Tag Archives: #Lockdown #Uganda

UCU among Africa-European Partners working toward renewable energy enhancement

December 17, 2020News#COVID19, #DALILA, #Lockdown #Uganda, #renewable energy, #Tanzania, #technology, #UgandaChristianUniversity, business, UCU, UCUPartnersPatty Huston-Holm

Renewable energy partners pose at early 2020 meeting in Tanzania

By Godfrey Sempungu
Associate Dean, Faculty of Business and Administration

Many a man who has walked on the African soil has tasted its unlimited endowment of God-given resources – the sun, wind and water, to mention a few. In Africa, it is said that nature warmly smiles down on every soul almost every day. The continent is laden with an abundance of mildly tapped renewable energy and business-creating opportunities. Bubbling within this unearthed investment potential are many young adults who for one reason or another have not focused on the abilities within their reach. Youth who both finished school and didn’t are under utilized.

Amidst this scenario of mixed opportunity and unearthed creativity, the DALILA project was crafted. (See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO-CT3rsE0c)

The Swahili origin of DALILA means delicate and gentle. In 2020 and connected to Uganda Christian University (UCU), it refers to the Development of Academic Curricula on Sustainable Energies and Green Economy in Africa. It’s a capacity-building project funded by the Education, Audio-Visual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Union. The main objective is to establish six new courses on “Renewable Technologies” and “Green Business creation and development” in two universities in Tanzania and two in Uganda.

The article’s author, Godfrey Sempungu, at left, in Zanzibar

UCU and three other African universities – Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) and Tanzania’s University of Dodoma (UDOM) and State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) – are engaged in the venture. Partners outside Africa are Sapienza University of Rome in Italy; the University of Cadiz in Spain and professional agencies such as Sahara ventures in Tanzania, Asud in Italy and a renewable energy organization called INOMA Renovables in Spain.

Despite the COVID-19 education restrictions, the three-year project is moving ahead with expected completion by January of 2023. The current, first year has involved planning for delivery that would hopefully include both in-person and virtual programming, pending approval by the National Council for Higher Education.

The 99,993,700 Euros ($117.8 million American) grant is targeted specifically to fill gaps through higher education in developing countries like Uganda. The multi-disciplinary approach and collaborative synergy of experts with the DALILA project focuses on transferring of theory and contemporary practical skills and experiences to renewable energy entrepreneurial opportunities for youth.

The six university consortium Euro grant includes an equipment purchase provision that will enable green energy laboratories to be established at UCU, four students (includes one doctoral student doing research related to green business and/or renewable energy technology) to be chosen for one-month European internships and training of facilitators in Europe. In the green labs, students and faculty shall work on traditional and novel solutions for both renewable energy and entrepreneurial ventures.

The ultimate goal is increasing Ugandan capacity to harness renewable energy. Other results include filling a critical skills gap, enhancing capacity as academic staff who are participating collaboratively in the development and delivery of the modules, building a new network for collaboration with global partners, improved collaboration with renewable energy stakeholders, increased applied research in renewable energy, and multidisciplinary links between industry and academia.

At UCU, the early benefit is an interdisciplinary partnership between the faculties in engineering and business. This collaboration includes the creation of new postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Business and Renewable Energy Technologies. The courses leading to this credential will involve on-line learning and practical green lab sessions.

While Uganda relies heavily on renewable energy for supply of her energy needs at a macro level, the same energy remains underexploited at a micro level. The cost of the national hydroelectric power grid is prohibitive to small, medium and starting businesses. To these, the sun, wind and micro system hydro endowments remain virgin territory. The two-faculty collaboration through DALILA is expected to continue building in the areas of research connected to renewable energy to further fill this gap.

For more information, go to www.dalilaproject.eu/

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UCU alumnus lifts up students, teachers during pandemic

October 5, 2020COVID-19, News, UCU Alumni#coronavirus, #COVID19, #girlchild, #Kyungwe, #Lockdown #Uganda, #teacher, #UgandaChristianUniversity, UCU, UCUPartnersPatty Huston-Holm

Nsubuga (at left) with workers at the school farm

By Maxy Magella Abenaitwe

Teachers worldwide are often underpaid, frequently disrespected, sometimes suppressed and occasionally ignored. This is despite the fact that educating children is one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals with the acknowledgement that 69 million primary and secondary teachers will be needed globally to reach that 2030 target. To date, and according to the latest (2016) school census, Uganda has 261,000 teachers.

