Category Archives: UCU School of Medicine

Abaliwano Yvette hopes to specialize in oncology after completing her undergraduate studies

Medical career is more about service than making money


Abaliwano Yvette hopes to specialize in oncology after completing her undergraduate studies
Abaliwano Yvette hopes to specialize in oncology after completing her undergraduate studies

By Kefa Senoga
If anyone had been in the shoes of Abaliwano Yvette, chances are he/she would have made the same career decision. Yvette, a student of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the Uganda Christian University (UCU) School of Medicine (SoM), is surrounded by medical professionals at her home.

Her father, Dr. Abaliwano Mark, is a dental surgeon working with Uganda’s central bank. Yvette’s mother, Dr. Walusansa Victoria, works with the Uganda Cancer Institute, where she is the organization’s Deputy Director, consultant oncologist and the clinical head.

And that’s not all. Yvette’s extended family, too, has a sizable number of medical practitioners. Two of her uncles are doctors, and so is one of her aunts, as well as some of her cousins.

There is no doubt that the Abaliwano family members have been living off benefits that the parents have been accruing from their employment in the medical profession. That could have been a big factor in pulling Yvette into the career she is pursuing.

The four years she has been a student at the SoM have been a real test to Yvette’s resolve to pursue her dream course. “Many of my colleagues with whom I completed secondary school have since graduated — those who undertook courses of three or four years,” Yvette, a member of the SoM writing club, noted.

However, she explained that determination and keeping hope alive have always conspired to give her the much-needed patience for her to complete her five-year course.

She said one of the attractions to the medical course is the multiplicity of disciplines that one can specialize in. For Yvette’s case, the charm of her mother has finally lured her into considering specializing in oncology — the study, treatment, diagnosis and prevention of cancer.

Research shows that the incidence and mortality due to cancer are increasing globally. The global cancer burden is predicted to rise to 22 million cases and 11 million deaths by 2030. In Uganda, government statistics indicate that about 33,000 Ugandans are diagnosed with cancer every year, of which, only about 7,400 make it for care at the Uganda Cancer Institute.

It’s damning statistics like these that have drawn Yvette into seeking to make a mark in the fight against the world’s second-leading cause of death.

I hope to set up a fitness clinic and possibly help in reducing obesity among people,” she said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, being overweight increases the risk of getting up to 13 types of cancer, which make up 40% of the cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. 

Yvette strongly discourages anyone who wants to pursue the medical profession purely for financial benefit. “Being a doctor means offering service to the community. It is not guaranteed that you will get the amount of money that you desire, especially in Uganda” she says. 

Others, Yvette explains, seek to pursue the career because of the prestige which comes with holding the title “doctor.” However, many of such people, according to Yvette, end up dropping out of the course in the early stages after experiencing the rigor and the level of commitment that is required. 

Yvette strongly believes the secondary school she attended — Mt. St. Mary’s College, Namagunga, a church-founded elite school in Uganda — has a lot to do with the achievements she has so far registered at the SoM. At Mt. St. Mary’s College, Namagunga, she learned good values, such as hard work and the virtue of patience. At UCU, she says her religious life has been greatly enhanced because of the institution’s reputation as a Christ-centered university not just in name, but in deed.

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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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Namayanja Christabel says when she graduates as a doctor, she hopes to run a blog that incorporates telemedicine and mental health

Student drive towards medicine strengthens after losing mom to Covid


Namayanja Christabel says when she graduates as a doctor, she hopes to run a blog that incorporates telemedicine and mental health
Namayanja Christabel says when she graduates as a doctor, she hopes to run a blog that incorporates telemedicine and mental health

By Kefa Senoga
By January 28, 2023, Uganda had registered 170,328 cases of coronavirus. Of those, 3,630 had died. Florence Bwanika is part of that tragic statistic. Bwanika, a renowned veterinary doctor and academic, succumbed to the pandemic on January 17, 2021, the time Uganda was just shaking itself off the first wave of the pandemic. Uganda later had the second wave of the virus, which was more deadly.

Bwanika was the mother of Namayanja Christabel, a year-four student of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) School of Medicine (SoM) in Mengo. Namayanja says while zeroing in on a course to pursue at university, she wanted one which would give her the opportunity to impact and transform lives. And human medicine was one such course.

Namayanja’s mother, as well as her father, Christopher Bwanika, wanted her to pursue medicine. Her parents encouraged her to put emphasis on science subjects in secondary school to prepare her for this path. Namayanja studied at the Church-founded Gayaza High School, Uganda’s oldest all-girls boarding secondary school. The Bwanika couple was passionate about educating the younger generation. 

In August 2021, seven months after losing her mother, Namayanja says she also lost her grandmother “under circumstances that could be prevented.” While interacting with Uganda Partners during an online interview, Namayanja said those two deaths of her loved ones cemented the belief that she was, indeed, on the right path, by pursuing a career in medicine. She believes that the knowledge she will acquire in the training will enable her to offer the first line of treatment to her close relatives.

According to Namayanja, Gayaza High School laid the foundation for whatever virtues she currently reaps. She says at Gayaza, she was able to acquire multiple skills outside of science. Among these were writing, reading and social interaction – the latter reinforced as she served in different capacities as a student leader in Gayaza. She was once a chapel prefect (leader in charge of religious affairs) and the editor in chief of the school writers’ club.  

With the experience she garnered working for the writers’ club, it was easy for Namayanja to work for the UCU School of Medicine’s Writers’ Society, where she runs a blog.

Acknowledging that her medicine studies, including extensive reading, are time intensive, she juggles classwork and activities beyond class with strong planning skills.

 “I usually plan for the day, and follow up that plan with daily goals,” Namayanja says.

She says the SoM learning environment eases student academic challenges.

“UCU has provided quality services to us,” she said. “As students, we feel we are getting the value for our tuition; we are taught by some of the best practitioners in the medical field, and groomed to be high-quality professionals who are exceptional and holistic.”

She cites lecturers like Dr. Rhoda Mayega, a renowned pediatrician at Mengo Hospital, who “has been very pivotal in driving us to become better doctors.”

Namayanja says she is also interested in exploring other fields like finance, technology and artificial intelligence. “I strive to equip myself with knowledge from other fields that are necessary in this fast-changing world.”

She believes that one day, she will be able to apply all the knowledge that she acquires from other fields into her profession. 

In the future, Namayanja hopes to run a mental health blog that incorporates telemedicine to be able to reach people who need mental health services.

“I am looking at promoting good health-seeking behavior and practices among members of my community, which is the responsibility of a doctor,” Namayanja explains.

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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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Barungi Abigail with her lecturer, Dr. Kanyesigye Edward, who was among the founders of the UCU School of Medicine

‘Not all angels have wings…some have stethoscopes’


Barungi Abigail with her lecturer, Dr. Kanyesigye Edward, who was among the founders of the UCU School of Medicine
Barungi Abigail with her lecturer, Dr. Kanyesigye Edward, who was among the founders of the UCU School of Medicine

By Kefa Senoga
Dr. Lutakome Joseph is an amiable man. By the end of the day, not even the stress after a long day’s work will show on the face of the specialist physician who works at Nsambya Hospital in Kampala. 

“He always carries himself with the willingness to help his patients by interacting with them in such a way that makes them change their focus from their illness, for a little while,” says Barungi Abigail, for whom Lutakome has been a family doctor.  

Barungi thinks a doctor who understands and relates to their patients’ feelings, and treats them while focusing on their individual needs, would be the most ideal.

The fourth-year student at Uganda Christian University (UCU), pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery course at the institution’s School of Medicine in Mengo, Kampala, says Lutakome “takes his time to explain to patients basing on their level of knowledge and understanding, so they are able to know more about their diseases and how to avoid recurrence.” Through Lutakome’s virtues, Barungi says she was persuaded to pursue a career in human medicine. 

Barungi Abigail says the most ideal doctor is one who understands patient feelings.
Barungi Abigail says the most ideal doctor is one who understands patient feelings.

“The fulfillment that one gets after treating a patient is something I have longed for since childhood, I felt that I would best help those in society through the medical profession,” Barungi notes, as if in agreement with the saying that “not all angels have wings, but some have stethoscopes.”

A successful doctor-patient relationship is one of holistic treatment. According to Barungi, there is nothing more satisfying for a doctor than offering medical help and a patient gets healed. And that is the satisfaction that she yearns when she eventually begins medical practice after school.

Asked about what area she would love to specialize in after undergraduate studies, Barungi points to where she thinks she will be hitting two birds with one stone. When children, especially newborns, are not well, the amount of distress it causes the parents is unfathomable. And that is why she has her eyes in neonatology, which is concerned with the care and treatment of newborns. Barungi hopes that her contribution will, in one way or another, reduce the number of deaths of neonates in Uganda.

She believes that the kind of training she is receiving at the UCU School of Medicine has been a timely exposure not only in the medical field, but also on matters of faith. 

