On November 24, 2023, a Uganda Christian University (UCU) Main Campus student choir gave the community an early Christmas as they staged a carol production in the Nkoyoyo Hall. Decorated with Christmas decorations and lights, the hall was the setting for more than three hours of holiday music. In between solos, there was a passionate rendition of the famous birth of Jesus, featuring powerful song performances. Pauline Luba had a chat with some of the people who attended the concert.
Some backup singers
Rev. Canon. Paul Wasswa Ssembiro, UCU chaplain Putting together such a production is not easy, and what has been done is excellent. The Christmas message is about the coming of our savior, a gift to the world. A gift that is greater than all the perishable gifts of this world. Christmas announces God’s gracious intervention. God comes near to those who are starving. On Christmas, we get from God what we need most. The angelic voices from this choir have been beautiful.
The crowd cheers for the choir.
Duncan Tumuhamye, Parent This year’s Christmas production has been so wonderfully done. It has reminded me of all that the Lord has done for me. May the good Lord bless the choir members.
Janice Atai, Bachelor of Governance and International Relations, acted as ‘Mary Mother of Jesus’ and was the main singer It was very challenging to come up with this production. I was juggling two commitments. Taking up a major role and changing the roles in between scenes of the production was definitely not easy for me. I started practicing for this production just two weeks ago. I think such a production is important because it brings people together and makes them happy in celebration of Christ.
One singer during her performance
Kitandwe Kennedy, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication This has been the first Christmas production I have attended here at UCU. I enjoyed the play and it reminded me of the beautiful Christmas songs we used to sing while we were young. I had been reading my books in the library when someone told me about the production. I left the library immediately to go to the Nkoyoyo Hall.
Peyton Burleigh, Global Health, Uganda
Two singers share the stage during performance of ‘Bethlehem’
Studies Program This has been a wonderful celebration to begin the Christmas season.
Atim Robinah, Bachelor of Governance and International Relations I was amazed by the angelic voices from the choir. Apart from that, I also got the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ which, according to me, is a great and amazing experience.
Chaplain of UCU. the Rev. Can. Paul Wasswa Ssembiro, gives a speech.
Stanley Mukasa, UCU Tutor The production was awesome. I surely felt the joy of the new king, Jesus. It was such a powerful Christmas production.
Kwagala Dorcas, Bachelor of Governance and International Relations I’ve really enjoyed the experience and the choir’s blissful voices. I thank the UCU fraternity for organizing such interesting activities.
Participants, parents and staff cut cake at the end of the production.
Abbi Robinson, Global Health, Uganda Studies Program I have loved hearing the music and celebrating Christ as a community. This was my first time attending this here, and I think the culture should continue, definitely.
Ariel Parker, Bachelor of Nursing Sciences, Uganda Studies Program I liked listening to the melodious and joyful music and the drama about the birth of Jesus Christ.
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.
Believe Niwagaba, the overall best student at the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Bishop Barham university college on November 17, 2023, happily displaying his accolade
By Irene Best Nyapendi Believe Niwagaba, the top graduate at Uganda Christian University (UCU) Bishop Barham University College (BBUC), initially faced the daunting prospect of being unable to pursue university education due to financial constraints. His journey began in 2020 amid the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Niwagaba looked for a scholarship in vain.
“I had lost all hope of joining the university,” he said. “I looked for scholarships, tried many seeking help and support from influential people, but nothing was positive in return.”
It was during this dark period that hope emerged, courtesy of his late cousin brother, Tukundane Hosea, a student leader at UCU Kabale Campus. Tukundane informed Niwagaba about how UCU offers a 50% tuition scholarship. Niwagaba applied and got the scholarship. In short, the student with “believe” as part of his name believed and acted. He joined UCU in February 2021, trailing behind most of his peers who had commenced their university journey in October 2020.
Of the UGX 796,925 (about $210), the scholarship covered UGX320,425 (about $85) as he committed to pay the remaining UGX476,500 (about $125).
Niwagaba’s family sold land and acquired loans to raise enough money to pay the other 50%. He also used some monies earned as Kanungu district youth chairman.
“I am grateful to the university for this aid; I wouldn’t have made it without it,” he said.
Niwagaba shares a photo moment with Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi (left), Prof. Ezra Suruma (second-right), and Rev. Bishop, Gaddie Akanjuna (right)
The scholarship not only opened doors for Niwagaba, but also created a conducive environment for his academic success.
With a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.78 out of 5.0, Niwagaba was the overall best student during the November 17, 2023, graduation in the south western district of Kabale. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Education (English and Literature).
“This degree means a lot to me. It has been my desire to score a first-class degree, and I hope it will help me on my journey and dream of becoming a professor one day,” he said.
He is optimistic that his stellar performance will now make it easier for him to win more scholarships and opportunities to further his education.
His secret to success was simple yet profound – pouring his energy, body, heart and soul into his studies. His approach involved being fully present in each moment, whether it was academic pursuits or his engagement in campus politics, where he once contested for guild presidency.
To aspiring students, he guided that they should set personal standards and goals.
“Compete with the world, don’t compete with your classmates,” he said.
He called on the students to aim for extraordinary efforts, saying in today’s competitive world, ordinary actions yield ordinary results.
Niwagaba managed to balance his role as Kanungu district chairman at the same time excelling in academics, attributing it to strong determination. “Weekends became a hectic yet necessary time to address the needs of the youth in Kanungu,” he said of the challenges.
Niwagaba said participating in student leadership elections molded him into a public speaker and debater, while the weekly community worships instilled values of humility and faith.
“I am a complete person due to the molding of UCU,” he said. “The weekly community worship brought me closer to God, and I now understand that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
These experiences, combined with the incorporation of the New Competency Based Curriculum, have prepared Niwagaba for his teaching career.
“We were amply trained in the new curriculum and are now highly demanded by schools. We are considered references to other teachers because of our enriched knowledge from the new curriculum,” Niwagaba said.
At the age of 22, Niwagaba, the second born among four siblings, is not just an overall best graduate, but also a chairperson and teacher at Kabale Brainstorm High School.
Speaking at the ceremony of 610 graduates (198 female and 412 male), Vice-Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi urged the graduates not to be part of the country’s problems, but rather problem solvers.
“Uganda and the world need a new breed of young people like you. UCU has prepared you to be that kind of person who can cause the positive change that we all desire to see,” he said.
He also announced a comprehensive campus renewal initiative to further enhance the student experience and foster a vibrant campus environment. The initiative encompasses; landscaping all UCU, paving and remodeling walkways and roads as well as renewing campus infrastructure among others.
The BBUC chairperson Governing Council, Rev. Bishop Gaddie Akanjuna, reminded the graduates that a graduation ceremony “is not the peak of your academic journey, but rather a stepping stone to a vast world of opportunities ahead of you.” He charged the graduates to face the future with zeal, determination and resilience, ready to succeed.
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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities, and services, go towww.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.
Craig Hammon presenting at a school in Kenya in July 2023.
By Patty Huston-Holm When Americans think of philanthropy, the names of Warren Buffet and Bill and Melinda Gates with their causes of alleviating hunger and healing the sick frequently come to mind.
Believers in Christ might overlook Him until remembering the many Biblical stories (John 4 woman at the well, etc.) and scriptures (Jesus’s advice to “give freely” per Luke and Matthew and Acts 10 about doing good, among others). Jesus Christ is the son of God, savior of human sin and, yes, a philanthropist.
Then, there is Craig Hammon, who lives with his wife in the small coastal town of Essex, Ma. – just minutes away from their three daughters who have the titles of teacher, therapist and treasurer with five children ages 6 to 19. In addition to his titles of husband, father and grandfather, Hammon has been vice president of CURE, a nonprofit network of children’s hospitals; vice president of Christian colleges in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts; and head of development for the World Vision humanitarian aid organization.
Hammon, 78, is a philanthropist. More specifically, he consults about where to give and why. Over the years, he has advised many about responsible giving. Among beneficiaries of those gifts is Uganda Christian University (UCU). Among the givers is the Tennessee-based, Westwood Endowment, where Hammon was affiliated until all funds were expended at the end of 2021. Westwood provided UCU’s nursing program with $275,000 over 12 years.
“In 2024, the UCU nursing program marks 20 years,” said Mark Bartels, executive director of Uganda Partners. “This seemed an appropriate time to recognize the generous donations of Westwood, where Craig was a trustee.”
In addition to Hammon, Thomas H. McCallie III and the late Richard A. West played leadership roles with Westwood since it founding in 1987. Hammon, who has philanthropy consulting affiliations for various health-and-education-related entities, recalled a 2009 meeting at UCU where he was convinced that nursing education was a good investment of Westwood funds. Doug Fountain, formerly involved in UCU health sciences and finance and now executive director of Christian Connections for International Health, was at that meeting in Mukono, Uganda. The idea of nursing was developed by former UCU Vice Chancellor John Senyonyi and officials at Bethel University (Minnesota).
“Doug and some folks from Bethel University said they wanted to develop a transformative nursing school to undergird health care in Uganda,” Hammon said. “It felt right.”
Fountain recalled that “Westwood showed up ready to help” current and future nurses who had a passion to positively impact Uganda’s health care while “struggling to figure out how to pay.” He added that Westwood filled that nurse and nurse education gap with finances and “the encouragement and support that lasted years.”
A dozen years of grants for UCU equipment and training nurses from midwifery to bachelor, master and doctoral degrees was aligned with Westwood’s Christian focus and other education and health care initiatives. From the start, Hammon saw that UCU had the need and accountability in place to make use of funds as he had observed in his affiliation with CURE International, a Christian nonprofit organization that owns and operates eight charitable children’s hospitals around the world.
