Category Archives: Students

A father’s sacrifice, a daughter’s dream

December 2, 2024News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU Bishop Barham University College, UCU School of Social SciencesPatty Huston-Holm

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.

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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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Misfortune turned into blessing for UCU’s best male student

November 29, 2024Journalism, News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Journalism, Media and Communication#News, #students, Christianity, Media and Communication, UCU Alumni, UCU School of JournalismPatty Huston-Holm

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.

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UCU best student narrates strong ties with dad

November 27, 2024News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Education#News, #students, Acorns International School, Institute for National Transformation, UCU Alumni, UCU School of EducationPatty Huston-Holm

(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.

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Lubangakene: Why I opted for humanitarian aid work

November 25, 2024Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, News, Students, UCU Alumni, War#News, #students, Faculty of Public Health, LRA, Nursing and Midwifery, Public health, UCU AlumniEdwin Byarugaba

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.

“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.

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Regional law moot competition unearths talent at UCU

November 18, 2024News, Students, UCU School of Law#Kenya, #Moot, #News, #students, School of Law, UCU, UgandaPatty Huston-Holm

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.”

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Between classes and patients: A day with a UCU medical student

November 13, 2024News, Students, UCU School of Medicine#News, #students, Mengo Hospital, School of Medicine, UCU AlumniEdwin Byarugaba

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.

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UCU medical student Linda Obukor Ojore shares slice of life

November 12, 2024News, Students, UCU School of MedicineDoctors, Kampala, Mbale, Medicine, Mengo Hospital, UCUEdwin Byarugaba

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.

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UCU basketballer crowned best defensive player of the year

November 8, 2024News, Sports, Students, UCU Alumni#Basketball, #News, UCU Alumni, UCU Sports, UCU studentsEdwin Byarugaba

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.

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. — 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.

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UCU launches PhD in business management

November 6, 2024News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Business#News, PhD, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Business, UCU studentsPatty Huston-Holm

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. — (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.

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Music cements focus on God at UCU

November 1, 2024Faculty, News, Students, UCU AlumniAlumni, Church of Uganda, Music, Mustard Seed, UCUPatty Huston-Holm

Some students from the UCU School of Journalism, Media and Communication lead a song during a recent main campus community worship.

By Christine Mirembe
From the majestic sounds of the Umoja choir to the vibrant rhythms of the African beats, streams of melodies flow from the Mukono Nkoyoyo Hall, a symphony of faith and talent that engulfs the ambiance at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

Music is the universal language that bridges cultural and linguistic divides, a powerful force that holds the UCU community in a shared experience of worship, comfort and joy.

Under the leadership of Mr. Omiel Nathan, the overall Music Director at UCU since 2009, the Mustard Seed choir, the Chapel choir or the Umoja choir unite every Tuesday and Thursday at midday (12 Noon to 1 p.m. East Africa Time) to lead the UCU community in worship and prayer for an hour, aside from the Sunday worship services.

“There is a lot of diversity that is shown in the uniqueness of song choices, from the songs in regular church worship to church hymns that define the Anglican communion,” Mr. Nathan said. “We are serving God with the uniqueness that every person brings from wherever they come.”

Audience during community worship music in Nkoyoyo

The director noted that the music groups are non-denominational but that members are expected to adhere to Anglican ministry as the Church of Uganda has oversight for UCU.

The university-led groups also lead the larger UCU community in worship and prayer in two services on Sunday morning. Occasionally, groups like the Uganda Mother’s Union are invited on the stage to lead songs.

The Umoja choir, whose name originates from the Swahili word “umoja” meaning “one,” is a vibrant combination of the Chapel and the Mustard Seed choirs. The Mustard Seed choir gets its name from the biblical Mark 4:31 reference to the seed as “the smallest of all seeds of earth,” but “when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants.” When the chapel and seed choirs come together, often during special functions, they form a united voice, aptly named Umoja choir, blending their hearts and voices as one.

The choirs’ repertoire is a global musical journey, featuring songs from every corner of the world. The type and content of music used during prayer gatherings is usually aligned to themes of the respective services. In some cases, the UCU Chaplaincy is engaged with selections. Most songs are in English, but sometimes Luganda and other mother tongue translations are engaged with words on screens to help the congregation join in.

A recent service featured “Jesus paid it all” and “Forever,” the latter of which reminded church-goers that God’s “love endures forever.”

The choirs practice at least once a week with instrumentalists (drums, keyboard, guitar). The practice includes music, fellowship and prayer.

“Music is generally loved by everyone,” said Treasure Jemima, a music director for the 27-year-old Mustard Seed choir. “You find that some people come to church for only praise and worship, so music is what draws them to church.”

Aside from a commitment to practice and dedication to serve God through songs, there are no requirements to join a choir at UCU.

In addition to directors, each choir has a chairperson informally called “Papa” and a vice chairperson, casually called “Mama” or vice versa depending on the gender of the person in the roles. The chairpersons are in charge of uniforms or designating colors for members to wear and focused on instrumental accompaniment.

While vocalists may practice only once a week, instrumentalists could rehearse more. At that, some feel it’s not enough.

Joel Namonyo, a bass guitarist and a UCU student in the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology, feels his rehearsal isn’t enough, but he is nevertheless committed to his role.

