UCU alum continues academic marks at Japan university

June 14, 2023Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

UCU alum Joyce Nakayenga earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering on March 23, 2023, at Japan’s Hiroshima University, where she has been retained as a postdoctoral researcher.

By Pauline Luba
“A name is so important. A surname connects you to your past, to your family.” This quote is attributed to Canadian author Kelley Armstrong.

The life of Joyce Nakayenga, a new recipient of a PhD in engineering, is aligned with the writer’s assertion. Named after her paternal grandmother, Nakayenga grew up knowing that she had to uphold that matriarch’s legacy of hard work and overcoming challenges. Nakayenga’s grandmother struggled to educate her children despite having so little.

When Nakayenga was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering – Civil and Environmental Engineering from Hiroshima University in Japan on March 23, 2023, and as other members of her family as well as friends looked on, her grandmother’s spirit was ever present. With the degree, the 31-year-old also won three prestigious university awards. Her research earned her the Best Presentation Researcher, Academic Encouragement Award and the 2022 Hiroshima Excellent Student Award.

For many who know Nakayenga’s academic ability, the latest attainment likely isn’t surprising. In 2015, she was not only a recipient of a First-Class degree in Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Uganda Christian University (UCU), but also had the best marks in her class. For that feat, she earned an academic excellence award at UCU. Consequently, UCU’s Department of Engineering and Environment hired Nakayenga as a tutorial assistant for one year.

“I have always wanted to be an engineer,” Nakayenga told Uganda Partners. “I wanted a profession that showed where I could visibly see the fruits of my work thereafter.”

UCU’s location within her home district – Mukono – and its deep roots in Christianity were a good fit for Nakayenga’s higher education choice.

Nakayenga notes that the UCU community, including its lecturers, were instrumental in ensuring concentration in books, overall performance and continued learning. For instance, a former lecturer at UCU brought her attention to the existence of the Mext scholarship to study at Hiroshima. Nakayenga enrolled for a master’s at the university in 2017 and the scholarship was extended to doctorate studies because she had passed the first post-graduate hurdle with flying colors.

Nakayenga describes herself as someone “keen on promoting sustainable societal development, especially for developing countries, through innovative engineering solutions.” Her PhD research, under the topic “The re-use of stone quarry waste (i.e granite and limestone powder) to improve the properties of weak clay soils,” gives her the competence to be able to develop “sturdy infrastructure that will stand the test of time and natural disasters.” The research focused on how to make naturally weak clay soil strong, by using stone powder.

Nakayenga is the fifth born of six children of Dr. Wilson Mubiru and Specioza Nabatanzi Mubiru. Nakayenga’s family had to use resources sparingly, having at one time been an extended family of up to 18 members living under one roof. Her parents, now retired, were public servants. Wilson was the officer in charge of health in central Uganda’s Mubende district while Specioza served as an education officer in the same district.

Nakayenga attended Mubende Parents School for her primary education and Nabisunsa Girls School for her secondary education before joining UCU. Nakayenga balanced academics and student leadership roles at every school she attended. At Mubende Parents School, she was the assistant head prefect. At UCU she represented her faculty in the UCU students’ parliament. At Hiroshima University, from 2017 to 2018, Nakayenga was the university’s Study Abroad Ambassador, where she sensitized students on the benefits of studying in the Hiroshima Prefecture (municipality).

For now, she will remain in Hiroshima, where the university has employed her as a postdoctoral researcher in the geotechnical laboratory of Hiroshima University.

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UCU gets additional $24,000 in multimedia equipment through Norway partnership

June 12, 2023News, Students, UCU School of Journalism, Media and CommunicationPatty Huston-Holm

Francis Acaye (holding pen), the studio technician, checks out the donated equipment

By Kefa Senoga
The Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED) recently donated multimedia equipment worth over sh98million (about $24,000) to the School of Journalism, Media and Communication of Uganda Christian University (UCU).

The cooperation between UCU’s School of Journalism, Media and Communication (JMC) and the Norwegian NLA University under the NORHED project is one of the partnership models that has played a role in the growth of UCU’s School of JMC.

Among the equipment received in May were still and video cameras, laptops, projectors, and other assorted accessories. Because of the partnership, there has been a positive change at the school, most especially in terms of equipment. During the first phase of the $1.3milliom NORHED project that was signed in 2013 as a collaboration between the Norwegian NLA University and the Department of Mass Communication at the time, the latter acquired equipment, such as 10 Handycam video cameras, more than 15 DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras, with their accessories like tripods and a comprehensive journalism and communication book bank.

To build on the success registered in the first phase of the project last year, UCU signed another partnership, NORHED II, which is intended to bring more equipment support and faculty development through training, to attain doctoral degrees up to 2026. The funds under NORHED II also are intended to help the school to start a PhD program in Journalism, Media Studies and Communication.

The multimedia equipment that SJMC received in May is geared towards enhancing practical training in multimedia storytelling and production, a key emphasis for journalists today.

Film making, news broadcasting, drama and documentary production are some of the many practical projects within the School of JMC. The students produce a weekly TV news bulletin through the online channel The UCU Focus and multimedia stories on the The Standard website, the university online newspaper.

Geoffrey Ssenoga, the technical instructor at the school, says that the equipment donated by NORHED consists of user-friendly devices that will enable the students to appreciate the profession that they are pursuing, noting that it will also enable a smoother, more-real world teaching and learning experience.

Emmanuel Ilungole, a third-year student of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communication and the head of production at the UCU Focus TV, says the new equipment will improve the quality of their production.

“Modern equipment offers good visuals, good sound, enhanced sound effects and easier editing tools which enrich the production experience,” Ilungole says.

John Semakula, the Head of the Department of Undergraduate Studies at the School of JMC, says with the new equipment, students will be able to produce quality multimedia stories. One of the key focus areas for JMC is producing competent and multi-skilled journalism graduates who meet the demands of the current job market. Semakula believes availability of the equipment will support the objective.

Prof. Monica Chibita, the Dean of the School of JMC, affirmed that the support from the NORHED project has played a vital role in the school’s capacity building since 2014. The support has helped build the school’s reputation as one of the top journalism, media, and communication institutions of higher learning in the region.

The first phase of the NORHED program led to the training of five members of the faculty to acquire PhD, as well as sponsoring graduates for master’s studies. The graduates have since joined the school as members of the faculty. Cumulatively, UCU also has procured equipment and books worth over sh800 million ($214,500) for the school. This includes over 600 book titles and equipping of four training studios.

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UCU-led research accentuates workplace hardships for new mothers

June 9, 2023SRPGSPatty Huston-Holm

Prof. Elizabeth Kukunda Bacwayo, the Director, Directorate of Post-Graduate Studies, UCU. Dr. Bacwayo was a lead researcher on the study about treatment of working breastfeeding mothers in Uganda higher education institutions.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Within one week of giving birth by C-section, a young mother needing to heal herself and nurse her newborn was called back to work. She had no choice but to report to her job as a part-time employee at a top university in Uganda because her livelihood depended on it.

