Category Archives: UCU Alumni

UCU Partners helps Murungi realise her nursing dream

May 16, 2022Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, News, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Laura Jean Murungi on her graduation day on October 22, 2021

By Yasiri J. Kasango
As October 22, 2021, approached, students who were expecting to graduate at Uganda Christian University (UCU) were busy clearing with different offices to get their names on the final graduation list. Laura Jean Murungi, a nursing student, had passed all her papers, so she assumed she would be on the list.

For her entire time at campus, Murungi was a beneficiary of the Government of Uganda loan financing scheme for needy students. In the arrangement, government advances the student a loan to meet their tuition needs at a university, and it is paid back when the student gets a job after graduation.

When Murungi walked into the UCU finance office to get clearance for her graduation, she was shocked to learn that she owed the university sh450,000 (about $126). How the debt arose, she had no idea, but quickly attributed it to miscalculation on the part of the Higher Education Students Financing Board that was dispensing the money to UCU.

Having learned about the debt, she had only one option: To look for the sh450,000 that she owed the university. The timeframe to realise the money from the Higher Education Students Financing Board was short. Murungi and her parents had been victims of the economic destruction of the Covid-19 pandemic, so they hardly had any finances. As Murungi pondered disappointment in missing graduation, someone refereed her to the UCU Financial Aid office.

“Mr. (Walter) Washika advised me to apply for a UCU Partners grant to clear the balance,” Murungi says. Washika is UCU’s Financial Aid Manager.

A few days later, she received communication that her prayers had been answered. Benefactors of the UCU Partners non-profit based in the USA had reduced Murungi’s fees balance at UCU to zero. That communication meant Murungi was to graduate with her colleagues who joined UCU in 2017.

“I am so grateful to God,” Murungi said. “I would love to thank the UCU Financial Aid office’s level of transparency and financial assistance to students. I thank UCU Partners for paying off my debt.”

Murungi was among the more than 3,000 students who graduated at UCU’s 22nd graduation ceremony on October 22, 2021.

“I am passionate about saving lives and caring for the ill,” Murungi says, indicating that since childhood, she has always dreamed of becoming a nurse. “This is a dream come true for me.” She joins the workforce in a specialty where the numbers do not favor the internationally required ratio to manage Uganda’s population.

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.

However, before Murungi gains the status of a registered nurse in Uganda to improve on the nurse:patient ratio, she first has to fulfil the mandatory government requirement of a yearlong internship. And that is what she is currently doing. After her internship, Murungi looks forward to working in one of the hospitals in Uganda.

Background
Murungi is the only child of John Atuhaire and Samantha Kugonza of Buddo in Wakiso district, central Uganda. In her primary and secondary school, her parents were paying her fees.

She attended Sir Apollo Kaggwa Old Kampala for primary education and St. Mary’s Kitende in Wakiso district for her secondary education (both O’level and A’level), before joining UCU’s Faculty of Public Health, Nursing Midwifery to pursue Bachelor of Nursing Science.

(The nursing students pay semester tuition of Ugx 2,104,000/= ($579.7) and other fees of Ugx 638000/= ($175.8) without accommodation.)

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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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Africa Policy Center symposium unites scholars

May 11, 2022News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of Social SciencesPatty Huston-Holm

Participants at Africa Policy Center Symposium

By Eriah Lule
When scholars meet, the number one item on their agenda is to critique one another’s work. A recent meeting at Uganda Christian University (UCU) was not a departure from that ritual.

Dr. Emilly Comfort Maractho, Director of APC

In fact, the two days ended up not being enough for them to achieve their intended objective and, therefore, the convener of the symposium, Dr. Emilly Comfort Maractho, called for a more periodic gathering so they are able to “evaluate each other’s scholarly progress.”

Maractho convened the symposium under the auspices of the African Policy Center, a UCU think tank that brings Christian truth and goodness into the public realm. She is the director of APC.

Maractho said that such workshops provide “space to evaluate ourselves as scholars and also improve our work,” noting that scholarly gatherings enable researchers to acquaint themselves with each other’s research fields. She argued that it is only that way that the researchers in the same field will “connect” to be able to present better findings.