“There is a terrible crisis in health care – lack of supplies and equipment and inadequately trained staff,” he said. “Things are improving. In 1988 around the world, 35,000 kids a day were dying of preventable diseases; now it’s 19,000 a day. Nurses are key.”
In his 50 trips to Africa, including 15 times each to Kenya and Uganda, he has observed the worst (malaria, children living in slums, “families cooking food outside for hospital patients inside”) and the best, including a neurosurgical hospital in Mbale.
“I’m focused on people and places with solutions to help the least and the lost,” Hammon said. “I don’t have a medical background, but my 35 years of fundraising provides me the insight into where donations are best used. UCU nursing is one of those areas.”
Semi-retired since 2010, Hammon works part-time, consulting various foundations on where their funds can best be placed. His role, sometimes called development, is one of seeing people “caring deeply and passionately about a cause and giving them an opportunity to impact needs.”
“Advocating for and helping people less fortunate than yourself is the reason for living,” he said. “Philanthropy is not engagement only for the wealthy, but for all who have an altruistic desire to improve human welfare. As believers, we find out what God is doing and become part of it.”
The terms charity and philanthropy are often used interchangeably with both related to money or talent or both. Differences are associated to length and consistency of giving. Charity tends to be an emotional impulse to an immediate, often short-term, crisis situation. Philanthropyaddresses the root cause of social issues and requires a more strategic, long-term engagement. At that, many of the world’s 260,000 philanthropic foundations help highly esteemed entities, such as noted universities.
According to Philanthropy Tracker 2023, United States citizens surveyed over 10 years through 2018, 61% reported donating to charity and 42% said they volunteered time to an organization. Education and health are the most supported causes.
“There was a time when I helped support five liberal arts colleges in the USA,” Hammon said. “It was a good investment. But faith-based relief for East Africa is a better focus to serve the least and the lost and to enable them to serve themselves.”
Regarding the UCU contribution, Hammon said he was “blown away” by the passion, qualifications and leadership. The scholarship funding not only provided nursing credentials for individuals but knowledge and skill to improve communities.
“The key is not sending doctors or medical teams somewhere, but training local people to be as good as they can be to do the work where they live,” he said. “With support, they have the ability to help themselves.”
The 1,850 small and large contributors to the Uganda Partners organization since its inception 23 years ago have subscribed to this belief, according to Bartels. The current donors of various levels number 1,000.
“They understand the outreach and impact for a developing country like Uganda and the value of a Christ-centered learning environment,” he said. “We value all levels of giving.”
Hammon said none of the benefactors he has represented has “expressed regret.” He said, “Once you’ve seen the need, you can’t turn your back.”
“The story isn’t about me,” Hammon said at the end of the late November interview. “It’s about everybody who gives.”
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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.
Rev. Dr. Christopher Yikii Agatre waves during a public lecture at the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Arua campus. During his five-year term as director, he championed the development of UCU Arua infrastructure, overseeing the construction of a library, multi-purpose hall and four-roomed lecture block.
By Irene Best Nyapendi The Rev. Dr. Christopher Yikii Agatre has the distinction of laying the foundation for the Uganda Christian University (UCU) campus in his native Arua. Agatre, born in Arua in 1962, set the pace for building the institution when he was appointed as director 14 years ago. In this top administrative position from 2009 to 2014, he oversaw the regional campus’ overall management and operations.
Now a lecturer at the Arua campus under the Department of Social Sciences, Agatre continues to impart knowledge in UCU research methods, social work research design and management, public budgeting and decentralization plus development policy and planning.
He recently shared part of his educational journey.
Agatre’s voyage at UCU commenced in 2006 when he joined as the Head of the Department of Development Studies, a position he held for three years. This experience fueled his ambition, leading him to apply for the position of Director of the UCU Arua Campus in 2009. Despite facing competition from three other applicants, Agatre’s qualifications and passion for education shone through, securing him a five-year contract as director.
During his tenure, Agatre achieved significant milestones. These include:
The student population increased from 324 in 2009 to 688 in 2014.
He oversaw the construction of a library, multi-purpose hall and four-roomed lecture block.
He came up with an idea of asking students, parents and guardians to bank development fees on a separate account as a way of clearly marking it for infrastructural development.
All the while, he was at the center of mobilizing parents and students’ support for the mega projects the campus was undertaking, especially the construction of the multi-purpose hall. It was during his reign that the land boundary between the campus and the local community was opened.
Despite challenges posed by competition from other institutions, UCU prevailed because of the outstanding strides the campus had made in being a first-choice institution. Agatre said he prioritized the needs of students and staff, focusing on providing a quality education that prepared students for success as key to overcoming the hurdles of mushrooming institutions of higher learning in his region.
He encouraged students and staff to attend community worship and emphasized prayers before and after each lecture, particularly during his classes.
He highlights the uniqueness of UCU through its distinctive foundational course units.
“Our foundational courses, such as Understanding Worldviews, the Old and New Testaments and others stand out from those offered at other secular universities,” Agatre explained.
He said emphasis on Biblical understanding sets UCU students apart, providing them with a well-rounded education that encompasses both academic rigor and spiritual growth.
Agatre said he grew up in a loving and supportive home, guided by Christian parents who emphasized the importance of faith. He recalls his mother, the late Rhoda Ofutaru, who asked at least one from among her seven children to follow in their father’s theology footsteps. Agatre fulfilled his mother’s wish in 2012.
“Time came for me to hear the calling of God in 2012 while I was the director at Arua campus,” he said. “I started studying for a Post Graduate Diploma in Christian Ministry (Ordination Course) at UCU main campus in Mukono in 2015, graduated and was ordained in 2017. I have served as a priest in the Diocese of Madi-West Nile for six years now.”
After five years on the job as Arua campus director, he embarked on pursuing his PhD, which, as expected, was so engaging, he only managed to squeeze time as a part-time lecturer at the campus.
Agatre’s education summary is:
1999 – Masters degree in Applied Population Research at Exeter University in the UK.
2001 – Post graduate certificate in Public Finance Management, New Delhi, India
2008 – Masters degree in Organizational Leadership and Management at UCU
2017 – A post graduate diploma in Christian Ministries (Theology) at UCU Mukono
2020 – PhD in management and administration at Uganda Management Institute.
Agatre and his wife, Fredah, have four children and three grandchildren. Outside of his professional pursuits, Agatre finds joy in watching football and proudly supports Manchester United, a top-tier team in England.
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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities, and services, go towww.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.
The Rt. Rev. Prof. Alfred Olwa, the chairperson of Uganda Christian University (UCU) Council was the keynote speaker at the public lecture at UCU-Arua Campus. The lecture, titled “Peace and reconciliation: Paving the way for harmony and prosperity through Biblical insights,” was held in remembrance of the massacre in Ringili village in Arua.
By Irene Best Nyapendi Amidst the both serene and busy landscape of Northern Uganda lies the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Arua Campus, a center of excellence in the heart of Africa. Beneath the tranquil setting of the campus lies a bitter chapter in Uganda’s history, etched with the scars of conflict and the yearning for peace.
In 1980, the peace of Arua was shattered when the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) soldiers descended upon the area. Innocent people’s lives were abruptly cut short as UNLA turned their wrath on natives who they suspected to be collaborators of then President Idi Amin.
In October 1980, Uganda’s West Nile region was the site of a major military campaign between the defunct Uganda Army remnants and UNLA. The civilians were rounded up from neighboring villages and shot in cold blood. The tragic events marked the exodus of many inhabitants who fled into exile. The mass-grave at the UCU Arua Campus and St. Joseph’s College Ombachi serve as grim reminders of this tragedy and the enduring impact of violence.
The Rev. Prof. David Andrew Omona, the Dean School of Social Sciences at UCU, gives a speech during the public lecture. Prof. Omona is currently developing a short course on peacebuilding and a curriculum for the Bachelor of Peace Studies program.
The Rev. Prof. David Andrew Omona, the Dean School of Social Sciences at UCU, recognized the deep-seated wounds that lingered from this period. He envisioned a public lecture — a platform for truth telling so that the narratives could be reexamined and the path towards reconciliation be paved.
“I believe in the power of dialogue and collective healing,” he said. “As Ugandans, every part of Uganda should be our concern. I want to see Uganda as a peaceful country – a country where people can live together in harmony, where the wounds of the past can be healed.”
On October 27, 2023, UCU Arua campus hosted a public lecture in memory of the Ringili village massacre, where 16 residents were butchered by UNLA militants. Rt. Rev. Prof. Alfred Olwa, the chairperson of the university council, was the keynote speaker, and discussant was Dr. Milton Mutto, researcher and executive director at Pincer Training and Research Institute.
The public lecture, held on the theme, “Peace and reconciliation: paving the way for harmony and prosperity through Biblical insights,” resonated deeply with the Arua community. Individuals, long burdened by the weight of silence, finally found the courage to share their experiences.
The Rev. Prof. Omona emphasized the importance of this public lecture, saying it allowed people to tell their stories and acknowledge the pain they had suffered.
“The public lecture opened people’s eyes to the reality of what happened, and began a path towards forgiveness and healing,” he added.
Prof. Olwa eloquently captured the essence of peace, defining it not merely as the absence of conflict, but as a state of positive harmony and well-being. He emphasized the importance of reconciliation, a process of healing and restoration that enables individuals and communities to move forward from the wounds of the past.