The experience of this new mother is one of the many hardships faced by 21 women involved in the research on the plight of breastfeeding mothers working in Uganda higher education institutions. The mothers had given birth two years preceding the study done by five lecturers at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

The researchers – Mercy Amaniyo, Evas Kemigisha, Peter Kiwumulo and Solomon Mwije, led by Prof. Elizabeth Kukunda Bacwayo – found that the university (names withheld to comply with Research Ethics Committee guidelines) did not have a maternity protection policy or facility for breastfeeding mothers. Bacwayo called the lack of such a policy “risky” and “stressful” for both mother and newborn.

Bacwayo, head of the UCU Directorate of Post-Graduate Studies, observed that such experiences are a setback in the fight for gender equality. The research was inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #5 for gender equality, which emphasizes the need for equal access of employment opportunities to both males and females. However, Bacwayo noted that “a man will not experience” the barriers such as women in this study.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding as the most ideal food for infants in their first six months because it reduces infant morbidity. Experts say exclusive breastfeeding not only boosts babies’ health, but also ensures their optimal development because breast milk is the baby’s first immunization.

“Our research intended to find out if institutions have facilities that enable a woman to work and also exclusively breastfeed her baby with the question ‘If I give birth, will I be able to take care of my baby and still keep my job?’” Bacwayo said. The research aimed at examining both institution practices and policies.

Bacwayo and her co-investigators urged employers to make the working environment supportive for mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants.

“These mothers would love to exclusively breastfeed their children, but their workplace doesn’t have places where they can breastfeed from. Worse still, some employers don’t give their staff maternity leave for the mother to have more time with their babies, particularly those who are part-time workers,” she said.

Bacwayo warned that institutions risk losing staff as some mothers might be forced to quit their jobs in order to have time with their babies.

The research found that in some workplaces, once a woman gives birth, the working environment becomes unfriendly. This makes it impossible for women and men to have equal access to employment opportunities.

At the university under study, the institution’s policy on maternity protection only covers the provision of a three-month leave to full-time staff, but part-time women are not entitled to the leave. The mothers interviewed included the teaching and non-teaching staff, both full-time and part-time staff.

The findings indicated that female lecturers report to work worried and stressed about leaving their babies at home. Most of the mothers then have divided attention which affects their productivity at work.

Kiwumulo said many times such mothers miss work or sometimes find themselves having to deprive their children of breast milk. “This affects the baby’s health and also psychologically affects the lecturer because they are not happy with being away from their babies that need to be breastfed,” he said.

Bacwayo said when she presented the findings at the Second Annual AfriChild Centre Conference in late February, she was shocked that most of the participants did not know about breastfeeding facilities and the role they play. “If we get more funding, we would like to do further research in other workplaces aside from higher institutions of learning – for example, those working in factories and offices,” Bacwayo said.

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UCU Save the Mothers conference calls for prioritizing of safe motherhood

June 7, 2023Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Dr. Jessica Nsungwa (left), the health ministry’s commissioner maternal and child health, with Dr. Miriam Mutabazi, dean of the UCU Faculty of Public Health, Nursing & Midwifery, during the Save the Mothers annual conference at UCU on May 5, 2023.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
While strides have been made in reduction of infant mortality, prevalence of obstetric fistulas due to inadequate health care continues to be problematic, especially for developing countries and with the diminished number of health care workers since the Covid-19 pandemic. Obstetric fistula, in which there is a hole between the birth canal and bladder or rectum, is an ongoing problem in Uganda because of gaps in timely, high-quality medical care.

Prioritizing treatment for safe motherhood is critical, according to Dr. Jean Chamberlain, a Canadian obstetrician/gynecologist, who made the plea during the annual conference hosted by Save The Mothers (STM) Organisation, which Chamberlain co-founded. Under the theme, “Re-imagining Safe Motherhood Post-Pandemic,” she spoke at Uganda Christian University (UCU) on May 5.

Dr. Jean Chamberlain, founder of STM, speaks at the annual conference where she called for hiring of more health workers to support safe motherhood after suffering exits due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chamberlain argued that among all the world’s issues, safe motherhood should come to the top, especially in light of workforce loss and fatigue as a result of the pandemic.

“In the clinic where I work in Canada, we had around nine nurses at the beginning of the pandemic, but by the end of the pandemic, there was literally no nurse because all of the nurses left during the pandemic,” she said. “The challenge we are facing now is how to build the workforce again, looking for people who are really dedicated, who understand what they are doing and are qualified.”

Chamberlain emphasized the dire need to prioritize safe motherhood aligned with the STM vision: No mother or child should die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

In support of the vision, STM started a Master of Public Health Leadership (MPHL) at UCU in 2005 with the aim of training multi-disciplinary professionals and improving maternal and child health in developing countries. Over 600 East African leaders have graduated to work towards overcoming preventable maternal and child death.

Chamberlain urged safe motherhood professionals to be pillar-people by being present, committed, reliable, steady and go the distance for the mothers so that when people look at them, they see people they can lean on.

“Two million people worldwide suffer from fistula, but no one hears about them because the power actors have been silent to date,” she said. “This is why as Save the Mothers, we need to be a voice for these mothers.”

Dr. Jessica Nsungwa Sabiiti, the commissioner for maternal and child health at the ministry of health, reported that most deaths registered are due to patient delays at healthcare facilities.

“Most mothers bleed a lot which is as a result of delaying to be attended to at these facilities,” Nsungwa said. “We have been pushing for four visits for antenatal care, but we want eight visits to help identify those with risks.”

According to Nsungwa, a lot of what they do depends on the number of “champions” such as those trained through STM who can translate the information and be in the society to ensure that there is cohesion. Shesaid maternal mortality in the country has reduced from 18 to between 10 and 14 mothers a day since 2010.

Robie Kakonge, the Ambassador of Uganda to the USA and an alumnus of MPHL, appreciated her fellow alumni for the steady effort displayed towards positive change in safe motherhood.

“At the embassy each week I get not less than two requests related to public health” with many wanting to know how they can help, Kakonge said.

The executive director of Save the Mothers East Africa, Edward Mukooza, said their “Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative” is now effective in 13 health facilities in Uganda. Under the initiative, STM graduates work with hospital administrators and staff in improving maternal and newborn services.

“We also have high dependence units currently in five hospitals to help manage complications to reduce maternity morbidity and mortality. Through such programs, we provide emergency medical funds to vulnerable mothers,” he said.

