Category Archives: Students

UCU alum gets international nod for eco-tourism

March 25, 2022Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Joseph Aliganyira with his family - Brenda, Eleorah and Elliana — Joseph Aliganyira with his family – Brenda, Eleorah and Elliana

By Joseph Lagen
As a student of Bachelor of Computer Science at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Joseph Aliganyira learned how to design websites. He perfected the skill so much so that he soon became the go-to person regarding website design at the university. Before he knew it, Aliganyira had many websites to his credit, including more than 10 for tour and travel companies.

In November 2017, seven years after graduating from UCU with a BSc in Computer Science, Aliganyira put the information he garnered while developing websites into practice by starting his own tour company. On January 24, 2018, he launched the company under the name Kubwa Five Safaris.

Kubwa is a Kiswahili word for “Big.” Aliganyira chose the name Big because his intention was to showcase Africa’s Big Five Animals – the Elephant, Lion, Leopard, African Buffalo and the Rhinocerous. The business also has packages for visitors to track Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees.

Kubwa Five Safaris offers tour programs for guests seeking to explore the East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda as well as tours across southern Africa – Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.

Despite the beating that global tour companies took from the Covid-19 pandemic, Aliganyira and his eco-tourism company seemed to have stood head and shoulders above the competition in 2021.

Kubwa Five Safari clients at Hell’s Gate National Park, south of Lake Naivasha in Kenya.

On October 14, 2021, the International Trade Council announced Kubwa Five Safaris as a Top Placer for Tourism and Hospitality in the 2021 Go Global Awards. Kubwa also was awarded as a Tourism Industry Leader by MEA MARKETS in the African Business Excellence Awards and got a nomination as a Top Hospitality Company in Africa by Lifney – a UK-based Travel media company.

So, how did he manage to perform well in a year where Covid-19 ravaged the world? The secret, Aliganyira says, lies in walking the talk of eco-tourism.

“Kubwa Five Safaris is dedicated to responsible travel,” he says. “We have partnered with established non-for-profit foundations to help our travelers give back to the community by engaging in and giving part of their proceeds to tree planting in Kyanika village, Fort Portal in western Uganda. This helps us to reduce our carbon footprint, while building cultural awareness.”

He says he creates opportunities for his clients to interact with and buy items from locals. “Our packages ensure that several local businesses get to be showcased – which is a great way to ensure that our clients’ money gets to benefit the community,” he said.

He says he is able to pull off such initiatives because his motive for being in this kind of business is not driven by profits.

Kubwa Five Safari clients watching a zebra at Hell's Gate National Park — Kubwa Five Safari clients watching a zebra at Hell’s Gate National Park

“Thanks to my time at UCU, I learned that as a Christian, I can worship God through the quality of my work,” he said. “I have committed to doing exactly that, with Kubwa Five Safaris and my computer skills.”

At UCU, Aliganyira was a member of the Mustard Seed – one of the choirs at the institution. Through mission and outreach ministry, Aliganyira’s understanding of service of God was widened beyond the four walls of the church.

“As a computer science student, one of my highlights was successfully developing a digital map of UCU using Geographic Information Systems and Google Earth Applications,” Aliganyira recalls about his undergraduate academic project. “It did not only emerge the best – but it was also a first within the university.”

The smile that Aliganyira often wears plays a key role in concealing the challenges that he and his business go through.

For instance, not every hotel or lodge provides the high level of excellence in service that Aliganyira would want his client to experience.

Kubwa Five Safaris, now four years old, offers packages for wildlife safaris, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, cultural and nature walks, city tours, mountain hiking trips, bungee jumping, white water rafting, boat rides for water adventure, birding safaris, honeymoon and anniversary trips.

Aliganyira is married to Brenda, a UCU Bachelor of Industrial and Fine Art alum who teaches at UCU. The couple has three children – two girls, Eleorah and Ellianiah, and a boy, Eloy.

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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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Former UCU female footballers start NGO to train girls in football

March 21, 2022News, Sports, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Mercy Nabulobi (center) gives the girls a pep talk during the training.

By Ian Asabo
Football is a man’s game. Women should sit and enjoy it being played on pitch. These are some of the gender biases that have strengthened the bond among four former female footballers in Uganda.

Bridget Nabisaalu, Mercy Nabulobi, Collines Ahumuza and Ruth Akao – all alumnae of Uganda Christian University (UCU) – have formed an organization to further the access and acceptance of women into football.

The Women in Football Uganda (WIFU), an organization birthed in November 2021, has so far registered 15 girls, who are being indoctrinated into embracing football as a sport for everyone.

Some girls in a discussion during a training session.

Nabisaalu said the girls who early registered are from teams in Mukono. However, she said, there are plans to expand the registration to cover the whole country.

“WIFU partners with the girls’ teams to coach them,” Nabisaalu added. The program targets girls below 17 years.

The organization’s role is not only limited to coaching the girls on how to play football, but also teaching them other life skills that can help them off the pitch.

“Many coaches teach girls how to play football, and that is all,” Nabisaalu says, adding: “Other aspects of life are not taught, which, I think, is a detriment to an athlete’s development.”

Nabisaalu and her compatriots have in the past helped UCU’s team win prestigious trophies at the national level.

Nabisaalu played for the UCU Lady Cardinals for some time, before becoming an assistant coach of the same team. Ahumuza is a trainee coach for UCU Lady Cardinals. Akao retired and is the current coach for Muyenga Soccer Academy in Kampala.

“We are working with girls in different age groups, which allows us to be flexible in our training,” Nabisaalu said, noting that they give the trainees basics of personal hygiene as well as discipline to ensure they become “complete footballers and exemplary sportswomen.”

In addition to the one-hour session on pitch with female coaches, the mentees are also taken through issues concerning menstrual hygiene, discipline, mental health, public speaking and financial literacy.

Last year, since schools were still in a lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the programs would run every Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. However, this year, since schools have now opened, the sessions are held every Saturday, same time. The venue for the sessions is the grounds for Champions United FC in Kauga, Mukono.

It is not just the stigma against the female footballers that the mentors face as a challenge. The founders of the organization say some coaches at academies are reluctant to let their players participate in the mentorship program, thinking that they may be snatched by other teams.

Financial constraints also have been a challenge as some of the necessary equipment needed for the training is hard to come by.

Lady Cardinals head coach Christian Magoba praised the quartet for their commitment to the mentorship project, saying that he is confident the program will have a positive impact in the community.

“I am proud of what these ladies are doing both on and off the pitch. It takes a lot of commitment to undertake an initiative like this,” he said.

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Wambalya’s journey to Guild President of UCU Mbale Campus

March 18, 2022News, Students, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

Wambalya receives a file upon assuming office as Guild President

By Eriah Lule
From primary school to secondary, and now to university, one thing has been consistent with Gerald Wambalya – leadership. That is why Wambalya’s assumption of duty as the 13th Guild President of the Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Mbale Constituent College did not shock many who have been following his leadership journey.

Students who voted Wambalya into office in the elections held towards the end of 2021 say he was their choice because he is an ambitious and strategic leader. He was described as a leader who identifies problems and is quick to offer solutions.

Wambalya makes his remarks after he assumed office

As Guild President, the 24-year-old is now fully aware of the expectations he carries on his shoulders.

He said he expects to be questioned for anything that goes wrong and to be held accountable for his actions.

For his term of office, Wambalya has promised to liaise with the administration so that some of the policies regarding tuition payment and strict registration deadlines can be reviewed. Currently, the UCU tuition policies impose a fine of sh50,000 (about $15) on students do not meet the deadline for paying full tuition.

“I have a passion to serve the interests of students so they can enjoy their academic life and stay at the college,” he said.

To achieve the promises that he made in his manifesto, Wambalya hopes to rely on the leadership experience that some of the members of his Guild Government have garnered. For instance, the Speaker of his Guild Government, Joweri Wobeyila, is the District Youth Chairperson of Sironko district in eastern Uganda.