Prof. Olwa emphasized the values of love, forgiveness and compassion as cornerstones of peaceful coexistence.
“Peace is not just the absence of war. It is a state of positive harmony, where there is justice, equity, and respect for all,” he said.
He underscored the need for a transformative approach to peace building, one that addresses the root causes of conflict and fosters genuine reconciliation among individuals and communities. He reminded the audience of the transformative power of forgiveness.
“Forgiveness is not easy, but it is essential for healing and reconciliation,” he said.
Prof. Olwa urged the residents to be peacemakers in their homes, communities, and nation. He encouraged them to start by forgiving themselves and others, and by working together to build a more just and peaceful world.
Dr. Mutto emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of conflict, including greed, ignorance and idolatry. He called for a collective effort to heal the wounds of the past and build a more peaceful future. On an individual level, he urged everyone to look within themselves to address their own anger and hatred. He also called for research and storytelling to uncover the root causes of conflict.
“We must do research; we must tell our stories, and there we will find solutions,” Mutto said.
UCU has taken the initiative to foster a culture of peace and is preparing a short course on peace studies and documenting the events of the past. Prof. Omona is currently developing the short course on peacebuilding and a curriculum for the Bachelor of Peace Studies program.
UCU’s commitment to peace and reconciliation extends beyond the lecture hall. The university has established a Centre for Peace Studies, dedicated to research, teaching and community engagement in the field of peace building. The center provides training and support to local communities engaged in peace building initiatives.
As UCU continues its journey towards a more harmonious and prosperous future, the words of Prof. Olwa resonate deeply: “We must never give up on the pursuit of peace. It is a noble calling, and it is one that we must all embrace.”
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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities, and services, go towww.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.
Nkurunungi Seth Niwabiine said he was honest with his classmates about his financial status. Therefore, many pooled resources to support his campaign for Barham Guild President.
By Pauline Luba The leadership journey that Nkurunungi Seth Niwabiine started in May 2023 was not for the fainthearted. His courage was resolute. With faith, he forged challenges.
The 24-year-old had just made public his longtime desire of leading Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Bishop Barham University Campus (BBUC) as its guild president. That particular semester, Niwabiine says he had reported to school with sh10,000 (about $2.6) as money for upkeep. Many who knew Niwabiine’s financial status thought his ability to fund his campaign was wishful thinking.
Niwabiine’s campaign poster
“No matter where you come from or what your background is, be positive,” Niwabiine said during a late November interview with Uganda Partners. “My personal motto is ‘believe, begin, become’.” Indeed, he believed he could win. On November 11, 2023, he did. He became the university’s guild president.
But Niwabiine’s was no ordinary campaign. He was honest with his classmates about his financial status and, therefore, many of those who campaigned for him did not expect compensation.
“In my first meeting (to strategize about how to conduct the campaigns), only five students showed up and I was honest about having no money,” Niwabiine said. “I ended up receiving contributions and help from several students.”
As luck would have it, on voting day, Niwabiine said his name was the first on the paper ballot. Could that opportunity have worked to sway fence-sitting voters who could have opted for any candidate whose name was first on the ballot? Perhaps, but Niwabiine says he believes voters knowingly chose him because he was the best among the contestants.
To Niwabiine’s mother, Mary Aida Nkurunungi, her son’s victory was a family triumph. Nkurunungi said she informed almost every relative she could reach about the new pride of the family. She said she not only often talks to her son on phone, but also prays for his successful tenure as guild president.
There is no doubt his father, Eric Nkurunungi Muhoozi, would have been just as excited. However, the day Niwabiine reported to school to start his journey of university education was the same day Muhoozi complained of pain and was rushed to hospital. Tests at hospital revealed he had liver complications. Three months later, those complications claimed his life.
That tragedy catapulted Niwabiine, as the first born in a family of five children, to fill the leadership void that his father had left in the family. He would often engage in different money-generating activities, with the hope that they would supplement whatever his peasant mother got in her pursuit to put bread on the table. Tasks like brick laying and farming were common activities from which Niwabiine and his family earned a livelihood.
The manifesto of Niwabiine, a year-three student of Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurship, is built on accountability, security, advocacy and welfare of the students. He said he will strive to establish a cash fund, to support the tuition of needy but bright students, especially those from humble backgrounds.
Niwabiine attended Ishasha Primary School and Rushoraza Secondary School for O’level and and Kyamakanda Secondary School for A’level. All the three schools are found in western Uganda. In both primary and secondary school, Niwabiine was a student leader, including holding the position of head prefect.
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.
His Grace, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, gives East Busoga Bishop Rt. Rev. Paul Hannington Suubi a pastoral staff during his enthronement on November 19, 2023.
By Irene Best Nyapendi The Church of Uganda is celebrating two milestones. The double commemoration is about East Busoga, Uganda’s newest diocese, which was inaugurated on November 19, 2023, and, the same event, the consecration of Rt. Rev. Paul Hannington Suubi and his enthronment as its first bishop. East Busoga became the country’s 39th diocese of the Anglican Church after approval by the provincial assembly in August 2022.
His Grace, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and Chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU), blessed the twin celebration at Stephen’s Cathedral in eastern Uganda’s Bugiri district. The event was marked under the theme: To proclaim the gospel in accordance with Christ’s commission to make disciples of all nations.
“I, Stephen, by divine permission, Archbishop of Church of Uganda, do now declare that East Busoga has been duly inaugurated as the 39th diocese in the province of the Church of Uganda with its headquarters at St. Stephen’s Bugiri, in the name of God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit,” Kaziimba declared.
Kaziimba consecrated Suubi and urged him to heed to reading the Bible, exhortation and doctrine.
“Think upon the things contained in this book,” he counseled. “Be diligent in them that the increase coming thereby may be manifest unto all people.”
The archbishop asked Suubi to take good care of the flock.
“Be to the flock of Christ a shepherd, not a wolf; feed them, and devour them not,” Kaziimba said. “Hold up the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken and be so merciful, that you be not too remiss, minister discipline that you forget not mercy; that when the chief shepherd shall appear you may receive the never fading crown of glory.”
He dedicated the new cathedral and presented to Suubi the episcopal staff, which he said was of big significance in pastoral duties.
The new East Busoga Bishop, Rt. Rev. Paul Hannington Suubi takes his oath of service before the archbishop at Stephen’s Cathedral in Bugiri district.
During the service, Suubi took an oath of true and canonical obedience to the archbishop and declared his commitment to uphold the constitution of the Church of Uganda. He affirmed his readiness to resign if requested by a two-thirds majority of diocesan bishops. He pledged utmost dedication to the responsibilities entrusted to him.
“I, Paul Hannington Suubi, swear that I will pay true and canonical obedience to the archbishop of the church of the province of Uganda, in all things lawful and honest. So, help me God,” Suubi vowed.
He promised to respect, maintain and defend the rights of the church and diocese, serving with truth, justice and charity. He committed to observing the diocesan provisions and summoning the Synod at regular intervals
Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, the Vice-Chancellor of UCU and former classmate of Suubi, congratulated him on his elevation to the bishopric. Reflecting on their shared school days, Mushengyezi remarked that Suubi’s leadership qualities were evident even then during their early school days, making his appointment no surprise.
“As someone who went to school with you, I am particularly very thrilled to see God elevate you to such a high calling to shepherd his people,” Mushengyezi said.
UCU pledged continued commitment in training clergy of the diocese on scholarship.
On behalf of UCU, Mushengyezi gifted Suubi with UGX 1,000,000 (about $265) and an iPad Pro for his work.
Suubi said as bishop, his focus areas will be: evangelism and discipleship; family, youth and children’s ministry; education (schools and colleges); environment management; and development, health and human resource.
“We shall develop a diocesan staff development policy to guide us in evolving a God-fearing, competent, well-motivated and professional human resource,” Suubi said.
He also noted that as a diocese, they will carefully select young educated youth for theological training to become clergy in order to address the demand.
The bishop said he was concerned about the Church of Uganda educational institutions whose standards are wanting due to high teacher-pupil ratios, lack of furniture and space.
As a way of addressing staffing and scholastic needs at the church schools in eastern Uganda, Suubi pledged to work with the authorities to “strengthen the management and administration of our schools and colleges, sensitize parents and guardians about their roles and responsibilities.”
Suubi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Divinity from Makerere University and a Diploma in Education. He also attained certificates in leadership and public administration and management from Makerere University and Haggai Institute, Singapore.
He has been married to Margret Stella for close to 29 years. Together, they have three children.
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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities, and services, go towww.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.
Samantha Ainembabazi receiving her award at the gala in late October
By Pauline Luba It is unusual for a medical student to show an interest in farming. Yet, that is what Samantha Ainembabazi, working towards the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the Uganda Christian University (UCU), did and more.
She diversified her knowledge and skill into an innovation that she thinks could be a game changer for Uganda’s small-scale farmers and received a cash prize for the idea. The 23-year-old, final-year student on the Kampala campus was given a sh10million (about $2,640) grant to help her refine her idea and actualize it.
Ainembabazi’s innovation, Frezo Nano Technologies, which she submitted to the Ayute Africa Challenge 2023, preserves fruits and vegetables by releasing a safe organic formulation extending shelf life by 30 days.
Ayute Africa Challenge Uganda identifies agricultural and innovative tech ideas with the potential to address the challenges of smallholder farmers in Uganda, such as strengthening food security and improving production, income, resilience and access to finance.