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Global Anglican Conference reaffirms need for Bible conformity

June 5, 2023Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, NewsPatty Huston-Holm

Rev. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, the Archbishop Church of Uganda and Chancellor of Uganda Christian University, preaches at the GAFCON conference in April in Kigali, Rwanda.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
The fourth Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) brought together 1,302 delegates representing 52 countries, including 315 bishops, 456 other clergy and 531 laity. The April 17-21 conference was held in Rwanda under the theme: “To whom shall we go?”

Delegates at GAFCON seek to guard the unchanging, transforming gospel of Jesus Christ and to proclaim Him to the world.

Rev. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, the Archbishop Church of Uganda (COU) who also doubles as the Chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU), said Uganda made up 16% of the delegates.

A team of delegates from UCU at the GAFCON conference pictured (L-R) are Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Mukeshimana, Rev. Dr. John Kitayimbwa, Prof. Aaron Mushengyenzi, Rev. Julius Tabi Izza, Prof. Christopher Byaruhanga and Rev. Richard Mulindwa.

Kaziimba commended COU bishops for attending the conference in such a big number, saying it was a sign of their commitment to the Lord and His Church. The Archbishop said the three-day conference was full of inspirational worship, excellent Bible teaching and helpful background information on the current challenges in the Anglican Communion.

“We also had practical equiping to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to a world searching for answers to life’s challenges,” Kaziimba said.

Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, the UCU Vice Chancellor, said the conference offered a wonderful time of fellowship and repentance.

“It was a very good time of worship, reflection and prayer, both individually and as country groups,” he said. “We also had time to repent on behalf of our church – the Anglican Communion.”

In an interactive session, delegates expressed their views on the challenges facing the Church globally and the direction they would like to see it take.

On the last day of the conference, the Archbishops of all the provinces present issued the “Kigali Commitment.” In groups, the delegates went through the draft statement and gave their input in a formal statement that represents the position of the Anglican Communion.

The Kigali commitment statement, which Mushengyezi urged believers to read, recognizes the importance of confession, repenting and remaining faithful to the teachings of the Bible. It speaks against being swayed by teachings that are not in conformity with the Bible and with the orthodox doctrine of the church.

“We were pleased with the Kigali commitment because we believe it charts a way forward for global Anglicanism to reclaim its historic and Biblical faith,” Kaziimba said.

At the conference, the church leaders resolved to officially cut ties with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Church of England.

Reverend Richard Mulindwa, the UCU church relations manager, catches up with Prof. Stephen Noll, the former UCU Vice Chancellor at GAFCON

“The view was that unless they repent and return to the faith and salvation, we can no longer walk together with the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury, given their Synod resolution which allows clergy to bless same-sex unions, approved supplemental prayers and liturgies for such occasions,” Mushengyezi said.

GAFCON promised to offer support to churches including those in the Church of England that are willing to remain faithful to what God teaches.

The GAFCON and Global South Primates are expected to offer further guidance on a new structure that will give hope and a home to Anglican Christians worldwide.

Aligned with the conference resolutions, the Vice Chancellor said UCU’s Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology needs to refocus its training.

“We need to be more careful now with where we send our clergy and ordinands for training, where we send our priests for teaching and what kind of teaching they go through,” Mushengyezi said. “It’s important that we train faithful church leaders who will lead us on the right path of salvation and doctrine.”

Rev. Canon Paul Wasswa Ssembiro, UCU’s Chaplain, said UCU participated so that they experience first-hand the developments in the church and thereafter, advise and guide the COU.

“It was important for us to be part of this because UCU trains clergy for the COU and also gives counsel to the house of bishops in matters of theology,” Ssembiro said.

Canon Ssembiro said while at GAFCON, he felt great joy to witness that the Anglican Church has many Christians who still uphold the authority of the Bible.

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New Mbale Guild President overcomes handicapped stigma

June 2, 2023News, Students, UCU School of Social SciencesPatty Huston-Holm

Daniel Kunya is a student, a banking officer and a farmer

By Kefa Senoga
Daniel Kunya has no power to change the perception people may have about his abilities because of a disfigured right leg. His power is in his reaction to that judgment.

Kunya, born with a significantly shorter right leg, says his parents prepared him well for a world of ridicule, where some people cast doubt on ability for those with disabilities. He says he has been mocked by contemporaries throughout his life. In November last year, as he campaigned to be the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mbale Campus Guild President, a competitor took jabs at Kunya’s uncommon gait.

Kunya with UCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyenzi

“One of the candidates in the race told students not to allow a man with a disability to lead them,” Kunya says, adding: “However, the students chose me.”

According to the 30-year-old, the counseling and support he got from his parents enabled him to develop a thicker skin to persevere through bullying to become a student leader throughout his education. He is the second of four children of Kunya Fred and Mukimba Rose of Namutumba district in eastern Uganda.

He attended St Henry’s School Wakiso for his primary education, where he served as the pupils’ leader in charge of sanitation. At Kawala College School, where he attended O’level, Kunya was the student leader in charge of the dining hall.

While he had no official, documented leadership role at Apass Secondary School in Kampala, where he attended A’level, he jumped back into leadership when running for the apex student position of Guild President, which he got.

At the same time, Kunya, a UCU year-two student of Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration, is leading and working in finance and farming.

Through his work as a Social Banking Officer with Opportunity Bank, a financial institution in Uganda, Kunya has been responsible for formal banking clients. As a community-based trainer, he has been able to train more than 1,000 youths in Village Savings and Loans Association, as well as in financial literacy.

He also is actively engaged in farming, dispelling perceptions that this physical work is beyond the grasp of a person with special needs.

“This season, I harvested five acres of rice in Namutumba and last season, I had an onion farm in Namisindwa,” Kunya says. Both Namutumba and Namisindwa are districts in eastern Uganda.

Seeing the challenges that people living with disabilities often face in communities, Kunya appeals for a society that is more tolerant and appreciative of their unique physical challenges.

On many buildings in Uganda, including in schools, there are neither ramps or lifts, meaning Kunya and many people like him will find a challenge in accessing such places.

Despite his accomplishments and the brave face that Kunya usually has, at the end of the day, he has human emotions. He says although he stays purpose-focused, especially when he is mocked, there are days when the psychological torture that he encounters overwhelms him, sometimes reducing him to tears.

He has a message to those who invoke psychological torture to those living with disabilities.

“All of us are candidates for disability because you can be moving around and you get involved in an accident,” said Kunya.

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Vice Chancellor Mushengyezi elected to board of global alliance of universities

May 31, 2023NewsPatty Huston-Holm

Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi with Prof. Dong-sung Cho, the Chairman of the Institute of Industrial Policy Studies, Switzerland. Cho is also the President of the Hanseatic League of Universities.