“I think music is an important aspect that helps bring an environment of praise and worship,” he said. “It is a form of ministry.”

Kalule George, a student in UCU’s School of Law, says gathering as a community under the umbrella of music is effective for keeping up spiritual nourishment, as well as being updated about university activities as most of them are announced during services.

Music, which has been part of UCU almost from its inception in 1997, transcends mere co-curricular activities. It is the needle that stitches the UCU community under a blanket of unity and the universal language that resonates with students, faculty members and staff, creating a shared experience beyond academics.

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Uganda Christian University has many 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.

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UCU launches computing and technology peer mentorship

October 28, 2024Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, Students#News, #students, Computer Science, Design and Technology, UCU Faculty of EngineeringPatty Huston-Holm

UCU Code Buddy mentors and mentees share a joyful moment at the official launch of the program

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Whenever Peace Mercy Mirembe was assigned a task, she wished she had a machine to simplify most of the work. This desire for efficiency drove her to dream of inventing machines that could ease the workload. And it could possibly be the reason she opted for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

Her fascination with technology began during childhood, upon hearing stories of inventors who created life-changing devices.

Now in her first year studying in the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology at UCU, Mirembe believes coding holds endless possibilities.

UCU Code Buddy members engage in a tug-of-war during the program’s launch

“I can create whatever I need, it’s just a matter of time,” said the 20-year-old who aspires to be an inventor and software engineer.

A week into the course, reality dawned on Mirembe that the journey would not be all rosy. When she was introduced to Discrete Mathematics, a course unit offered in the first year, she found the subject difficult to comprehend. She wanted to give up on the course.

Opportunely, at the Department of Computing and Technology at UCU, through a program named “Code Buddy,” every new student is assigned a mentor to walk the journey with them. That is how Mirembe met Daniel Wavamuno as her mentor. Fortunately, Wavamuno, a second-year Computer Science student, scored an A in Discrete Mathematics during his first year, which gave Mirembe reason to believe that it was possible to excel in the discipline.

While executing his mentor role, Wavamuno helped simplify concepts for Mirembe. He also provided her with resources and tutorials.

“I could have failed Mathematics if I had not met Wavamuno as my mentor,” Mirembe said. In addition to teaching her, he also guided Mirembe on which areas to pay more attention.

Tirzah Atwine receives a mentorship certificate from Assoc. Prof. Angella Napakol, the Director of Academic Affairs, and the chief guest at the program launch.

UCU’s Department of Computing and Technology launched its Code Buddy Mentorship Program on September 20, 2024, at the main campus. During the launch, attended by the Director of Academic Affairs, Assoc. Prof. Angela Napakol and the Director of Human Resources, Ms Florence Nakiyingi, students played fun games with their mentors, creating meaningful relationships and networking opportunities.

Dr. Innocent Ndibatya, the Head of the Computing and Technology Department, said: “We have found that students typically excel in their second and third years, but some are let down by poor grades acquired during the first year.”

The mentorship program, Ndibatya noted, will ensure a strong foundation from the start and quicken the transition from high school to campus life.

The Code Buddy mentors are selected based on their character and academic performance.

Tirzah Atwine, a third-year student pursuing Bachelor of Computational Science at UCU, knows firsthand the challenges of navigating university life alone as a new student. To prevent others from facing similar struggles, she dedicated herself to mentor six students through the code buddy program.

“I don’t want new students to make the mistakes I did,” Atwine explains, noting that she has been able to learn more, by teaching others. “I’ve discovered that when I explain concepts to my mentees, I find it hard to forget the same concepts.”

Nathaniel Mugenyi, a first-year student pursuing Bachelor of Computer Science, testifies to the impact of the mentorship program. He noted that having someone to walk the journey with smoothened his transition into campus life.

Paired with Tobit (Tobby) Bushenyula Kabuya, a third-year student, Mugenyi found not only a mentor, but also a friend.

Kabuya helped Mugenyi simplify difficult concepts, taught him effective time management and helped him avoid pitfalls like missing classes.

“I wasn’t planning to miss class, but when Tobby told me not to, I knew it was something I shouldn’t think of,” Mugenyi said.

Theophile Shebakanga Bushenyula receives a mentorship certificate from Assoc. Prof. Angella Napakol.

Mugenyi initially planned to keep a low profile on campus, focusing solely on classes and his room. However, the mentorship program changed that.

“If not for the program, I would have engaged less,” Mugenyi said. “I’m glad my campus life didn’t turn out as I had envisioned. Without Code Buddy, I would have missed out on valuable resources and opportunities.”

As a mentor, Theophile Shebakanga Bushenyula, a third-year student pursuing Bachelor of Information Technology at UCU, has developed strong leadership and communication skills.

“My goal is to equip new students, get them academically on track, and make them independent,” he said. “It is rewarding to see mentees older than me become self-sufficient.”

Bushenyula’s passion for mentorship stems from his desire to share knowledge and become a teacher. “I enjoy guiding my mentees and seeing them succeed independently,” he said.

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UCU Sunday raises over $317,000 in seven years

October 25, 2024News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU Sunday#News, #students, Anglican Church, UCU Alumni, UCU SundayEdwin Byarugaba

UCU Chancellor His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu preaching at All Saints’ Cathedral, Nakasero

By Irene Best Nyapendi
More than sh1.1billion (about US$317,800) has been collected since 2017 when the annual Uganda Christian University (UCU) Sunday was started. Of that amount, sh297,224,648 (about US $81,032) was collected during last year’s UCU Sunday.