And the support goes beyond awarding the agri-tech innovators. A team of expert advisors supports the winners to actualize their ideas to impact the lives of smallholder farmers. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than 70% of people in Uganda work in agriculture, and the country has more than three-and-a-half million family farms.
This year’s Ayute Africa Challenge, organized by Heifer International, a not-for-profit organization that supports local farmers in Uganda, featured 189 participants. The contestants were taken through an incubator program to gain deeper insight into how to scale up their businesses, ensure sustainability, and attain financial management skills.
Ainembabazi believes the innovation that took her and her co-founder, Mugisha Arnold Gift, two years to develop will help reduce post-harvest losses among farmers. Frezo Nano Technologies inhibits the activity of phospholipase D, an enzyme responsible for the deterioration of membranes of fruits, giving them an extended shelf life.
Statistics indicate that poor practices in harvest and postharvest handling lead to a loss of 22% of the harvested produce and a further 17% loss of the output value.
“We hope to reach every small-scale farmer, and eventually every household to help in the preservation of fruits and vegetables,” said Ainembabazi, whose innovation was the second runner-up in this year’s challenge.
Simon Peter Okoci, who built an innovation that uses an automated temperature and light regulation system in brooders, was the overall winner. For this feat, he walked home with a cash prize of sh35million (about $9,230). The first runner-up, Willy Katumwa, who invented a fish feeding technology that automates feeding based on fish needs, received sh25 million (about $6,600).
The Heifer Uganda Country Director, William Matovu, said they aim to build a community of agri-tech innovators that can accelerate meaningful impact for smallholder farmers.
“Heifer Uganda believes that the future of Africa’s agriculture hinges on creating opportunities for young innovators to transform the agricultural landscape,” Matovu said at the awards gala held late October 2023.
Last year’s top winners of the challenge, according to Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, Uganda’s minister for agriculture, have already created jobs for 25 youths, with their innovations serving over 200 farmers in Uganda.
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.
Posed at the Uganda Studies Program (USP) and Uganda Christian University (UCU) display that was part of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work Convention in Pittsburgh, Pa., in November 2023 are (left to right) Dr. David Hodge (Arizona State University), Kasule Kibirige (UCU), Dr. Micah Hughes (Baltimore Urban Studies Program) and Lisa Tokpa (USP Director of Field Education).
By Patty Huston-Holm
Kasule Kibirige believes in Jesus.
A guy he met on November 15, 2023, believes in UFOs (Unidentified Foreign Objects) and Sasquatch, also known as “Big Foot.”
After a quick handshake, the man, donned in a baseball cap embroidered with the Sasquatch name, asserted that USA government data verifies the existence of alien life (i.e., UFOs) and many videos from average people authenticate that a large hairy creature is walking his big feet around North American forests. Kasule listened without prejudice during the five minutes that the man in the hat espoused his views that were new to Kasule and what some more familiar consider fictitious and as the sun was setting outside the Cedarville, Ohio, Sunset Inn and Suites.
That’s what social workers, especially those who are Christian, do.
“Social work has a value base similar to Christian faith,” said Kasule, head of undergraduate studies, School of Social Sciences, Uganda Christian University (UCU), since 2016. “Social work is a program of study that includes accepting others without judging them.”
The profession is much more, of course. The Webster dictionary defines social work as a field with “activities or methods concretely concerned with providing social services and especially with the investigation, treatment and material aid of the economically, physically, mentally or socially disadvantaged.”
The brief, unexpected encounter with the Sasquatch-UFO follower – who also might have shared his religious beliefs had he remained longer – provided an example of implementing social work skills outside the confines of a dictionary or textbook, according to Kasule, who learned of these topics for the first time in his three-week, November trip to the USA. It was his first visit to Ohio and second trip to the United States. While waiting to have dinner with faculty at Cedarville University, he shared other illustrations, including his early recognition of how listening and observing make a difference in the field of social work.
“Most students come to universities directly from high school,” Kasule said. “I didn’t.”
Without sufficient funds, or academic marks to
Kasule Kibirige with the Rt. Rev. Deon John, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri at St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. Louis, Mo.
garner a government scholarship grant, Kasule first enrolled in vocational training. Using his tertiary knowledge and skill, he was employed as a welder in a small-scale steel fabrication factory that made machines like the ones used in the agro-processing industry. He later saw social workers in action when working for a child-focused non-profit organization in Kampala, Uganda.
“Choosing social work was largely inspired by that life-changing opportunity of working with a non-governmental organization that helped disadvantaged, urban out-of-school children,” Kasule said.
From 2001 to 2007, Kasule received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Botswana in Africa. Since 2008, he’s been a social work faculty member at UCU and participated in numerous community engagements, both integrated in fieldwork supervision of students’ practicums and community service, researching to enhance teaching and leading social work curriculum at UCU. In addition to these roles, he has collaborated with Lisa Tokpa of UCU’s Uganda Studies Program (USP), a semester-long course of study for American university students. The goal in collaborating is to create mutual benefit among their two programs at the university, including research, co-teaching, social work supervisor trainings, and cross-cultural student groups.
“My major interest is to contribute to improving the quality of social work educational experiences for both students and faculty,” Kasule said. “I continuously seek to engage with colleagues who share this passion through collaborations – in international field education, co-teaching and learning, and applied research.”
The main objective of Kasule’s November visit to the United States was expanded collaboration. He spoke and listened during the North American Association of Christians in Social Work Convention 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pa.; engaged with educators and students at two USA universities that have been involved with the USP in the two decades of the program’s existence; and spoke with the Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri at St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. Louis, Mo. In the state of Pennsylvania, he visited Grove City College. In Ohio, he spent two days at Cedarville University. In Missouri, he met with social work faculty at St. Louis University.
Since 2004, students from more than 100 American Christian universities, as well as those from a smaller number of secular universities have participated in the UCU-USP four-month curriculum that is largely focused on social work. Most USP-sending universities are associated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, which represents more than 180 higher education institutions.
“My key initiatives are local and international,” Kasule said. “Locally, UCU social work and USP social work emphasis is through cross-cultural learning groups. Internationally, there is the exchange with universities outside Uganda.”
Kasule Kibirige in Cedarville, Ohio
Kasule has seen first-hand the academic and cultural value for American students spending a semester of study at UCU, as well as a more recent collaboration that has UCU students studying at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. He would like to see more United States higher education opportunities for Ugandan students and faculty.
“Cross cultural conversations have infinite value,” said Kasule, who has two children, ages 4 and 7, with his wife, Grace, a pediatrician currently engaged in clinical research. “We have our own perceptions about Christianity and social problems in Uganda. You have yours.”
Besides its spiritual redemption and religious values for the majority of Ugandans, Christian virtues also are an important reference for promising hope; and a practical framework when integrated into curriculum.
While partnership benefits are readily acknowledged, money is a barrier for an equal exchange because Ugandans have fewer resources than Americans. But it’s an obstacle that can be overcome.
“There is the possibility of grants, but we don’t expect our partners to throw money at a problem,” Kasule said. “Rather, we seek mutually-beneficial collaboration.” He pointed to the internet with possibilities for co-teaching and co-research, especially since all UCU post-graduate programs are now online.
David Hodge, distinguished professor, School of Social Work, Arizona State University, is among USA social work partners who have come to UCU. In 2021, Dr. Hodge and Kasule co-published a paper addressing academic research inequalities between Sub-Saharan faculty and their counterparts in the West, and planned more related to how spirituality can be used in assessment until Covid drove Hodge home earlier than planned. As 2023 comes to a close, this later project is being revived.
“Even for non-believers, Christian principles and similar intervention strategies can be applied,” said Kasule, reflecting on some work he has embarked on with partners fighting against child sacrifice, in Uganda. According to census data, 82 percent of Ugandans are Christian. In the USA, 63 percent identify as believers in Jesus Christ.
Kasule sees Christian faith playing an integral part for worker efforts to rebuilding community resilience, prevention and mitigation of social struggles, such as domestic violence, mental illness and children not in school. Loneliness issues for people of all ages also is a current focus both in Uganda and the United States, he said.
Enabling university faculty and students to experience multiple cultures is key, according to Kasule. Opportunities for faculty to engage in more practice-academics (pra-academics) and collaborative projects would not only improve teaching and learning effectiveness but also will certainly improve service users’ overall outcomes.
“We need to engage agencies as partners, teachers and students as learners,” he said. “We learn so much from each other to help others.”
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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities, and services, go towww.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.
Rev. Assoc. Prof. Omona, shown attending a conference, says one of the most gratifying aspects of his academic journey is the friendship he has made while pursuing his studies and attending events.
By Kefa Senoga
The Rev. Assoc. Prof. Andrew David Omona has learned how he reacts to adversity is more important than the actual misfortune. His up-and-down life story depends on the value of strength and resilience. And these are skills he has mastered.
Take, for instance, the incident of 1996 when he tried to begin his theology career.
Born in 1970 in Adjumani district, northern Uganda, to the Rev. Andrew and Mary Olal, Omona completed his primary education at Biyaya Primary School before joining Obongi Secondary School in 1986, where he completed his O’level. In 1990, he joined Moyo Secondary School in northern Uganda, from where he completed his high school studies. Unlike many of his peers, he was not influenced by a mass recruitment of people into the Uganda Police Force. He decided to pursue a Diploma in Theology at the Bishop Tucker Theological College.