By Kefa Senoga
The Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU), Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, has been elected to the board of the Hanseatic League of Universities (HLU), a global alliance of institutions of higher learning. The election took place during an HLU board meeting, which was part of the activities of the third annual Hanseatic League of Universities Conference held at the Florida Gulf Coast University, Southwest Florida, U.S. from May 15-17.

The election of Mushengyezi, who has previously served on advisory boards of many other organisations, saw UCU join Tanzania’s University of Dar es Salaam as the second African institution on the board of the five-year-old association of universities.

UCU is one of the founding universities of HLU. This association seeks innovation in research and education under a shared mission of working together to address the real impact of higher education on societies and industries worldwide.

The members of the Board of Directors of the Hanseatic League of Universities.

HLU started in April 2018 at the initiative of Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands and has 10 universities on its board, including UCU and the University of Dar es Salaam from Africa. America is represented by Northern Arizona University. From Europe, five universities sit on the board – Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), Bremen University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland), UC Leuven-Limburg (Belgium) and the Belgorod State National Research University of Russia. Representing Asia are North Korea’s Incheon National University and the Beijing Technology and Business University from China.

The conference, which focused on communication, collaboration and learning from leaders, educators, and pioneers in higher education around the world, brought together different heads, rectors and vice chancellors of institutions of higher learning to reflect on the emerging issues, and discuss how to mitigate or solve their effects.

Under the conference theme of Vectors of Resilience, the meeting discussed how institutions of higher learning around the world responded to the unexpected challenges faced over the last few years, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The HLU also has established a new ranking system for its member universities, which is meant to evaluate the contribution of higher education institutions to society, highlighting creative and innovative approaches to research and educational programs. This year, more than 300 universities worldwide are participating in the World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI) ranking, with more than 1,100 innovative programs.

The WURI ranking focuses on industrial application, value-creating, social responsibility, ethics and integrity, student mobility and openness, crisis management and progress during the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Before the conference, Mushengyezi visited Pepperdine University in Malabo, California, from May 10-13, at the invitation of the institution’s President, Jim Gash. Pepperdine is seeking to strengthen ties with UCU in student and staff exchange programs, as well as practical training of law students in Uganda.

UCU management has taken efforts to widen doors to both local and international partnerships with universities all over the world for the benefit of students, staff, researchers and other stakeholders. One notable such partnership is with the US-based Council for Christian Colleges, which facilitates UCU’s Uganda Studies Program by providing annual study-abroad opportunities for students from various U.S-based colleges. Through classes, internships and living with Ugandan families or peers, the Uganda Studies Program provides opportunities for students to engage people, culture and contemporary realities in Uganda in ways that challenge them to actively participate in Christ’s claim on all aspects of life.

Mushengyezi’s May trip to western and southeastern parts of the USA follows another one in February this year, where he travelled to other states in the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast regions of the country. On the February trip, he held meetings with representatives of various educational institutions to strengthen collaborative academic and research partnerships.

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UCU carries out agriculture outreach for Mukono farmers

May 29, 2023Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, News, StudentsPatty Huston-Holm

Students and farmers from Bugujju in the greenhouse at UCU

By Pauline Luba
Farmers in Katente Village, Nakisunga sub-county in Mukono district, have long benefited from the classroom knowledge of students at Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. Likewise, from these workers among crops and livestock, students have gained an understanding of how their curriculum is applied outside of lectures and textbooks.

This exchange of ideas, experience, and knowledge is part of an outreach program designed specifically for third-year students pursuing a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurship.

Students and farmers learning about improved agricultural practices from an instructor.

“We extended the outreach to different villages across Uganda, and all of them were identified through the church,” Ms. Sheila Namuwaya, the head of the Department of Agriculture, said.

She further explained what the outreach entails. “The students are assigned households, after which they identify what the farmers have and their respective needs.” They then plan how to help the farmer achieve more value for money.

Ms. Namuwaya has been in charge of these programs since she joined UCU 11 years ago. Among the recommendations that students often make to the farmers is setting up a vegetable garden so that the farmer’s family is able to partake of the benefits that come with eating vegetables. Also, it is intended that the surplus vegetables can be sold to the community. Another recommendation involves rearing livestock.

“I believe this program is important because it helps students realize they can do things in a practical sense,” Ms. Namuwaya said.

Once the selected households have agreed to the project, students are then

Students applying manure before planting banana suckers

transported from UCU to Katente, a distance of about 10 miles from the UCU main campus. The students spend time with the farmers they have been attached to once a week, from 8a.m to 1p.m, for the duration of the outreach.

The safety of the students is ensured because the local council leaders and the police are key figures in the project. The farmers are not provided with funds, nor are the students given any financial compensation by the farmer for the work done for them except that a farmer may give something from their farms as a gesture of courtesy.

Funding for student transportation has been a barrier overcome by combining the off-campus experience with farmers coming to the Mukono campus.

Of the on-campus outreach, Ms. Namuwaya said, “We got a number of farmers from around the university community in Bugujju to come, interact, and learn with the students.”

This year, the farmers and the students participated in outreach activities in the gardens set up at the university demonstration plot. Students choose their desired enterprises to work with. However, the number of students participating in the outreach exercise has been dwarfed by the enthusiasm from the farmers in Bugujju. For instance, during one of the in-campus sessions, there were 30 farmers for the nine students. The department hopes to undertake measures that will see an increase in the number of students pursuing the course.

“We are carrying out aggressive marketing of the course so that the student numbers can increase,” Ms. Namuwaya said.

She hopes more students can realize the benefit they accrue from the outreach activities conducted so they put into practice the knowledge gained in the classroom.

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UCU alum wins scholarship for Certified Public Accountants course

May 26, 2023News, Students, UCU AlumniPatty Huston-Holm

Carroline Kihumuro is one of the successful candidates for the ICPAU Student Scholarship program

By Kefa Senoga
Mid last year, Carroline Nyange Kihumuro stumbled on an advertisement by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU), calling for applications from graduates who wished to pursue a course in professional accountancy as scholars.

“When I applied for the scholarship in June last year, I was required to write an essay, stating why I needed the scholarship; I was also required to provide my grades,” says Kihumuro, an alumna of Uganda Christian University (UCU) and one of the three female students of the 10 who got a scholarship for the two-and-a-half-year Certified Public Accountants Course.

Unveiling the winners of the ICPAU student scholarship program. Standing are the scholarship recipients while seated are members of the senior management at ICPAU.

The beneficiaries of the scholarship are expected to have scored a First-Class Degree or Second-Class Upper Division. Every year, ICPAU admits students to its programs. In every cohort, the institute sponsors 10 students from either public or privately-owned universities. Kihumuro is in the fourth cohort of the Student Scholarship Program.

According to ICPAU, becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant offers opportunities, such as international recognition and affiliation with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), access to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs, opportunities to represent the accountancy profession on the ICPAU Council, access to accountancy information and updates through ICPAU portals and platforms, as well as enhanced credibility with the CPA professional designation, among others.