At UCU, Barungi says that she has been able to meet amazing professionals, such as Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, a lecturer in anatomy — the study of the structure of humans, animals and other living organisms. Tumusiime is also the Dean of UCU School of Medicine. 

“He has been like a father and mentor to most of us at the SoM,” she said, adding: “He mentored me in my clinical and non-clinical years, as well as coaching me in life after medical school.”

The mentorship by Tumusiime, Barungi says, is just a continuation of what she has always received from her parents, siblings and godparents. 

She says the schools she attended before joining UCU provided the much-needed holistic education, which does not just emphasize academics, but also discipline, humility and self drive — virtues which have been useful during her course at UCU. For Barungi’s six years of secondary education, she attended Mt. St. Mary’s College Namagunga, one of the elite secondary schools in Uganda. She said Namagunga, a girls-only school, had well-equipped laboratories, which motivated students to appreciate science subjects more. 

When she is away from books, Barungi says she spends her free time with family and friends, as well as participating in medical camps. She also engages in learning more about the business industry, where she says she also has a lot of interest.

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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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Mulungi Jemimah Mulamba at the UCU School of Medicine in Mengo

UCU student meets medical idol: ‘She is my hero’


Mulungi Jemimah Mulamba at the UCU School of Medicine in Mengo
Mulungi Jemimah Mulamba at the UCU School of Medicine in Mengo

By Pauline Luba
Mulungi Jemimah Mulamba and Dr. Juliet Sekabunga Nalwanga are separated by as many incidents in their lives as they are united. 

One point of convergence for the two Ugandan women is that they chose the same career path — human medicine. Another unifying factor is that both are daughters of academic parents. Mulungi’s father, Peter Mulamba, is an agricultural engineer and lecturer at Uganda’s Makerere University, and her mother, Esther Lilian Mulamba, teaches physiology at Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) School of Medicine. Nalwanga’s father, Prof. Sekabunga, was a respected academic and a well-known pediatric surgeon at Uganda’s national referral facility, Mulago Hospital. Another of the points of intersection is that Nalwanga and the mother of Mulungi are both academics at UCU’s School of Medicine.

Recently, Nalwanga and Mulungi met in class at UCU’s School of Medicine, the former as the teacher of the latter. Mulungi is in year four, pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, and part of Nalwanga’s roles at UCU is to teach neurosurgery courses to year-four students.

Before 2018, Mulungi hadn’t even heard Nalwanga’s name. However, an achievement that the latter had in the same year threw her in the limelight. Nalwanga became the first female neurosurgeon in Uganda, a feat that earned her global recognition in a field where specialists are rare.  By 2021, with a population of more than 40 million people, there were only 21 neurosurgeons in Uganda. The World Health Organization recommends one neurosurgeon for every 100,000 people.

“She is my hero and a living testimony that one can have a successful career in medicine while still balancing out other sectors in their life,” Mulungi said of Nalwanga.

Mulungi is still debating on which field to specialize in for her post-graduate studies. Three areas — neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery and gynecology — are on the table. Can the charm of her idol, Nalwanga, sway her towards neurosurgery to create another point of convergence for the two?

“I like neurosurgery because the brain has always fascinated me, cardiothoracic surgery because modern habits are leading people to develop new conditions and gynecology because I’m interested in the work of bringing in new life,” Mulungi said, further creating a mystery on what she will finally zero in on. 

But maybe it’s too early for the fuss. The 22-year-old still has another year of study, and another year of a mandatory medical internship before graduation.

What is for sure is she intends to use her profession to help women, especially when it comes to giving birth. “Women should not be paying hefty sums to health facilities to be able to give birth or for postnatal care,” she said, adding that she hopes for Ugandan facilities that will cater for women with issues related to antenatal and postnatal care. 

She says the main reason she applied to join UCU was because she wanted the university’s strong Christian foundation to reinforce her religious beliefs. One of her favorite programs is the lunch-hour, Christian fellowship that is conducted at the university every Tuesday and Thursday. Mulungi says her goal is to become a medical practitioner whose faith leads her practice. She is a firm believer in the mantra that medics administer medicines to patients, but the healing power of the sickness remains with God. In the future, Mulungi hopes to practice medicine alongside ministering the word of God.

For Mulungi’s early education, she attended Kampala Parents School for her primary learning and Nabisunsa Girls School for her secondary education. Both schools are in Kampala. Mulungi says she made a decision to study medicine when she was just 11 years old – a vision anchored in her desire to help people. 

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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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Kihumuro Peace Patricia (left) with her colleagues from the UCU SoM

UCU medical student: Incorporating faith with education will make me a better professional


Kihumuro Peace Patricia (left) with her colleagues from the UCU SoM
Kihumuro Peace Patricia (left) with her colleagues from the UCU SoM

By Kefa Senoga
“Without faith, nothing is possible; with it, nothing is impossible” is a famous quote from the late educator and American civil rights activist, Mary McLeod Bethune. 

Along that vein, Uganda Christian University (UCU) School of Medicine student, Kihumuro Peace Patricia, believes that education without faith is akin to building a house on sand. It is for this reason that Kihumuro says she sought to pursue her medical course at UCU. She hoped for a faith-based university education.

“Joining UCU was a family decision because the university is built on Christian principles,” she said during a recent interview with Uganda Partners.  

And when she joined the university, she witnessed just what she expected. For instance, she got to learn that at UCU, there is lunchtime community worship twice a week — every Tuesday and Thursday.

“Even with the way we have studied, we have had a lot of incorporation of faith in other activities that take place in the university” Kihumuro explained, noting that their studies have been multi-dimensional, which she believes will make her and her student colleagues better doctors in the market. 

And that is not all. Kihumuro says at UCU, within their first year of study, they were already having clinical exposure, where they would meet with doctors to discuss issues.

“Accessing the ward in year one gives a student the ability to make the connection between classroom knowledge and what they will practice,” she explained, adding that the smaller class sizes are an added advantage. 

“We are 56 students per class, which helps us to network more, an advantage UCU has over other medical schools,” she said.

When UCU’s first Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Noll, assumed office in 2000, his main task was to set up a Christian university not just in name, but also in character. Indeed, when Noll addressed a gathering as a keynote speaker during a public lecture at the university on October 26, 2022, he said his task was to set up a university that “seeks to incorporate fully the Christian gospel in all its programs.”  

Decades later, it is this system that is attracting people like Kihumuro, a year-four student of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at UCU’s School of Medicine in Mengo, Kampala.

She says the ideals of UCU make the institution almost an extension of the secondary school she attended — Uganda Martyrs Secondary School Namugongo in central Uganda — that also is built on strong Christian values, and the administrators do all they can to enforce the principles.

Kihumuro is positive that the grooming she has received thus far will play a pivotal role in making her a better professional. After her undergraduate course, Kihumuro hopes to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology. 

“When patients trust you with their lives, you need to treat them with a lot of dignity in return,” she said, noting that if she combines her empathy towards patients and passion for solving a health challenge that is affecting someone, she will be of good use to many patients. 

In fact, it is this empathy that attracted Kihumuro to the medical profession. “While growing up, I was in and out of hospital, especially during my childhood. Along the way, I met Dr. Christine, an ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist, who I would go to for treatment; she was so caring and kind.”

Kihumuro emphasizes that a patient should be treated as a fellow human being and not just as a patient. To her, there is nothing as gratifying as sending a patient back home to their family in a better condition than how they came to the hospital.

Given a chance, Kihumuro says she will not think twice when an opportunity for greener pastures knocks on her door. She urges the Ugandan government to create better working conditions for the medical workers, to reduce chances of brain drain since the country still needs more personnel. Estimates indicate that the doctor-patient ratio in Uganda is at 1:25,000 and the nurse-to-patient ratio at 1:11,000. The World Health Organisation recommends a doctor-patient ratio of 1:1,000. 

For now, before any chances of greener pastures present themselves, Kihumuro says she is eager to make a mark in the fight against non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, by preaching lifestyle changes and frequent health check-ups through an NGO called Health Torch Uganda. 

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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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Jethro Odoi Okoth at the UCU School of Medicine in Mengo

Brother’s sickness paved way for medical career


 Jethro Odoi Okoth at the UCU School of Medicine in Mengo
Jethro Odoi Okoth at the UCU School of Medicine in Mengo

By Pauline Luba
A 2007 incident in the family of Jethro Odoi Okoth was the impetus for a medicine career choice for Odoi, now age 23 and a year away from becoming a doctor. Odoi, then a teenager, saw his younger brother suffer a fractured skull, necessitating surgery in a country where neurosurgeons are scarce.

Odoi, who hopes to specialize in neurosurgery, is pursuing Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) School of Medicine in Mengo, Kampala.

By 2007, Uganda had only four neurosurgeons for a population of about 30 million people. By 2020, thanks to interventions through deliberate strategic partnerships, that number had more than tripled, to 13 until one neurosurgeon, John Baptist Mukasa, died of Covid in 2021.  At that, the country’s population also increased to more than 40 million people, meaning each neurosurgeon was serving slightly over three million Ugandans. The World Health Organization recommends one neurosurgeon for every 100,000 people. 