In 1996, Omona, the seventh of 10 children, enrolled for a Bachelor of Divinity course at what isnow the Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology. At the time, the college was under Uganda’s Makerere University. It became part of Uganda Christian University (UCU) in 1997. For reasons unknown to Omona, a week into his course, the Makerere University Council canceled his admission and those of some of his colleagues.
“When that happened, the Dean of Studies of Bishop Tucker at the time, the Rt. Rev. Canon Dustan Bukenya (now a retired bishop), gave me a letter to take to Bugema University,” Omona said, noting that with the letter, he gained admission into Bugema.
He was, therefore, allowed to enroll for a dual program leading to the consecutive award of two bachelor’s degrees — Bachelor of Theology and Bachelor of Arts with Education. The two degrees were combined because the programs shared certain elements, a practice that was acceptable at that time.
As Omona’s graduation at Bugema drew nearer, he encountered another hurdle. He got a challenge with the practical element in his theology course. He explains that despite having fulfilled all the requirements for graduation, there was one challenging course unit remaining — a practical component where they intended to assign him to a Seventh Day Adventist church.
“Whereas the head of department had agreed to supervise me in the Anglican church, the university management made it difficult for that to happen,” Omona says, indicating that when they reached a stalemate on the matter, he opted to only graduate with a Bachelor of Arts with Education.
After completing the BA with Education, he secured an admission at UCU to pursue a Master of Arts in Theology in 1999 and graduated in 2002. In 2005, his interest switched from theology and education to international relations and diplomacy; he enrolled to pursue a Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy at Nkumba University, graduating in 2007.
Soon after, a friend who was studying at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania encouraged Omona to enroll for a PhD in International Relations and Diplomacy. However, he says the advisor he was assigned turned out to be too busy for him. On many occasions, according to Omona, he would travel from Uganda to Tanzania, only to find that his advisor had traveled out of the country. So, in 2008, upon a friend’s recommendation, he transferred to Kenyatta University in Kenya, to pursue the same PhD course. He graduated from the university in 2015.
Upon acquiring his doctorate in 2016, Omona applied for a promotion at UCU, where he has been teaching since 2001. He was granted that request. However, three years later, when he applied to graduate to the higher rank of Associate Professor, his wish was denied. He did not lose hope, though. In 2021, Omona re-applied for the promotion. The good news reached him in May this year, when he was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Ethics and International Relations.
He said one of the most gratifying aspects of his academic journey are the friendships he has made while pursuing his studies and attending conferences. He said that whenever he travels, he forms acquaintances with people with whom he frequently collaborates on research publications.
The Rev. Omona is married to Anne Cheroto, a priest and the Principal of Ndegeya Teacher Training College in Masaka district, central Uganda. The couple has three biological children — two boys and one girl. Their first born, a boy, is pursuing a Bachelor of Laws at UCU.
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.
Archbishop Emeritus Henry Luke Orombi (middle) is shown during a visit to UCU Arua Campus. Second-left is the Rev. Julius Izza Tabi.
By Kefa Senoga As a young boy, Julius Izza Tabi gave his parents the confidence that his career destination would be one in the field of sciences. As such, Tabi’s father — Izza Soyi Severino — encouraged his son to pursue a course in human medicine. Just imagine what went through the mind of Severino when his son told him he was not interested in becoming a doctor.
The Rev. Julius Izza Tabi during the UCU@25 celebrations in 2022
Tabi said he was feeling a different calling from God, one of pastoral ministry. At first, Severino thought the reason for his son’s change of heart was because he had not garnered the necessary grades to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. As such, he encouraged his son to repeat Senior Six, and that he was ready to pay the tuition. Tabi had sat his Senior Six exams at Metu Senior Secondary School in Moyo district, northern Uganda.
However, Tabi, who is now the director of the Uganda Christian University Arua Campus, said his heart was elsewhere. Fortunately, the son did not have to convince his father to pay tuition for a course he didn’t think was right. When Tabi enrolled at Lake Victoria Christian Centre for a diploma in Christian ministries, he was on full bursary.
Anglican Archbishop in Uganda Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu launching the UCU Arua Campus Master plan during the celebrations to mark 20 years of the campus
At the end of the one-year course, Tabi not only returned home with his diploma, he also emerged as the best student in the cohort.
Upon graduating with a Diploma in Christian Ministry, Tabi continued with youth ministry activities in the church. It was during this time that he and Severino agreed that the former should return to school and get a second qualification.
Tabi is the sixth born in a family of nine children. His father, Severino, was a primary school headteacher and his mother, Asianzo Catherine, a housewife.
Tabi thus pursued a Diploma in Education at the National Teachers’ College, Muni, where he specialized in Chemistry and Biology. Upon qualification, Tabi was employed at Usindi Secondary School in Arua, northwestern Uganda.
Teaching in close proximity to the UCU Arua Campus led Tabi to become part of the UCU community. In 2011, he was admitted for a Bachelor of Divinity at UCU under the Ma’di-West Nile Diocese scholarship. That same year, Tabi married Oliver Driciru, with whom he has three children — two boys and one girl.
The newly built gate of the UCU Arua Campus
At his graduation in 2014, the Rev. Tabi’s grades earned him the accolade of second-best student. The best student at the graduation was Jonathan Tumwebaze, now also a staff member at UCU.
Tabi’s outstanding performance persuaded Joel Obetia, the Bishop of Madi-West Nile Diocese at the time, to post him to UCU Arua Campus as the Assistant Chaplain in October 2014. That officially marked the start of Tabi’s association with UCU as a member of staff.
The following year, he was given extra roles when he was appointed a tutorial assistant in the Department of Theology. He later pursued a Master of Philosophy in Religion, Society and Global Issues from the Norwegian School of Theology in Oslo. Upon Tabi’s return from Oslo, he was promoted to Assistant Lecturer. In 2018, he was appointed the institution’s Dean of Students.
Three years later, in September 2021, the Rev. Tabi was appointed the acting director of the campus, a position he was confirmed into after the campus went through the requisite process of hiring the position holder.
From left: Rev Julius Izza Tabi, Rev. Canon Prof. Stephen Noll (first Vice Chancellor of UCU) and Rev. Richard Mujuni during the GAFCON conference in April 2023 in Kigali Rwanda.
In an interview that Tabi granted Uganda Partners in August this year, he enumerated his areas of focus as infrastructural development, elevating the campus into a constituent college, a massive student recruitment strategy, beautification of the environment and infrastructure, implementation of the multi-billion masterplan project, development of an endowment project and a staff recruitment plan.
This year, the campus marked 20 years of being part of the UCU family and 64 years of being a training institute. Before the campus was made a theological college and part of UCU in 2003, it was offering diploma and certificate courses in theology and also training Lay Readers in the region.
The nature of Tabi’s job means he always has a full plate. However, he says his wife is the reason he has been able to fulfill the demands of his office because she has been “filling for him whenever needed, especially when it comes to family matters.”
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.
Mukhooli promised to hinge his leadership on bridging the communication gap between the students and the administrators.
By Pauline Luba Picture this: You are a top contender for a political office. On voting day, after casting your ballot, what do you do with the rest of the hours to ease the tension as you wait to know the results? Harry Mukhooli recently found himself in such a situation. Mukhooli, the new Guild President of Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mbale campus in eastern Uganda, said he isolated himself from people the entire day as he waited for the results.
Luckily for him, he emerged the victor, with 46% of the people who cast their votes preferring him as their new leader. At first, it was a battle against five candidates. However, along the way during the campaigns, two of those dropped out, leaving Mukhooli against three others — two male, one female — whom he beat to clinch the topmost office in the student leadership hierarchy.
So, how did the 22-year-old student of Bachelor of Education (English and Literature in English) use to draw people to him?
Mukhooli started campaigning in May. One issue that Mukhooli promised to hinge his term of office on was improving relations at the institution.
“I wanted to bridge the gap between the students and the university administration,” Mukhooli said, adding that he hopes to use his position as Guild President to “give others a platform” to voice their challenges at the university.
Among the needs that students have voiced include the desire for renovation of some of the buildings at the campus, as well as challenges in paying tuition on time. These, among others, are issues that Mukhooli hopes to bring to the discussion table, with the aim of making the stay of the students at the institution as comfortable as it can be.
On voting day in October 2023, Mukhooli spent considerable money transporting students to cast their ballots. He said many students struggle to fend for themselves, and, as such, they see it as a waste of resources to spend money on transport to go to the university to cast their votes and return home. It is this category of people that Mukhooli said he sought to reach out to, so they can exercise their democratic right to cast a ballot. Could this act have endeared the voters to him? Maybe.
Mukhooli takes office from 30-year-old Daniel Kunya, a student of Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration who has held the office since November last year.
When the need for the funds for the campaign arrived, Mukhooli turned to proceeds from his poultry business. But that was not enough. Contributions came from his father — Namasake Peter Wandeka — whom Mukhooli considers one of his greatest inspirations, including during this run for office. His other cheerleaders were his mother, Namuwenge Sarah; step-mother Bisikwa Sarah; and Munialo Tracy Wandeeka, his younger sister.
Growing up, Mukhooli wished to become a journalist and a sportsman. While not strongly interested in football, but is a talented soccer player who has been on all his school teams. In fact, while in primary school at St. Edwards Junior Academy in Manafwa district in eastern Uganda, Mukhooli was the captain of the school football team. He also is the current captain of the UCU Mbale campus football team. He says he is a beneficiary of a sports bursary at UCU.
When not attending to the academic needs or his political office, you will find Mukhooli either in his passion fruit farm tending to the plants or looking after the chickens that he rears in his poultry farm.
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.