Kihumuro says enrolling for the course is a big milestone towards achieving her dream career. She has long had a strong passion for working in finance-related fields. And it is this desire that influenced her to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration. “When I joined UCU, I didn’t have second thoughts on pursuing business studies,” states Kihumuro, who will write her first CPA exams in August.

ICPAU is mandated with regulating and maintaining the standard of accountancy in Uganda, as well as prescribing and regulating the conduct of accountants and practicing accountants in Uganda.

Kihumuro joined UCU in 2018 and graduated on October 2, 2021, with a First-Class degree. However, had it not been for the outreach by the UCU career and guidance department to the western-Uganda school of Kyebambe Girls School, where Kihumuro studied A’level, perhaps she would have ended up at another institution of higher learning.

“I got the chance to meet Madam Connie Musisi, the then careers officer at UCU who encouraged me to join the university and pursue my dream career in business and finance,” Kihumuro says, noting that she wanted a university that would also groom her spiritually.

She says the schools she attended gave her the opportunity to hone her leadership skills, something she believes gave her lots of exposure.

While at UCU, Kihumuro served as a student leader in different capacities. She was the guild representative for the School of Business and a residential assistant in the Sabiti Girls Hall of residence. She was also a student leader at the UCU Honors College, which is designed for exceptionally motivated and high-achieving students. At Kyebambe Girls School, she was the deputy head prefect in her O’level and the head prefect during her A’level.

Kihumuro attributes the successes she has attained over the years to God and her single mother, Martha Tusiime, who she says was quite supportive and paid all her tuition fees.

Besides her mother, her fiancé, Patrick Shikobo, has played key roles in her life. “When I thought of changing my career due to some disappointments that emerged, Patrick encouraged me to push on.”

Kihumuro is currently employed as a banking officer with Bank of Africa, a commercial bank in Uganda, where she has been for over a year.

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Digital platform that demystifies law earns award for alum

May 24, 2023News, Students, UCU Alumni, UCU School of LawPatty Huston-Holm

By Kefa Senoga
For an example of a life of twists and turns, look no farther than that of Isaac Christopher Lubogo. Lubogo is a lawyer whose father wanted him to pursue a science career. He is an academic, but initially chose to be a pastor.

During his early days, Lubogo lost his mother, but instead of pulling him down, her demise catapulted his desire to succeed in life. He says he used the depression that the death of Margaret Mugeni caused to create the energy to carry on with life. His father, Patrick Kunya, a minister in the Uganda government in the early 1980s, also had passed on.

“I do not remember lacking anything in life when my mother was alive,” Lubogo says, casting doubt on if he could have achieved whatever he has done now because he “lacked any ambition” before his mother died.

Because Lubogo knew that with the demise of Mugeni, he was all alone against the world, he had to make use of the resurgence in his energy and spirits. And that is partly responsible for an achievement that the law lecturer registered. He recently won the Legal Tech Innovation Award, Africa, for a digital platform that he uses to demystify the law. Lubogo, an alum and former lecturer of Uganda Christian University (UCU), said the judges at the annual awards were impressed with the Suigeneris Law App that he created because they believed that “it changed people’s mindset.”

Lubogo with the writer, Kefa, and some of his over 35 books

Through the application, Lubogo teaches the knowledge of the law to people from certificate to doctorate level through the academic resources and materials. On the platform and without charge, one is able to access previous judgments, a legal dictionary, inspirational material, audios and books. Lubogo also has written more than 35 law books, many of which he shares on the platform through an e-book.

“I got confirmation from one university which is using one of my books in their syllabus,” Lubogo said. “Another book, Obuntu Bulamu and the Law, is also taught in some law schools in the country under jurisprudence.”

Had Lubogo not made a turning point at Busoga College Mwiri, a school in eastern Uganda, where he studied A’level, possibly the world would have missed his resourcefulness in as far as sharing law literature is concerned. He first studied science subjects – Physics, Chemistry and Biology – with the hope of pursuing a course in human medicine at university. However, the grades he got could not grant him the opportunity to study the course on government sponsorship at university. He thus chose to repeat A’level at Kira College Butiki in eastern Uganda, where he abandoned science subjects, opting for arts.

Despite passing his final examinations in A’level, Lubogo had second thoughts about joining the university.

“I studied a course in theology at Alpha-Omega Seminary in Jinja, but did not complete it,” Lubogo says, adding: “My desire to do theology was because of my strong Christian foundation.” He even started a church, Wairaka Miracle Centre, in Jinja. The church exists to date.

After four years of ministry, Lubogo joined UCU to pursue a Bachelor of Laws. By then, he already had a daughter, Zion, who is now at Makerere University, pursuing a Bachelor of Law degree.

Since he did not have money for tuition, Lubogo sold the only piece of land that his mother gave him to get money for the university fees. In his second year, he was lucky to get a scholarship that catered for his tuition needs until he completed his four-year course. After university, Lubogo pursued a Diploma in Legal Practice at Uganda’s Law Development Center, Masters in Law and is now pursuing a doctorate in law and a doctorate in psychology.

The legal scholar says after acquiring his Master of Laws degree at Makerere, he settled for a career in academia. He is currently teaching law at the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) and Nkumba University. He was previously the Principal of UCU’s Institute of Petroleum Studies.

Lubogo notes that as an academic, he has interacted with students who have helped him come up with ideas. He says as a lecturer at UCU, one of his students, Muchwa Christopher, introduced to him the idea of creating an application from where legal literature can be shared. It is this app that won Lubogo international acclaim through the Legal Tech Innovation Award, Africa.

Lubogo recently wrote the Future Lawyer, which is meant to give upcoming lawyers information on how to deal with artificial intelligence. He is currently writing another book about oral examinations, aptitude tests and sitting interviews for law students at undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels.

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Eritrean narrates journey as UCU dentistry student

May 22, 2023News, Students, UCU School of DentistryPatty Huston-Holm

By Kefa Senoga
Yohana Eyob Ghebrekristos always held the notion that her dream would not become a reality through magic, but rather, by sweat, determination and hard work. Yohana dreams of a career in dental surgery. And she is almost there. She is in year five, the final year of study for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

Yohana began university studies from her home country, Eritrea. However, due to some difficulties at her university, in 2018, she traveled more than 1,000 miles to relocate to Uganda to cement her dream.

“I studied at the Orotta School of Medicine and Dentistry for a couple of years, but due to some challenges that our school was going through, I decided to relocate to Uganda to continue with my studies,” Yohana said.

She was among the pioneer students for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery course at UCU. With that UCU pioneer class expected to graduate in July this year, there is hope that the high dentist to patient ratio in Uganda will drop. Uganda has 320 dentists licensed to practice in a country of more than 45 million people, resulting in a shortage that the Uganda Dental Association attributes to limited training institutions.