Odoi’s parents — the Rev. Denis Odoi and Mrs. Harriet Eve Odoi —  finally obtained a neurosurgeon for the brother, but after a long struggle. 

In 2007, when Odoi’s family made contact with the neurosurgeon who eventually performed a surgical procedure on the family member, they discovered that at the time they were looking for him, he was not even in town. However, when he learned of their need, he “came specifically to help my brother.” That gesture, Odoi says, left an indelible mark in his memory. When his brother got healed, Odoi made the decision that he would pursue a career in neurosurgery, to reduce the high specialist-patient ratio. At year four in medical school, he seems to have walked the longer part of the journey towards achieving his dream.

Odoi, who has always been a high performer in class, attended Victorious Primary School and the elite King’s College, Budo for both O’level and A’level Both schools are in central Uganda. Since joining university, Odoi says he has learned to be more outgoing, a virtue he will need in his profession. This has been helped by the fact that the “people in the university have a warm personality” and that the lecturers are down-to-earth and more engaging.

Had he not opted to study human medicine, Odoi says his love for reading would not have spared him from pursuing a course in literature. During his leisure time, if he is not reading a book, most probably one will find him writing an article or engaging in a brain game of chess or in the field playing hockey. It would not be surprising also to find Odoi participating in boat rides or doing nature walks.

Asked about whether he would consider working abroad, Odoi said: “Four years ago, if I had been asked that question, I would have said my goal is to study abroad, get a job and stay there.” However, his position has since changed.

“Witnessing my relatives, my friends and my brother struggle to get medical attention, I would prefer to stay in Uganda and help all those who would need my services.”

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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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As early as Senior Three, Sharma Yash Pareshkaumer had already made up his mind to pursue a career in medicine

Medical course exposes Sharma to challenges of profession


As early as Senior Three, Sharma Yash Pareshkaumer had already made up his mind to pursue a career in medicine
As early as Senior Three, Sharma Yash Pareshkaumer had already made up his mind to pursue a career in medicine

By Pauline Luba
When Sharma Yash Pareshkumar was admitted to Uganda Christian University (UCU) to pursue a degree in human medicine, it brought him closer to realising his dream of wearing the white coat. However, events that unfolded soon after left him with more questions than answers if, indeed, he had made the right decision to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.

As early as Senior Three, Sharma had made up his mind to pursue a career in medicine. He says his interest was supported by the fact that he was generally performing well in science subjects.

Sharma’s early years of study at UCU, however, exposed him to the real challenges met by many who are pursuing the course, as well as those already practising it. Some staff members lost the battle to Covid-19. He says the passing on of the staff made him fully understand the path that medical practitioners have to tread — even during a pandemic of a contagious disease like Covid, as others are retreating to safer environments, health workers have to take the frontline positions to save communities.

And that was not the only challenge. More recently, the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in Uganda also deepened his perspective on the duty of the medical personnel. When the Ugandan government announced the outbreak of Ebola on September 20, the 24-year-old was at Mulago Hospital during his class’s scheduled rotation of the ward rounds. He said like anyone else, it was a scary experience, since he was at the country’s main referral hospital. According to the World Health Organisation, 19 medical workers contracted the virus in Uganda, with seven of them losing the battle. Of the 142 confirmed cases, 55 died. However, on January 11, the country was declared Ebola-free.

As a first-year student in 2019, Sharma says studies took up almost his entire time. Matters were even made worse by the kind of grades he obtained, which he said did not reflect the amount of time he was devoting to the course. However, with time, faith, planning and more reading, Sharma says his grades progressively improved. 

“I enjoy breaking down difficult things. In my time here, I have gained confidence, a better attitude and shifted from being impulsive to being calm,” says Sharma, a Ugandan of Indian descent and a son of Sharma Paresh, an engineer and Mrs Sharma Damayanti, an accountant.

He attended Buganda Road Primary School, Makerere College School for his O’level and Mengo Secondary School for his A’level. Sharma says he learned about UCU through a friend who was already studying at the institution. The year-four student, a Hindu by faith, said he was drawn to the university because of the similarities between its core values and his religious beliefs.

“I related the university’s core values to my faith. As much as you can find differences in religion, some values relate, like the belief and worship of God, humility and faith. I believed UCU would be the perfect environment for me to study in,” Sharma explained as he defended the choice of the university. 

He says sometimes he attends fellowship at the university because, according to him, the teachings are universal. 

Once he becomes doctor, Sharma hopes to be part of a campaign against anxiety because he believes the condition has hindered many people from achieving their full potential.

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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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Joel Semakula, fourth-year student at UCU School of Medicine

He quit a well-paying job to study medicine at UCU


Joel Semakula, fourth-year student at UCU School of Medicine
Joel Semakula, fourth-year student at UCU School of Medicine

By Irene Best Nyapendi
At Mukwano Industries, Uganda, Joel Semakula was the employee of the year, earned a promotion, and had a salary boost on the way. But his true love was elsewhere. 

After completing secondary school, he had his sights on medicine. However, he did not make it to the shortlist to study it at Makerere University. So, he thought of studying bio medical laboratory technology with a plan of upgrading to medicine later on, but this too was not possible. He settled for chemical engineering at Kyambogo University.

Once he graduated, he got a job with Mukwano, where he excelled and was recognized as employee of the year in 2018.  At that and with his heart elsewhere, he turned down a promotion and resigned.

“I always saw myself practicing medicine, and I will even do it when I am past retirement age,” he says.

The busy work schedule at Mukwano was a roadblock to studying in the demanding field of medicine. He got his savings and requested his parents to support him further to pursue the course he loves. 

Semakula (left) poses for a photo with his lecturer (center) and classmates after an oncology lecture.
Semakula (left) poses for a photo with his lecturer (center) and classmates after an oncology lecture.

“My mother believed in me and together with my family, they supported me,” he says.

He tried several times to get a vacancy at Makerere University with no success. This, however, did not break his resolve. 

To Semakula, he loves the life-saving work doctors do because it is like working together with God to give people a second chance at life. God finally answered his prayers when he applied at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

“When I heard about UCU School of Medicine, I applied and was so happy when I passed the interviews,” he says. “My mouth was filled with laughter.”

Now in his fourth year, with one more year to go, Semakula says he finds fulfillment in his work. 

“There’s satisfaction when you alleviate someone else’s suffering,” he says.

He recalls a time in year three, during junior clerkship when he answered a mother’s queries about her child’s health and the next day the woman returned asking for Semakula because she was so pleased with his services.

Semakula is determined to be an excellent surgeon. He is further encouraged by his lecturer, Dr. Mwanje Bright Anderson, who inspires him by the way he handles patients, relating to each. 

One day during a bedside teaching session at Mulago Hospital, the instructing specialist defined a surgeon as the world’s best physician who sometimes operates. 

“This stuck with me. I had simply wanted to become a surgeon, but it dawned on me that one ought to be an equally excellent physician to make a good surgeon,” he says.

Semakula joined UCU to study a course he loves, but has since fallen in love with its culture and values as well.

“At first, there was nothing particularly attractive about the school that drew me in, because I didn’t know much about it other than the widely known fact that UCU produced brilliant lawyers. But I was optimistic this would become the case with medicine,” Semakula says.

Joel Semakula’s certificate of recognition
Joel Semakula’s certificate of recognition

He confesses that the study of medicine is as tough as he imagined, but he has accepted the task because as professional doctors, they need to get everything right. He emphasizes that the oath doctors take of doing no harm to lives requires them to get it right during training.

“I have to make it, there’s no other option. I push on mostly for me, then because there are people who believe in me and importantly for the people I will serve (my patients) eventually,” Semakula vows.

Semakula is passionate about humanity and care for others. He is concerned about doctors who tend to prioritize money-making at the expense of compassionate service. He has pledged to be a good doctor that puts medical care above financial rewards. He is hopeful that when he has made good money, he will channel some into financing affordable health care for all. 

“I hope to stay true to my convictions and influence others to see the same,” he says, almost as a prayer.

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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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Celicia Rwankore, fourth-year student at UCU School of Medicine

‘I will be an extension of God’s healing hand in this world’


Celicia Rwankore, fourth-year student at UCU School of Medicine
Celicia Rwankore, fourth-year student at UCU School of Medicine

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Syringe in one hand and Bible in the other. God is at the center as Celicia Rwankore studies medicine at Uganda Christian University (UCU). Rwankore, who is in her penultimate year (fourth year) as a student of a Bachelor of Medicine, says titles such as a doctor add weight to the gospel one preaches.

 “When people see a doctor preaching, they are inspired and believe,” she says, adding that people then understand that the doctor’s achievements were made possible by his or her belief in God. 