In 2017, the House of Bishops of the Province of the Church of Uganda resolved to designate the last Sunday of September as a UCU Sunday.

Mr. David Mugawe (second-right) praying with the clergy at St. Luke’s Church of Uganda Ntinda.

Of the resources collected every year, 15% goes to capacity-building programs for the clergy, 20% caters for tuition support for children of the clergy and the balance is to support infrastructure development in the university. Of the 65% set aside for development of infrastructure in the university’s main campus and at its constituent colleges, UCU Mbale University College (MUC) got sh19,264,180 ($5,252), UCU Bishop Barham University College (BBUC) received sh31,819,651 ($8,675) and UCU Arua Campus received sh12,698,400 ($3,461).

The buildings established for the UCU schools of medicine and dentistry were made possible by the sh300 million (about $79,275) that was collected on the 2018 UCU Sunday.

UCU Sunday was established to mobilize financial resources to support the university’s projects, especially infrastructure and to raise awareness about the institution. This tradition spans across Uganda, with every Church of Uganda participating.

The congregation at St. Luke’s Church of Uganda Ntinda during the UCU Sunday.

At this year’s UCU Sunday, celebrated on September 29, 2024, the UCU Chancellor, His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, encouraged the congregation to embrace spiritual disciplines of faithfulness and stewardship.

Preaching at All Saints’ Cathedral, Nakasero in Kampala, on the theme “Characteristics of a Transformed Life”, Kaziimba emphasized that wealth accumulated for selfish purposes is fleeting. Instead, he urged the Christians to always remember to commit (as they are able) resources to the service of God through supporting the church, its ministries and establishments such as “our provincial university, UCU.”

“We do not own what we have; it is all God’s. We are only caretakers. When we give, we honor God’s divine position, provision, and protection,” he said.

The Rev. Canon Eng. Paul Wasswa Ssembiro, the University Chaplain, preached at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe in Kampala. His preaching was centered on the theme “Conforming to the truth of God’s word and not the patterns of this world” (Romans 12:1-2).

Mr. David Mugawe, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, represented UCU at St. Luke’s Church of Uganda, Ntinda in Kampala, where he testified about the impact of the UCU Sunday contributions toward the university’s mandate of training the clergy.

Rev. Canon Paul Wasswa Ssembiro preaching at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe

“Through your UCU Sunday contributions, we have so far supported the education of over 40 children of our clergy, until their graduation,” he said. Mugawe added that several infrastructural development projects are ongoing on all UCU campuses, courtesy of the support through the UCU Sunday.

The Rev. Dr. Richard Mulindwa, Manager of the Church Relations Department at UCU, conveyed appreciation to everyone who actively participated and represented the university in diverse churches during the UCU Sunday.

“We deeply appreciate the time, energy, and funds you invested in making the UCU

UCU Alumni President Emmanuel Wabwire (left) and Kivengere Brenda Mbone, Alumni Representative promoting the UCU Sunday

Sunday engagements a success,” Rev. Mulindwa said. “Your efforts have brought immeasurable value to the university and helped create lasting connections with the church.”

UCU also extends gratitude to its dedicated UCU Sunday ambassadors for their tireless efforts in promoting the university’s vision and mission across various churches.

To support UCU Sunday, donations can be made through Equity Bank, Post Bank, MTN Money, or Airtel Money.

Equity Bank

Account Name: Uganda Christian University – UCU Sunday Collections

Account Number: 1006201583777

PostBank

Account Name: UCU Sunday Collections

Account Number: 1630037000131

MTN Mobile Money

*165*80# (Code A20000)

Airtel Money *185*6*2*1# (Code A20000)

American donations can be made through the Uganda Partners Website donation button at https://www.ugandapartners.org/donate/. Put “UCU Sunday” in the comment box.

UCU Sunday collections since 2017 (UGX):

2017	67,256,250
2018	243,262,336
2019	257,133,805
2020	25,078,854
2021	35,740,200
2022	240,203,260
2023	297,224,648

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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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UCU opens doors to disc golf sport

October 21, 2024News, Sports, Students#News, #students, disc golf, Eagles Wings Disc Golf, sports, UCUPatty Huston-Holm

UCU Director of Students Affairs, Pamela Tumwebaze, throws a disc during the disc golf launch.

By Kefa Senoga
Uganda Christian University (UCU) has added a new chapter to its legacy in sports by launching disc golf as the latest addition to the university’s diverse games lineup. Disc golf brings fresh opportunities for competition and the pursuit of sporting excellence at the university.

UCU sports tutor Samuel Lukaire said the university’s collaboration with Disc Golf Uganda to introduce the sport at UCU was driven by the opportunities it presents for students. Among these is participating in international competitions, which would expand their sporting experience.

UCU's Sam Lukaire (extreme left) cuts the ribbon with other partners during the launch. — UCU’s Sam Lukaire (extreme left) cuts the ribbon with other partners during the launch.

According to Lukaire, the future plans for this game at UCU involve improving the recently created disc golf course at Besania (Ankrah) Hill. The improvements are not only to upgrade the playing experience but also to attract both national and international events to the university.