To prepare himself for the top student leader job in the university, Wambalya started off in 2020, by contesting to become a member of parliament in the constituent college. He represented the students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Economics Management, which also was his course. In the same year, he was appointed Guild Speaker. Using the leadership exposure that the two positions had given him, Wambalya in 2021 contested for the highest student leadership office.

Part of the team that campaigned for Wambalya

He attributes his victory to courage and having a supportive team.

“I got a dedicated team, which helped me mobilize support in such tough times of Covid-19,” he said.

Alfred Musasizi, a second-year student pursing a Bachelors of Business Administration, is confident of the leadership acumen of his new Guild President.

“He is a problem-solver,” Musasizi said. “Gerald is one of those people you approach with a problem and you are sure to get help.”

Background
Wambalya is the second-born of eight children of Edmond and Robinah Wamurubu, who live in Mbale district in eastern Uganda. They are subsistence farmers who mainly depend on coffee as a cash crop.

Wambalya says every holiday, he returns home to help his parents in the coffee plantation since it is where they get the money to pay his tuition.

He attended Farewell Primary School in Mbale, where he served as the head boy. From Farewell Primary School, Wambalaya joined Nabumali High School for O’level. At Nabumali, he was the chairperson of the students’ council. For his A’level, Wambalya attended Hilton High School in Mukono district, central Uganda, where, again, he was a student leader. At Hilton, Wambalya was in charge of the school’s library and information.

All the leadership positions that Wambalya has held, he hopes, will be the springboard for him to launch himself in national politics when he is finally done with school.

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Husband-wife doctor team plugs nursing gap through UCU scholarships

March 14, 2022Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, News, StudentsPatty Huston-Holm

Drs. Brian and Judith Taylor, nurse education philanthropists through UCU Partners

By Patty Huston-Holm
Given the choice between having a doctor or nurse at your bedside, pick a nurse.

Brian and Judith Taylor, a recently retired husband-and-wife physician team in Uniontown, Pa., humbly make that recommendation.

This endorsement is not to say that doctors aren’t important. They are. To state otherwise would negate the long and productive medical careers the Taylors and countless other physicians have.

But the world’s need for nurses is critical. The World Health Organization in 2020 reported 28 million nurses make up 59% of the world’s health care workers. There are about two for every doctor. At that, WHO says there is a 5.9 million nursing shortfall. The demand is even greater in developing countries.

For close to two decades, the Taylors have been doing what they can to help plug the nursing gap in one of those countries – Uganda. They have funneled their contributions through the Pennsylvania-based non-profit, Uganda Christian University (UCU) Partners, which, among other roles, provides UCU nursing scholarships.

The Taylors’ support has been anonymous – until now.

In late February, they agreed to publicize their names alongside their philanthropical efforts in hopes of inspiring others to contribute. For the parents of three, with two grandchildren, the Taylors have been downsizing – such as moving from a five-bedroom home to one with two – to give more.

“You can’t put a U-Haul behind a hearse,” Brian joked.

In conversation from their modest home in rural Pennsylvania, Brian and Judith Taylor shared part of their story. It’s one that has influenced countless UCU nursing student stories. With seriousness and humor, the two doctors described what led them to appreciate and understand the need for nurses and why they champion UCU nursing education.

“Too many times, doctors from economically poor countries go to wealthier countries to make more money,” said Brian, who first visited UCU in 2005. “Nurses stay behind and care for families, friends and neighbors to the very end.”

Judith, who, five years ago, concluded her medical career of decades in oncology and hospice care, has first-hand knowledge of the impact nurses have at the end-of-life stage. Nurses “are keen observers and listeners,” acting as a bridge between the patient and the doctor, she said.

“Most of the time, 70 percent of a diagnosis can come from asking good questions, 25 percent from an exam, 5 percent with a technical test,” according to Judith, who worked as a nurse aide in the early part of her career. “This applies especially in the developing world, where there is limited access to technology.”

Dr. Brian Taylor with UCU nursing students in 2005

A native of England, Judith’s early professional career focused on radiation oncology. Before retirement, she was a doctor in Hospice. Now, she is a volunteer with an interfaith organization, mostly taking patients to appointments. Brian started out as a computer scientist, but shifted to general medical practice after “falling in love with an English woman while in Scotland.” Following retirement as a general practitioner, he taught anatomy and physiology to nursing students for three years.

“At UCU and through Partners, I saw a critical need and a good organization to help a quality university meet that need,” Brian recalled of his visit to Uganda 17 years ago. “The Christian focus aligns with our faith-based beliefs. And the wonderful notes from the nursing students let us know how much they appreciate us.”

Judith has never been to Uganda. She was poised to go in 2020 when Covid hit. She hopes to visit this October.

Practicing medicine in disadvantaged countries is not foreign to the Taylors. In their 46-year marriage, the couple has provided health care services both in the United States and abroad. Through church and other Christian groups, they have felt a calling to lend their medical expertise in Bolivia, Honduras and Myanmar.

Both on their own and through the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders (SAMS), the Taylors spent most of their out-of-country time in Myanmar, one of the poorest countries in southeast Asia. In their six years of visits to Myanmar (also known as Burma), they built friendships and provided health educational services.

“We spent a lot of time listening before teaching,” Brian said.

With listening comes understanding, according to Judith who, along with Brian, quickly realized that many people in huts with dirt floors and limited sanitation believed in witchcraft and took advice from unqualified tribal “healers.”

In some villages, Judith recalled, there was a practice of putting pig feces on umbilical cords with a belief this prevents infections. At the same time, she observed one young man with no formalized health credentials correctly identify someone with leprosy and, as a nurse would, “stay at the leper’s side until he got the care he needed.”

Their role was one of gently dispelling myths while teaching healthcare and wellness and sharing the word of Christ.

In one lesson of wellness in Myanmar, Judith used balloons to demonstrate a lesson about high blood pressure. She watched as her class of mostly young people from farming backgrounds positioned the deflated balloons at the sides of their mouths like flutes to blow them up to various sizes and pop them. This, she explained, is not unlike blood vessels that can burst and cause strokes if proper care isn’t taken to lower blood pressure.

The Taylors administered health care training and provided prevention information through local health care workers who visited villages on mo-peds.

And they incorporated evangelism.

“It’s hard for physicians to think that prayer is the first thing to do,” Judith said. “They often think it’s the last thing, but prayer should be first, last and ongoing.”

Brian said the Taylors have served in the USA and other countries in times of calm and discord, observing that situations of “natural or political crises are when people will most turn to the gospel” and that “if people have heard the message before, they better realize how the Word gets them through.”

For the Taylors, as Judith concluded, helping future nurses fill the health care gap in Uganda is simply a continuance of “putting the talents and blessings God gave us to work.”

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(NOTE: Judith made the first Taylor contribution for a Partners nursing scholarship fund. With Brian and Judith Taylor’s recent agreement to be open about their involvement, the endowment includes the new designation of the Dr. Judith Taylor Nursing Student Award.)

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UCU alum is Uganda’s envoy to South Africa

March 11, 2022News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Journalism, Media and CommunicationPatty Huston-Holm

UCU Alum Paul Amoru Omiat is Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa

By Yasiri J Kasango
Paul Amoru Omiat’s leadership star is getting brighter each day. The Uganda Christian University (UCU) alum and former legislator in the Ugandan Parliament was recently named Uganda’s High Commissioner to Pretoria, South Africa.

Amoru, whose appointment was confirmed after a vetting by the Ugandan Parliament, took over Uganda’s High Commission from Barbara Nekesa Oundo. As Uganda’s envoy to South Africa, Amoru also will be in charge of Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and the Royal Kingdom of Eswatini.

Amoru intends to use his new position to improve the trade balance between Uganda and countries in southern Africa. For instance, he said he will focus on expanding the market for Uganda’s agricultural produce. According to UN statistics, Uganda’s imports from South Africa in 2020 were worth $220 million while the country exported goods worth $11 million to South Africa.