Deogratious Nsubuga, a 2018 first class graduate with a bachelor of science degree in education from Uganda Christian University (UCU) is among these. He is an author, writer, motivational speaker, entrepreneur and a headmaster at Agape Christian School, Kyungu. Having started teaching right after his Senior Six exams in 2014, he has grown a passion for improving teacher reputation. He wants to help administrators understand a teacher’s role and struggles.

“These are people who often have no clue what teaching is like, people who have had their education in developed countries and cannot relate with the problems on the ground here,” Nsubuga elaborates.

The appointment as head teacher at Agape Christian School in 2019 brought him closer to forging those relationships and understanding that would, in turn, improve the quality and quantity of students at the school. As of March 2020, the number of students in the school had increased from 135 to 400 in a year’s time. Starting 2020 in high gear and eagerly prepared to mold his students to attain the best grades possible, the COVID-19 lockdown blocked all the school programs and fractured hopes.

Filled with grief and short of words, Nsubuga struggles to describe how demeaning the COVID-19 lockdown since March has been to teachers in Uganda. To have the basics of living, including food in cupboards, teachers have taken hard labor jobs such as digging and washing neighbor’s clothing.

“Some teachers have sold off their clothes and shoes,” Nsubuga said. “You will be surprised to see teachers walk to class ragged and barefooted after the lockdown.”

To curb poverty-related problems related to his school, Nsubuga has exchanged his head teacher role for that of garden and small business employer.

Nsubuga supervises one of his staff members at the school farm

Two teacher assistance examples
Cornelius Arkker, for example, is one of the teachers working as a produce manager with a food store business started by Nsubuga. Arkker feels honored to have met and worked with an innovative and developmental person like Nsubuga.

Arkker says Nsubuga has inspired him to improve his character, in terms of being patient, honest, principled and hopeful.

“There is a time I delayed for an appointment with Nsubuga by four hours,” Arkker said. “Being the principled person he is, I thought he would get mad at me, he instead calmly listened to me and everything went on as planned.”

Nsubuga also has mentored teacher, Isaac Kawanda, who is currently managing the Musomesa Education Consultants project. The firm handles all records and sales of academic books published by Nsubuga. Both Nsubuga and Kawanda met as young untrained teachers in 2014/2015.

“Nsubuga always told me that I am a young, energetic man who can do wonders,” Kawanda discloses. “His company has helped me unveil my academic and business potentials. He has made me realize how capable I am.”

Student assistance examples
In addition to helping teachers re-tool their skills to survive during the coronavirus lockdown, Nsubuga initiated the use of social media to maintain student interest in education, monitoring streets to guard youth safety and making public address announcements to get communities engaged in nurturing young people.

To reinforce learning, he formed WhatsApp groups to better ensure student access to academic work. However, due to limited technical resources and poor network, some students have been left out. For these students, he plans remedial assistance after the lockdown.

Andrew Baluku, a Senior Two student, commends his teachers for the academic support rendered to him, especially during the COVID restricted environment. According to Baluku, online studying is efficient because he pays maximum attention to his studies. However, he yearns to have more subjects like agriculture and commerce.

“Studying alone gives me more time to learn at my pace and understand some concepts,” Bakulu explains. “I think online studying would be the best, if not for the limited resources to maintain it. Plus, some of my colleagues cannot afford it all.”

Nsubuga also has engaged the community about the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown and how they can adapt and offer their assistance. Through a community radio characterized by a highly raised wooden platform and a speaker with sound covering at least a hundred meters (328 feet) of Kyungu village, Nsubuga encourages local parents to prepare their children for the lockdown experience, particularly the girl child. He has spread a similar gospel via Dunamis radio Uganda.

Nsubuga narrates an incident when he bumped into one of his teenage female students being intimately held by a boy in the evening. Much as Nsubuga was able to rescue her and drop her to her home safely, Nsubuga still wonders about the safety and well-being of girls.

Giving a hand to someone’s growth and development is Nsubuga’s happiness. This is a spirit he developed from the UCU community, where sharing and kindness are virtues.

Previously, Nsubuga possessed a self-centered mindset towards the process of achieving success.

“Before I came to UCU, my principle was, ‘hustle, get in my way, I kick you out and proceed,” Nsubuga said. “However, the UCU Christian environment put in me a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.”