“We will organize many training camps to help develop the skills of those interested,” Lukaire said, emphasizing their commitment to nurturing talent and growing the sport at UCU.

The Federation of Disc Golf Uganda has provided a few instructors and equipment to support the training, helping to ensure a smooth introduction of the sport to the university community since the Oct.5 launch with the USA-based, Christian-focused Eagles Wings Disc Golf group.

Israel Muwanguzi, the coordinator of Disc Golf in Uganda, said as a federation, they will continue to monitor progress and provide support whenever needed.

“When we organize tournaments, the UCU disc golf course will be one of the venues,” he said. “This will keep players active and engaged throughout.”

He says disc golf is a simple sport to learn and play. Instead of hitting a ball with a club as is the case with golf, in disc golf, players toss a plastic disc at a basket rather than a hole.

Muwanguzi notes that disc golf has significant environmental benefits, making it an asset to any community. Unlike traditional sports, which frequently require substantial infrastructure, disc golf can be played in natural settings with little damage. The courses make use of existing landscapes, helping to preserve green spaces.

Muwanguzi adds that while disc golf has been played for over 50 years in the world, it will celebrate its second anniversary in Uganda in December this year. UCU is now the fourth site in the country to have a disc golf course, following courses at Ndejje University and other locations in Katosi and Bundibugyo.

Muwanguzi said that as more universities join, the next big step will be to compete in inter-university games.

US-based Eagles Wings Disc Golf Club members were present at the launch.

In their attempts to promote the sport to various institutions and communities, Muwanguzi acknowledges their collaboration with several partners, including the Professional Disc Golf Association, the global governing body for the sport, the Paul McBeth Foundation and the USA-based Eagles Disc Golf Club.

These organizations have all supported Disc Golf Uganda in developing courses, including at the UCU main campus.

Sam Welikhe, a second-year ICT student at UCU, expressed eagerness to explore and learn about the new sport, stating that he would like to participate in the game once the activities get underway.

Bimbona Sulphina, a first-year mass communication student at UCU, also expressed interest in participating in the new sport, saying, “If I start learning this game now, I could become an expert in the future.”

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Ahabwe Amon, the comedian engineering student

October 18, 2024Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, Students#News, #students, comedy, engineering, TikTokPatty Huston-Holm

Ahabwe Amon doing civil engineering practical work

By Pauline Luba
Whenever the elder brother of Ahabwe Amon went to school, he would leave Amon lonely at home. As a result, Amon resorted to the Internet to occupy his time. That solitude led him to watching multiple comedy skits online.

What started as a search for entertainment online eventually turned into a passion. Today, Amon is well known in Uganda comedy circles. Balancing the demands of an engineering course and a flourishing career as a comedian has made Amon’s journey unique, remarkable and inspiring.

Amon (left) and Abbey, a dynamic duo in the Uganda content creation industry

The 22-year-old is a final-year student pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering course at Uganda Christian University. Amon first showcased his talent in comedy during his O’level studies at St. Mary’s College Kisubi, one of the elite secondary schools in Uganda. The school had organized a social event, where Amon participated in a category named Comedy King. That experience propelled him to believe that he could pursue this passion, alongside his academic career.

Amon took advantage of the Covid-19 lockdown during which he collaborated with a fellow creative, Abbey Tumusiime. The two designed skits that they shared with their audience online.

By the time the lockdown ended, Amon was a recognizable face on social media in Uganda. His new TikTok account quickly gained more followers, reaching 5,000. Today, he has 118,000 followers on TikTok and 88,000 on Instagram and close to 800 YouTube subscribers under “Sir. Amon.”

“I never thought my content would grow this fast,” Amon admits. His videos now reach a global audience, with many viewers in the USA and the UK. His success isn’t just limited to social media; Amon also now hosts a comedy show on a Ugandan television station, Galaxy TV.

Managing the rapid growth of his content creation career while balancing the rigors of his engineering course has not been without challenges.

“Balancing schedules between studies and creating content was hard,” Amon noted. “Sometimes, it would be time to shoot the skit, but there would be no ready script.”

Over time, he has learned to respect deadlines and time management, skills that have also helped him academically. While he has comedy fans, Amon has been a recipient of negative criticism and online trolls. But he says the only solution is to develop a thick skin because you cannot be the darling of everyone.

He believes that creativity depends on public opinion, so resilience in the face of criticism is crucial.

“Do what makes you happy,” he urges, adding that the impact he has on people, especially those who watch his content during difficult times, is what makes it all worthwhile.

One of the turning points in Amon’s journey in content creation was signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Next 5 General Company, a management firm that has helped him negotiate deals and balance his life as a student and content creator.

“They provide equipment, manage deals, and handle all the requests from potential clients,” he said.

With their support, Amon has been able to focus on creating high-quality content without being bogged down by administrative work.

Amon’s faith plays a central role in his life.

“Jesus Christ’s life inspires me the most,” he said. “Even if things aren’t working out the way I anticipated, I know Christ suffered too, so it won’t be easy.”

He envisions a future where his content creation and civil engineering skills converge.

“I want my online platforms to be a hub for the growth of brands,” he says. He hopes to create a bridge between producers and consumers, using his engineering expertise to bring more value to projects, especially in the arts and entertainment industry.