The symposium was held courtesy of sponsorship of the Next Generation Social Science Research Council (SSRC), a USA-based, non-profit organization that is dedicated to advancing research in the social sciences and related disciplines.

More than 10 scholars from the Ugandan universities of Makerere, Kyambogo, Uganda Martyrs and the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) presented their research papers.

Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi who launched the symposium, saw it as an opportunity to further position UCU as a “research-based university,” adding that such a move will improve the global ranking of the university, as well as its visibility.

Prof. Apuuli Phillip Kasaijja, an Assoc. Prof. in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Makerere University, who was the event’s keynote speaker, urged the researchers to endeavor to do work that influences policy – lest their work will be in vain.

Summary of what some participants said

Dr. David Ngendo Tshimba, a scholar from Uganda Martyrs University, who presented a paper titled Political Violence in the Rwenzori Borderland Revisited: Isaya Mukirane and the Rwenzururu Secessionist Movement, 1962-64, said such workshops introduce researchers to “like-minded people who offer constructive criticism for our work so that we can improve as scholars.” He added that “every scholar is always hungry for growth, and we all grow through research.”

Dr. Resty Naiga, a lecturer in the Department of Development Studies, Makerere University

Dr. Resty Naiga, a lecturer in the Department of Development Studies, at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University, presented a paper titled Local Water Conflicts in Uganda: Options for Peace-building, Policy and Practice. She said that such a meeting of scholars helps to grow in their work, as well as offering opportunities for mentorship.

Dr. Robert Ojambo, a Senior Lecturer of Political Science at Kyambogo University

Dr. Robert Ojambo, senior lecturer, Political Science, at Kyambogo University, presented a paper titled The Contest for Living Space between Refugees and Local Communities in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Bunyoro Sub-region in Western Uganda. Uganda is home to more than 1.5 million refugees, a majority coming from neighboring countries that are facing civil unrest.

Dr. Pamela Kanakhwa, a lecturer in the Department of History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies at Makerere, presented a paper on Landslides, Disaster Management and Land Conflicts in Eastern Uganda. She said the symposium broke a long spell of silence that had been occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions on gatherings. “I have learned a lot in the symposium, and I am inspired to think more about my work,” Kanakhwa said.

Dr. Specioza Twinamasiko from MUST, said such workshops help them to network and also motivates them into coming up with new research ideas to find solutions for the problems that affect society. Twinamasiko presented a paper on Women Agency to Oil Development–Induced Land Conflicts in the Albertine Graben, Uganda.

Wasswa Timothy Kisuule, a graduate intern with the APC, applauded the symposium for its insightfulness on various aspects of social challenges that had affected society and had not been paid attention to. “I learned a lot from the scholars and I think more students should be invited to such workshops to boost their confidence in research and presentations,” he said.

Cedrick Joseph Wabwire, a lecturer at UCU’s School of Social Sciences and a staff member at APC

Cedrick Joseph Wabwire, a lecturer at UCU’s School of Social Sciences and a staff at APC, said the symposium created a platform of knowledge sharing, as well as an inspiration to the young academics. “Such workshops position UCU as a hub of knowledge sharing, increasing its brand visibility, as well as strengthening partnerships among various institutions and the academics themselves,” he said.

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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 Kampala campus constructs own home

May 9, 2022News, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Vice-Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi symbolically breaks the ground to commission the construction project.

By Jimmy Siyasa and Ivan Tsebeni
State-of-the-art lecture rooms, meeting rooms for student functions and study spaces are some of what will await students of the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Kampala campus soon, following the start of the construction of the facilities early this year. The breaking of the ground for the construction of the facilities expected to cost sh2.5b (about $703,340) was done early 2022 at the campus’ new premises in Kampala.

According to George William Kazibwe, the director of the firm tasked with constructing the facilities, the classroom blocks will collectively hold a population of 900 students.

An artist’s impression of the new structure campus at Kampala campus

Vice-Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, therefore, invited parents to embrace the new development as an opportunity for the university to offer high-quality education to their children. “We urge all parents to bring their children to Kampala campus because our new home and structures will grant the students a worthwhile learning experience,” he said.