While many people would have second thoughts about leaving their country of origin to study on foreign land, it was not the case with Yohana. The passion and determination she had to pursue a career in dentistry, coupled with the comfort of living with her sister, who is employed as an information technology professional with the United Nations in Uganda drove her to UCU.

“My passion for dentistry started when I was 13 years old. During that time, I used to visit my childhood dentist, Dr. Fessehaye, to restore the cavities that I had in my teeth,” she said, noting that the level of professionalism with which Dr. Fessehaye carried out his work attracted her. Another thing that made Yohana fall for dentistry, she narrated, was the rate at which patients regained hope after visiting the dentist.

Yohana notes that when she developed the love for the profession, she started engaging with the dentist, who was also a family friend, more often, to try to understand what it meant to carry out the job.

“He would tell me what’s required to become a dentist. When I finally shared with him my desire to join the profession, he gave me invaluable advice that made me appreciate the career even more,” Yohana said, noting that she has since learned that dentistry involves more than just extracting teeth.

Yohana said she is glad she joined UCU School of Dentistry, because she is not just taught by lecturers but “dental experts with good character.” For instance, the Dean of the UCU School of Dentistry, Dr. James Magara, is one of Uganda’s celebrated dental surgeons. Dr. Magara, who was part of the pioneer class of dental surgery at Uganda’s Makerere University, has been a practicing professional since 1988.

Yohana says UCU has also provided an opportunity for her to grow in her faith. She and, indeed, other students, credit UCU for its strong Christian foundation that they say reinforces their religious beliefs. One of the favorite programs is the lunch-hour Christian fellowship that is conducted at the university every Tuesday and Thursday.

As a dentist, Yohana notes that it is her role to identify a gap in relation to oral health literacy in the community and then use every opportunity to educate the community about oral hygiene, noting that scholars have affirmed that good oral health leads to good general health.

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Study at UCU: Three students share perspectives

May 19, 2023News, StudentsPatty Huston-Holm

Nathanael Simbilyabo said despite the challenges he faced as he started out at UCU, he is grateful for the decision he made to join the institution.

By Pauline Luba
Language barrier, homesickness and culture shock are some of the challenges Nathanael Simbilyabo encountered as a new university student. Since Simbilyabo, a Ugandan national of the Democratic Republic (DR) of Congo, had his pre-university education conducted in French, it took a big leap of faith for him to come to terms with studying in Uganda, where English is the national language and medium of instruction in schools.

In 2021, he was admitted to Uganda Christian University (UCU) to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communication. Even the bridge course he and other international students took was challenging. The Higher Education Certificate (HEC) program is a bridge support for all international students who studied A’level from outside Uganda.

“When I came to Uganda, I did not know English,” said Simbilyabo, adding: “I learned it in HEC. It bridged the gap.”

Life was tough for Simbilyabo. As if learning a new language was not hard enough, he had to find ways of overcoming homesickness on top of financial challenges that many students face. One day, he was hit by a bodaboda as he crossed the streets. In DR Congo, it is an unwritten rule that men do not shed tears – a rule he broke that day.

However, he was eventually able to conquer the challenges and now says he would not trade studying at UCU for anything. He says the university has exposed him to learning cultures of people from other parts of the world.

“UCU equips someone spiritually, physically and mentally,” Simbilyabo said, adding: “I love this university. It has helped me.”

And it’s not just Simbilyabo who has attested to the spiritual growth that UCU students get. Many of them cite the community hour fellowship every Tuesday and Thursday as university activities that help to cement their faith in an institution that seeks to fully incorporate the Christian gospel in its programs.

Carolyn Shonkweiler with her new friends in Mukono, Uganda.

For Carolyn Shonkweiler, the five months that she has spent on the UCU campus have been more than enough for her to discover the university’s value. In January 2023, Shonkweiler was granted the opportunity for an exchange program with UCU, under the America-based Uganda Studies Program. She left Dordt University, a private evangelical Christian university in Iowa, to be a resident of UCU for one semester.

“I was definitely pushed out of my comfort zone,” Shonkweiler said. “I didn’t know anyone; I didn’t know if they would like me. But I have really enjoyed my experience here. I have made new friends and seen the world and the culture of the Ugandan people.”

Shonkweiler said in the beginning, she found it hard to adjust to the food. However, after some time, she started falling in love with some of the Ugandan delicacies, such as rolex (chapatti rolled with fried eggs). She said she has enjoyed the hospitality of the Ugandan friends she has made while here and would recommend UCU for any international student wishing to study in Uganda.

Rodney Ngabirano was among the first students to apply to join UCU during the September intake in 2021.

Rodney Ngabirano, from Uganda ,was among the first students to apply to join UCU during the September intake in 2021. At the time, due to the pandemic-induced lockdown, many institutions of higher learning were struggling to come to terms with virtual learning. However, for UCU, the case was different. In a 2022 article for Uganda Partners, Dr. Stephen Kyakulumbye, a senior lecturer at UCU, said the movement to start online learning began five years before Covid.

At UCU, the idea for virtual learning was advanced in 2016 when five UCU faculty members were chosen for an on-line teaching, virtual training in Muranga, Kenya. Kyakulumbye, already known for his expertise in Information Systems Curriculum Design, relished the fact that he was among the five. And it is innovations like these that attracted students like Ngabirano, because it was evident, they were joining a university with an already tried and tested setup.

Ngabirano says he is impressed by the level of professionalism of many of the staff members who are always available for consultations, as well as the cleaners who ensure the students operate from a hygienic environment.

The fact that UCU academics push students to put classroom theory into practice has enabled the students to test the world of work before they eventually face it. For instance, by supporting law students to take part in moot competitions, they are being exposed to the philosophy of law. Last year, UCU journalism students put into practice what they learned by producing a movie that earned a nomination for a national films award in Uganda.

Esther Aguku at work in the Vice Chancellor’s office.

Esther Aguku, a Ugandan and the Executive Officer in the Office of the Vice Chancellor, said the UCU master’s courses help to mold the students for the practical world. She graduated from UCU with a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology.

“I have been a student here and elsewhere,” she said. “I prefer UCU on any day. Class wasn’t just class; I built stronger relationships as a student. I would recommend this university to anyone seeking higher education.”

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UCU students clean well, providing safe water for community

May 17, 2023StudentsPatty Huston-Holm

Bishop Barham University College social work students clean the well at Kigezi High School Primary in Kabale district, western Uganda.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Ndayambaje Elidaphonse’s family in Kabale district, western Uganda, has access to clean and safe water for use after Uganda Christian University (UCU) students removed silt and sediment from their water source. The well near Bishop Barham University College (BBUC) serves over 300 households in the areas of Bugongi, Kibikuura, and Rwakaraba, which are near Kabale town.