His advice to fellow students is simple, but profound: “There’s nothing like the right time. If you love something, start now.”

Ultimately, Amon’s goal is to leave a lasting legacy both in the entertainment industry and in civil engineering.

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UCU student shares experience of representing Uganda at international sports event

October 8, 2024Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, Sports, StudentsMind Games, UCUPatty Huston-Holm

By Pauline Luba
In Runyankole, a local dialect in Uganda, the name Ainamaani means “God has power.” It is a name that usually denotes the family’s reverence of God’s ability to accomplish His will in every situation.

That is the name Oriho Silver, an engineer and Kyokusiima Leonard, a businesswoman, chose for their daughter, Rachael. And, indeed, Ainamaani’s life is one that has demonstrated God’s will and power.

Take for instance her most recent achievement. This past July, Ainamaani and Morgan Wasswa represented Uganda at the International Mind Games that was hosted in Uganda. Both Ainamaani and Wasswa are students of Uganda Christian University (UCU), pursuing Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Ainamaani represented Uganda in this year’s Mind Games championship.

Ainamaani’s journey to an international competition is a testament to her determination and belief that with God, nothing is impossible.

Her involvement in mind games wasn’t planned. During high school, Ainamaani didn’t participate in any sports. But she gave it a try when she joined UCU.

Given the academic demands of her course, Ainamaani opted for mind games, which she thought would be easier. She believed the game would help sharpen her memory without requiring as much physical time and presence as other sports. She learned about the strategic card game they were playing in the championships from her coach, Reagan Egulwa, who introduced her to the sport.

Her decision to participate in this game led her to join university-level competitions. After rigorous training and selection, Ainamaani participated in tours of universities in Uganda, as they popularized the sport.

The tours culminated in the selection of the national team, with Ainamaani and Wasswa being among those chosen to represent Uganda at the international level. She describes the card game as one that requires silent communication between partners as they navigate a bidding process and play to win tricks and eventually a final contract. With two people forming a team and playing against another pair, the game requires players to be both strategic and mindful of the cards in their hands as they try to get to the highest number of tricks possible.

Although Ainamaani’s training was intense, she faced unexpected challenges on the journey to the championship. Her original playing partner, Awor Joy, was unable to compete, forcing her to team up with a new partner, Wasswa, just a few days before the competition. Despite the last-minute change, Ainamaani and Wasswa quickly adapted, reviewing the rules of the game with their coach and watching videos about the game on YouTube.

“We trained together for a few days before the competition,” she explains, “and we made it to the 10th position out of 14 teams and 28 players.”

Ainamaani remembers the experience as both intimidating and exciting. She met and competed against students from all over the world, including the USA and France – many of whom had more experience in the game.

“On the first day, we weren’t used to playing 48 boards a day, but we quickly adjusted to the speed of our competitors,” she says. The high-intensity nature of the competition was unlike anything she had previously experienced, but it proved to be a valuable lesson in adaptability and resilience. Considering that she started learning the sport in May 2024 and was representing the country by July, Ainamaani believes they did their best.

“Being part of the national team, especially when I had never participated in any sport before, was a huge achievement. I also felt proud to represent my university,” she says. Though the competition was tough, Ainamaani appreciates how the game has improved her memory and level of focus, skills she says are directly applicable to her studies in civil engineering.

Ainamaani wishes she had approached the competition with more confidence. The sight of students from all over the world was initially overwhelming, but once she realized that they were all playing the same game, her nerves calmed.

Looking to the future, Ainamaani plans to continue playing mind games, with the hope of returning to the national team as a stronger player.

As the third of five children — three brothers and a sister — she grew up in an environment where family values were at the forefront. She says her parents always supported her dreams, providing a stable foundation for her growth.

“I grew up in a humble and loving family, with my parents always available to guide and encourage me,” she reflected.

Ainamaani attended St. Benedict Primary School in Hoima, followed by St. Peter’s High School and later Trinity Catholic High School in Kakumiro District. All the three schools are in western Uganda.

From a young age, she showed love for physics and mathematics, which naturally led her to dream of becoming an engineer. Her childhood ambition to study at Uganda Christian University was realized in 2023 when she was accepted to pursue civil engineering, a field she had always been passionate about. Her father played a significant role in nurturing her interest in engineering, frequently taking her to construction sites to observe how things worked. “It made me confident about what I was doing,” she said.

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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 community runs for mental wellness

October 4, 2024News, Students#News, #students, exercise, mental healthPatty Huston-Holm

By Kefa Senoga
It was a race more about cause than competition. And the cause was raising awareness about mental health among the members of the community of Uganda Christian University (UCU).

On September 21, 2024, the UCU community participated in a mental health run, primarily to bring the issue of mental health to the fore.

But that was not the only reason.

Irene Nabwiire Ojiambo, UCU university counselor, explains that the other purpose of the run was to inspire people to use the opportunity of the gathering to network, as well as participate in a physical exercise with like-minded people.

“Mental health can also be affected negatively by loneliness and a lack of physical exercise,” she said. “When we are giving recommendations for challenges like anxiety or depression, we tell people to take a walk or a run, to boost their moods.”