UCU acquired the land for the Kampala campus in June 2021 despite the impact of Covid-19 that has ravaged the revenues of many universities in Uganda.

Dr. Godwin Awio, former director at the UCU Kampala campus and now head of research and publications for UCU post-graduate studies, expressed joy about the construction of the new structures, saying a permanent home is indicative to the parents and students of the “stability of the university.”

Vice-Chancellor Mushengyezi said by acquiring the land for the new premises, the university will save sh600m (about $168,801), which it was paying annually in rent. The university had been a tenant in the premises for close to two decades.

Awio noted that previously, when they shifted their location, the enrollment at the campus reduced because a new location often affected some students.

“When you change premises from time to time, the market reads you as being unstable, and your competitors can take advantage of that, to take away your students,” he argued.

Awio explained why the campus had not been able to set up some facilities.

“We have been renting for the past 18 years and, therefore, we were limited in many ways,” he said. “For example, we could not set up certain facilities here because the land was not ours. But when you own the land, you can customize it at will.”

David Mugawe, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration, acknowledged the continued support and advocacy from the Church of Uganda and not-for-profit organisation UCU Partners, as well as students whom he said have been patient with the university.

Assoc. Prof. John Kitayimbwa, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, said the development will help enhance learning at the university which marks 25 years of existence this year.

Teefe Zacharia, a local leader in Mengo, is highly expectant of good business from the neighbours of the university.

“The campus will bring socio-economic development to our area because the business community will pick interest in establishing hostels for students, as well as fast food businesses,” he said. “Additionally, it will decrease the crime rate in our village since we now have additional security, courtesy of the university in the area.”

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Unity among Okwii’s priorities as he takes over shepherding Kumi diocese

May 6, 2022Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, News, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Bishop Michael Okwii receives a new vehicle from Uganda’s Vice-President Jessica Alupo (right) who represented President Yoweri Museveni at the consecration on March 6. Behind Okwii wearing a miter is Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba.

By Ivan Tsebeni
When the House of Bishops of Uganda’s Anglican Church voted the Rev. Michael Okwii Esakan as the second bishop of a diocese in eastern Uganda, not everyone received the news of this February 2022 event with joy.

Okwii’s joy of victory was short-lived as a section of Christians in Kumi Diocese petitioned court, seeking to revoke his election. The three Christians argued that the process of electing Okwii was not conducted according to the laws of the Church.

However, three days to the set date of consecration of Okwii on March 6, 2022, court dismissed the case for want of evidence, giving the greenlight for the ceremony.

“I will not join any camp in Kumi; I will not promote hostility,” Okwii said at his installation on March 6, adding that his approach to leadership is through “dialogue and resolving issues amicably.”

It is understandable when one hears Bishop Okwii preaching peace and dialogue. When Okwii was elected, two camps emerged in the diocese, one for and another against him. The people who were against the election of Okwii argued that the rightful person for the seat was supposed to be the Rev. Charles Okunya.

Okunya had, in fact, been elected in November 2019 as the would-be next bishop for Kumi to replace the Rt. Rev. Thomas Irigei who had reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.

However, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Rt. Rev. Stephen Kaziimba, noted that Okunya was disqualified from becoming the bishop because, after a review of the records, it was established that he was 44 years old, a year younger than the age of becoming a bishop. He had told the House of Bishops that he was older.

At his installation in March, Okwii, an alumnus of Uganda Christian University (UCU) and a former lecturer of the institution, promised to strengthen prayer teams, entrench truth-telling and form reconciliation committees that will be tasked with mediating conflicts to avoid litigation.

He is aware that these are just a drop in the ocean of the responsibilities that await him as he shepherds the diocese.

“I have come in good faith, and with open hands and heart; I will be a bishop for everybody,” Okwii said.

Okwii’s remarks seemed to be a direct answer to the request by the day’s preacher at the consecration, the Rt. Rev. Alfred Olwa. Olwa, the Bishop of Lango Diocese, is also the UCU Council chairperson.

