Ndizi News (Small Bananas)

Lawyers - Global South Institute - Bishop Barham - Missionary Ambassador - Dorms - "How Now Shall We Live" - Vice Chancellor

Lawyers Approved - in the Nick of Time

Law students have been living by faith these past four years - faith that the Uganda Law Council (Legal Guild) would approve them to take the mandatory pre-Bar course. A team from the Law Council visited UCU in September and were so impressed with what they saw that they gave the approval immediately and accepted all the first graduates that applied. The students celebrated at Graduation along with the Chief Justice of Uganda, the Hon. Benjamin Odoki, who was the main speaker.

Global South Institute Takes Off

Global South Institute for Mission Leadership and Public Policy was born on October 26 at a Consultation at Mukono with leaders from four continents - Africa, Europe, North America and Australia.

The Institute will be part of Uganda Christian University but will offer special short courses, conferences, and internships for leaders in Africa (and beyond). It will also offer a sabbatical place for visiting scholars, bishops and other church leaders.

The Global South Institute has four program areas: mission and evangelism, leadership development, public policy and Anglican identity and witness.

The Rev. Canon Clement Janda has agreed to be the Acting Director until the Institute is launched next October. Canon Janda is a Sudanese Christian who trained at Mukono and has served as General Secretary of the All Africa Council of Churches.

Bishop Barham - Leadership Transition

The Rev. Dr. George Tibeesigwa, has now moved from the head office of the Province of Uganda to the Principal's office at Bishop Barham University College. The College has registered a record number of 385 entrants in its courses, and the new 30-seater bus has arrived just in time to take them up and down the hill in Kabale. As we go to press, we note with sadness the sudden death by stroke of Dr. Peter Williams, the former Principal.

Missionary Ambassador to Washington

Mr. Philip Leber, a missionary with the Episcopal Church, is on leave in the Washington, DC, area this year. Phil and his wife Jennifer first welcomed the Nolls in 1999 and have been active in teaching throughout the Church there. Uganda Partners has retained Phil to make contacts on behalf of the University for its various programs that merit possible Government assistance.

Dorms - Two at a Time

In past issues, we have advertised plans to build a Dormitory to accommodate 600 students. Instead, the University has decided to build two at the same time, along with a Dining Hall for 500. This is part of the Infrastructure Initiative, which includes also the renovation of other buildings on campus and the addition of 5 faculty houses. A portion o the plan will be covered by a loan, said Stephen Noll, "but we are hoping to raise about $500,000 toward the goal through the Partners' organization."

"How Now Shall We Live" in Uganda

One thousand of Charles Colson's book, How Now Shall We Live, along with a study guide arrived by container just in time to begin the course, "Forming a Christian Worldview," which is required of all students at UCU and is taught by the Chaplain, Dr. John Senyonyi. "It is crucial that we Christians in Africa learn to look at our world with the eyes of Christ," he commented. Accompanying the lectures are weekly Friday night videos which mirror the topics. Students cheered the escape of Truman Burbank from his artificial worldview in the first video of the semester, The Truman Show.

Vice Chancellor Honored on Both Sides of World

Prof. Noll was made a Canon of the Diocese of Dallas in August at the time of the Uganda Partners Board meeting. "I have appreciated very much working with Jim and Diane Stanton over the past years," he said, "and am honored to be recognized by the Diocese." Returning to Uganda, he opened the Provincial Assembly (General Convention) of the Church of Uganda to the new Lecture Hall. Later he was made Chairman of the Vice Chancellors' Forum, representing all the University Presidents in Uganda.