She adds that engaging in physical exercise accelerates the level of information processing and enhances the overall cognitive function of the brain. As a result, by the time some individuals complete their workout, they often find fresh solutions emerging in their minds to address challenges.

Emmanuel Abura, President of the UCU Para Counselors Association that organized the run, in collaboration with the UCU Counseling department, says they observed that many students felt overwhelmed by academic pressures, including completing coursework and take-home assignments on time, leaving little time for relaxation. Abura said that that was one of the reasons they initiated the mental health run at the university.

However, since mental health challenges do not discriminate, the run was an all-inclusive one.

According to Abura, the mental health run was the climax of a series of mental health-related activities, such as outreaches and talks that had been organized for the UCU community.

“These activities were conducted for a week, leading up to the mental health run,” Abura said, noting that they intend to make the run an annual event.

Nabwiire conducts a para-counseling program, where they equip UCU students with skills to support their peers through counseling. She explains that the approach of the para-counseling program enables every student with a challenge in the university to get immediate assistance. The approach also enables those students who may feel more comfortable sharing their challenges with their peers than the counselors.

There was an ambulance on standby to provide immediate assistance

The para-counseling program runs for one week at the start of every semester at the UCU main campus in Mukono and in the Kampala campus. Upon completion, participants receive certificates of training.

Nabwiire states that the counseling center at UCU is open to students, staff, and their families from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m, Monday to Friday, at no cost. For those requiring immediate assistance, they also provide toll-free services, at 0800202800.

Through the Let’s Talk Online Counseling Management Application, the office of the university counselor bridges the gap in healthcare service through a confidential platform where the staff and faculty can seek support on issues related to mental health. The online platform has features such as scheduling appointments and tools that can help to track progress on the client.

According to Nabwiire, all the endeavors are to ensure mental well-being of students and staff, in line with the university’s theme of offering “A Complete Education for A Complete Person” because a complete person thrives where there is a balance of the physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual well-being.

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Engineering faculty trains Mukono farmers on biogas technology

September 26, 2024Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, StudentsBingo! Projektförderung, Biogas, engineering, farming, UgandaPatty Huston-Holm

Dr. Miria Agunyo explains to farmers the benefits of using fresh waste to make biogas

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Waste was once defined only as something with no purpose, but this is no longer the case. The definition of waste as something useless is not accurate among a growing number of Uganda Christian University (UCU) students and staff who are informed and involved in various resource recovery initiatives.

Most recently, the Faculty of Engineering, Design, and Technology (FEDT) at UCU invited at least 12 farmers from within the Mukono area to learn what the institution is doing to recover resources from waste. On September 11, a training session for the dozen farmers introduced them to organic waste management approaches, biogas technology, occupational health and safety measures and application of bioslurry in agriculture. The training was facilitated by a team that included Ass. Prof. Eleanor Wozei, Ass. Prof. Sarah Kizza-Nkambwe, Mr. Arnold Mugisha, Mr. Okot Innocent, Mr. Eddy Ojara and Dr. Miria Agunyo. Agunyo is the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology and the principal investigator of the project.

Farmers observe bio-slurry during the training

Farmers walked away having learned how biogas, a renewable energy fuel, is produced from biodegradation of organic waste streams, including food and animal waste. They also learned how the bio-slurry can be used as fertilizer for their crops. Through this technology, greenhouse gas emissions, such as of methane, are prevented, as well as the pollution of soil and water by the waste from landfills. The training took place at the UCU Biogas Plant, which was constructed and commissioned in September 2023, with support from Bingo Projektförderung (project funding) in Germany.

Under this project, Dr. Agunyo said UCU is working hand in hand with the Artefact Centre in Germany to train people how to make simple biogas digester systems while promoting the use of other by-products, such as bioslurry.

She added: “We want biogas technology to be something an ordinary person can do with very little support.”

Through the Bingo project grant funding of 30,000 Euros ($33,478), UCU installed a 12-cubic-meter digester tank that converts waste into biogas at the UCU water treatment plant and serves as a teaching tool for waste management and construction of digesters. Artefact Centre is doing the same in Germany, demonstrating simple do-it-yourself systems, enabling young people to appreciate the technology through traineeships.

“Recently, we fabricated our own digesters using plastic containers, which has helped us explain how simple biogas technology can be, from construction to operation,” Dr. Agunyo said.

“The biogas we produce is used in the UCU kitchen, and the bioslurry is used as fertilizer in our demonstration gardens and this component was carried out by our colleagues from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, led by Dr. Rosemary Bulyaba.”

The Bingo Project aimed to demonstrate that as a university, we can sustainably manage the organic waste streams generated from within UCU and use the biogas produced to substitute firewood use at the UCU kitchen, hence promoting the use of clean cooking fuels and enhancing farming through the use of bioslurry.

Farmers learn about the process of biogas production, from mixing feedstock to utilizing the gas

Some of the participants who attended the training indicated their interest to make changes.

“I’m tired of using charcoal, and I am excited to use waste to make biogas because it’s clean and will help me prepare meals faster,” said Prossy Birungi, one of the farmers who attended the training. “Biogas is a double blessing; I hope to use it for cooking and the residue as manure.”

She commended UCU for the hands-on training, which demystified biogas technology.

“I used to hear rumors about biogas on TV, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn how to make and use it,” Birungi said.