He is thankful to God that he was able to meet a Christian family (UCU) that groomed him spiritually.

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Time to laugh: UCU student-turned-comedian tells you why

September 29, 2020COVID-19, News, UCU Alumni# EhmahNapoleone, #Comedian, #COVID19, #EastAfrica, #EmmanuelOtim, #Laughter, #Lockdown #Uganda, #UgandaChristianUniversity, UCU, UCUPartnersPatty Huston-Holm

Emmanuel Otim poses for a photo after his interview with UCU Partners.

By Maxy Magella Abenaitwe

Most Ugandan children have been told that holding on to sciences – that is, the traditional, formal curriculum – is the only key to success. Little or no value is attached to talents outside that box or personal passions. Those who create their own chances and platforms to ensure talent growth beyond what is customary are few.

Emmanuel Otim, a Uganda Christian University (UCU) bachelor of arts in education graduate, is among those few. Since 2007, he has identified himself as a comedian – a career path sparked by his love for stage performance.

This, then, is how Otim (known as Ehmah Napoleone and preferring to be known as simply “Ehmah”) made it unfold. Having lived a childhood with various stage opportunities, he fit himself in the already-established university entertainment sessions. Under the brand name, The Filosofaz, he and a bunch of friends broke the mold of the University praise and worship system of entertainment and introduced comedy.

Otim with colleagues after a presentation. https://youtu.be/FuRnSmosnKw — Otim with colleagues after a presentation.
https://youtu.be/FuRnSmosnKw

The comedy group grew so popular that students referred to the Saturday evening walks to watch Ehmah and his partner, Catro Johnson, as, “The great trek to Nkoyoyo hall.” The paved route from the Dining hall to Nkoyoyo hall became known informally as Prince Ehmah Road.

For someone who had grown up with no access to television and the Internet, his first comic sessions were presentations solely intended to cheer up students and satisfy his own creative talents. Little did he know this would become a career that would pay his bills.

Several times, friends tapped him saying, “Man! You’re going to be big, you will be a millionaire.” Their encouraging words started to sink in. He began to realize there could be something special about what he had been doing.

Ehmah still remembers Peace Lona, a girl he had met in his S5 class at Makerere high school in 2004. She told him about the successes of Kato Lubwama (comedian turned politician) and Philip Luswata (actor/director best known for “Queen of Katwe”). To further educate himself, Ehmah started attending comedy shows, including those of East African comedians like Philip Luswata and Ebonies.

“Going for these shows shaped my idea that I could actually earn from this,” he reckoned.

In 2009, DSTV held competitions called “Stand Up, Uganda.” He didn’t compete but found family in a union formed by the top 10 winners of the contest. A Ugandan named Omara, who took second place in the competition, called on Ehmah to assist in forming the Crackers’ show that later premiered on National Television (NTV) as Mic Check. Omara and Ehmah had met at UCU.

To Ehmah, his “fully rewarding” world of comedy is the job he “never sought.” It simply evolved.

As of September 2020, Ehmah’s highly ranked comic gigs have taken him to Zambia, Namibia, Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan as well as within his native Uganda. In spite of curfew, economic and travel restrictions of the COVID-19 lockdown, Ehmah has maintained his relevance with some earnings through social media fan base management, replacing a desired stage performance schedule.

To access one of the UCU alum’s comedy videos, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuRnSmosnKw&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1qdbgjlnxaXzIfq8nwq9yKa9ukNsmTo5QXs8ZoWW6ZUYWR2659YUBmu9o

In August 2020, Ehmah Napoleone’s You Tube channel and social media platforms were trending with more than 2,000 views of “Afande Piano,” an imaginary police spokesperson of the Wakanda Republic. Afande Piano is an exaggerated sarcastic character who mimics the Ugandan police spokesperson who at many occasions has been cited defending police and government for their deeds. In addition to bringing smiles to people’s faces, Ehmah’s aim was to show the public how hard it is to be a spokesperson in a country with a political environment like that of Uganda.

While the Afande Piano character is partially political, Ehmah usually refrains from politics as well as tribal, vulgar and religious content that may negatively impact on society.

At that, for the sake of solidarity, advocacy for the rights of Comedians, growth of the comedian industry and as the spokesperson of The Uganda Comedian Association (TUCA), Ehmah has taken part in political performances with comedians like the Bizonto group that were once arrested over allegations of promoting sectarianism through their comic church-like hymns. For some performers, like Allan (alias Optional Allan) and Joshua Okello (alias Okello Okello), he has both learned and mentored.