As a Christian, Rwankore is convinced every believer must preach the gospel in their respective professions. She cites Jesus’ great commission to the disciples in the gospel of Mark 16:15: ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation…’

Rwankore regularly shares the teachings of the Bible with her colleagues in her free time after her lectures and practical classes in medicine.

She understands that Christianity, which asserts divine intervention, does not conflict with the science of healing, but rather works together. 

She references the book of Ephesians 2:10 and explains that Christians have the mandate to extend God’s creative and restorative power on earth. 

“As a Christian doctor, I believe that I will be an extension of God’s healing hand in this world,” she says. 

According to Rwankore, being a doctor does not negate the fact that she can pray for her patients – something she says they are constantly reminded of at the UCU School of Medicine. The lecturers encourage them to ‘do their best to treat patients, but the healing comes from God.’

Spending late nights in hospital wards
The demands of the profession are relentless. 

“We are basically expected to know enough material for our level (undergraduate) but that is a lot!,” she says. “This course is what I would describe as prestigious, but it comes with many high expectations from relatives and friends which is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it causes stress from time to time.”

Rwankore enjoys her stay at UCU regardless of the tight schedule which includes sometimes having to spend long hours in the wards at Mengo Hospital which could go on until late in the night. Nevertheless, all that is part of the memorable moments regardless of how hectic it may seem because she loves what she does.

 “We were usually tired, surviving on snacks, giving medication, waiting for mothers to deliver, following the doctors and nurses around, making write-ups, having the most random conversations and sleeping at desks at 3 a.m. yet we expected to be in lectures at 7 a.m.,” she says about the roller coaster schedule.

She loves medical camps because she interacts with many folks whose lives she impacts positively through teaching them how to keep healthy as she checks their vitals such as measuring blood pressure.

“I am so happy to take part in the medical camps because it is an opportunity for me to help my community even before I can become a fully-fledged doctor,” she says.

Rwankore never despairs amidst or after the daunting tasks. She believes challenges are everywhere and part of life.

“I am proud to say that I have always been determined to be a medical doctor regardless of the challenges that come my way. I find solutions and move on,” she said. “I think that’s because I really enjoy what I am doing.”

As part of staying on course, Rwankore seeks out experienced doctors who share with her their first-hand accounts of the job.  Such moments revitalize her quest and offer the much-needed courage to soldier on.

Rwankore chose being a doctor to save lives. “You can understand the difference doctors make. Remember when you felt like death was calling you, but then you walked into a hospital only to leave feeling much better after what the doctor said or did,” she says.

The 23-year-old already has plans for studying a masters in Orthopedics. But for now, she looks forward to completing her senior clerkship (which is in their fifth and final year) and internship. 

In the meantime, Rwankore is very busy with classes and assignments, and understandably hard to get because of her tight schedule. She is not complaining about anything because she is in the company of a close-knit UCU community, where people care about one another.

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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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Ddungu said his ultimate goal in life is to fulfill God’s purpose for him

UCU’s Ddungu narrates journey to School of Medicine


Ddungu said his ultimate goal in life is to fulfill God’s purpose for him
Ddungu said his ultimate goal in life is to fulfill God’s purpose for him

By Pauline Luba
Tendo Jethro Ddungu long dreamed of being a doctor. However, it was not until he got to Senior Four that he shared his desires with his father, a specialist in public health. Upon receiving the news of his son’s career passion, Dr. Peter Ddungu did not think twice. He straightaway told his son to choose another career. Dr. Peter’s stand shocked his son, who had imagined his father, whom he looked up to, would be proud of him for choosing to follow in his footsteps.

But Peter had a reason for his stand. He knew medicine was not an easy course to study.  Instead, he advised Ddungu to opt for a career in engineering, which the father sensed would be less demanding academically than medicine. However, Ddungu stuck to his guns.

“I understood the weight of the medicine course from an early age,” Ddungu said. “If I felt I was not up to the task, I would not have expressed interest.” 

Upon seeing the determination of Ddungu, Dr. Peter eventually respected the wishes of his son. He thus supported him to achieve his dream. Ddungu is now in year four, pursuing the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) School of Medicine in Mengo, Kampala. He hopes to become a cardiac surgeon — a specialist in surgeries on the heart, lungs and other chest organs, as well as one who diagnoses and treats the same organs.

So far, Ddungu says one of his highlights at the School of Medicine was watching a specialist perform a chest surgery in the theater last year.

“There is a saying that a surgeon needs to know when not to cut,” said Ddungu as he explained his experience in the theater watching firsthand the medical procedure. “The surgeon should also have the heart of a lion (calm, no matter the situation), the eyes of an eagle (alert and strong sight) and the hands of an angel (delicate).” 

The 23-year-old says he was able to witness this mantra as he sat through the specialist medical procedure last year. 

The ultimate goal in the life of Ddungu is to fulfill God’s purpose for him, whether in family, business or any other area. He believes UCU offers the best place for him to accomplish God’s desires for him. Part of accomplishing God’s call is taking part in leadership in the community, which Ddungu, the eldest of three children of Dr. Peter and Mrs. Elizabeth Ddungu, has participated in, unreservedly. At King’s College Budo, where he had his O’level education, Ddungu was the timekeeper. 

From Budo, he headed to Turkish Light Academy, where he studied A’level. During his time at Turkish Light Academy, Ddungu was the head of fellowship, a role he described as “difficult leadership” because the school was predominantly Muslim.

At UCU, the university Ddungu says he joined because it is known for “producing good professionals,” he has been a representative at the Uganda Christian Medical Fellowship. He also plays the guitar during community worship at UCU.

When he is not at school or in church, most likely, you will find Ddungu swimming, reading or hanging out with friends. He believes in the notion that no one can be too busy to participate in the things they love, as long as they set priorities.

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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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Mwesigwa Joy at the UCU SoM in Mengo, Kampala

Mwesigwa’s loyalty to Christianity led her to UCU SoM


Mwesigwa Joy at the UCU SoM in Mengo, Kampala
Mwesigwa Joy at the UCU SoM in Mengo, Kampala

By Kefa Senoga
Listening to Joy Mwesigwa’s path to pursuing a course in human medicine at Uganda Christian University (UCU), one cannot help but conclude that, indeed, this was a predetermined route for the 21-year-old. 

Mwesigwa was mesmerized with the world of medicine as early as age 10 when her parents — Dr. Albert Siminyu and Mrs. Resty Nanziri Siminyu — would take her to a pediatrician. Mwesigwa names one particular pediatrician, Dr Jamil Mugalu, who she says conducted his work with so much ease and admiration that it played a role in motivating her to consider joining the profession. Mugalu is a senior pediatrician at Uganda’s national referral facility, Mulago Hospital.

“I admire doctors who can make a diagnosis with ease and offer treatment that actually works while still being compassionate, kind and are able to listen to the challenges of patients and their families,” says Mwesigwa, a second-year student of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at UCU’s School of Medicine.

Mwesigwa says her heart and mind resonated with a course in medicine and surgery because “it is in line with my passion to help people, regardless of the situation, learn more about the complexities of the human body and give back to society.” 

Mwesigwa (standing, third-left) with student colleagues at the UCU SoM
Mwesigwa (standing, third-left) with student colleagues at the UCU SoM

Even at home, she says, her parents supported her choice of career by offering financial and emotional support. “My father sometimes makes medical research in line with the course units I am pursuing at university, in order to have medical conversations with me,” Mwesigwa said from her school campus in Mengo, Kampala, during an interview that was conducted online.

For the two years that Mwesigwa has sat in the classroom at the medical school, she has been able to discover that every patient is unique in their own way, which means that learning never ends.  

Because of the complexity and the exciting nature of the human body, Mwesigwa says there are many concepts she has not yet understood, but that the answer lies in her conducting more research. 

For the two years that she has been studying the course, Mwesigwa says she is already able to debunk some age-old myths that she learned in her community. One of them, for example, is that rain causes malaria. “I have learned that people in my community normally associate most fevers with malaria, which isn’t entirely true.” 

And she is well prepared to debunk many more such myths because she believes that part of the social responsibilities of a doctor is to correct the misconceptions that society has about health, medicines and vaccines.

She believes that the spread of an epidemic like the HIV chronic immune system disease in Uganda is exacerbated by the myths and misconceptions that the society is fed on. She says young people protect themselves more from pregnancy than contracting HIV, which should not be the case since HIV has no cure. 

Being a devout Christian, when Mwesigwa was making choices on where to pursue her degree course, it was obvious where her choice would be. “The fact that UCU is a university set up on Christian principles, I believed it would offer me the platform to learn to be a good doctor as I also practice my Christian values.”

In UCU, she says she has found a home with reliable friends that support her academically and spiritually. She points out key figures like the Rev. Onen Ocen Walter, the UCU SoM chaplain and lecturers like Dr. Lwanira Catherine and Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, who she says have often offered her advice.