“I want to appeal that today, as you receive the second bishop of Kumi Diocese, you must move forward and grow in your faith in Christ,” Rev. Olwa told the congregation that gathered at St Philip’s Cathedral in Ngora district in eastern Uganda.

The first task before the new bishop is reconciling Okunya and a section of aggrieved Christians with the Church. In fact, Okunya in April 2022 resigned from diocesan and priestly duties in Kumi. A few days later, he was seen at Sunday prayers with a faction of aggrieved Christians and clergy who had renounced the Anglican Church.

Background
Okwii received a Bachelor of Divinity and Diploma in Theology from the Bishop Tucker School Divinity and Theological College (now UCU) in 1987. He later graduated with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the Uganda Management Institute in 2003 and also earned a Master of Arts in Applied Theology from Trinity College, Bristol, UK.

Okwii taught, first, as a part-time lecturer at the Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology in 2001 and, later, in 2009, as a full-time lecturer in the school.

At Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, Okwii taught Pastoral Psychology and Sociology, Missions, Gender Studies, and Pastoral Care and Counselling, among others. He also served as director at UCU Mbale College between 2009 and 2010.

Born on February 10, 1965, into a Roman Catholic family in Atoot, Ngora district, Okwii got saved on June 3, 1986, at a fellowship. It was here that he joined the Anglican Church, despite knowing that a change of faith would be an unwelcome move before his father.

Four years later, in 1990, Okwii was ordained a deacon at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Soroti, in 1990 and a priest in 1991. He has served in many capacities in the Church, including as parish priest and Cathedral Vicar.

His last posting before becoming bishop was as the Archdeacon of Soroti and parish priest of Asuret. Okwii is married to Christine, with whom he has six children, five of whom are alive, and one grandson.

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UCU nursing alumnus provides life-saving care at Uganda’s national referral hospital

April 22, 2022COVID-19, Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, News, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Mwebembezi Frank admitting a patient into the Intensive Care Unit at Mulago National Hospital

By Eriah Lule
In a hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the need to make split-second decisions when the health status of a patient changes only means one thing: The nurses have to keep on their toes. That has been the work environment of Mwebembezi Frank for four years.

Mwebembezi in the ICU at Mulago National Referral Hospital at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mwebembezi is an ICU nurse at Mulago Hospital, Uganda’s national referral health facility. ICU nurses are mainly charged with the duty of providing lifesaving care to patients, many of who are fighting for their lives, and therefore, need a 24/7 nursing care. At Mulago, as with many other health facilities, crisis is an everyday occurrence. To execute his work well, this Uganda Christian University (UCU) alum has to summon a certain degree of level-headedness.

By his admission, Mwebembezi seems to have been well prepared for such a task. As a student of Bachelor of Nursing Science at UCU, Mwebembezi says he visited several hospitals for nursing practice as an intern.

“Those days,” he says, “were the formation of my resilience and bone-deep passion for health work. We used to do practical studies in different hospitals.”

With such programs, the 27-year-old says they got invaluable mentorships from senior medical professionals in the medical field, especially with the specialty of nursing, something he believes helped sharpen his love for the job.

At the UCU Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, students are availed real-life training opportunities to practice health work through internships and community outreach programs.

Denis Kuteesa, a UCU alumnus working as a volunteer at the Infectious Diseases Institute at Mulago, says it is “always exciting to learn from peers like Mwebembezi “who has a background of studying at UCU. “He is approachable and a supportive peer-mentor,” Kuteesa adds.

Mwebembezi’s journey at UCU began in 2014. Four years later, he graduated. His joining UCU had the influence of an older sibling who is an alumnus of the university.

Before joining UCU, Mwebembezi attended Nyakatsiro Primary School, Bishop Ogez High School, and St. Kaggwa Bushenyi High School, all in western Uganda.

He is of the view that nurses in Uganda are not co-operative enough to have their concerns, such as issues of welfare, addressed. He says the welfare of medical interns was among the thorns in his flesh as their leader.

From 2018-2019, Mwebembezi was the chairperson of the Federation of Uganda Medical Interns. He says during his term of office, he advocated for timely payment. At the time, the interns were receiving their allowances every quarter. Mwebembezi succeeded in getting the payment changed from quarterly to monthly.