Kibuka describes the five-year relationship as a kind, generous, helpful and friendly mentorship. He applauds Ehmah for paving for him the way from the ghetto setting to the urban stage.

“I will never forget the day he recommended me for my first Jazz comedy Uganda performance,” Kibuka recalls. “It was unbelievable, I mingled with big names in the Ugandan comedy industry. That day, I realized my potential.”

Okello, Ehmah’s other mentee credits him for being professional, principled, honest and flexible.

“Ehmah keeps time and will always show up if you have a booking, appointment or performance with him,” Okello said. “This is a rare trait among Ugandan entertainers.”

Okello recalls of a time he invited his mentor to perform on a show he had organized in Soroti. That day it rained, and the show flopped. As the dismayed organiser, worried about how to pay, Ehmah agreed to forego his payment.

Ehmah credits UCU for his humility as this was reinforced there for students and staff. He points his success to the 2006-2009 UCU community that embraced him and offered him his first platform as an amateur comedian.

“By the time I left UCU, I was already a brand,” he noted.

Ehmah is saddened by what he perceives as a decline in creative stage talent emphasis and opportunities at UCU. His cry is for the university to embrace drama and entertainment because it holds a great future in Uganda.

His passion for comedy has helped him overlook some challenges like the negative perception some people have towards entertainers. Most parents dislike comedians around their children because they think artists are not good role models.

“Sometimes it’s hard for people to accept you,” Ehmah said. “Africans have not yet embraced comedy as a profession.”

The writer of this article, Maxy Magella Abenaitwe, is a 2018 graduate of Uganda Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication. Before her country’s lockdown, she was an intern for the UCU Standard newspaper.

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UCU moves ahead with e-learning as Uganda gives partial lift to education lockdown

September 21, 2020COVID-19, News#coronavirus, #COVID19, #elearning, #Lockdown #Uganda, #Museveni, #Mushengyezi, #UgandaChristianUniversity, UCU, UCUPartnersPatty Huston-Holm

The UCU Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. John Kitayimbwa; Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Mr. David Mugawe; University Council Chairman Prof. Alfred Olwa; and Vice-Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi pose after a recent meeting. (Photo by Sam Tatambuka)

By John Semakula
The government of Uganda has lifted its six-month lockdown on education, allowing schools to reopen on October 15 for candidate classes and for finalists in institutions of higher learning.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni announced the move on Sunday evening (September 20) in his address to the nation about the state of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

By Sunday, Ugandans infected with the coronavirus were 6,827 and only 63 fatalities.
President Museveni noted in his address that the decision to reopen academic institutions that have been closed since March 20 was meant to reduce the possibility of clogging in the education system.

“If we don’t allow the 2020 batch of finalists to move on, what will happen to the batch of 2021?” the President asked, observing that the smaller number of finalists will make it easier to observe social distancing while at school. The figures presented by President Museveni showed that of Uganda’s 15 million learners, there are 1.2 million finalists.

President Museveni also declared the reopening of the International Airport and land borders, which could allow international students to return and complete their studies.
These students, as with all foreigners coming to Uganda, must test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before their arrival. The government also lifted the lockdown in border districts across the country to allow students to travel back to their schools.

The lifting of the lockdown on academic institutions came at the time when Uganda Christian University (UCU) was finalizing its plans to roll out the eLearning training for staff and online distance learning for students.

Earlier this month, UCU conducted online pre-entry exams for law students. UCU Vice-Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi noted that this virtual examination was a landmark achievement for the University that wants to strive to be “paperless” and become a leader in distance learning in the country. Mushengyezi and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. John Kitayimbwa have said the university will roll out online distance learning on October 15, regardless of government lifting of education restrictions.

On the issue of the staff contracts, which were suspended in June, the deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration, David Mugawe, has said the affected staff will be reinstated on the payroll as soon as the lectures start in October.

In Uganda, private academic institutions mainly rely on students’ tuition fees for their operations. But Assoc. Prof. Mushengyezi has vowed to work with the private sector to grow the University’s revenue.