Another farmer, Allan Kakembo, from Bugujju in Mukono, noted that manure and animal feed have been costly. He is hopeful that the bio-slurry used in his banana and maize plantation will improve production while reducing expenses.

“Waste has been a challenge to me, and I am glad I can now benefit from it,” Kakembo said. “I look forward to using waste from my kitchen and animal waste to make biogas, instead of dumping it.”

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From student to director: Emily’s USP Journey

September 23, 2024News, Students, UCU Alumni, USP#News, #students, Alumni, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, UCUPatty Huston-Holm

Emily Entsminger (fourth from left) with some Uganda Studies Program (USP) staff

By Kefa Senoga
In 2007, Emily Entsminger left her home country, the United States (US), for the first time to come to Uganda as a student under the Uganda Studies Program (USP). In 2022, she returned to Uganda to serve on the USP staff as the Student Life Coordinator. In June 2024, she assumed the role of USP Director.

USP is a study abroad program hosted by Uganda Christian University (UCU) and under the Uganda Partners non-profit organization. It offers USA and Canadian Christian university students a chance to immerse themselves in Ugandan culture, academics and community life for a semester

Emily says that during her time as a student in the USP, she developed a deep interest in the program and kept the thought of working with USP in mind, even after she had returned to the US.

“I paid attention if there was a job open at any time but there wasn’t one that my skills particularly fit until 2022 a Student Life Coordinator position opened and my background was in student care and pastoral care,” Emily says.

She applied for the job while in the US and was successful. She loved it so much, and served in it for the past two years.

She recounts that when her predecessor, Rachel Robinson, took a sabbatical in August 2023, she stepped in to fill the role temporarily as Acting Director. Once it was confirmed that Rachel would not be returning, Emily officially assumed the position in June 2024.

Emily says that she believes in the program, which is why she is so passionate about her role as its director.

“I have personally experienced the positive effects of this program,” Emily said. “I can attest to its uniqueness, and the growth, learning and cultural engagement…as well as the way its students return changed.”

She adds that stepping into the role of Director is a privilege for her, allowing her to give back to the program that impacted her so deeply. At the same time, she notes that being involved in something as a participant is quite different from leading it, drawing a connection between her time as a USP student and her current role as director.

Emily reveals that what she loves the most about her job is seeing students grow as she did over the course of four months in the program.

“Students grow, evolve and are exposed to various aspects of life,” Emily said. “I truly enjoy witnessing their journey from day one of having no idea of how to get around to successfully navigating everything by the end of the semester.”

She points out one of the opportunities students have that stretches them is staying with a host family– local, Mukono, husbands, wives and children. Students spend two weeks or an entire semester immersed with these families to build connections and relationships with them and the surrounding community. From Emily’s experience as a student, her host family asked her to be the Godparent to their daughter, and she counts this as one of her most memorable moments in Uganda.

Emily, when a student, with her host mom

Reflecting on her experience as a student in the USP, Emily highlights that the program provided her with a foundation for thinking and engaging with the world. She says the involvement requires adapting to many unknowns and different rhythms—like knowing how to buy groceries and food back home but having to learn how to do it in Uganda. USP students adjust to navigate everyday life in a new context.

Emily continues to narrate that she first realized she wanted to study abroad, especially in Africa, while pursuing her undergraduate degree in Christian Education and Youth Ministry at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, which is part of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). The CCCU has more than 150 post-secondary institution members in the U.S. and Canada and more than 30, including UCU, from an additional 19 countries.

She says that the study abroad option that her school offered was with USP, so she applied, and that’s how she ended up in Uganda.

One discovery by USP participants relates to the misperception of Uganda.

“You realize that with what you have seen in the media. For instance, students may come thinking that everyone in Uganda lives in a grass-thatched hut,” Emily said. “But it’s not what you find; it’s there but that’s not everybody’s life here.”

Emily elaborates that many students enjoy their time in Uganda due to the warm personalities of its people and the pleasant weather, among other factors. As director, she emphasizes that one of her top priorities is to support students in having a good experience in Uganda.

“Helping maintain USP and make it a program of excellence is my priority, but I am passionate about increasing student support, engaging students and supporting them through their experience,” Emily says.

She adds that another initiative she’s embarking on will be addressing mental health needs among students who come for the program.

With her experience as a campus pastor in her native state of Iowa and background in religious education, including a Master of Divinity with a specialization in Spiritual Formation that she obtained from George Fox University, Oregon, Emily remains committed to upholding the values of Christianity and faith as top priorities in the program at UCU.

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Seeti: The farmer who never liked farming

September 12, 2024News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Social Sciences#News, #students, Agriculture, UCU Alumni, UCU Faculty of Social SciencesEdwin Byarugaba

Mark Seeti, dairy farmer and UCU student

By Pauline Luba
Mark Seeti didn’t like farming.

Though his mother tried her best to nudge him into an agriculture career, he remained adamant against it. When Seeti stopped thinking of education after completing Senior Six (grade 12 or the senior year in American high schools), and following months of cajoling, the then 19-year-old gave in to his mother’s request.

“We used to visit the farm together,” the now 29-year-old student at Uganda Christian University (UCU) said. “Although I wasn’t initially interested, my mother’s persistence paid off.”