For those who know Mwembembezi’s family, it was no surprise that he became the leader of the intern-nurses. His father, Tuhimbise Lemigious Kakyebezi, is a political leader in their district, Mitooma, in western Uganda. Mwembembezi’s mother, Kevin Deudata, is a retail trader in the same district.

Subsequent to receiving his undergraduate degree, Mwebembezi has obtained a Master’s of Science in Medical Microbiology from Mbarara University of Science and Technology in western Uganda. As an aspiring medical scholar, Mwebembezi believes a PhD is within reach.

He hopes to acquire a doctorate within the next five years, so that he is able to “impact my society through publishing research.”

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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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UCU student grits her teeth to start confectionery business

March 24, 2022UCU Alumni, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

By Michael Kisekka and Catherine Asimwe
Racheal Nantume has never been comfortable with a life of dependency, especially where she feels she can do something about the situation. Thus, she started her own bakery so she is able to provide basic necessities for herself. However, like any business startup, she needed capital.

While not comfortable asking for financial help, the need for the money pushed her to her mother. The response from her mother, Fatuma Muteesi Namulondo, was expected.

“I will not give you any money,” Namulondo told her daughter. “Use the little you have to make more.”

Nantume displays confectionery products in her shop in Mukono

Nantume, a student of Bachelor of Project Planning and Entrepreneurship at Uganda Christian University (UCU), started selling sweets to raise capital to start her own sweet business. From the sh25,000 (about $7) that she raised from selling sweets, Nantume was able to eventually start her confectionery business. This was in 2020.

The 24-year-old says her business now boasts sh7.5m (over $2,100) in both asset and liquid cash.

Nantume’s Snack Series Bakery produces and sells items like cookies, cakes, pastries and pies, among others.

“I was overwhelmed by the positive comments I got from customers who tasted my first ever made half cakes,” she reminisces, two years later, on her first output.

“This motivated me to continue with the business and, since that day, I have never looked back,” adds Nantume, the last born of two girls of Namulondo and the late Christopher Kasadha.

Before joining UCU in 2018, Nantume attended St Patrick Kigulu Primary School and, later, joined Iganga Secondary School for O’level. Both schools are in eastern Uganda. She attended St Peter’s Nsambya in Kampala, for her A’level.

Just like any other business, Nantume’s was not devoid of challenges. There were times clients placed orders beyond her skillset, she says. Rather than choke on the workload, she devised ways of delivering within deadline. Nantume would hire more skilled bakers to execute the order, at a commission.

With such an arrangement, she says on some days, she incurred losses, because she ended up paying more than she earned. However, she says that helped her adjust the pricing for her products so that she could still walk home with a profit. Over time, she has also minimised the number of times she invites such skilled bakers because, she says, with time, her skills have improved.

Muyinda Regan, a regular customer who has been following the growth of Nantume’s confectionery business, says the cakes are tastier than many that he has tasted in Mukono.

With increased returns on investment, Nantume has used the opportunity to set up more branches, as well as train some apprentices whom she eventually employed. She has six employees. The primary bakery is in Jinja, a district in eastern Uganda. She chose Jinja to set up her main bakery because it is where she was born and raised. The other two business points are located in Mukono district. By the end of next year, she hopes to open up a business branch in Kampala city.

Challenges
In February 2022, Nantume’s biggest business challenge was delivery. With no van, she relies on drivers of bodabodas. She says whereas she gets happy to serve clients who order big cakes, transportation via boda runs the risk of the cake falling off the motorcycle.

She says her other challenge is the fluctuation in prices, which eats into her profits. “Market prices of ingredients that I use while making my baked food items keep changing and this affects my profits and capital as well.”

As a student-entrepreneur, Nantume has the arduous task of balancing her work and studies.

“When I had just started the business, I found it hard to juggle the two,” she says, adding, “There are days I attended online classes while on a bodaboda, on my way to deliver an order.”

However, when the business grew, she was able to employ other people, giving her breathing space to be able to attend classes.