Her choice of UCU is not surprising, given that for her secondary school, she attended Gayaza High School and Seeta High School — schools with a firm foundation on religious doctrine. At Seeta High School, she was the head-girl, president of the school’s Interact Club and the head of the ushers in the school chapel. At UCU, she is the secretary of the Writers’ Society of the university’s School of Medicine and a choir leader in the same school.

The virtues that Mwesigwa says she possesses — honesty, patience, kindness and being a collaborative team player — are vital for her career growth. In fact, she hopes to take advantage of them to see how far they can propel her into achieving a specialty in neurosurgery and a doctorate in medicine.  

She also hopes to be able to set up a health facility and extend free medical camps to the underprivileged, with support from donors. And to be able to extend pro bono services to the community, Mwesigwa would desire practicing her profession in Uganda. 

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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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A sample of one poster pinned on the university premises to create awareness about Ebola

UCU: How we kept Ebola virus at bay


A sample of one poster pinned on the university premises to create awareness about Ebola
A sample of one poster pinned on the university premises to create awareness about Ebola

By Kefa Senoga
Government authorities in Uganda could have declared the country Ebola-free on January 11, 2023, but the nearly four months of the virus in the country have seen 55 people lose lives — and many medical staff lose confidence in their abilities to comfortably work in the disease’s isolation units. 

When the outbreak of the rare and deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was announced on September 20, 2022, many medical workers, including 10 doctors, offered to work in the isolation unit of the disease. However, there were reports that the number of medical personnel diminished as fears of catching the hemorrhagic fever increased.

And the fears were well-founded. According to the World Health Organisation figures, 19 medical workers contracted the virus, with seven of them losing the battle. A total of 142 cases were confirmed, and 55 of those died. Another 22 deaths were registered among suspected cases of people who died before samples were taken from them.

A letter from the student leadership informing the student community about the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease
A letter from the student leadership informing the student community about the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease

Before the 2022 EVD outbreak, Uganda had other outbreaks in 2000, 2014, 2017 and 2018, with the one of 2000 registering the highest number of deaths — 224 — out of 425 cases.

One of the challenges brought about by health emergencies, such as the outbreak of Ebola, is the change of teaching methods in medical schools.

Namayanja Christabel, a medical student at Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) School of Medicine, said the outbreak of the virus in September meant that most students could not spend as much time in hospitals as they were accustomed to because it was putting them at risk of contracting the virus. Namayanja says medical student colleagues who had scheduled ward rounds at Uganda’s Mulago National Referral hospital abandoned the plans.

Mwesigwa Joy, another medical student at UCU, said they abandoned plans of working in the wards because of limited protection.

“The main reason is lack of enough protective equipment that can guarantee our safety,” Mwesigwa explained.

She, however, lauds her colleagues at the School of Medicine for promoting awareness about the disease when it broke out in September 2022. 

“We had the Writer’s Society of the UCU School of Medicine write articles on Ebola and it raised a lot of awareness among the students,” Mwesigwa said.

Ebola Virus

She also noted that they always maintained the standard operating procedures, such as washing hands, keeping a social distance and wearing face masks.

Dr. Mulindwa Geoffrey, the Director of Medical Services at UCU, said the university undertook several measures to fight the spread of the disease. 

“Sanitizers and hand-washing points were placed at all entry points of the university premises so that people could clean their hands as they are the main vehicle of disease transmission.”

Mulindwa says much of the awareness was passed through posters that they pinned in the different locations of the university.

On the measures that the university undertook to ensure no case of the Ebola virus was registered in the community, Jimmy Siyasa, the Acting Head of Communication and Public Relations at UCU, said: “As an institution of higher learning with over 11,000 enrolled students, we do not take disease outbreaks lightly.”

The successes registered by UCU in keeping the virus at bay are partly due to the national strategic direction that the country took upon the confirmation of the outbreak in September 2022. For instance, on October 15, 2022, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni imposed a three-week lockdown on movement of vehicles in the districts of Kassanda and Mubende — which were the epicenters of the virus. The lockdown also banned the movement of vehicles and motorcycles into and outside of the two districts located in central Uganda. The Uganda government extended the lockdown on two other occasions, eventually lifting it on December 17, 2022.

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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 School of Medicine students Alituha Constance, Melodie Munyakai, and Kasule Steven engage in microscopic learning.

Equipment informs future doctors about evidence-based patient care


UCU School of Medicine students Alituha Constance, Melodie Munyakai, and Kasule Steven engage in microscopic learning.
UCU School of Medicine students Alituha Constance, Melodie Munyakazi, and Kasule Steven engage in microscopic learning.

Story By Patty Huston-Holm with Photos and Podcast by Vanessa Kyalimpa
Within five minutes of the first time that Vanessa Kyalimpa and I met Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, he was casually lifting and touching cleaned bones extracted from donated cadavers. Vanessa, a student in the Uganda Christian University (UCU) School of Journalism, Media and Communication, captured photographs while I took notes. 

I wondered why this rubber-gloved dean for the UCU School of Medicine (SoM) was so attentive to the skeletal part of the human body. 

SoM Dean, Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, uses human body parts, including this brain, as part of his teaching
SoM Dean, Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, uses human body parts, including this brain, as part of his teaching

Later, I got my answer. I discovered Dr. Tumusiime’s two bone-related pieces of  research – both within the last year and concentrated on femur (thigh) bones of East African men.  In brief and not doing justice to the studies by the esteemed doctor, senior lecturer and dean, I summarized his research on the 333 African men were about:

  • External opening of femur bones to make a correlation between whether the opening that enables blood flow necessary for healing after surgery is inherited or acquired (International Journal of Anatomy and Research, India); and 
  • Size and shape of femur bones as this relates to assessing fracture risk and stability of hip joints and design of implants for hip replacement (Austin, Texas, Journal of Anatomy). 

Whether serving in his role as researcher, teacher or practicing doctor, Dr. Tumusiime epitomizes excellence in the field of medicine. His passion for lifelong learning and elevating UCU SoM student knowledge and skill were clear on April 5, 2022, as he showed us around with a focus on how equipment informs evidence-based patient care.  Much of what we saw in three different buildings, including where the UCU School of Dentistry (SoD) is housed, was donated a year ago by MedShare  and Midmark through the non-profit Uganda Partners organization. 

dical training, including the value of Christian faith integration.

Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, Dean, UCU School of Medicine, gives a historical, current and future perspective of medical training, including the value of Christian faith integration.

“Biomedical equipment promotes holistic and evidence-based patient care,” Dr. Tumusiime said. “While we teach that patient history and physical exams contribute over 80% to an accurate diagnostic, the equipment donated through the United States in 2021 is extremely valuable in shaping our future doctors into evidence-based, health care practitioners.” 

Year two SoM student, Nalujja Chloe Immuaculate, engages in studies in the Gross Anatomy lab
Year two SoM student, Nalujja Chloe Immuaculate, engages in studies in the Gross Anatomy lab

The donated equipment and consumables contributed to the accreditation and licensure of UCU’s SoM and SoD by the Ugandan regulators, as well as the continuity of teaching and learning during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The equipment boosted the schools’ ability to be accredited by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education. Such tools supplement learning in the UCU biomedical laboratories in gross anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, histology and microbiology and immunology. 

The UCU equipment for the SoM, mostly donated in the past two years, and brief descriptions include:

  • Microscopes (providing the “Gold standard” for tissue diagnosis) – Magnify what the human eye can’t see, such as cells indicating diseases, such as sickle cell
  • Centrifuge – Separate, purify and isolate cells, proteins and viruses for further observation
  • Vortex mixer – Combine vials of liquid to study enzymes and DNA
  • Incubator – Maintain temperature, humidity and gas content to grow or maintain cells
  • Bunsen burner – Used for heating samples and sterilization
  • Safety cabinets – Protect researchers and others from potentially infectious materials
  • Medical waste bins – Add safety from biomedical waste and sharp instruments
  • Medical refrigerator and freezer – Protect and extend shelf life of bio-specimens,  reagents, drugs and vaccines
  • Protective gear (aprons, face masks, face shields, goggles, gloves) – Support safety in teaching and learning, research and patient care 
  • Assorted clinical diagnostic equipment – Promote the quality of patient diagnosis and research

The SoM Dean expressed appreciation for the donations that, despite a year of Covid-related distance learning, have boosted the holistic, evidence-based capabilities of UCU’s 230 students in the SoM and SoD as each completes a five-year program. 

“There are many examples of how technology equips us to improve Uganda’s health care,” Dr. Tumusiime said. “For instance, in dealing with malnutrition among children, we are able to help by analyzing blood samples to guide nutritional interventions and monitor progress. In all age groups, we screen and diagnose non-communicable diseases like sickle cell anaemia, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and metabolic disorders that are currently on the rise in Africa.” 