Born and raised in Kampala, Seeti grew up in a small family with one other sibling. His father, a lawyer and a retired lecturer at Makerere University, separated from his mother during his formative years.

Seeti’s turning point toward agriculture came when his single mother introduced him to the commercial aspects of farming on land that she had bought in the Mukono district. Starting with five cows that were producing 20 liters of milk a day, Seeti’s farm, Maps Premium Fresh Dairy, has grown to 30 cows that produce about 150 liters of milk per day – a testament to Seeti’s hard work and strategic planning.

In addition to the dairy farm, Seeti rears chickens on a commercial scale, practices fish farming and owns donkeys that people hire for labor. From his farm, Seeti earns about sh300,000 ($81.60) per day.

When the farm business bloomed and at his mom’s urging, Seeti returned to school.

One decade after finishing his secondary education, Seetti is pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration at UCU. At first, Seeti says he was worried that he would neither fit in with the younger students nor understand what is being taught in class. However, he says he soon discovered that that was not the case.

One of the reasons he went back to school, he says, is to improve his academic status to compete for a political office. The minimum qualification for one to compete for the position of Member of Parliament in Uganda is Senior Six certificate.

“Social work and social administration align with my passion for leadership, especially because it has a course unit in political science,” Seeti said.

Managing a dairy farm while pursuing studies is no small feat. Seeti’s day starts at 5 a.m. to oversee the milking process, as well as other morning routines at the farm before heading to the university.

Seeti’s farm has positively impacted people who live near it. He occasionally employs workers to provide labor. There are others who have been inspired, with some setting up their own farms in the neighborhood.

Currently, Seeti’s focus is on increasing the value of the milk by venturing into the production of cheese, yogurt and ice-cream. He also hopes to improve the breeds of his cows on the farm to give more milk.

Senti’s journey has not been without challenges. The biggest hurdle he has faced was dealing with middlemen who take farmer’s produce at lower prices. He found a solution of establishing contacts with market vendors, so that they could get milk and other products direct from the farm.

At the UCU Main Campus, Seeti says he supplies the Joy Canteen with some of the products from his farm.

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Athlete narrates journey of injury bounce back

September 10, 2024News, Sports, Students, UCU School of Business#News, #students, business, sportsEdwin Byarugaba

By Kefa Senoga
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, began like any other day for Frank Okello. As usual, he woke up early to do his routine morning exercise. However, he was not able to complete that run. Okello fell into a pothole, fracturing his right leg.

“As I lay on the ground in severe pain, passers-by, including bodaboda riders, gathered around me, asking how they could help,” Okello recalled. “I requested to be taken to Allan Galpin, and that’s where they took me.”

Allan Galpin is Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) health center.

Okello during the university games at UCU

After assessing Okello’s injury, a chip-off fracture of the right calcaneus bone, the medics at Allan Galpin referred him to Mukono Church of Uganda Hospital for further treatment.

As the pain subsided, Okello started thinking about the future of his education at UCU, where he is studying on a sports scholarship. What would happen if he did not recover fully to participate in the track races? Would the university cut short his studies? These and more were the unanswered questions ringing in Okello’s mind. He feared the worst.

Despite the many fears, at least the one of paying the hospital bills was not among them. The bills were wholly covered by UCU, where Okello is currently pursuing a Diploma in Business Administration.

In June, when he went back to the hospital for a check up, the medics told Okello that his recovery was progressing well, and thus he got the greenlight to start light exercises to rebuild his muscle strength. In August, the doctor cleared Okello to start jogging again.

Okello’s has been a life of full dependence on his talent.

While in Primary Seven at Onyakede Primary School in Lira district, northern Uganda, Okello pulled off a stunning performance while representing his school for the district athletics competitions. It was at that event that he was spotted and recommended for a scholarship opportunity for secondary school studies at Mukono High School in central Uganda.

Okello (left) with Olympic 10,000 record holder and gold medalist Joshua Cheptegei

However, Okello left the school after one year because he said his single mother, Akoli Milly Grace, could not afford the transport costs that her son incurred to report to school at the beginning and to return home at the end of the term. He, therefore, joined another school near his home in Lira.

From then on, thanks to his sports talent, Okello was recruited and studied at four different secondary schools on sports bursary, until he completed secondary education.

For instance, after Senior Two, Okello changed to another school that equally offered full bursary because he needed more competition in the field events.

“While at Premier Progressive Secondary School in Lira, our athletics coach who was also coaching another school persuaded me to change to that other school because he felt it offered more ground for tougher competition both in athletics and academics,” Okello says.

While in Senior Four and as an athlete for the national schools athletics competitions,

Okello (in white) racing during the inter-university games

Okello won gold medals for the 10,000meters, 5,000 meters, 1,500metres and 800 meters for his school, Namakwa Secondary School.

It was while at one of the national athletics schools competitions that UCU coaches Timothy Kabuye and Ivan Wesonga identified him as a possible sports scholarship recipient at the university.

Under the UCU scholarship, Okello first acquired a Certificate in Child Development from Uganda Martyrs Seminary, an affiliate of UCU. After that course, he joined UCU for a Diploma in Business Administration, where he is currently in the final year of study.

In 2022, Okello was the overall winner of the Annual UCU Guild Run, running 8km (5 miles) in 25 minutes.

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