In May, UCU released the teaching timetable for the final year students who were supposed to be in sessions during the Trinity Semester (May-August), but withheld it after government extended the lockdown on academic institutions. Following the Sept. 20 President announcement, the University must decide if it will revise the same timetable or release a new one.
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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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COVID lockdown in a foreign country

July 23, 2020COVID-19, Students#coronavirus, #COVID19, #InternationalStudents, #Lockdown #Uganda, #Nigeria, #SouthSudan, #UgandaChristianUniversity, UCU, UCUPartnersPatty Huston-Holm

Chizoba sells candy to a customer in Yesu Mulungi hostel

By Maxy Magella Abenaitwe

The COVID-19 shutdown of Ugandan education has halted career-building knowledge and skills for 9,000 Uganda Christian University (UCU) students. The stories of students returning home or stuck a few hours away and picking up odd jobs and doing manual labor to get food instead of engaging in their studies are common. The lesser-known stories involve UCU students from countries outside of Uganda. Since mid-March 2020, international students have been stuck inside Uganda’s closed borders. Some wondered how they could survive a day in a foreign country with no relatives, the added language barrier and poor knowledge of how to get around.

These are two such stories – of Eziuzo Chizoba from Nigeria and Rogers Moras of South Sudan.

Chizoba with her host mother and sisters

Eziuzo Chizoba – Nigeria
Eziuzo Chizoba, a second year Nigerian student of governance and international relations could not imagine how hard life would get if not for the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Ezekiel Kolawole, her host family. To Chizoba, it is not just a roof over her head but a life-transforming encounter.

From her host mother’s girl talks about Christ centeredness, saving capital for future purposes and premarital sex, Chizoba has made resolutions to polish her spiritual, academic and physical life. She now knows that she must build her future today if she must give back to a society that has shown her so much kindness.

“I have made up my mind to be a giver,” Chizoba says. “But in order to do this, I must first work on myself. Mother Ruth Kolawole always says that giving is a medicine for prosperity.”

She adds that her ambition for making money has grown. Chizoba looks at every aspect of life as an opportunity to earn a living. For example, she vended sweets in student hostels when she travelled back to check on her property in Mukono. Chizoba earned $9 (Shs 32,000) every time she sold off a tin of candy initially purchased at $4.5 (Shs 16,000). She hopes to carry on with the business once studies resume.

In one bid to build herself, Chizoba deactivated some of her Facebook pages. She realized she had spent too much time on social media.

“I feel everything I do should have a positive impact on society and on me,” she said. “If it is a Facebook account, I need it to have motivating content. That’s why I intend to resume social media interactions only when I have something (significant) to offer.”

In the lockdown and without university classes, she also mastered cooking. She perfected various delicious dishes and snacks like plantain chips, pizza and chicken soup.

Rogers Moras – South Sudan
By end of October this year, Rogers Moras, a South Sudanese refugee student at Uganda Christian University, was expected to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Procurement and Logistics Managment. To Moras, graduating was a free ticket back home – to reunite with his family in South Sudan and establish himself with quality employment. Unfortunately with the continued lockdown of academic institutions, Moras might not graduate soon.

“Uganda is a very beautiful country,” he said. “I enjoy being here. But I look forward to getting back home because I need to contribute to the growth of my country. Additionally, that it is where I belong.”

With the initial lockdown notice, Moras decided not to go home because of the high cost of travel and because he believed “the situation could settle within the thirty two days as per the (Ugandan) Presidential address.”

In addition to the financial and academic strains for all university students, as an international student Moras suffers added despair with lack of socialization in a different country.

Despite difficulties, however, Moras has used the quarantine period to master skills such as baking vegetable rolex. He hopes to put up a rolex business around campus as soon as the university reopens.

Moras also has adopted a reading culture for purposes of self-improvement and stress management.

“Books help me get over stress and rebuild my hope,” he said. “A novel like ‘Becoming: Michelle Obama’ helped me understand that I choose how I see the world and that my happiness depends on me. If borders are never opened, my life must go on even in a foreign country.”

Unable to access a gym, Moras has improvised ways to stay strong and healthy. He has developed self-made weights of two jerricans filled with wet sand and joined by a stick. He also jogs and climbs Ankhra hill in Mukono.

The lockdown has taught Moras to build relations with productive people, engaging in activities like debates and trade fairs.

He says: “I have vowed to live my life as if the present day was my last because I cannot be sure of what tomorrow holds for me.”

The writer of this article, Maxy Magella Abenaitwe, is a 2018 graduate of Uganda Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication. Before the lockdown, she was an intern for the UCU Standard newspaper.

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