Whereas Amoru is new to diplomatic service, it is not his first in leadership. The 39-year-old journalist-turned politician represented Dokolo North, a constituency in northern Uganda, in Uganda’s Parliament from 2016 to 2021. His re-election bid during Uganda’s general election in 2021 was not successful.

Amoru started his political career at Ngora High School in Kumi district, eastern Uganda, where he attended both O’level and A’level. His primary education often got interrupted because of the insurgency in northern Uganda, where Amoru’s home district, Dokolo, is located.

From 1986 to 2006, there was insecurity in northern and part of eastern Uganda, courtesy of the destructive effects of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels. As a result, Amoru attended Agwachibange Primary School, Dokolo Primary School and Lira Faith Primary School for the seven years that he was in primary school. As a student leader at Ngora High School, Amoru was in charge of library affairs. He was later voted the district chairperson representing Uganda National Students Association, an umbrella association of the country’s student leaders.

When he joined UCU in 2003 to pursue the Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, Amoru did not get his foot off the pedal of leadership. In 2005, the second born of eight children of Rev. Sam Omiat and Mrs. Erin Omiat became UCU’s Guild President. Amoru’s relations with UCU continued even when he had left the institution. For instance, he was the president of the UCU Alumni Convocation. He handed over that office in 2021 to the current leader, Emmanuel Wabwire.

In 2007, Amoru joined Kumi University as the institution’s Public Relations Officer. A year later, he switched to the Daily Monitor, becoming the newspaper’s staff reporter. He eventually rose through the ranks, becoming a deputy editor at the newspaper by 2011.

In 2012, Amoru left the Daily Monitor, becoming the Public Relations Officer of a newly set up government agency, the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board.

When Amoru joined Uganda’s Parliament in 2016, the institution benefitted from his vast expertise in media and public relations. For instance, he became the chairperson of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Media. He also chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Information and Communications Technology and National Guidance (ICT & National Guidance).

In 2019, when Uganda hosted the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Kampala, Amoru was the chairperson of the parliamentary forum on media. He was charged with co-ordinating and approving all media before, during and shortly after the conference that was held in Kampala.

Now that he heads to Pretoria, he will take advantage of the vast leadership experience that he has garnered to strengthen Uganda’s diplomatic relations with the countries in southern Africa.

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Rolex Republic – New UCU student-operated business

March 9, 2022News, Students, UCU School of Journalism, Media and Communication, UCU School of LawPatty Huston-Holm

Emmanuel Ilungole and Anthony Opolot, directors of the Rolex Republic

By Ian Asabo
An evening chat among four friends at Uganda Christian University (UCU) rolled into rolex, a Ugandan delicacy of unleavened flatbread with egg, onion, tomato, green pepper and more. The topic wasn’t about just eating it, but selling and making money. They started a business called Rolex Republic.

It didn’t happen all at once. It evolved from a shared challenge. All depended on their benefactors for their financial needs at the university. They trusted the benefactors. The students took advantage of the bond that held them together – trust – and grew it into a joint business venture that launched in October 2021.

The chicken rolex sold at the Rolex Republic

“We wanted to get out of our comfort zones and establish something relevant for ourselves and the community,” said Emmanuel Ilungole, a second-year student of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communication and one of the directors of the Rolex Republic.

The other three colleagues of Ilungole are Brian Kabogozza and Arnold Borodi, both second-year students of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communication; and Anthony Opolot, a student of Bachelor of Laws, in his second year. All the four are directors in the business.

At many of the universities in Uganda, there are similar businesses. However, Kabogozza says at UCU, such a business had not been established. Students and the university community who wanted to partake of the rolex would access it from the roadside sellers outside the university premises. The four students found the hygiene of the people operating such businesses wanting.

Kaboggoza says they have also added a unique provision to their services.

“We also deliver the orders, which has already distinguished us as unique players on the market,” he said.

At the Rolex Republic, the rolex comes in different sizes, with full size selling at sh5,000 (about $1.5) and half size at half the price.

Usually, one of the challenges that student entrepreneurs face is balancing the study-work life. How do the four students handle this challenge? Opolot says they have divided roles among themselves.

“We are currently employing one person, who is the chef,” Opolot says, adding that the rest of the responsibilities are handled by them, in turns.

Rolex Republic markets its products on social media platforms, such as WhatsApp and Instagram, since the majority of its customers are university students found on such platforms.

Just like any other business, Rolex Republic is not insulated from challenges.

The sign post of Rolex Republic in Bugujju, Mukono

“Initially, we found it hard to raise capital since some of the equipment we use does not come cheap,” Kabogozza said.

The lack of experience in running a business was a major factor in the losses they incurred in the initial stages. However, Kaboggoza says they learned from their mistakes by talking to more people, and that it was the reason they started working in turns, to support the chef.

They urge students to consider following their path by setting up businesses which can help to support their financial needs while at the university.

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UCU shifts postgraduate structure and puts most programs fully online

March 7, 2022News, SRPGS, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

In times of largely in-person learning, Tracy Harrison, an Ohio USA resident, presents to UCU postgraduate students at the Mbale campus.

By Yasiri J. Kasango and Jimmy Siyasa
At the end of 2021, and following a discussion among the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Council, the former School of Research and Postgraduate Studies was changed to two directorates – Postgraduate Studies, and Research, Partnerships and Innovation.

Assoc. Prof Elizabeth Kukunda Bacwayo, once Dean of the former school, is now Director for Postgraduate Studies. Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito, former Dean of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, is Director for the newly designated Research, Partnerships and Innovation.

Professor Kukunda Elizabeth Bacwayo, director, Postgraduate Studies

The Directorate of Research, Partnerships and Innovations focuses on grants, partnerships and innovation aspects of the University. Postgraduate Studies is responsible for the overall coordination and oversight of postgraduate programs, including management of examinations, results, curriculum, admission and registration; and developing and implementing policies, guidelines, regulations and strategies for postgraduate training and research.

At the same time, UCU has moved most of its postgraduate academic programs fully online.

Prof. Bacwayo said the development was supported by the fact that most of the students pursuing postgraduate studies are doing it on a part-time basis, alongside their full-time jobs.

Additionally, the move will help the university to maintain the Standard Operating Procedures – namely social distancing – that reduce chances of the spread of coronavirus.

However, Bacwayo noted that the courses that require students to attend on a full-time basis will not go virtual. These courses include the Master of Research and Public Policy, Master of Arts in Theology and Master of Divinity. These full-time postgraduate programs are largely practical and require students to have physical classes, Bacwayo explained.

Universities and higher institutions of learning re-opened on November 1, 2021, for in-person learning after five months of closure as a result of increase in the Covid-19 infections in Uganda. By the time of closure of education institutions in June 2021, which was followed by a total lockdown on movement, the Covid-19 positivity rate was at 18%.

Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito, director, Research, Partnership and Innovation

It was the second lockdown that schools were facing, only after being allowed to re-open in March 2021, after a year of no physical activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Primary and secondary schools, all of which were in a lockdown since June 2021, opened their doors to learners on January 10, 2022.

The Dean of the UCU School of Business, Vincent Kisenyi, said they had tried online classes and that the reception by the students “seemed to be good.”

“Most of the post-graduate students prefer online classes because of the level of flexibility,” Kisenyi said, adding that the virtual classes are convenient for international students who do not have to take flights into Uganda to report for classes.

Kisenyi added that the university is set for online classes as it has developed material and curriculum to suit the demands of virtual learning. At a virtual dialogue to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on academic institutions in 2021, UCU Vice Chancellor Aaron Mushengyezi said the institution had “invested in infrastructure of electronic learning” and had something to share with other institutions.

The institution in 2021 received a boost of $50,000 (over sh170m), courtesy of UCU Partners, to help the University expand its e-learning infrastructure.

Many postgraduate students have welcomed the shift to full online classes. Shillah Mukiibi, a student pursuing a Master of Public Administration and Management, said with the online classes, students can still be able to study while at their work stations.