An estimated 38 million of Uganda’s 45 million people lack access to a reliable, safely managed source of water with seven million lacking access to improved sanitation solutions. The grim statistics are from the 2022 report from the Ministry of Health, Uganda.

Amos Nomwesigwa, desilting the well, says he is proud to do community service as a tradition by the BBUC students.

Elidaphonse, a father of three, said students showed that they “care and mind about people getting clean water.” He added: “I am happy because the bush around the well was cleared. Water that had stagnated is now flowing. We use the water for cooking and drinking.”

Pupils and students of Kigezi High School Primary and Excel High School also drink the water and use it for washing.

According to UNICEF, in Uganda, poor sanitation and hygiene as well as unequal access to safe drinking water, make thousands of children very sick and at risk of death.

Students of the UCU School of Social Sciences cleaned the community well on March 9, 2023, as part of their “corporate social responsibility.”

Catherine Atukunda Masiko, the head of the Department of Social Sciences at BBUC, said she thought it would be of great help to the university neighbors if students cleaned the well as part of their community outreach.

Clean water flowing after the cleaning operation by over 50 students. Students previously cleaned hospitals, Kabale town and homes of people with disabilities.

“I identified a well near the university that was in a very bad state; it had not been cleaned in months and the drainage system was blocked with waste,” she said. “I then shared this problem with my students who embraced the idea of us reaching out to help the community solve this problem.”

Armed with shovels, hoes, masks and gloves, over 50 students rolled up their sleeves and went into the filthy trench and emptied the well. They unclogged the rubbish which had blocked the drainage system and made the water muddy.

Every semester, the students do community engagement. It also was done as part of activities ahead of the World Social Work Day on March 21. The day promotes the contributions of individuals and communities working for society. And for the students as social workers, it is aimed at relieving people’s suffering, fighting for social justice and improving lives and communities.

Ndayambaje Elidaphonse, a native whose family of four relies on the well students cleaned for water for cooking and drinking.

“It feels so good to help. I feel humbled to deliver a service that will be enjoyed by the majority,” Amos Nomwesigwa, a participating student, said.

He said it is now a tradition for BBUC students to engage in services that help the community.

They have been to outreaches in hospitals, including, Rugarama hospital, Kabale referral hospital and cleaning Kabale town. When the students visited Rugarama hospital, they took items such as soap for the patients, cleaned the hospital and prayed for the sick. At the home for people with disabilities in Kinkugiri, they offered counseling services and an assortment of basic supplies, including soap.

The university provides funds to facilitate volunteerism. Simon Turyakira, the BBUC public relations officer, said the program enables students to be exemplary to the community so that it can learn to clean on their own.

“We did this because we want something to be done in the community,” Turyakira said. “We need to give them direction by doing it first. The students wanted to make the well clean so that people can start doing it as a routine.”

In local communities, social activities such as cleaning of water sources are initiatives of the community, led by the local council leaders. However, Turyakira explained that the local leaders cannot be blamed for the ill-kept well because sometimes they are overwhelmed by other community work on their desks.

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University proves insect value in nutrition and alleviating food waste

May 15, 2023Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, News, StudentsPatty Huston-Holm

Geoffrey Ssepuuya and a team from the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology look at dried food waste that may become powder for use as an ingredient in feed for crickets. Collected food waste such as bananas and rice is heat treated, dried, ground into powder and mixed according to predetermined formulation proportions.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
The Uganda Christian University (UCU) Faculty of Agricultural Sciences has teamed up with crickets – the insect and not the sport – in a successfully piloted food chain project that alleviates hunger and malnutrition. The ‘Food Waste-2-Cricket Feed’ enterprise produces cricket feed from food waste and then turns the insects into a nutritious food supplement.

The UCU agriculture research team, led by Geoffrey Ssepuuya, a senior lecturer, established that there is a daily production of 768 metric tons of food waste in Kampala.

The project aimed at developing a processing protocol for converting food waste to a safe and shelf-stable cricket feed. It was funded by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST). Florence Agwang, the grants officer at UNCST, says the undertaking was especially viable because the country has long struggled with waste management.

“If this project succeeds and is able to get support from the government, we shall be able to greatly reduce the problem of waste in Uganda,” Agwang says.

The project involves collecting food waste from the UCU university dining hall in addition to remains from restaurants, hotels and markets.

Collected food waste such as bananas, rice, etc. is heat treated, dried, ground into powder and mixed according to predetermined formulation proportions into feed for the crickets. The crickets are reared in aerated food containers and provided with hide-outs because the crickets are nocturnal (comfortable in dark places).

In a bid to ensure sustainable cricket production in the country, the project is working towards continued production and distribution of this low cost “protein and micro–nutrient rich cricket feed.” The developed cricket feed is nutritious with a performance similar to that of broiler starter mash. With the formulated feeds, the crickets require 8 – 10 weeks to mature, while with local feeds, crickets take about 12 weeks to mature.

Crickets can be used to enrich the diet with protein and other nutrients when added to the daily meals. It is a common practice in Uganda to eat fried insects such as crickets and grasshoppers. In this project, crickets, which have more protein than fish and beef, are ground to be mixed with staple flours for porridge and food.

Geoffrey Ssepuuya holding the cricket feed. With the formulated feeds, the crickets require 8 – 10 weeks to mature, faster than on normal food waste where they will take about 12 weeks.

“Instead of consuming cassava bread that is only about 2% protein or even less, communities can supplement it with crickets which are 50 – 65 % rich in proteins,” Ssepuuya says. “So, with the feeds now available they can rear the crickets, dry them under the sun, grind them into powder and add the protein rich powder to their food.”

The most common sources of proteins such as meat, milk and chicken are not affordable to many Ugandans, yet it can now be redeemed from eating crickets.

Dr. John Livingstone Mutyaba, Head of Agriculture (Postgraduate), explained that rearing crickets can be a new source of income for farmers through rearing and selling them. Crickets (Acheta domesticus) lay hundreds of eggs, which makes them multiply in a very short time.

Mutyaba says unlike what some commonly believe, crickets are not demanding in terms of housing and food.

The biggest challenge is feed in addition to proper management of heat and humidity. This is because crickets are more comfortable in dark places, and during cold days, they need heat.

There also is a need for labor and sufficient space to dry the crickets when they reach maturity. This is because they are best when dried before consumption.

Crickets in their breeding tray feeding on food waste. They lay hundreds of eggs which makes them increase in a very short time.

The project is also supporting research by students like Derrick Kizito Okettayot, a fourth-year student of Food Science and Technology. To Okettayot, crickets are a delicacy.