She thinks the experience she has garnered in making, marketing and delivery of her confectionery products are invaluable and she would, one day, want to share that knowledge by teaching those who are interested in such a business. She hopes to set up a culinary arts institute to help her realize this dream.

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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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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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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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UCU alum wins scholarship to US college

February 22, 2022News, Sports, UCU Alumni, UCU School of BusinessPatty Huston-Holm

Abby Priscilla (fourth-left) and some teammates and coach (second-right) after her farewell lunch at UCU

By Ian Asabo
Ugandan basketball star Abby Priscilla has won a scholarship to study at Grayson College in Texas, USA. Abby, a Uganda Christian University (UCU) alumna, will pursue a bachelor’s in business administration course at the college.

Abby says winning the scholarship had a lot to do with her performance on the basketball court. The 19-year-old recently earned a call up to Uganda’s national women basketball team. The selection followed Abby’s exploits at the 3×3 Afro Varsity games in Nairobi, Kenya late last year.

Abby Priscilla (blue) playing for the Lady Canons at the 3x3 Afro Varsity tournament in November 2021 — Abby Priscilla (blue) playing for the Lady Canons at the 3×3 Afro Varsity tournament in November 2021

At the tournament, UCU’s women’s basketball team, the Lady Canons, which Abby was part of, emerged the best in Africa. For the feat, the Lady Canons will represent Africa at the universities’ World Cup in China, in October this year.

In the United States, Abby will play for Grayson College’s basketball team, The Vikings, in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference.

“This scholarship is a big step for me because I am going to the United States, where their basketball programs set the standard for the world,” said Abby, who received a Diploma in Business Administration, at UCU’s 22nd graduation ceremony on October 22, 2021.

She added: “Studying at Grayson College gives me an opportunity to compete against the best players and teams in the world.”

Abby noted that playing basketball at such a level will make her not only a better athlete, but also a competitive one.

One of the people Abby looks up to is Ugandan professional basketball player Claire Lamunu. And it looks like Abby will not just end at admiring Lamunu’s basketball skills. She is also following in her footsteps to a US university. In 2015, Lamunu joined Vanguard University in California to study biochemistry on a basketball scholarship.

Abby credits UCU Lady Canons and her teammates for pushing her to the heights, a place she had never even dreamed of reaching.

“The team is my family and that is one of the reasons Lady Canons has been this successful,” Abby stated, adding: “I will always carry with me the memories of us winning competitions, as well as how we bounced back as a team whenever we lost a game.”

UCU basketball head coach, Nicholas Natuhereza, attributed Abby’s success to hard work, consistency and passion for the game.

“When she joined the team, she showed she had potential to be an important player for us,” Natuhereza said, noting that when they gave Abby the opportunity to play, she did not disappoint them.

Abby praised Natuhereza for being “someone influential” to her, both on and off the court, including instilling in her the basic principles of living the life of an athlete which, she says, have been valuable in her development.

Abby, however, acknowledges that the journey has not been an easy one. She says it was tough balancing performance on the court, as well as in class, which was the primary reason she was in UCU. However, she believes that the challenges only worked to motivate her to put in more effort both in the classroom and on the court. After all, her challenges were what every student athlete goes through – striking a balance between class and basketball court performance.

For now, her mind will be on the conference games with her name team, the Grayson College Vikings in California.

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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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‘Thank God, the angelic Uganda Partners was there in my time of need’

February 15, 2022COVID-19, UCU Alumni, UCU School of LawPatty Huston-Holm

Mpyangu Denis Swanyi graduated with a Bachelor of Laws, on October 22, 2021. Photo/ Jimmy Siyasa

By Joseph Lagen
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic that included business and education lockdowns in Uganda, the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Financial Aid Office put out an advert, calling for applications for financial relief. For some students who were stuck and unable to pay their tuition fees, help was possible. The benefactor was Uganda Partners, a USA-based organization that provides material and spiritual support for students through sponsorship.

When Mpyangu Denis Swanyi, at the time a final year student at UCU, saw the advert, he did not hesitate to apply. As a result of that action, Mpyangu is a graduate. He was among the 468 students who received a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2021.