Vice Chancellor Aaron Mushengyezi (wearing cap), Brigadier General Rugumayo (front, second-right), and UCU Guild President Timothy Ddumba (front, right) participate with other participants during a warm-up run on October 21, 2023
By Pauline Luba Years ago, when Brig. Gen. Abdul Rugumayo, a member of Uganda’s army, completed Senior Four, he could not proceed to A’level. He said he did not have the money that was needed for school fees.
As a result, he registered to teach as a non-qualified teacher in a primary school in Uganda, so he could save some money for further education. He eventually saved the money and was able to complete school.
Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge East African Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, giving speech at the guild run.
What a coincidence that Rugumayo, the Deputy Director of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence — the intelligence arm of Uganda’s army — was the one invited to flag off a run organized to raise funds for tuition for needy students of Uganda Christian University (UCU).
“This activity is something very close to my heart, especially when someone is about to do their exams,” Rugumayo said, as he narrated his personal story, before adding: “To give is not because you have. To give is because you share.”
The run, which covered six kilometers (three miles) around Mukono in central Uganda, took place on October 21, 2023. Organized by UCU student leaders, the event began at 7 a.m. with participants engaging in aerobic exercises before the actual race at 8 a.m.
“I come from a family that would have required this type of arrangement during my time as a student,” said Rugumayo, who has served in the army for the past 35 years. He handed over Sh3 million (about $800) as contribution from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence. He also promised to contribute sh2million (about $530) and commended the student leaders for identifying the military as a partner in trying to support society.
Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge East African Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, was the main guest of the day.
Vice Chancellor Aaron Mushengyezi welcomes Brigadier General Rugumayo. Pamela Tumwebaze, acting Dean of Student Affairs, is in the background.
“I’m glad that the tradition has been maintained and that the young people are growing up as philanthropists. It’s very easy for one not to care about others because their tuition fees have been paid,” said Kadaga, a former Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament. She flagged off the maiden UCU guild run in 2020 and has been keeping tabs on the subsequent races. For the 2020 run, among the donors was Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who contributed sh80million (about $21,250). At the October 21 event, Kadaga pledged to donate sh10million (about $2,700) towards the cause.
UCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi thanked runners for participating in a cause aimed at supporting needy students with tuition. Mushengyezi pledged sh3million (about $800) from the Office of the Vice Chancellor. Pamela Tumwebaze, the acting head of the Directorate of Student Affairs at UCU, pledged to contribute sh1million ($264). All participants in the race bought running kits — either a vest at sh20,000 (about $5.3) or a T-shirt at sh30,000 (about $8), which they wore on the day of the run. By the end of the event, sh24,000,000 ($6,400) had been collected in cash and pledges.
The proceeds are expected to be handed over to the student leaders who organized the run and they will, thereafter, distribute to students facing financial difficulties.
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.
Caleb Ndishakiye, a UCU School of Education alum, poses with children during a school outreach.
By Kefa Ssenoga When you sit down for a conversation with Caleb Ndishakiye, he does not need to mention his love for literature. His diction validates that. And if you sit with him for a longer time, you also will discover that he has a deep passion for communication, the promotion of literacy and sharing knowledge.
Ndishakiye has been fortunate to earn a living from his passion. His first attempt at teaching was in 2011 during his long holidays after writing his end of Senior Six national exams. An unlicensed teacher, he nevertheless taught literature at Seseme Girls Secondary School and Mutorele Boys Secondary School. Both schools are in Ndishakiye’s native area of Kisoro, southwestern Uganda.
Despite the passion of sharing knowledge, Ndishakiye did not envisage a career in teaching. Early in his secondary education, he developed a love for law, which he applied to study at Uganda Christian University (UCU).
“I wanted to pursue a course in law when I joined UCU, but interestingly, I was admitted for education,” he said. “I decided to pursue it and still be excellent at it!”
Ndishakiye and Patricia on their Dec. 7, 2019, wedding day at Thornycroft Chapel Kyaggwe, UCU.
He has never regretted the idea of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education. He acknowledges that this move has had a significant impact on who he is now. Ndishakiye began his studies at UCU in 2012 and graduated in 2015. While at UCU, He was in the Honors College.
Barely a year after graduation, Ndishakiye was hired as a teaching assistant in the UCU foundations department. He was primarily teaching writing and study skills, and occasionally teaching in the literature department, particularly course units like the Bible as literature and other English language short courses.
His teaching journey at UCU began in 2016 after returning from a one-year mission and a leadership development program at Nairobi Chapel, Kenya, courtesy of the UCU chaplaincy and the community as a whole.
“UCU, particularly the Thornycroft Chapel, had a partnership with Nairobi Chapel in Kenya, where two missionaries were sent for a program. I was one of the two,” Ndishakiye says.
He was attached to the Teens’ church, which also is famously known as Club Expressions, an experience he says exposed them to an international perspective to life.
In 2018, after two years of teaching at UCU, Ndishakiye got a one-year opportunity to teach English language and Literature in English at Seroma Christian High School in Mukono. He needed more time to attend to his newly found passion for literacy programming and children’s literature through Glow-Lit Uganda, an organization he founded earlier that year. With UCU, he continued to serve until 2020 when Uganda closed schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I was invited as the Programs Specialist to support the national technical portfolio of the association, and support the development of storybooks in Luganda and Runyankore-Rukiga,” he said.
He noted that in the role, his other tasks were “establishing libraries in Government primary schools and supporting their management and use, training of teachers and developing materials to support the lower primary school teaching of reading Luganda and Runyankore-Rukiga.”
The Room to Read Uganda project at the Reading Association of Uganda is sponsored by Room to Read, an organization that, according to their website, envisions a world in which “all children can pursue a quality education that prepares them to lead fulfilled lives and make positive change — in their families, communities and the world.”
Working closely with the Ministry of Education and Sports, the project has developed 154 storybook titles, two learner books, and two teachers’ guides in Luganda and Runyankore-Rukiga. It also involves training with teachers, government, publishers, and book value-chain players to build writing, illustration, design, and editing capacity, especially for children’s literature.
Ndishakiye argues that the Ugandan book market has not given sufficient focus to children’s literature. He is now an advocate for quality children’s literature production, distribution and use.
Ndishakiye is the third born of eight children of Richard and Lydia Ndishakiye. He completed his primary education at Muganza Primary School in Kisoro district. He studied O’level at Chahi Seed Senior Secondary School and A’level at Trinity College Kabale. Compassion International, an international charity organization, paid part of his school fees in primary and secondary school. At the university, he says, the charity paid all the school fees.
He is married to Patricia and the couple has a son, Jordan, age two.
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.
Rev. Prof. Edison Kalengyo delivers a sermon during a service in Nkoyoyo Hall at the UCU Main Campus in Mukono.
By Kefa Senoga What would you do about a son who turns down a job offer after graduating with a veterinary medicine degree, preferring to return to school to become a priest? In 1986, that was the dilemma of the father of Edison Kalengyo. His son, now the Rev. Can Prof. Kalengyo, had just completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, a four-year course, at Uganda’s Makerere University. Kalengyo had even received an appointment letter,dated June 20, 1986, from the Ministry of Animal Industry and Fisheries.
Despite his fresh qualification, Kalengyo’s heart was elsewhere. He felt compelled to answer God’s call to become a priest, prompting him to join Bishop Tucker Theological Collegein 1986. The college, now known as part of Uganda Christian University (UCU), in Mukono, is where Kalengyo pursued a bachelor’s degree in divinity. This was after going through a stringent process of selecting candidates for the ordained ministry by South Rwenzori Diocese, his home diocese.
Along the way, Kalengyo’s family kept questioning his decision. For instance, his father, who was a trained lay reader in the Church of Uganda, knew fully well that the economic prospects for priests were not encouraging. In the extended family, Kalengyo had been the first person to graduate with a degree. As such, many people looked up to him. But he stuck to God’s call on his life to the ordained ministry.
After his course at Bishop Tucker Theological College, the Rev. Kalengyo served in South Ruwenzori as a curate in the cathedral before moving on to serve as a diocesan secretary and, eventually, an archdeacon.
In 1997, the principal of Bishop Tucker Theological College, Bishop Eliphaz Maari, invited Kalengyo to join the staff of the college, following the recruitment process. He obliged. Since December 1997, UCU has been Kalengyo’s “home.” He currently serves as Professor of New Testament and Coordinator of Biblical Studies and Languages in the Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology.
He says teaching theology at UCU goes beyond a mere salary. He believes that the true significance lies in knowing that he is fulfilling God’s calling on his life, and that this is what brings him reward and fulfillment.
Kalengyo has refrained from considering higher leadership positions within the church before, even when such opportunities presented themselves, in preference for his job of training church leaders. His extensive theological expertise and deep-rooted academic grounding make Kalengyo’s job of teaching church ministers one easy for him to execute. In addition to the 64-year-old’s bachelor’s degree in divinity, he also holds a Master of Philosophy in the New Testamentfrom Nottingham University in the United Kingdom (UK) and a PhD in Theology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.
Another reason for Kalengyo’s stay in theological education is his wife, who explained to him that by teaching church ministers, he was serving the entire province as opposed to being a bishop who serves mainly his diocese.
Because of this, Kalengyo says he is always happy and believes he has fulfilled his purpose in life whenever he meets his former students who have taken up church leadership roles.
