labs from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) certifying that they were of great standard and quality, the equipment could earn the university money that would in turn help in purchase of laboratory supplies, paying for routine servicing among others.

“I can comfortably say that UCU Partners has given our department a huge boost,” he says. “If you look at what the students have been able to do practically, you see great value. Some are already making bread jam, mayonnaise, waste purification; it is simply amazing.”

Okot says student instruction has significantly improved and so have skills and application to the local community. The university has made it mandatory for students to use their class groups (four students) to work on a project that solves a problem in the local village of Mukono.

“They have done water harvesting – a model that the university is currently using – waste management, crop clinics among other projects,” he says. “And even as they graduate, we are more certain of sending out all around graduates with great skills to create jobs.”

Equipment peaking interest
The relevance to learning and real-world application that the new equipment provides has not only increased enrollment in science programs but has enhanced partnerships with humanitarian organizations. World Vision, for example, uses the equipment to test the quality of water in boreholes and streams in the communities.

A student model demonstrating proper land use at home for gardening and rain water harvesting for rural homes

Going forward, Okot says the science laboratories will be further divided off so students can have dedicated spaces to work under controlled environments for better results.

“We shall partition the labs so that students in dairy production, micro-biology, and biotechnology can have more dedicated spaces to work with the equipment best suited for them. This also will improve the safety of the equipment,” he adds.

Rodgers Tayebwa, a lecturer in the Civil Engineering department says that his students have been more involved since they received the turbidimeter –equipment for measuring the cloudiness of water.

His students use the new liquid cone penetrators to determine the moisture content at which clay soils pass from a plastic to liquid state and to determine the undrained shear strength necessary for the longevity of civil structures such as roads, bridges and buildings.

In the laboratory, you can see the toil of students. The specimens are carefully placed in the room temperature spaces, some still under study labeled with tags “Do not touch,” and others already out being recorded.

Students at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels use the four laboratories. Tayebwa notes that strict standard operating procedures for equipment use were designed to ensure safety of both the students and the equipment.

Rodgers Tayebwa, UCU Civil Engineering lecturer, with new portable equipment

Portable laboratory
“This equipment is expensive. We can’t just let it be used without precaution. It is basically a portable laboratory that a student carries to the field and does the tests on the spot,” he explains.

Like Okot, he acknowledges that the faculty still needs more equipment especially for new courses such as Food Science and Technology, Nutrition and Dairy Technology. There is hope and prayer that this, too, will be forthcoming.

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For more information about how you can help support equipment to make a difference in UCU education, contact Mark Bartels, UCU Partners executive director, at mtbartels@gmail.com.

Also, follow UCU Partners on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.