Dr. Tumusiime said that the need for more laboratory tools is ongoing, and singled out the equipment that is urgently needed to enhance teaching and learning, research and community service. In 2022, these necessities and their roles are:

  • Biological teaching microscope – Enables the instructor to demonstrate to the learners in real time
  • Hematology analyzers – Allow study of blood disorders and expanded understanding of human immune response
  • Chemistry analyzers – Enable testing of 100 different components, including urine for detection of various infections, kidney disease and diabetes
  • Blood gas/electrolyte analyzer – Measure blood sample parameters, such as oxygen concentration

“I appreciate that in a resource-limited setting, some of these equipment may not be readily available,” he said. “But it’s critical to the profession that they know they exist and know how to use them.” 

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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.

Also, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Brigadier General Felix Busizoori (center), the new acting Commander of the elite Special Force Command (SFC) for Uganda, participates in the UCU student run with students that included Rachel Sserwadda (Guild President, at left) and Jonathan Kivuna (Guild Vice President, at right).

Brig. General applauds UCU for discipline


Brigadier General Felix Busizoori (center), the new acting Commander of the elite Special Force Command (SFC) for Uganda, participates in the UCU student run with students that included Rachel Sserwadda (Guild President, at left) and Jonathan Kivuna (Guild Vice President, at right).
Brigadier General Felix Busizoori (center), the new acting Commander of the elite Special Force Command (SFC) for Uganda, participates in the UCU student run with students that included Rachel Sserwadda (Guild President, at left) and Jonathan Kivuna (Guild Vice President, at right).

By Israel Kisakye
Brigadier General Felix Busizoori, Commander of the Uganda elite Special Force Command, recently deviated from his oversight job of protecting the country’s top leaders to run alongside Uganda Christian University (UCU) students and give them kudos

The occasion was the annual Guild Run to raise money for tuition for needy students. Attired in lime-green vests sold for sh15,000 ($4 American) each, Busizoori and an estimated 200 others ran up to 8 kilometers (4 miles) for the cause on March 26. Busizoori’s remarks were made as part of his officiating role for the event. 

Busizoori, who has the main responsibility for guarding Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, applauded UCU for producing “well disciplined” graduates ready for today’s job market. He commended students for the focus on their studies vs. participating in strikes as students at other universities do. 

Guild Run participants in nearby Mukono town.
Guild Run participants in nearby Mukono town.

Previously, students have cited the “morals” that the institution imparts in its students as among  the reasons they opted to study at UCU. 

“Any health worker ought to embrace the values of servanthood and being God-loving, to help guide them in their performance,” Cherop Laban Sabila, a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery student, said last year when he was asked why, of all the universities in the country, he chose UCU.

The UCU Guild Run, which is meant to be an annual event, started in 2020. However, last year, it did not take place because of government restriction on crowds, following the destructive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, the run was officiated by Rebecca Kadaga, who was the Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament at the time.

Other key participants at the March 2022 event included UCU Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Assoc. Prof. John Mulindwa Kitayimbwa, and the Dean of Students Affairs, Bridget Mugume. 

In the March 2022 event, the participants covered 8 kilometers (about 4 miles), starting at the UCU main pitch, running through Mukono town and its suburbs, and then back to the university. An estimated sh5 million ($1,346.8 American) was raised.

Frank Okello, a student of Bachelor of Child Development and Children Ministry, was the overall winner of the run. He covered 8 kilometers (4 miles) in 15 minutes. Okello said running is his passion, and that he feels treasured whenever an opportunity arises for him to represent his university at any marathon. 

Juma Kyaterekera, the coach for the UCU netball team, came in second, followed by Rosenior Kulang, a year-three Bachelor of Business Administration student. The top performers were given UCU paraphernalia, such as branded caps, T-shirts, calendars and keyholders.

Kitayimbwa thanked the student leaders for organizing the event, saying it showed that they are alive to the challenges that fellow students go through at the university.  

UCU Guild President Mirembe Rachel Sserwadda expressed appreciation to the university administration for allowing the activity.

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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.

Also, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Dr. Arabat Kasangaki, dentist and lecturer at the UCU School of Dentistry, discusses a tooth X-ray with student Diana Hilda Ayikoru

Post-lockdown UCU dentistry: Moving forward to fill the gap


Dr. Arabat Kasangaki, dentist and lecturer at the UCU School of Dentistry, discusses a tooth X-ray with student Diana Hilda Ayikoru
Dr. Arabat Kasangaki, dentist and lecturer at the UCU School of Dentistry, discusses a tooth X-ray with student Diana Hilda Ayikoru

By Patty Huston-Holm with Vanessa Kyalimpa
That ache in your tooth can cause a pain in your belly. To be more precise, oral bacteria weakens the stomach’s ability to fight infection and could result in inflammatory bowel disease.  Vice versa, gastrointestinal issues can yield gum sores.

The human body is one package, according to Dr. Arabat Kasangaki, a dentist and lecturer with the Uganda Christian University (UCU) School of Dentistry. He explains this more than once each day to students and patients at the Mengo Hospital, Kampala, location. On this day, April 5, and seated at left with year-four student Diana Hilda Ayikoru and a male patient to his right, he reinforced the importance of using the proper words – explaining well and sensitively.

UCU School of Dentistry lab for student simulation practice
UCU School of Dentistry lab for student simulation practice

“If you only chew on one side of  the mouth, chances are the food is not breaking down properly,” Arabat said in response to the male patient’s assertion that he has learned to live with discomfort. “It will not get better on its own.”

After an X-ray, it was determined the patient needed a root canal, a procedure where the infected pulp is removed to save the tooth.

Ayikoru, slated to finish UCU’s five-year dentistry program in 18 months, already knows that the teeth incisors and canines cut and tear food and that molars crush and grind. But as monotonous as that is for a dentist or dentistry student, the patient needs the education to understand, approve and trust.

“A good dentist serves and teaches to convince the patient to let us help do the right thing,” Arabat said. “The way God created us, we run when we feel pain.”

Uganda has 320 dentists licensed to practice in the country with more than 45 million residents, resulting in shortage that the Uganda Dental Association (UDA) attributes to limited training institutions. UCU is working to fill that gap – progress stymied with the Covid lockdown.

The UCU School of Dentistry has 29 students. The dentistry school has the same number of  “pioneer” students – nine – it started with in 2018, but the later classes declined.  The third-year class has seven. The second-year class numbers eight. Only five new students enrolled in the current, first year. For the first two years, much of the curriculum for School of Medicine and School of Dentistry is the same, with students in the same classes.

“Dentistry has always been less attractive in our country than medicine, even though the skill sets are much the same,” Arabat said. “Our numbers took a greater hit during the pandemic shift to no learning and then on-line learning that was new to most students and many faculty.”

Dr. James Magara, the SoM dean with a prestigious dentistry practice in Kampala, knows the global virus impact from the education, economic and service side of his profession.

“In normal times, wellness is difficult to reinforce here,” he said. “During the height of the pandemic when many were not earning money, it was even harder for us to send the message that regular dental checkups would help prevent emergencies like severe tooth pain from happening…and even harder to recruit students into a career where you are in close proximity to the disease-spreading mouth.”

Peter Kabuye, pioneer student of UCU School of Dentistry
Peter Kabuye, pioneer student of UCU School of Dentistry

Peter Kabuye, a pioneer student of UCU School of Dentistry that was launched in 2018, described the challenges faced during the two on-line semesters because of two Covid-related, government-ordered lockdowns.

“There are times when Moodle platform was unreliable, so we had to resort to platforms such as Zoom and Google Meets to have real time lectures,” he said.  Additionally, not all resources on the UCU Moodle platform were free. For dental, as well as medical students, “we had to dig deeper into our pockets” to pay sh3,000 (85 cents) to sh5,000 ($1.40) each to access real-time lectures, he said.

Despite all the challenges, there was no option, but to persevere to reach his goal of being a dentist. Tuition from an American friend and the mentorship of both Dr. Ken Chapman, an American and Ugandan dentist who serves as a lecturer at the UCU school of dentistry and director at the Mengo Dental Clinic; and Dr. Martin Aliker, retired dentist, have sustained Peter.

“I’ve always wanted to be a dentist since I was very young,” he said. Since age four, his parents’ medical insurance privileges allowed him more than two dozen visits to a dentist to learn and reap rewards of good oral health.

Additionally, Peter’s family has high hopes for him after  graduation in 2023. These expectations are premised on the fact that he was privileged to have attended good schools and is the first born of three siblings, leaving “no room for failure.”

Like most School of Dentistry and School of Medicine students and faculty, he returned in January to in-person training with Covid-19 vaccination status and wears a mask as usual. Patients do not have those requirements.

The return found equipment donations through Midmark and the Uganda Partners. These include sterilizers, a suction machine, compressors and work stations with chairs, as well as a simulated lab with computers.

In his early 60s and maneuvering around outside debris to share the location of the suction equipment in a room visible 30 feet from the patient treatment room, Arabat is on a mission to educate students to the greatest extent possible. Despite the Covid learning hurdles, Arabat is keenly aware, he says, that his work and his mission to play a role in yielding quality dentists are “directed by God” and that accomplishments are to His glory.