“It is a more convenient way of learning. It gives us time to work as we study,” Mukiibi said. “In fact, it also helps us to save money because a student doesn’t have to pay fees for transport and accommodation.”

On the downside, Irene Nalumu, a student of Master of Business Administration, complained of the “persistently unstable and expensive internet” in Uganda as an impediment to e-learning.

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First class nursing graduate eager to fill gap in Uganda critical health care

March 4, 2022COVID-19, Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, News, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Catherine Iyogil attending to a newborn baby in a ward

By Eriah Lule
Just a handful of the many patients admitted to Ugandan health care facilities seeking critical care and emergency nursing services receive those services. The reason? Either the infrastructure to provide the necessary services is absent or the people to operate the available equipment are not skilled enough.

Having worked in the Intensive Care Unit during her internship as a student, Catherine Iyogil, a new recipient of Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Bachelor of Nursing Science degree, saw the gap and wants to do her part to fill it.

Iyogil graduated with a First-Class degree, garnering a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.68 out of 5.0 at UCU’s graduation held on October 22, 2021. For her feat, the university gifted Iyogil with a plaque, indicating her meritorious performance on the graduation day. The overall best student at the graduation, Sore Moureen, scored a CGPA of 4.78.

Before Iyogil plunges herself fully into the world of medical practice, she will have to jump the required hurdle of a yearlong internship to become a Registered Nurse in Uganda.

Catherine Iyogil on her October 22, 2021, graduation day

Iyogil developed the inclination to provide critical care services during her internship sessions at Naguru Hospital in Kampala, in 2019 and Soroti Hospital in eastern Uganda, in 2020. At both hospitals, she served in the ICU unit and watched firsthand, the limited number of staff providing critical care services at the facilities.

In many parts of Uganda, some severely ill people, as well as those who sustain injuries die due to lack of access to timely and effective first aid and emergency care. To make matters worse, many hospitals have no functional ambulances to offer evacuation services.

A 2019 Ambulance Census indicated that Uganda had 449 functional and 94 grounded ambulances. However, the figures could be higher than that with the recent acquisition of more ambulance vehicles to support in the management of the Covid-19 cases.

Born to Charles Okurut, a retired banker, and Iyogil Consolanta, a nurse in Ngora district, eastern Uganda, Iyogil’s love for medical practice is not surprising. Iyogil got inspired to pursue her nursing science course at UCU because it is where her mother, Consolanta, pursued her Master of Nursing Science course. When Consolata shared her unique experience at UCU, little did she know it would sway her daughter into falling in love with the institution.

And when Iyogil got to UCU, she says she was never short of people to inspire her. Iyogil looks up to Elizabeth Ekong, her former lecturer and also the Chairperson of the Uganda Nurses and Midwife’s Council. Ekong, a resilient and passionate professional, became a nurse three decades ago.

According to the International Council of Nurses and the World Health Organization, a nurse to patient ratio of 1:3 for emergency units; 1:2 for intensive care units; and 1:8 for other wards is recommended. However, statistics in Uganda indicate that the nurse to patient ratio is about 1:1,884. At this rate, the system could harvest a burnout on the part of the nurses.

Therefore, when people like Iyogil choose to offer medical care in the field of nursing, they are lifting a heavy load off the already stretched workforce.

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UCU rival Guild President campaign manager is deputy

February 28, 2022News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of LawPatty Huston-Holm

Guild Vice President Ahurira (left) with Guild President Racheal Sserwadda (right), during the swearing-in ceremony of the 24th Guild Government in Nkoyoyo Hall on January 14, 2022.

By Muduku Derrick Brian
How often is the campaign manager for a defeated candidate offered a top position with the winner? Rarely.

But that’s what happened to Kivuna Jonathan Ahurira when the aspirant he directed lost the race for Uganda Christian University (UCU) Guild President.

“I was home after a long day’s work when I got a surprise call from the victor, Racheal Sserwadda, informing me of her intention to appoint me Vice President,” he said. “I felt surprised but joyful.”

Kivuna Jonathan Ahurira, the new Guild Vice President of Uganda Christian University, Main Campus.

Ahurira, a UCU student working toward a Bachelor of Business Administration, gave Sserwadda, a Law student, the greenlight, but it was not over yet. He had to go through another hurdle of being vetted by the UCU Guild Parliament – where a vast majority seconded the appointment.

As expected, many in Ahurira’s camp in the campaign to elect Ayebare Phillip Bravo saw this move to support a rival as betrayal. In fact, some said Ahurira disengaged with the campaign team when he sensed a loss looming.

But Ahurira disagrees, noting, “I endured and stayed in spite of some disagreements in the strategies to use during campaigns.”

Ahurira noted that during the campaigns, he worked tirelessly because he also saw Ayebare’s contest as an opportunity the candidate presented for him (Ahurira) to serve as a student leader.

“My strong footprint, values, and willingness to serve the students at UCU spoke for itself, even to the rival camp,” he explains.

But what gave Sserwadda the confidence to have trust in someone who was in a rival camp?

“Ahurira created a healthy competition during the campaigns,” she said, noting that her deputy’s “respectable character” pushed her to choose him.

“Ahurira has a great virtue of servanthood, which is one of the main pillars of UCU,” Sserwadda said. “He was among the first people to call and congratulate me upon becoming Guild President, in spite of the fact that we were in rival camps. That was admirable.”

Sserwadda’s victory in the elections held on November 24, 2021, entered her into the annals of UCU as the institution’s third female Guild President in its 25 years of existence. Blessed Murungi was the first female Guild President in 2014. Two years later, in 2016, the institution got another female Guild President in Prisca Amongin.

Ayebare, who lost to Sserwadda, said the university is in “safe hands” with Ahurira as the Vice Guild President.

“His inclusive nature will be of great need,” Ayebare said. “He does not make a decision without consulting people.”

Ahurira expects to build on the leadership experience he has garnered as a class leader at UCU for two years as he takes the mantle of guild government leadership. He says UCU has taught him “the virtues of humility and being a good listener.”

It is not just at UCU where Ahurira has garnered experience in leadership. While in primary school at Molly Integrated Primary School in western Uganda, he was elected Head Boy and, later, as health prefect in secondary school at St. Joseph’s Namagunga Secondary School in central Uganda.

A Guild Vice President stands in for the Guild President where need be and also oversees all student social clubs and associations within the university.

When not in politics, Ahurira is a Christian music minister whose face is not hard to catch during worship services at UCU’s Nkoyoyo Hall. He is a vocalist in Mustard Seed choir in the university.

“I like prayer and I put God first in every task that I undertake,” he said. “The [Christian] environment at UCU makes it even easier for me to pray as I go about my work.”

Ahurira is a son of Ngwendere Colleb and Ishokye Faith. The couple lives in Kiruhura district, western Uganda.

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UCU alumnus consecrated Nebbi diocese bishop

February 24, 2022Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, News, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

New Nebbi Diocese Bishop Awinjo Ozelle waves to congregation after his consecration.

By Ivan Tsebeni
Nebbi Anglican Diocese in northern Uganda has a new bishop. Pons Awinjo Ozelle, a Uganda Christian University (UCU) alum, was on January 16, 2022, consecrated at the diocesan headquarters with a call for him to “seek to serve,” rather than expecting to be served.

Bishop Awinjo Ozelle holds UCU’s 2022 calendar at Nebbi diocese headquarters.

Ozelle was elected by the College of Bishops of the Church of Uganda in October 2021, replacing Bishop Alphonse Wathokudi who succumbed to Covid-19 early last year. Wathokudi was not the only Anglican prelate who became a victim of the pandemic. The Anglican Church also lost Bishop Benon Magezi of North Kigezi Diocese last year.

Ozelle, who becomes the third bishop of the diocese, is no stranger to administration in Nebbi. He previously served as a diocesan secretary and diocesan administrator, Archdeacon of two Archdeaconries, parish priest, and Chaplain of several schools. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Trinity Theological College in Singapore and a Certificate in Administrative Law. Ozelle received a Bachelor of Divinity from UCU about 23 years ago.