Kalengyo says hisguiding principle has always been that every theological educator should be a pastor and actively participate in church life. For this reason, he once voluntarily served as an auxiliary member of the pastoral team at St. Philip’s Cathedral in Mukono and was the first Chaplain of St Luke’s Chapel Butabika. He also has served as a priest at St Luke’s Church Ntinda and was Priest-in-Charge All Saints Chapel Lweza.
He says he now pastors a group of about 400 Christians from his home diocese who reside in and around Kampala. The Christians gather for worship once every month. He said he also performs baptisms and helps to prepare couples for marriage.
Kalengyo and his wife, Dorothy, will celebrate their 36th marriage anniversary on December 12, this year. They have three adult children — two boys and one girl — and they are all married. From the three children, the Kalengyos have got five grandchildren.
Born in 1958 in Kasese district, western Uganda, to Hosiah and Elizabeth Katsiotho, Kalengyo completed his primary education at Karambi Primary School before joining St Edward’s Bukumi Secondary School for O’level and Ntare School for A’level. Both Bukuumi and Ntare are located in western Uganda.
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.
Prof. Christopher Byaruhanga, dean at Uganda Christian University’s Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, is the chairperson of the new ethics committee for universities and tertiary institutions.
By Irene Best Nyapendi Prof. Christopher Byaruhanga, the dean at Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, is the inaugural chairperson of the ethics committee for universities and tertiary institutions. The newly created body by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) is tasked with creating ethical rules for universities and tertiary institutions as required by the law.
Prof. Byaruhanga leads the six-person committee, which includes Dr. Annette Kezaabu, UCU’s head of research and postgraduate studies. The others are Dr. Olive Lunyolo (secretary), higher education officer at NCHE; Dr. Rev. Canon Aaron Mwesigye, director for ethics in charge of religious affairs, Directorate for Ethics and Integrity; Ibban Iddih Kasozi, an Imam and lecturer at Islamic University in Uganda; and Dr. Betty Bukenya Nambuusi, Higher Education Officer at NCHE.
Dr. Annette Kezaabu, head of department postgraduate programs and research at the School of Journalism, Media and Communication.
Dr. Kezaabu announced the initiation of the committee “to develop basic ethical standards for higher education” in an Aug. 29 post on X (formerly Twitter).The ethical standards are designed to ensure that higher education institutions in Uganda operate with integrity, accountability and professionalism.
The ethics committee’s primary focus is to create a handbook outlining ethical standards and guidelines for institutions of higher learning and their members. The handbook, expected to be completed by early 2024, will regulate and promote ethical behavior for the country’s higher education.
The ethics committee will look at how institutions do research and focus on issues such as employee behavior and relationships with students, colleagues and the community.
“There are a number of pressing challenges faced by students and staff at universities because of lack of morals,” Prof. Byaruhanga said. “I have heard of cases where the lecturer prevents a PhD student from graduating because he is afraid that the student will take away his job; this should stop.”
One of the challenges facing higher education in Uganda that Byaruhanga wants to address is academic dishonesty, including cheating during exams and unethical behavior by lecturers. To tackle this, he stressed the importance of transparency and fairness in the academic processes.
“As part of my contribution to the handbook, I am focusing on academic integrity and ethical research, intellectual honesty, accuracy, transparency, among others, because knowledge can only be contributed through research,” he said. “It ought to be done right.”
Prof. Byaruhanga decried lecturers who don’t conduct research following the prescribed moral standards. He said in some cases, lecturers don’t get consent from participants.
He said the committee hopes to address proper research methods in the handbook through outlining ethical standards and guidelines that ought to be followed.
“I am working on having this handbook finished and I hope it will be implemented,” he said. Once NCHE approves the handbook, we expect everyone to follow these guidelines. We must foster a culture of respect for ethical conduct”.
Prof. Byaruhanga is dedicated to striking a balance between enforcing ethical standards and maintaining academic freedom. He emphasized that academic freedom should operate within the framework of ethical guidelines and national education policies.
“Most of what we are looking at is already implemented by some universities; for such, this is to remind them,” he said.
UCU students and staff will benefit first hand because Prof. Byaruhanga will personally and directly supervise the implementation of the required ethical guidelines and standards through his physical presence at the university.
“Being a member of the senate, I will have a voice there,” Prof. Byaruhanga said. “We also have the ethics committee; I will ask them to read the hand book.”
Prof. Byaruhanga is one of the longest-serving professors at UCU, having joined in September 1997. From 2000-2002, he was the dean of the Faculty of Humanity and Social Sciences, which was the only faculty then. 2003-2006, he was the dean of the Faculty of Education, Arts and Social Science. In 2011-2016, he was the dean of the School of Research and Post-Graduate Studies. Since 2018 to present, he has been the Dean of Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology.
After the handbook has been developed, it will be shared with the stakeholders, including university representatives, public figures and vice-chancellors. It is hoped that by involving diverse voices, the handbook’s ethical standards will be thorough and effective.
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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities, and services, go towww.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.
Kefa Senoga, a finalist for a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication, is an intern with Uganda Partners
By Irene Best Nyapendi Kefa Senoga’s journey into the world of mass communication started with a desire to know and to be informed. His fascination with current affairs and politics, combined with his family’s background in journalism, led him to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication at Uganda Christian University (UCU). Senoga awaits graduation this November.
As a child, he was usually the last to get off the TV set with his biggest interest in the news.
“I was also intrigued by my father’s knowledge about everything,” Senoga said. “I knew it was because of his profession, so I was inspired by that.”
Growing up in a household where journalism was not just a profession but a way of life, he was deeply influenced by his father, who was involved in both journalism and teaching journalism. His father, Geoffrey Senoga, is a lecturer in UCU’s School of Journalism, Media and Communication.
Through his academic years at UCU, the younger Senoga has been a proactive student, seeking opportunities to gain practical experience. In 2022 he applied to Uganda Partners for an internship. He was successful and started writing stories about UCU for the NGO’s website.
“Before I joined Uganda Partners, I used not to write much, but ever since I joined, I now write articles every month which has made me a better writer,” Senoga said.
He has gained insight into how stories are assigned and the persistence required to secure interviews. He said sometimes it takes immense determination to secure interviews with prominent figures.
“Through my experience as a writer for Uganda Partners, I’ve grown to become assertive, learned how to build rapport with people from diverse backgrounds and capable of securing interviews,” Senoga said.
Balancing academics and internship Senoga started writing for Uganda Partners in his second year at UCU. Unlike most internships offered during holidays or the off-studies semester, this one is offered concurrently with studies. Through the experience, Senoga learned that work/study balance and time management are essential. He learned first-hand that journalism is a profession that demands flexibility, efficiency and consistency with often overlapping deadlines.
Senoga also had the responsibility of UCU Media Link Association president.
“I used to get caught up by time doing class work and the association work during the day, so I started waking up at 4 a.m. to finish the writing assignments,” he said. “I used daytime for academic work which I gave priority because I wanted to excel. I also used night times for writing my articles.”
He advises students to be proactive, inquisitive and seek out opportunities for growth and improvement with the understanding that people you need for a story or guidance “are often very busy with their own tasks.”
The Uganda Partners internship enabled Senoga to build a portfolio, network with professionals and open doors to other career opportunities such as one placement at Vision Group, Uganda’s leading media organization.
“It is a privilege to work with Uganda Partners,” he said. “Many students would want to be part of the team. I am grateful to my mentors for helping me to improve my writing skills.”
Constantine Odongo, Senoga’s editor and mentor at Uganda Partners and also an editor at New Vision, said writing has become an integral part of every professional’s life.
“Senoga is lucky that he has gone through the formal training on how to write, and indeed, communicate,” Odongo said. “I cannot wait to see him put this skill to use to help companies and corporations expand their frontiers in terms of profit and visibility.”
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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities, and services, go towww.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.
The Rev. Dr. Abel Wankuma Kibbedi was part of the pioneer class of the PhD in literature course at UCU.
By Kefa Senoga In 2005, when Uganda Christian University wanted to start a master’s program in literature, the institution sent some of its academics to convince alums they thought would take advantage of the course.
Abel Wankuma Kibbedi, who had graduated the previous year with a First Class degree in Bachelor of Education with English and Literature, was one of the alums approached. At the time, Kibbedi was residing with other undergraduate students in one of the hostels in Kauga, a suburb near UCU’s main campus.
When Prof. Timothy Wangusa, who was among the people overseeing the start of the master’s course at UCU, visited Kibbedi, he advised the latter to leave the hostel where he was residing. At the time, Kibbedi had just been offered a position as a teaching assistant at UCU. Wangusa rhetorically asked Kibbedi if he intended to continue sharing the same space with the students he was teaching.
To follow up on his advice, Wangusa offered Kibbedi, who had taken up the opportunity to enroll for the master’s course, the guest wing at the professor’s residence. Two years later, Kibbedi, who was part of the pioneer class of master’s in literature, was a proud recipient of the postgraduate degree, an achievement made possible courtesy of a scholarship through the staff development committee at UCU.
Again, in 2017, Kibbedi — and two other colleagues — was part of the pioneer class of the PhD in literature course at UCU. And at the most recent UCU graduation held at the Main Campus in Mukono on October 13, 2023, Kibbedi was among the graduates who earned a PhD. Kibbedi’s other two pioneer doctoral colleagues in literature were not present at the October 13 graduation. Mary Naula had already graduated in 2021, while the third PhD student lost her life two years into the course.
Between Kibbedi’s master’s degree in literature and the PhD, he earned another degree — Masters of Divinity and Theology — from the Pennsylvania-based Westminster Theological Seminary.