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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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Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito, the principal investigator (center-front), poses with senior university staff, including Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, the Rev. Assoc. Prof. John Mulindwa Kitayimbwa (fourth-right), and other guests. Photo/ Andrew Bugembe.

UCU academics study health benefits of indigenous vegetables


Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito, the principal investigator (center-front), poses with senior university staff, including Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, the Rev. Assoc. Prof. John Mulindwa Kitayimbwa (fourth-right), and other guests. Photo/ Andrew Bugembe.
Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito, the principal investigator (center-front), poses with senior university staff, including Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, the Rev. Assoc. Prof. John Mulindwa Kitayimbwa (fourth-right), and other guests. Photo/ Andrew Bugembe.

By Vanessa Kyalimpa
Uganda Christian University (UCU) academics have gone into the trenches to establish how the elderly can consume food as medicine by taking advantage of the full potential of the health benefits of African indigenous vegetables.

African indigenous vegetables have been touted as one of the magic bullets to addressing malnutrition and some medical challenges, but their increased absence on the dining table have led to “hidden hunger” because there is more eating than feeding of the body at meal time.

So, how can such a challenge be addressed? Researchers at UCU have embarked on a year-long study among the elderly in Mukono district in central Uganda, hoping to come up with answers.

The research project, Exploring the Potential of African Indigenous Vegetables for Human Health in Uganda, is intended to be used to unpack the health benefits of African indigenous vegetables.

Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito, the principal investigator of the research, said the main objective of the study is to conduct a human nutritional survey on the effects of consuming fresh African indigenous vegetables in the diets of elderly people in Mukono. Among these vegetables in Uganda are eggplant, spider  plant, pumpkin and peas.

Students at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences studying about plants in an on-campus greenhouse. Photo/ Andrew Bugembe.
Students at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences studying about plants in an on-campus greenhouse. Photo/ Andrew Bugembe.

“Through the research, we shall be able to find out the biochemical profile of the African indigenous vegetables,” said Prof. Kizito, the Director of Research, Partnership and Innovations at UCU.  “We shall also be able to know how much vegetables someone needs to eat for a healthy living.”

The study, launched in February 2022, is being conducted by UCU’s Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and the institution’s School of Medicine, in collaboration with Mukono Municipality.

The researchers plan to find a sample of people willing to take part in the study, provide them with African indigenous vegetables for the duration of the study, and take their blood samples before and after consumption of the vegetables, which they will later compare and note differences.

Dr. Gerald Tumusiime, the Dean of the UCU School of Medicine who is also the co-principal investigator of the research, said the study is also intended to be used as a platform to teach people how to handle and prepare the African indigenous vegetables.

“The older persons who take part in this study are expected to have improved gut, kidney, liver, and cardiovascular health by the end of the study,” Dr. Tumusiime said.

African indigenous vegetables, such as Solanum aethiopicum, Hibiscus spp, Amaranthus, Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus lunatus and Vigna unguiculata, have for a long time been believed to have medicinal benefits, including lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, reducing chances of contracting some types of cancer and lowering the risk of eye and digestive problems.

Dr. Anthony Konde, the medical officer of Mukono municipality, said that they are willing to work with the researchers to make the study a success.

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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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Alvin Ahabwe, second-year student at UCU School of Medicine

Second-year student finds ‘added respect’ for medicine


Alvin Ahabwe, second-year student at UCU School of Medicine
Alvin Ahabwe, second-year student at UCU School of Medicine

By Patty Huston-Holm
(Last of four May 2022 stories related to theology and medicine studies)

When I met Alvin Ahabwe and before I could get my first question out, he gently touched the wrist of my mildly shaking left hand and asked, “What’s going on here?”

“Essential tremors,” I responded, adding, “It’s a neurological condition I’ve had for 25 years.”  I later sent him a Web link.

The compassionate inquiry from this second-year student at Uganda Christian University (UCU) School of Medicine (SoM) belied his years. Before sharing his story on this warm, overcast day in Kampala, he got a small piece of mine and enabled me to mentally fast-forward five years, visualizing Alvin as a competent, caring doctor.

On this day in March 2022, Alvin Ahabwe from Mbarara, in western Uganda, spoke of why he wanted to be a physician, the difficulty of his first year of medical school because of Covid-forced, on-line learning and about the role Christianity plays in his chosen profession.

Alvin, one of five children to a mom who teaches secondary school and father who is an NGO social worker, knew early that he wanted a service-to-others career. Medicine was a natural choice.

“I saw people dying from chronic conditions like HIV because they didn’t realize medicine could help them live longer,” he said. “I see how lifestyle causes hypertension and even cancer.”

The SoM year-two study in pathology reinforced Alvin’s early observations about how food and exercise – and accurate health information – impact the quality of life and lifespan. The young man, fresh from high school, persevered in those 2020-2021 lockdown-enforced semesters of virtual learning fraught with data costs and voice interference worsened by rain.

“UCU’s IT people helped us with the on-line platform, and we received good communications through WhatsApp groups,” he said. “But the blended learning we have now is definitely better.”

Receiving medical training from medical professionals during the pandemic was an added lesson in the value of vaccinations to guard against the coronavirus and a real-world example of combatting fact over fiction. Belief in science, however, does not mean shaken faith in Jesus Christ.

“I put God first,” said, Alvin, an Anglican.

At that, he early recognizes how Christianity and health care can clash.

“Take abortion,” he began, and continued, “If a person may die because of (full-term) pregnancy, there’s an ethical dilemma.”

The just under two years of learning has been a time of altered beliefs, adaptation and reinforcement of Alvin’s educational decision, he said.

“I looked at surgeons on TV – shows like Grey’s Anatomy and the Good Doctor – and saw how systematic medicine can be,” he said.  “At first, our exposure to corpses was frightening, but now we can drink tea in the same room.”

Alvin is concerned about the quality of health care in his country. He is concerned, too, that money contributed doesn’t get down to the level of critical need and that many Ugandans study medicine and practice in other countries.

With an easy smile, he asserted, “I’ll stay here when I’m finished.”

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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.

Also, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Mercy Bikala

UCU Medical student aspires to save lives with faith in Christ


Mercy Bikala
Mercy Bikala

By Muduku Derrick Brian
(3rd of four May 2022 stories related to theology and medicine studies)

When I watched Mercy Bikala, 19, enthusiastically lead community worship at the School of Medicine of Uganda Christian University (UCU), I imagined she was a full-time musician. Her eloquent voice, delivered with confidence and enthusiasm, encouraged everybody, including me, to sing along to the hymns and praises.

Shortly after the service, I confirmed that Bikala does music as a part-time activity while passionately aspiring to become a doctor. She is a second-year student pursuing a Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelors in Surgery. She says spirituality, including that expressed through music, is vital to her today as she studies, and tomorrow as she works.

“I turn to God when my energy is low,” Bikala said. “My faith in Christ is what fuels me to study and it makes the whole process have meaning.”

Bikala adds that the Christian virtues of honesty, righteousness, sympathy, stewardship are pillars that make a doctor complete and wholesome. She saw that violated during Covid-19 with some medical practitioners increasing prices for already hard-pressed patients and benefitting from the excess funds.

Bikala says that she was excited to hear that she was accepted into UCU because of its reputation as a Christ-centered institution.

“Here, there is Community worship twice a week,” she said, referring to the medical school on the Mengo Hospital site. “I feel revitalized when I engage in this activity. I get the energy to continue with my endeavors of becoming a medical doctor.”

Scientists have often tried to create a clear distinction between Christianity and science. However, Bikala says that there are things in nature that even science has failed to explain.

“Science is attempting to explain things that God has done,” she said. “There is a limit because there are things scientists have failed to get answers to.”

She urges fellow medical students to become knowledgeable medical personnel who are sensitive and spiritually mature so as to engage in works that uphold the name and glory of Christ.

Bikala says that she ventured into medical school because she wants that value addition to the nation.

“I want to attain skills that will enable me save lives of our people in society,” she said. “For me, that is where I shall derive my happiness.”

UCU having a well stocked laboratory has made it easy for Bikala to explore more about aspects in her medical field. She says that she has been able to utilize the various equipment like the microscopes and slides to enrich her medical knowledge.

“The microscopes aid me in learning more about micro-organisms like bacteria and fungi, which I study under micro biology,” she said.

Given that she is still in her second year of study, Bikala says that she is eagerly looking forward to the clinical years (Year 3, 4 and 5) of her study, where the students are able to engage in even more practical aspects.

Bikala says that she wants some improvements made by the government to aid the work of medical practitioners in Uganda.

“More funds should be put into medical research,” she said. “Why import vaccines and yet we could have been able to make our own from within?”

When it comes to music, Bikala prefers the rap genre. Bikala’s other interests include reading and learning new languages; Spanish is her current focus.

She studied at Naalya Secondary School for her Ordinary level and later proceeded to Uganda Martyrs Secondary School in Namugongo for her Advanced level. She hails from Bududa District, which is located in the eastern region of Uganda.