Ozelle also served with World Vision, taught at Uganda College of Commerce and Paidha Primary Teacher Training College, as well as chairing the Boards of Governors for Uringi and Pakwach secondary schools.

At his consecration, Jessica Alupo, the Vice-President of Uganda, who represented the President, handed over a new car to Ozelle, urging him to “serve with faith, dedication, humility and integrity beyond personal compromise.”

“We are here to walk this path with you,” Alupo said.

Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi speaks during the consecration ceremony of Bishop Pons Awinjo Ozelle in Nebbi on January 16, 2022

Church of Uganda Archbishop Most Rev. Dr Stephen Kaziimba, who performed the consecration ceremony, informed Ozelle that now that he has assumed office, he will be charged with “loving and serving God’s people.”

Kaziimba used the function to appeal to parents to groom both boys and girls alike, if they want to fight gender-based violence in homes.

”Mothers, as you teach the girls, please, do not forget that a boy also needs grooming and grounding in responsible living,” Kaziimba, who is also the Chancellor of UCU, said. “I’m sure people have given more attention to girls, forgetting about the boys.”

He also urged schools to prioritize counseling for learners, stressing that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused post-traumatic stress disorder for some students.

Speaking at the function, UCU Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi congratulated the new bishop, noting that the university would continue supporting the church by providing scholarships for the clergy and their children.

He added that the university, through the church relations office, would start short courses to train members of the clergy in fields of financial management, among others.

Mushengyezi said Ozelle would be appointed to the advisory committee of UCU Arua campus, tasking him with working with the team to turn the campus into a college.

On behalf of the University Council, Mushengyezi donated sh1m (about $280) and an iPad to the new bishop. He also pledged to donate another sh10m (about $2,800) towards the construction of the cathedral, the first development project that Ozelle is expected to engage.

Ozelle expressed happiness upon the consecration, urging the church to keep supporting Nebbi Diocese to be able to offer better service to Christians.

“The church has shielded me since my childhood,” Ozelle said. “I still need the same guidance so as to be able to fully perform my duties.”

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‘The Lord can lift you from nothing to something’

February 21, 2022Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Gulumaire Andrew, a UCU alum and formerly a reporter with Daily Monitor, during his ordination as reverend at Christ Cathedral, Bugembe in Jinja City, on January 30, 2022. Monitor photo.

By Gloria Katya
Gulumaire Andrew was not the kind of person whose company many of his peers wanted to keep. Not that he was a bad man. His demeanour and being a stickler for rules was a turnoff – especially for students who were accustomed to breaking rules. Many called him “pastor.”

He says the title meant that he tried to keep students away from anything dubious. And it was prophesied by his parents. Thirty-five years ago, when he was born on November 30, a day marked as St. Andrew’s Day, Gulumaire Andrew’s parents said their son would be called to ministry, just like Andrew the Apostle was called by Jesus to be a fisher of men.

In late January 2022, the former reporter for the Daily Monitor and Uganda Christian University (UCU) first-class degree divinity graduate was ordained as reverend at Christ Cathedral, Bugembe in Jinja City. The now father of three credits his mother for imparting in him Christian virtues.

Gulumaire, whose 4.56 of 5.0 Grade-Point Average garnered him the first-class rating during UCU’s Oct. 22, 2021, graduation, started out in Christian youth ministry. He served as a youth chairperson from a small church, then later rose to the level of a diocese. His friends noticed his commitment and, in a sense, foresaw his eventual pursuit of full-time ministry.

“Pursuing divinity to me was a calling,” Gulumaire says.

The feat did not come smoothly for him, though. He had a family, including his wife, Brenda Nankwanga. He had to reside at his home in Jinja, more than 35 miles away from the Mukono campus of UCU. He commuted to university whenever he had lectures.

Several times, the thought of relocating to the university so he could concentrate on his studies better came to Gulumaire, but he could not actualize it. It would not be easy for him to relocate, and he was committed to ministry in his hometown, Jinja, which is near his birthplace in Luuka district, eastern Uganda.

He says at some point, he “tried dodging the call to full-time ministry” but that God’s hand “drew him back” leading to his submission to full-time ministry and that is how he ended up at UCU, to pursue the Bachelor of Divinity course. For his earlier years of school, Gulumaire studied at Gwase Primary School for his early education and later went to Kiyunga Secondary School and Budini Secondary School.

Gulumaire says he draws inspiration from the testimony of the Anglican Bishop of Busoga Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Samson Naimanye, who, just like him, embraced adult education.

“He is a man of a humble background. He was a school dropout, but slowly upgraded and worked hard in ministry, and is now a bishop,” Gulumaire says.

“It shows how the Lord can lift you from nothing to something,” the son of the late Jehoram Namundere and Aidah Tibaaga Bakulimya emphasises.

The alumnus lauds UCU for what he calls “quality theological training.” He says he could not have made a better choice of the institution to pursue his studies from. While at UCU he served as a student leader in various offices.

“UCU is a unique place for interaction, learning and development of leadership skills,” he says, noting that spiritual development through fellowships and mentorship programs, especially for the theology department, were enriching.

For his course, Gulumaire was sponsored by his Diocese of Busoga and also benefited from a partial scholarship by UCU. He hopes to return to school for graduate studies in theology to enable him become a “powerful, passionate minister” of God’s word.

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Uganda Partners answered prayer for Law school beneficiary

February 10, 2022News, Scholarship, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of LawPatty Huston-Holm

Eyotaru Patricia graduated with a Bachelor of Laws at UCU, on October 22, 2021. Courtesy photo.

By Joseph Lagen
When the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020 and with it, Uganda’s education lockdown, all hopes of completing school evaporated for Eyotaru Sandra Patricia. The Uganda Christian University (UCU) Law alumna says since she could not afford tuition, she saw no other way of completing the education race at UCU.

Indeed, when Eyotaru resorted to sharing her challenges with friends, she began to see light at the end of the tunnel.

“I was so downcast,” she said. “However, I was strengthened by my friends and family in the Umoja choir who constantly prayed and encouraged me until God answered our prayers.”

Singing with UCU’s Umoja and Chapel choirs provided Eyotaru a family of friends who, sometimes, also “served as a distraction from the stress and the challenges that came with worrying about my study and finances.”

Eyotaru’s prayers were fully answered when the UCU financial aid office made her aware of Uganda Partners, a US-based charity, which was able to pay her tuition balance. The 24-year-old was part of UCU’s graduation ceremony on October 22, 2021, receiving her Bachelor of Laws degree.

“Uganda Partners was like a guardian angel sent to me by God,” she says, adding, “They came to my rescue at a time when all my hopes of completing school had evaporated. May God reward the hands that gave through them.”

When schools were closed in March 2020, in Uganda, the government wanted to reduce concentration points which could spread the coronavirus faster. Such a move provided UCU the opportunity to test its online learning infrastructure. Students who were learning virtually were still expected to pay tuition, which was a challenge for Eyotaru’s family because her father, Rev. Johnson Andama, lost his job as an employee of UCU’s Arua campus.

Eyotaru says joining UCU was a good decision from many perspectives. In addition to what she learned in class, the new graduate says she was able to acquire vital social skills. The Christian values and moral virtues, she says, were the much-needed cherry on top.

“I came to the university as an introvert,” Eyotaru says, adding: “My time at UCU taught me how to compromise and live with people of various nationalities and ethnicities – each with their own lifestyle.”

As a result, some of the people Eyotaru met, she says, became as close to her as her family. Some even went as far as offering financial assistance to her during times she lacked necessities.

Now that she has completed undergraduate studies, Eyotaru is presently a volunteer at the Uganda Law Society’s Regional Legal Aid Project in Arua, her home district. She helps to provide pro-bono legal services to the underprivileged and the underserved in her community. She is waiting to enroll for a Diploma in Legal Practice at Uganda’s Law Development Centre (LDC). To practice law in Uganda, one must attain this qualification at the LDC.