“I often wondered where my tuition fee would come from. Thank God, the angelic Uganda Partners was there in my time of need,” Mpyangu says, adding: “May the good Lord reward those kind hearts.”

The gesture by the Uganda Partners has tickled a charitable spirit in Mpyangu. He could not even wait for his graduation before rolling out his benevolent cause. At Mpyangu’s area of residence, Nansana, near Kampala, he has brought together youthful residents against a burgeoning evil.

“I initiated a community coalition called Nansana Division Coalition Against Drugs. The initiative offers peer-to-peer education and advocacy for a drug-free generation,” says Mpyangu, who hopes to use the knowledge he gained at school to build a better community and next generation.

He is also a frequent guest at one of the local community radio stations, Tiger FM, where he broadcasts the same lifestyle message and solicits volunteers for the same cause.

But why did Mpyangu choose UCU as his university of choice for his bachelor’s degree?

“With its Christian values and client centeredness,” Mpyangu says “there is no university in Uganda that is as friendly and welcoming as UCU.”

“I was further attracted by their excellent service and the good reputation their law faculty has built over time.” Of the 3,368 students who graduated on October 22, 2021, 14% received Bachelor of Laws.

Mpyangu says he was a big beneficiary of the cohesion among students at UCU, as well as staff members.

Coming from a large family of 15 children – both nuclear and extended – the third born in the family says raising the $1,000 tuition fees twice a year was not an easy task for his family. Mpyangu says on more than one occasion, he was rescued financially by Good Samaritans.

To practice law in Uganda, one must attain a Diploma in Legal Practice at Uganda’s Law Development Centre. Mpyangu has enrolled for that course. He says after the diploma course, he hopes to acquire a master’s and PhD in law one day to help him argue cases in court from a more informed point of view.

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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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Partners beneficiary in nursing has ultimate goal of starting health center

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

Isaac Bagenda (left) with classmates on graduation day.

By Gloria Katya
Growing up, an anguished Isaac Bagenda watched his siblings have asthma attacks. He was frustrated that he could do nothing to help them breathe and lead more active lives.

This early encounter with family members as well as observations of others with health challenges gave Bagenda the impetus to follow the path of medical practice. He was proceeding well toward his career goal as a Uganda Christian University (UCU) nursing student until Covid-19 emerged.

Bagenda’s dream was disrupted as the pandemic and subsequent government-ordered lockdowns since March 2020 hit his parents’ purses. He had no money to complete payment of the tuition fees to enable him graduate with a UCU Bachelor of Nursing Science.

When Uganda Partners, a USA-based organisation that seeks support for UCU students through sponsorship, indicated that it could financially support some disadvantaged students, Bagenda applied to be one of those. The UCU Financial Aid office approved.

“I got to know about the scholarship after it was announced by the UCU Financial Aid Office and I immediately picked interest since I had a big debt with the university,” he says.

The 23-year-old was among students who graduated at UCU’s 22nd graduation ceremony on October 22, 2021.

Joining UCU to pursue the Bachelor of Nursing Science course was itself a big achievement for Bagenda. He almost missed out on the course because his parents had made it clear to him that the cost was out of their reach.

Instead, Edward and Flavia Bagenda wanted their son to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Education at Kyambogo University. The parents, living in Mpigi District, central Uganda, argued that tuition fees in a public university like Kyambogo were more affordable for them – about half the cost.

However, Bagenda, convinced of a medical calling and at UCU, applied for and received a government loan for studies at UCU. The loan scheme was a partial funding with his parents providing the rest. Upon getting a job, the Uganda government expects Bagenda to repay his loan.

Bagenda, who received his lower-level education in Mpigi, completed Heritage Nursery and Primary School and St. Mark’s Secondary School Kamengo, where he studied O’level and at Gombe Secondary School for A’level.

With a nursing degree Bagenda will, as required, complete a yearlong, mandatory internship program in a hospital. Bagenda says he is eager to help mothers, especially those in labor wards, to have successful baby deliveries.

Bagenda says he hopes to return to school for post-graduate studies one day so he can acquire the skills necessary for him to be able to set up his own medical center, as well as share knowledge in the medical field as a lecturer in the nursing schools in Uganda.

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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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