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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.

Also, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Dorcas Chizaram Okeke, a first-year student at UCU School of Medicine.

Medicine and music: UCU student from Nigeria seeks nexus


Dorcas Chizaram Okeke, a first-year student at UCU School of Medicine.
Dorcas Chizaram Okeke, a first-year student at UCU School of Medicine.

By Jimmy Siyasa
(2nd of four May 2022 stories related to theology and medicine studies)

As a young girl, Dorcas Chizaram Okeke was thin and weak – a common face at the school sick-bay.  At times, she wrote her promotional examinations while receiving intravenous treatment. She had “self-pity.” This early personal condition and two incidents spurred her on to become a health care expert.

The two instances were:  1) her relationship with a malaria-suffering schoolmate, who would later drop out because she was taking frequent sick leave; and 2) another schoolmate who died after a long struggle with leukemia.

These early health encounters contributed to the decision of Chizaram, of Nigeria, to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the Uganda Christian University (UCU) School of Medicine (SoM).

“Some diseases are curable,” the first-year student said. “Sometimes doctors just observe a patient and are able to tell what is wrong and then treat it. I wanted to be able to do that someday. Whenever I see someone facing a problem that I am unable to help them solve, I feel so bad.”

Chizaram’s lifelong ambition is to set up a large wellness center, where patients or clients can access rehabilitation services with an unusual twist – music therapy.

When she joined UCU in 2019, Chizaram underwent pre-year, which is a yearlong, mandatory orientation/ assimilation University program for non-Ugandan students. During that period, she undertook a short course in para-counseling, for which she attained a certificate. She believes with this skill, she is able to help her peers who suffer mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety and addiction.

Chizaram, one of the 60 entry-year medical students, sees UCU as the best place to receive a quality education. The low number of classmates allows closer lecturer attention and builds a stronger community among peers who encourage each other to participate in the twice-weekly community worship.

On this March Day and following community worship, she expressed appreciation for the newly assigned pastor at the Mengo (Kampala) hospital campus. Chizaram, a worship choir member, upholds the institution’s strong focus on both the spiritual and intellectual formation of students with the music twist.

“I was attracted to UCU because of its Christian moral foundation,” she said. “I think that is partly why I have never heard of UCU students rioting…you study when you are peaceful, without fear of waking up one day to damaged or lost property from a student strike.”

Further influence to come to UCU came through two of her older siblings who studied at UCU. One of them, Shalom Okeke graduated cum laude.

For Chizaram, music and Christian expression of spirituality go hand in hand. As with most youth in the age of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), she enjoys pulsating rhythms, and melodies move her spirit. She likes to “dance for the lord” while the bassist grooves. She likes the soft pads of the piano, and not silence, to accompany meditation. Her preference for music-infused worship may partly be attributed to her evangelical and musical family background, having been born to a Nigerian Anglican Bishop, Rt. Rev. Henry Okeke, the Bishop of Ideato, one of the Dioceses under the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion.

Chizaram says there is something about charismatic congregational worship that “pulls the heavens down” for her. On a bad day, she said, “I listen to music and feel emotional relief.”

As a non-Ugandan student studying in Uganda, over 2,400 miles away from her home country, Chizaram is grateful that through music ministry, she easily made/met her first friends in Uganda. Shortly after enrolling at UCU for the pre-year, she joined a university choir called Mustard Seed Worship Team (MSWT). Here, she found her ideal “worship environment” with vocals, drums, guitars, keyboards, and more. She participated in MSWT band activities, including presenting at community worship, university graduation, and Sunday service, among others.

After completing the pre-year at Mukono, she moved in September 2021 to the SoM academic and training site – rich with career learning, but devoid of the rich music and sound equipment/ facilities that the main campus has.

Chizaram yearns for the music she had that first year, noting, “I wish the university could provide music equipment; the one thing that draws young people to fellowship is music.”

Besides the music void, Chizaram loves her university experience. It does not feel foreign because she lives in a Christian community where Ugandans are joined by students from Cameroon, Liberia and Pakistan, among other countries. She hopes to graduate four years from now.

She attended Holy Innocents Juniorate convent in Nigeria, for both ordinary level and High School. An Igbo by tribe, Chizaram hails from Imo State, Nigeria.

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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.

Also, follow us on Twitter, and Facebook

UCU School of Medicine students pray during community worship on their campus at Kampala’s Mengo Hospital.

UCU School of Medicine gets added spiritual infusion


UCU School of Medicine students pray during community worship on their campus at Kampala’s Mengo Hospital.
UCU School of Medicine students pray during community worship on their campus at Kampala’s Mengo Hospital.

By Patty Huston-Holm with Muduku Derrick Brian and Jimmy Siyasa
First, there were five. Then 10.  And on a spring day and under a white tent shelter below darkening skies, there were 50. On the Ides of March 2022, half of the 100 blue plastic chairs in the pavilion were filled by Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) School of Medicine (SoM) doctor hopefuls.

“I pray, Jesus, that you will cleanse our hearts,” a young woman began before bowed heads, concluding, “Father, we pray that you bring your spirit in this place.”

According to the Rev. Ocen Walter Onen, the 28-year-old UCU-Mukono chaplaincy priest assigned to the medical school, participation in community worship at the Mengo hospital location has been growing, albeit slowly, in the past five months. Spirituality for UCU’s future doctors became a priority following a discussion among the university’s theology and divinity leaders in the fall of 2021.

Rev. Ocen Walter Onen, UCU chaplaincy intern and newly assigned at the UCU School of Medicine.
Rev. Ocen Walter Onen, UCU chaplaincy intern and newly assigned at the UCU School of Medicine.

Previous to Rev. Walter’s assignment, the Rev. Alex Kamoga was straddling responsibilities at the UCU Kampala campus with the SoM location, but he was often stuck in traffic jams, delaying the service. At that, Rev. Alex had little time for one-on-one counseling.

“We realized we had a population of students not receiving the Christian services that those in other programs did,” Rev. Walter said. “Medical courses are full of stress and these students have the same frustrations and temptations that others do.”

The Rev. Eng. Paul Wasswa, UCU’s chaplain, initiated the discussion among the clergy. Coming out of Uganda’s Covid lockdown, he expressed his concern about the need for added spiritual infusion for the current 230 students who would someday become pediatricians, surgeons, dentists and other medical professionals.

“The work of the chaplaincy is more than coordination; it includes teaching, but most importantly, it includes discipleship and pastoral care,” he said.  “Effectiveness in chaplaincy work requires consistent presence on every campus.”

UCU School of Medicine students pray during community worship on their campus at Kampala’s Mengo Hospital.
UCU School of Medicine students pray during community worship on their campus at Kampala’s Mengo Hospital.

According to Rev. Wasswa, community worship exists for teaching, reinforcing a sense of Christian community and a reminder of God’s presence. When it comes to addressing student problems, the UCU chaplaincy “does not work in isolation,” but engages the counseling staff, he said.

The five-year SoM program began in 2018 with the vision of adding to Uganda’s health care system more physicians that were not only highly skilled, but also encompassing Christian values and practices. SoM planners were aware that some professionals mentoring and teaching students would not be believers in Jesus Christ. They were, likewise, aware of the science vs. religion debate that continues today, globally.

“Science and theology are complimentary in wisdom, but God is the ultimate creator of that knowledge and wisdom,” Rev. Walter said. “Without our Lord and Savior, the work within the medical discipline would not exist…when you go to a hospital, you ask Jesus to treat you through a doctor.”

At the UCU main campus in Mukono, as well as at Kampala, students have easier access to clergy guidance. Additionally, the Mukono UCU students engage in sports, student leadership groups and other activities to relieve stress and youth pressures related to drugs, alcohol and sexual activity that can lead to pregnancy out of wedlock.

“I tell them that I am single, too, and have the same pressures that I overcome through my faith and understanding of scriptures,” Rev. Walter said. “Romans 12 addresses that we need to be a living sacrifice.”

In Apostle Paul’s Romans 12:1, sacrifice references service or offering to God.

“God has a plan for all of us,” Rev. Walter said. “If you partner with God, you are headed for prosperity.”

In this day’s message and as mid-day Islam chants echoed in the background, Rev. Walter referenced Luke 11:1-4 and the Lord’s prayer, reminding students that “our Father is in heaven” but that “He also is everywhere.”

Such is among the messages that Rev. Walter delivers to the 3-5 students, mostly female, who come to him privately, with problems and questions at the SoM campus. His messages are about faith, strength to have it, forgiveness and understanding. One lesson he repeats is the importance of Christian character in a world where “beauty can fade.”

On this particular day, he closed his message with a story about a man who borrowed a spear from his brother with the intent of using the weapon to stop an elephant from destructive behavior.  When the elephant took off with the spear, the lending brother was angry and not forgiving.

“There is power in forgiveness,” Rev. Walter said. “There is power in the Word.”

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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.

Also, follow us on Twitter, and Facebook.