“I hope to pursue a master’s in law someday, so that I can be able to help the marginalized access justice better,” Eyotaru says.

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How Masagazi’s missing name was restored on graduation list

February 2, 2022Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, News, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Alvin Masagazi, who graduated with a Bachelor’s in Nursing Science on October 22, 2021, also is a freelance photographer. (Courtesy photo)

By Michael Kisekka
Sh500,000 (about $140). That was the amount of money standing between Alvin Masagazi and his degree at Uganda Christian University (UCU). And Masagazi was not even aware that the debt existed. Unaware of a problem, he was preparing for graduation.

Alvin Masagazi in nursing uniform during internship (Courtesy photo)

“I was bewildered about how this had happened because I thought all my tuition was covered fully,” Masagazi, who joined UCU’s nursing program in 2017, says. “I couldn’t believe my name was not on the graduation list.”

He was even more shocked with the debt because he was on a government scholarship scheme that was meant to cover his tuition for all four years that he was to spend at the university. Somehow, he had the debt. And he had to pay it.

“I desperately needed the money, but my parents were not financially stable at the time the graduation lists were released,” Masagazi says, adding that he did not have anyone else to help secure the money.

Masagazi’s hope was fading; his heart was breaking. His parents were not in a position to rescue him. Then, a friend told him about the United States-based UCU Partners, a non-profit charitable organization committed to raising support for UCU programs, services, staff and students. The UCU Financial Aid Office had advertised about how the NGO could help, calling for applications from students who were due for graduation, but were financially distressed and had outstanding tuition balances.

When he applied for the tuition top-up, Masagazi was successful. On October 22, 2021, he joined 24 other people to receive the Bachelor of Nursing Science degree at UCU’s 22nd graduation ceremony.

He says the kind of generosity displayed by UCU Partners is something he wants to play out in his own life.

“When God grants me the resources, I also aspire to do the same for students who find themselves caught up in similar circumstances,” he said.

With the degree, Masagazi is confident he will be able to fulfill his passion of “saving lives”at the health facilities where he will serve while supporting himself and a family. First, he does a mandatory one-year internship program in a hospital.

“I am really excited and optimistic for what the future holds for me,” he said.

During his four-year academic journey at UCU, Masagazi practiced photography and was a student leader in charge of health in the university (2019).

Nurse Alvin Masagazi on graduation day (Courtesy photo)

“My love for nursing and helping people got me into that position in the cabinet and I worked hard to help and improve the health services during my term of office,” he says.

Masagazi is the first born of four children of Sam Lwanga and Christine Itetsire. He was born and raised in Gayaza, central Uganda. He attended City Parents School and Mugwanya Preparatory School for his primary education and then Buddo Secondary School for his secondary education. All the three schools are found in central Uganda.

For the six years at Buddo, for both O’level and A’level, Masagazi was on a scholarship because of his talent in music and sports.

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UCU nursing alumna eager to ‘save lives’ and support family

January 31, 2022COVID-19, Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, News, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Kyomugisha (left) with her friends at UCU.

By Yasiri J. Kasango
In 2017, when Hope Kyomugisha got admitted to Uganda Christian University (UCU), she was not sure how she would pay her tuition fees. With hope and a prayer, she made the trip to the university to pick up her admission letter.

To her surprise, she did not return home with only the admission letter. While at the university campus, Kyomugisha learned of a scholarship available through the Uganda Partners, a USA-based organisation that seeks material and spiritual support for UCU students through sponsorship.

Kyomugisha was fortunate enough to get the grant, which enabled her to pursue her Bachelors of Nursing Science course.

The 24-year-old was among the 25 students who received a Bachelor of Nursing Science at UCU’s 22nd graduation ceremony on October 22, 2021.

Kyomugisha on graduation day on October 22, 2021.

“This degree means a lot to me and my family because I am now going to get employment to be able to support myself and them,” Kyomugisha says. “I badly needed the scholarship because the tuition fee was high and my parents had other children they were paying tuition for.”

Her excellent performance earlier in her education journey, she says, played a key role in her winning the Uganda Partners scholarship. Partners took the responsibility of paying sh2,104,000/= (about $590) for her tuition and sh1,200,000/= ($338) for her hostel fees, during the four years of her study at UCU.

The 24-year-old says she was deliberate about her choice of the university. Since Kyomugisha said she was looking for an institution that was offering a Christian-centered learning and building a good character of the students, UCU was the natural choice.

She says UCU is a good learning environment. “The atmosphere offers a favourable environment for concentration and learning,” she says.

Kyomugisha’s elder sister, Deborah Namanya, also is a nurse. It is Namanya who inspired Kyomugisha to pursue the nursing course. The UCU graduate says she would always admire the grace with which Namanya and her classmates carried themselves at the Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery in Kampala.

Kyomugisha dreams of becoming a nursing educator so she can train more people into the profession. However, before she achieves that dream, she hopes to first pursue a diploma course in health management and leadership, to make her more formidable in health administration.

Kyomugisha hopes to devote part of her energies in advocating the rights of expectant mothers in Uganda because she feels not all of them receive the recommended adequate care.

Kyomugisha’s entrance into medical practice was somewhat a baptism of fire. At the height of the spread of the coronavirus in Uganda, Kyomugisha, who had just started her internship as a nursing trainee, came face to face with what it meant to treat patients who had contracted Covid-19.

She says the experience was so terrifying to her and her parents, especially given the fact that the country was also losing medical practitioners to the pandemic. Uganda Medical Association, an umbrella association of medical practitioners in Uganda, says at least 100 health workers have succumbed to Covid-19 in the country since March 2020.

Background
Kyomugisha is the second of six children of Boaz and Agatha Natumanya. She was born and raised in Sheema district, western Uganda. Kyomugisha went to Ishaka Town School for her primary education and then Bweranyangi Girls School for secondary education. From Senior One to Six, Kyomugisha studied on a half bursary at Bweranyangi Girls School. She says the school offered her the bursary because of her impressive academic performance.

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Partners-sponsored Ochen benefits in business school journey

January 28, 2022News, Scholarship, Students, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

Ochen (wearing glasses) with children during one of the children ministry outreaches. (Facebook photo)

By Joseph Lagen
In 2017, when Gabriel Trinity Ochen joined Uganda Christian University (UCU) to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration course, it was a dream come true.

First, Ochen, 27, had always got positive reviews from his elder siblings who were students at the institution.

Second, he had been admitted to a course he felt struck a chord. And there is evidence that Ochen’s feelings were spot on because, no sooner had he completed his course at UCU than he started his own business in Moroto district, northeastern Uganda. He roasts meat which he sells in the evenings in Moroto town.

Ochen, one of the beneficiaries of the charity of Uganda Partners, was among the more than 3,000 people who graduated at UCU’s 22nd graduation ceremony on October 22, 2021. While continuing his meat business, Ochen is eyeing a desk job to enable him to pool some resources before he launches into full-time self-employment. He believes the knowledge he has attained from the three years he spent in the UCU lecture rooms are adequate enough to enable him to run a business enterprise.

“I intend to engage in commercial agriculture, through which I can empower the community in which I live,” Ochen says.

Ochen’s journey through school has been unforgettable. Having been born in a family of 10, paying tuition in a private university was not going to be easy for his mother, Betty Angeyo Oyo, a single parent. Ochen lost his father, Sam Odinga, in 1997, when he was just three years old.

To complete primary school and O’level, he got a scholarship for tuition from a Catholic Mission in his area – the Charity Sisters at Reginamondi Catholic Diocese in Moroto district. For A’level, when he got stuck on where to get finances for tuition, family friends and the extended family provided the support.

While Ochen’s benefactors were willing to help pay his tuition even for the undergraduate studies, they said they lacked the capacity. The uncertainty this situation brought made Ochen anxious.

