By Kefa Senoga
For Deo Musekura, driving is not just a job. It is a calling. The call is to work and ensure the safety of  passengers.  

He believes that it is his dedication, humility and work ethic that have made him a valued member of the Uganda Christian University (UCU) community. In December last year, the university formally recognized  Musekura’s contributions with an award for his exceptional service during the university’s end-of-year community worship in Nkoyoyo Hall.

According to Musekura, he was inspired into a career as a driver by someone who drove an ambulance in the latter’s home town in Kisoro, southwestern Uganda. Determined to follow in his role model’s footsteps, Musekura learned how to drive and secured the same job at Kisoro Regional Referral Hospital.

For 17 years, Musekura transported patients, many in critical condition, from Kisoro to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala.

“Through that job, I was able to help save people’s lives,” Musekura recalls. “No patient ever died under my watch while I was transporting them, even in emergency cases.”

He remembers some of the lives he helped save, including an acid attack victim and a stroke patient.

In 2019, Musekura changed work stations, from the hospital to UCU, having responded to an advertisement that the university put out in the media.  Three months into his new job at UCU, there was a shutdown in movement in Uganda because of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Despite the challenges, Musekura mentions that he remained steadfast, ready to serve once normalcy returned.

Currently in his fifth year at UCU, Musekura attributes his continued success to his strong work ethic, punctuality, and ability to collaborate with both staff and students.

“What has kept me going is my commitment to hard work and teamwork,” he says. “I cooperate well with everyone in the UCU community, whether student or staff. I believe in building strong relationships.”

Musekura was on duty at UCU’s Kampala Campus when he received an unexpected phone call from the Human Resource Directorate of the university. He had been selected as one of the university’s outstanding employees for his exceptional administrative support.

“I was pleasantly surprised and overjoyed to hear that I would be among the staff recognized at the end of 2024. This shows that the people I work for appreciate what I do.”

During the awards ceremony last year, UCU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration, David Mugawe, explained the significance of the awards.

“The University Council asked management to create a way to reward outstanding staff,” Mugawe noted. “The evaluation criteria included staff performance, contributions to research and grants, leadership roles, and excellence in teaching.”

UCU Vice Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi emphasized the importance of maintaining a culture of excellence and acknowledged that while no one is without flaws, the contributions of the awardees were commendable. Each awardee received a plaque and a financial reward.

Annually, UCU has been awarding staff members who make a milestone of 10 years of service. However, last year, it was different. A total of 31 employees were recognized for exceptional service, as part of UCU’s new performance-based staff awards.

For Musekura, the award is not just a personal achievement, but also a reminder of the values he upholds: integrity, punctuality and flexibility. He takes immense pride in his timekeeping skills and his ability to adapt to various challenges.

“I want to be remembered as a time-conscious and flexible worker,” he says.

Beyond his personal accomplishments, one of the things that excites him most about UCU is the fact that his first born, Manzi Emmanuel, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in ICT on a full scholarship offered by the university.

As Musekura continues his journey at UCU, he notes that he remains committed to serving with excellence, proving that dedication and a heart for service do not go unnoticed.

Musekura hails from Kisoro District and is a devoted family man. He and his wife, Beatrice Nyinazekkuhozi, have four children. He notes that his parents – Habyarimana and Tereza Habyarimana – have played a significant role in shaping his values and dedication to service.

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