“While attending a conference in the United States in 2007, Church of Uganda Archbishop at the time, Henry Luke Orombi, asked the president of Westminster Theological Seminary if they would offer a scholarship to a Ugandan student,” Kibbedi said during an interview he granted Uganda Partners after his October 13 graduation.
The answer to Orombi’s question was in the affirmative. However, it was not a direct pass for Kibbedi, whom Orombi had in mind as he asked the question. There had to be interviews for the scholarship, which, fortunately, Kibbedi won.
According to Kibbedi, upon his return to Uganda, with a second master’s degree in the bag, the vice chancellor at the time, the Rev. Dr. John Senyonyi, singled him out among the younger staff for departmental leadership as part of professional development. This is how he assumed the role of heading the Honors College, a position he held from 2012 to 2021.
To make his new master’s degree count, Kibbedi was taken in by the Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology to teach Hebrew and Greek, primarily because the program he had pursued in the US at Westminster had an aspect of the ancient languages. Despite this, Kibbedi notes that he has mainly been involved in teaching literature at UCU.
He is grateful to the UCU administration, without whose support, he says, he would have struggled to achieve anything. For instance, Kibbedi cites the example of UCU first Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Noll, in whose tenure the former pursued further studies in Pennsylvania. He said Prof. Noll decided that Kibbedi be left on half pay throughout the duration of his four-year course, as opposed to no pay, because the lecturer “had family members and dependants to take care of.” Kibbedi said the PhD now has buttressed his desire to continue sharing knowledge as an academic.
The achievement of the PhD did not come on a silver platter, though. “My wife had to bear my long hours of reading and absence; she has had to step in for many activities with the children,” the Rev. Kibbedi says.
He is married to Lydia Wankuma Kibbedi who works as an administrator of the Uganda Studies Program at UCU. They have a daughter, Atungonza Wankuma, age 15, and a son, Anunula Wankuma, age 14. Atugonza is in Senior Three at Wanyange Girls School while Anunula is also in the same class, at Busoga College Mwiri, his father’s alma mater. Both schools are found in eastern Uganda.
Kibbedi completed his primary education at Namalemba Primary School in eastern Uganda, before joining Busoga College Mwiri. From Mwiri, he pursued a diploma in education at the National Teachers College Kaliro, before eventually joining UCU.
Kibbedi is number six of a family of 12 children. His father, the Rev. JFJ. Kibbedi Nswemu, a politician and educator, passed away in 1999. He credits his interest in literature to his father. Kibbedi’s mother, Robina Christina Kibbedi, now retired, had a career as a social worker.
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.
Dr. Gladys Ayot Oyat celebrates with her husband, Dr. Michael Oyat, after attaining her doctorate during graduation at Uganda Christian University, Mukono campus, on Oct. 13, 2023.
By Irene Best Nyapendi Dr. Gladys Ayot Oyat’s inspiration to pursue a PhD in Education Administration and Management at Uganda Christian University (UCU) is rooted in her passion for addressing real-world challenges. Her commitment to women’s issues served as a driving force in choosing a research topic focused on the domestic violence impact on female teachers in Uganda.
Ayot’s research explores how domestic violence affects the teaching and administrative roles of female teachers working in secondary schools in Kitgum, northern Uganda.
Dr. Gladys Ayot Oyat, a former member of the governing council of Uganda Christian University, graduated with a PhD in Education Administration and Management on October 13.
Her study found that domestic violence adversely affects teaching roles, leading to poor service delivery, absenteeism, missed lessons, poor preparation, low self-esteem and mental health issues. This likewise negatively impacts women in administrative roles, resulting in reduced work, interpersonal relationships, learning outputs and mentorship. Female teachers employ various coping mechanisms, both informal and formal, but some strategies prove counterproductive. Support for victims is insufficient, hindering their ability to manage these challenges effectively.
Ayot found that the patriarchal nature of Ugandan society determines relationships between men and women irrespective of educational status.
“A lot needs to be done to address this challenge,” she said. “It undermines the laws we have in Uganda entrenched in our Constitution. My disappointment is that even women who are enlightened and educated, conceal what they go through in the name of protecting their marriage, adhering to culture and wanting to remain as role models to the students they teach when they are exposed to domestic violence. Worse still, taking the pain in silence and blaming themselves for the dysfunctional families.”
One moving story she encountered in her research involved a husband forcing his wife to have an abortion.
“This caused post-traumatic symptoms and depression,” Ayot said. “She would (imagine) the crying baby sitting on her lap and crying for help while she was in class teaching.”
With the dissemination of her findings, Ayot aims to encourage female teachers to be open to talking about the problems they go through and seeks for school administrators to support and create favorable conditions for women suffering from domestic violence.
Ayot, who was a member of the governing council of UCU, did her PhD on a modular course, which allowed her to study during the holidays.
She lauded UCU’s academic environment for its unique and supportive characteristics. The university’s modular approach, small class sizes, and strong faculty-student relationships fostered an atmosphere of shared learning and collaboration.
“I thank God that I chose UCU. My supervisor was very supportive; for example, during the Covid-19 pandemic time, he always called to follow up and give me support,” she said. “At the time when public places such as universities were closed as a way of curbing the spread of disease, I utilized the online university library.”
Ayot acknowledged the hectic and difficult journey to a PhD — long hours, rejection of proposals, and balancing social and work responsibilities.
“I was a wife and head teacher of Kitgum YY Okot Memorial College (2002-2022),” she said. “I had social responsibilities that I couldn’t ignore. At some point, I wanted to give up; for example, when I was working on chapter three of my research and my supervisor kept on asking me to redo it.”
However, her unwavering determination and support from her family, particularly her husband, who purchased grammar editing software for her, became pillars of strength.
Ayot said that being 61 years old also motivated her, knowing that she didn’t have as much time as the younger students.
“I told myself that I am not the type who should spend 10 years doing research. I wanted to do it and finish,” she said.
She is married to Dr. Michael Oyat with whom they have four children. She has served in the church as chairperson mothers union and is currently a lay Canon at Kitgum diocese. She studied a Bachelor and Masters in Education at Makerere University. She has served as Vice President, Mothers Union for the Province of Church of Uganda.
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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities, and services, go towww.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.
Best UCU student Ninsiima Precious Claire (first class in BBA) receives her accolade from David Mugawe, the UCU deputy vice chancellor (finance and adminstration) during the commissioning service at the Mukono campus on October 12, 2023
By Irene Best Nyapendi Precious Claire Ninsiima, 22, is the best student graduate from the October 13, 2023, ceremony. The Bachelor of Business Administration student could have joined a public university, where she was offered a scholarship, but didn’t. Her mother chose Uganda Christian University (UCU) because of its moral principles and image as a Christ-centered institution.
“My mother saw that it was important for me to study at UCU because of its values,” Ninsiima said. “She believed those values would prepare me for the outside world so that no matter what I found after school, I would know how to navigate.”
Of the 986 graduates on the UCU main campus celebration in Mukono, 459 were males and 527 females. The graduation included graduates from UCU’s constituent colleges of Kampala and Arua campuses. Ninsiima starred among the 33 – 20 female, 13 male – who got first-class degrees. Ninsiima, who studied at the Kampala campus, shone as the overall best student with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.78. She was also separately awarded as best female student and best arts student.
Ninsiima shakes hands with retired archbishop Henry Luke Orombi after picking up her award. In the center is Church of Uganda Archbishop and UCU Chancellor Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu. At left is Ass. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, the UCU vice chancellor.
Gilbert Afema was the best male student with a CGPA of 4.60 in a Bachelor of Divinity. Martin Juuko was recognized as the top science student for scoring a CGPA of 4.50 in Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
To Ninsiima, the accolades served as proof to her that she has the ability to excel in any endeavor she chooses to pursue as long as she approaches it with determination and effort.
“It feels good knowing that I was the overall best student,” she said. “It also shows me that I have the potential to do well. I now know that if I put my mind to anything, I can excel at it.”
She commended UCU for instilling merits such as integrity and Christ-centeredness in students. She firmly believes that by embracing these values, students can become better individuals.
“I appreciate UCU’s culture of Christianity,” Ninsiima said. “I didn’t think that there would be an institution where you have something like community worship. This helped me carry on with my spirituality.”
Ninsiima juggled her books with leadership. She was the deputy finance minister at Kampala campus, class representative and chairperson of Class Representatives Association. She said it was tough to balance books and leadership, but because she was an evening student (studying from 5 to 9 p.m.), she managed fairly well.
“Regardless of how tough it got, I had it at the back of my mind that my education was a priority. So, I made sure that my academics didn’t suffer at the cost of leadership” she said. “When it was time for class, I would prioritize that.”
UCU’s impact on her went beyond academics to co-curricular activities such as sports and community outreach. These experiences allowed her to engage with the community and provide valuable service.
“In 2022, I participated in a sports gala which gave me a chance to interact with other students at the university,” Ninsiima said. “It also built team spirit within us at the School of Business as we worked towards one goal to win.”
Her memorable experiences include an outreach to a Kampala slum, where she helped to clean the environment, encouraged people to donate blood and taught residents how to make reusable sanitary towels.
With ambitions to excel in her career, she envisions entering fields such as financial consultancy, financial analysis or auditing, among others. Her passion for business stems from its potential for growth and financial freedom.
“With formal employment, you can only grow as much as your employer wants you to; at each point you have to ask for more salary or wait to get promoted, while with business, if you establish a good brand, and keep working hard, you are able to grow and have financial freedom,” Ninsiima quipped.
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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities, and services, go towww.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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