“The semester was always engaging and fun, but as it drew to a close, the fear of being unable to sit examinations because of outstanding tuition balances loomed,” he said. “It was a trying time for me.”

It was in times like those that Ochen received financial aid from both students and some members of the university administration.

Ochen had joined the choir, from where he learned how to play the guitar. He was also a member of the institution’s band.

Gabriel Trinity Ocen (on stage, wearing blue shirt) during a community worship service at Nkoyoyo hall. (Facebook photo)

“I loved to play the guitar and sing with one of the school’s choirs, the Mustard Seed,” he said. “I was also part of the instrumentalists that played at the university’s main auditorium – Nkoyoyo Hall.”

It is through associations like these that made some people get to know him more closely.

“I am grateful to the university staff that helped me process exemption passes when I was unable to meet the full tuition in time,” he says.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, many of Ochen’s benefactors were affected and so they could not continue supporting him. It was at that point that a friend, Jimmy, introduced him to the Uganda Partners and how to apply for the help he needed. Uganda Partners, through their sponsorship program, has assisted many other UCU students like Ochen.

“While I was initially hesitant, I saw the Uganda Partners poster calling for sponsorship applications. Thanks to them, I was able to clear my arrears.”

Through the university chapel, Thornycroft, Ochen has been able to do missionary work across the country.

“In 2018, I led a team of about 200 students to Moroto, northeastern Uganda, for ministry,” he said. “Later, I was also part of the mission teams to other districts.”

It is the leadership skills Ochen acquired while serving in the university church that he holds dear and uses at his local church, St. Luke’s Chapel in Moroto district, where he currently resides. He says serving in the Church at UCU enabled him to pick life lessons, such as the need to persevere, no matter the challenges that life throws at him, as stated in Hebrews 12:1-2.

With the degree in the bag, as Ochen settles to find his footing in the field of work, he says he has his eyes equally set on marriage.

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UCU education grad rescued by financial aid contributors

January 26, 2022News, Students, UCU School of EducationPatty Huston-Holm

Dianah Ninsiima, financial aid recipient

By Gloria Katya
Receiving an education is everyone’s dream in Uganda. However, to some, the pursuit of that dream turns into a nightmare as money to support the aspiration vanishes. Formal learning is halted.

Such is part of the story of Dianah Ninsiima. It’s a story of education lows and highs – with a helping hand part of the high.

Financial problems started while she was in Senior Two. She was rescued by a “Good Samaritan” who met all her financial needs in secondary and post-secondary school. Because of an anonymous person, she graduated on October 22, 2021, with a Uganda Christian University (UCU) Bachelor of Arts in Education degree.

“I want to thank my sponsor for the work and effort she put in me,” Ninsiima said, promising to work hard and have the “same generous heart and so that I can help those in need.”

Unlike some other students and because of a donor, the 24-year-old says she did not have any tuition challenges during her bachelor’s degree program.

Ninsiima’s desire to pass on knowledge to the younger generation influenced her decision to pursue a course in education, specializing in teaching English and Literature in English. She hopes to teach English and Literature in English in a secondary school in Uganda.

“My sponsor has given me a hand, right from Senior Two, until now,” she narrates, saying there was never a time she was sent home for non-payment of tuition.

When she joined UCU in 2017, many factors influenced Ninsiima to pick the institution as her university of choice. One was that her father, Mujuni Vincent, is a driver who had learned about the value of UCU from some passengers affiliated with Uganda Partners, a USA-based, non-profit charitable organization that provides scholarships and other student, staff, program and facility support.

Looking back at what she has reaped in her three years of study at UCU, Ninsiima is grateful.

“UCU is a great institution because its students are given first-hand information by a team of committed lecturers,” she said. Ninsiima adds that the “manageable number of students at UCU” enables lecturers to identify students’ weaknesses and help them accordingly.

The passion for education and sharing knowledge, Ninsiima says, is part of what drives her. She says at UCU, she was inspired by her equally passionate and vibrant lecturers – Dr. Joel Masagazi, the former Head of the Department of Education at UCU and Peter Mugume, the former Head of the Department of Literature.

Ninsiima is the first of four children of Mujuni Vicent and Nampereza Betty, who live in Rukungiri district, western Uganda. She attended Mirembe Primary School and later joined St. Stephen’s College Bajja, for secondary education.

From UCU, Ninsiima will be heading to her marital home in Mukono, where she and her husband have one child.

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UCU student in boda boda business graduates with First Class health degree

January 21, 2022Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, News, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Bwamiki drives a passenger in Mukono town

By Eriah Lule
“Academic Excellence Award presented to Bwamiki Johnson who attained First Class Honours Bachelor of Public Health.”

These were the words inscribed on the plaque that Bwamiki walked home with on October 22, 2021, after his graduation at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

Bwamiki was part of an elite class of 95 students from among more than 3,000 who got First Class Degrees at UCU’s 22nd graduation. The 24-year-old garnered a 4.4 Cumulative Grade Point Average out of 5.0.

For Bwamiki, this achievement was the icing on the cake. He believes that the good performance is an added attraction for employers, decreasing the burden of his search for a job – if he needs one. Right now, he doesn’t.

Bwamiki is elated because a business he began slightly more than one-and-a-half years ago is showing signs of booming. As the country prepared to enter its first lockdown in March 2020, due to the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bwamiki bought a second-hand motorcycle. He spent sh1.5m (about $420) to buy the motorcycle, commonly referred to in Uganda as bodaboda, so he could use it to generate extra income to support his living expenses at the university.

That motorcycle turned into a cash cow for Bwamiki as the country entered a lockdown on studies, as well as movements. Those who operated motorcycles for commercial transport were allowed to transport luggage and foodstuffs for people. That is what he did.

From this, he was able to save some money, which enabled him to acquire a second motorcycle months later.

But how did Bwamiki manage to run the motorcycle business as well as concentrate on his studies, with so much precision to enable him walk home with a First Class Degree? He says since he had books to concentrate on, he hired a driver for each of the motorcycles. At the end of the day, each was supposed to deposit sh10,000 (about $2.8) from the earnings they made. The rest of the money was payment for the drivers. With that arrangement, all he did was to wait for his daily deposit.

Allan Kampame, a peer, credits Bwamiki’s thirst for learning and his proactive personality for the entrepreneurial ability.

“I wasn’t shocked when he started that business; he is always full of business ideas and he likes to put into practice what he has learnt,” Kampame, who is a UCU alumnus, said of Bwamiki.

His parents, Bwamiki Michael and Namutamba Betty, serve as a clinical officer and a pharmacist, respectively, in Bugiri, eastern Uganda.

“I was inspired by how my parents conducted their work as health workers,” Bwamiki said.

That inspiration is what drew him, in 2018, to apply to study public health at UCU. He said he opted to study at UCU because the institution’s “Christian identity instilled in learners gives them a competitive edge in the job market.”

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UCU basketball teams to represent Africa at universities World Cup

January 19, 2022News, Sports, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Two Canons players at the championship in Nairobi in November 2021

By Ian Asabo
Uganda Christian University (UCU) has once again shown its dominance in continental sports after the institution’s two teams qualified for this year’s university basketball World Cup.

The UCU Canons, the men’s basketball team, and the Lady Canons, for the women, qualified for the World Cup after winning the 3×3 African Varsity Basketball Championships held in Nairobi, Kenya.

It was the third consecutive time that the Lady Canons were clinching gold at the continental championships, after their feat in 2017 and 2019. The men’s team, on the other hand went into the tournament in Nairobi in November 2021 as the reigning champions, having won gold in 2019, a feat which granted them a slot in that year’s World Cup. However, the World Cup, which had been slated for late 2019 at the Huaqiao University in Xiamen, China, did not take place because it coincided with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) event, held at Kenya’s United States International University from November 6-7, 2021, attracted 28 teams from six African countries.

In the finals, UCU Canons beat Uganda’s Ndejje University while the Lady Canons defeated the Institut Supérieur d’Entrepreneurship et de Gestion from Senegal, who also were their opponents in the 2019 championship. In 2019, the UCU men’s team defeated the men’s side from the Institut Supérieur d’Entrepreneurship et de Gestion.

The next FISU World Cup will be held October 15-17, 2022.

The UCU teams and the coaching staff with medals at the Afro Varsity games in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2021

The Canons team was represented in Nairobi by Titus Lual, David Deng Kongor, Fayed Bbaale and Rogers Dauma while the Lady Canons had Rose Akon, Priscilla Abbey, Shakirah Nanvubya and Nandutu Martha. Lual, Kongor and Akon were also part of the victorious team in 2019.

UCU Vice Chancellor Aaron Mushengyezi praised the team’s efforts in Nairobi and pledged to support them at the World Cup in China later this year.

“We are so proud of what both teams accomplished in Nairobi,” Mushengyezi said.

Canons captain Titus Lual said they won because of resilience and hard work.

“I want to acknowledge the efforts of both teams; winning all of our games proves our dominance and I can’t wait to play in China,” Lual said.

Head coach Nicholas Natuhereza thanked the Vice Chancellor and the administration for the support they provided to the team.

“The Vice Chancellor and the administration have always prioritized the basketball teams, even during the lockdown; this success is a testament that the faith shown was worth it,” Natuhereza said.

The recent opening of freshly painted basketball courts at UCU is evidence that the institution is investing in sports.

Speaking at the launch of the painting during the lockdown on in-person learning in 2021, Mushengyezi said the project also is intended to uplift the face of the institution, most especially in sports, through talent development.

“When we have the best sports facilities, it gives us an edge over other universities,” Mushengyezi said, adding that the institution has always been known to be a sports powerhouse.

The Director of Student Affairs, Bridget Mugume K. Mugasira, praised the efforts of the coach and the university sports patron, Sam Lukaire.

“Coach Nick and Sam Lukaire have been here for a long time and seen both teams grow,” Mugume said, crediting much of the success of the players to the duo.

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Ugandan national ID agency hires 50 UCU graduates as interns

January 12, 2022News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Education, UCU School of Journalism, Media and CommunicationPatty Huston-Holm

NIRA officials (sitting before computers) serve applicants at UCU recently.

By Derrick Brian Muduku
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has hired some 50 interns from Uganda Christian University (UCU) to help in processing and issuing of the national identity cards (ID) to students and neighbors of the university.

The interns started the assignment with hands-on training for the first two weeks of December 2021 at the old football pitch on the UCU Mukono campus. After the training, the program is expected to run for three months.

Bridget Mugume Mugasira, the Director of Students’ Affairs at UCU, said when NIRA contacted the university for a possible partnership in processing national ID for students, staff and the surrounding community, they seized the opportunity.

Mugume said after striking the deal, NIRA tasked UCU with identifying 50 of its recent graduates to do the job.

“We advertised the slots and received 150 applicants,” she said. “We selected the best, based on their academic qualifications and intention to take up the work.”

Mugume expressed the university’s gratitude to NIRA for the partnership. She said the interns were tasked with the process of replacing lost identity cards, registration of applicants for new IDs, verification of birth certificates, checking on the status of people’s applications for the national IDs and sensitization of the public about activities that NIRA does.

“We are glad to be the pioneer university in implementing this project, which will not only benefit our students, but also learners from neighbouring schools.”

Gilbert Kadilo, the Public Relations and Corporate Affairs Manager at NIRA, said they began with the training in order to equip the interns with the necessary skills before deploying them. Kadilo also revealed that the registration exercise is targeting youth who have never registered or those who did register, but did not get their national identity cards.

Government began to process the national IDs in 2014 under the National Security Information System that later transformed into NIRA in 2015, after the enactment of an Act of Parliament.

Elisha Bruno, a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communication and one of the graduate interns working with NIRA, said the opportunity would not only offer him the much-needed experience in the field of work, but also help him to establish connections with some of the staff at the organization.

Sidonia Atto, a third-year student of Bachelor of Education, said there were errors in the spelling of her name and her birthdate and that the presence of officials from NIRA at the university was a godsend opportunity to have the anomalies rectified.

A national ID is almost the solely recognized identification for Ugandan citizens. It is one of the requirements for nationals when opening a bank account, getting a SIM card and getting a Covid jab, among other services.

Pius Mukasa, a first year-student, said when he registered at 16 years, he was only given a National Identification Number and told to wait till when he clocked 18 years to get the national ID.

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Law student takes over reins as UCU Guild President

January 6, 2022News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of LawPatty Huston-Holm

Racheal Mirembe Sserwadda during guild presidential campaign in November.

By Ivan Tsebeni
Racheal Mirembe Sserwadda’s victory to become Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) 24th Guild President was not a surprise to those who know her. The third-year student of Bachelor of Laws has been a school leader since her early primary days.

Sserwadda’s victory in the elections held on November 24, 2021, enter her into the annals of UCU as the institution’s third female Guild President in its 24 years of existence. Blessed Murungi was the first female Guild President in 2014. Two years later, in 2016, the institution got another female Guild President in Prisca Amongin.

Sserwadda, next to UCU Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, swears in as UCU’s 24th Guild President at Nkoyoyo Hall on December 2

“I have lost superlatives to describe how happy I feel,” Sserwadda said while addressing students during her victory speech. “This is your win; this is our victory; let’s keep resilient in the new normal.”

Sserwadda attributed her victory to God.

“From day one, God took the lead in everything I did,” she said “During the campaigns, I got to learn about many challenges that our people face. We shall work together to find solutions.”

Most challenges referenced by the new guild president relate to blended learning obstacles. She assumes office at a time when higher institutions of learning are just opening up for in-person education after almost two years of no physical learning because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sserwadda was declared winner of the contest by the Director of Students’ Affairs, Bridget Mugume Mugasira, after beating off a stiff challenge from Bravo Phillip Ayebare. Sserwadda polled 55.45% of the votes cast. She takes over the reins from outgoing Guild President Kenneth Agaba Amponda.

UCU Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi said the institution had “demonstrated to the world that it is possible to have a peaceful, free and fair election.”

Sserwadda hopes to hinge her leadership on three pillars: Social welfare of students,

Former candidate Ayebare Bravo congratulates Sserwadda after the swearing-in ceremony.

accountability and security. She says her greatest reason for contesting for leadership positions is to positively impact the community in which she lives as she ushers it into the Silver Jubilee of existence of the university in 2022.

“I intend to introduce the use of suggestion boxes, particularly in areas around the university’s dining hall, sports complex and lecture rooms,” Sserwadda told The Standard online, a publication of the university.

“I am also a sports enthusiast,” she noted, adding: “I will work hand in hand with the sports department at the university to facilitate sports activities. I believe that students should be encouraged to participate in aerobics.”

Born 22 years ago, Sserwadda says she has achieved whatever has come her way because of supportive parents. The first born of three children is a daughter of Sserwadda George William, a businessman in Kampala, and Naomi Nakaziba, a pediatrician.

For her primary education, Sserwadda changed schools three times, eventually completing at St. Lawrence Primary School, Kabowa, near Kampala.

From St. Lawrence, Sserwadda headed to King’s College, Budo, an elite school in Uganda, where she studied for the entire six years of secondary education, before joining UCU.

While in Primary Three at Hormisdallen Primary School in Kampala, Sserwadda was elected the Class Prefect. In Primary Six, Sserwadda was elected the school’s Sanitation Prefect. At King’s College, Budo, she was a student leader in the school’s water and sanitation club and, later, a house prefect of one of the dormitories at Budo.

At UCU, she is the leader of the Mustard Seed Choir. Sserwadda believes that the leadership positions have helped her to attain communication and listening skills – competencies that are critical for any leader to succeed.

“I have learnt that as a students’ leader, it’s good to be flexible. You must also strive to bridge the gap between the students and the school administration,” Sserwadda said, noting that such a move will help the school administrators and the students to co-exist harmoniously.

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