“When I was young, we used to pick a few crickets hiding under the grass, roast and eat them,” Okettayot recalls. “I used to eat them in small quantities because they were rare, but I am so glad that I have now learned how to rear crickets, and I can now have enough of them.”

He adds that one can even blend crickets with fruits to make a protein shake.

“This is a win-win solution when we use food waste to feed the crickets and later feed on the crickets, so the food waste comes back to us in a different format to benefit us and the insects,” Dr. Rose Mary Bulyaba, the dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Science says.

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UCU holds first physical pre-entry exams since COVID

May 12, 2023News, Students, UCU School of Dentistry, UCU School of Law, UCU School of MedicinePatty Huston-Holm

Applicants before writing for their pre-entry exams in Janani Luwum Dining Hall.

By Kefa Senoga
Uganda Christian University (UCU) has held its first physical pre-entry examinations for applicants wishing to pursue three of the courses it offers at the undergraduate level. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, for the past three years, UCU has conducted virtual pre-entry exams for the Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, and Bachelor of Dental Surgery.

The examinations for the School of Medicine and that of Surgery were conducted from April 10-14 at the UCU School of Dentistry in Mengo, Kampala, while the students intending to pursue a course in law sat their examinations at the UCU Main Campus, in the Janani Luwum Dining Hall from April 17-21.

Invigilators preparing to distribute the tests.

UCU’s pre-entry examinations consist of both oral and written tests. The written examination is intended to test the candidate’s level of comprehension while the oral test is done to evaluate the confidence levels and the oratory skills of candidates.

Ninsima Dorothy, one of the students who sat the pre-entry examinations for the admission into the Bachelor of Laws, said the oral interviews give UCU an edge over other law schools. She reasoned that students who are not as effective in written presentations also have the option of the oral interviews to make their case. Ninsima wants to follow in the footsteps of her sister who also pursued a Bachelor of Laws at UCU and “performed quite well.”

Kamya Joel Jessy also sat the pre-entry exams for the admission into the Bachelor of Laws course. The former student of St Julian High School Gayaza, near Kampala, lauded UCU for setting a “feasible and practical” test which “fitted well in his level of understanding.”

“They asked for my take on divorce, marriage and foreign aid,” he explained, noting that the questions were mainly testing one’s level of general knowledge and current affairs.

Speaking to the applicants before they wrote the tests, Dr. Mutesasira Davis, the Dean of the UCU School of Law, informed them that it is not necessary for one to be coached before they sit the pre-entry exams as he allayed any fears the students could have had, especially those who had not had any form of coaching.

Asaph Elly Munyigwa, the president of the UCU Law Society, noted that in pre-entry examinations, candidates are asked about what’s happening in their societies. “You cannot desire to pursue a Bachelor of Laws course if you don’t even know who the current Chief Justice of Uganda is,” he warned.

Munyigwa said for the written exam, the candidates were given one-and-a-half hours to take the test, which consisted of questions with multiple choice answers. “There were 30 in number and each question carried two marks.”

Munyigwa said more than 800 students turned up for the pre-entry examinations, and that 150-200 of them were examined every day.

According to Munyigwa, the good performance of UCU alumni in the recently released examination results for the Bar Course at Uganda’s Law Development Centre for the academic year 2021/22 attracted more students to express their desire to join the School of Law.

The Law Development Centre offers a contemporary Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, which is the Bar Course, and its acquisition is mandatory before anyone practices law in the country.

In the most recent results of the Bar Course, of the 20 First Class graduates, nine, including the top four, are UCU alums. UCU alum Emmanuel Okia emerged the overall best student with a grade point average of 4.90 out of 5.0. Other UCU alums Shamira Kitimbo garnered 4.80, Reagan Ahumuza got 4.75 while Jemimah Jehopio scored 4.70.

Addressing the students who sat the pre-entry exams for the Bachelor of Laws course, Christa Oluka, the UCU Director of Director of Admissions and Student Records, said the university has a special law school where the staff and the students are always engaging each other.

Mukibi Lawrence William, the student leader at the UCU Medical School, said more than 320 students sat for the UCU School of Medicine and dentistry pre-entry exams. However, only 68 were selected for both courses, with Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery taking 50 of those chosen.

Ayero Claire Nono, a former student of Uganda Martrys Namugongo, near Kampala, passed the pre-entry exams. She said she enjoyed the oral part of the exams because it offered her an opportunity to physically interact with the panel. She said now that she has joined the university, she looks forward to qualifying as a doctor with a foundation anchored on Christian values.

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Education Lecturer Attributes UK Contributor and UCU for Success

May 10, 2023Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology, UCU School of EducationPatty Huston-Holm

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Coming from a humble background with a peasant father, Patience Akampurira had no hope of joining a university after completing A’ level in 1998. It was like a dream and yet an answered prayer when her father, a very committed Christian and a canon in the Church of Uganda heard about Uganda Christian University (UCU) and how it offered other programs apart from theology. Her father quickly sent for the application forms, and she was offered an opportunity to study for a Bachelor of Arts concurrent with a Diploma in Education (BAED).

The added blessing is that her father’s friend from the United Kingdom – a woman who had visited their church in Uganda – offered to pay her tuition for the three years. Akampurira says Alexandria Mynors and her family changed her life through a donation of about £50 (about $62) each month. The sponsorship saved her from worrying and reinforced her determination to focus on her studies and excel.

Akampurira joined UCU for her undergraduate studies in 1999. Hard work yielded a high-level, “second upper” for Patience. No sooner had she completed her Bachelors of Arts in Education in 2001, than she was retained by the university to work as assistant lecturer. She was an assistant lecturer for over 10 years. She loved the emphasis on Christian values that UCU imparted to the students.

“When I was at UCU, a lot was instilled in us such as discipline, Christian morals, conduct, commitment to God, prayer, love and care for one another,” says Akampurira, who is now a lecturer at Cavendish University Uganda. “I also remember indecent dressing at that time was prohibited. This modeled us to be the responsible people that we are today.”

Akampurira is still guided by those principles at work and her day-to-day life. She stands out as an excellent teacher: committed to work, very organized and disciplined – traits she learned at UCU. For her, the quality of education UCU offers distinguishes young professionals from other institutions.

“Most of my fellow alumni are very responsible people holding high positions of leadership and management in various organizations, government and politics because of how UCU modeled us,” she says.

Akampurira is a proud alumnus and holds good memories of the Christian university that helped make her who she is today.

“It was indeed a blessing and great opportunity to have had a chance to be trained at UCU with a holistic education that is transformative, employable and entrepreneurial and to start my career there,” she said. “This was possible because someone was kind and generous enough to pay my tuition and support me in all ways.”

It was Mynors and her family (which has many professional teachers) who inspired Akampurira to become a teacher. Mynors invited her to the UK for an experience of a lifetime – teaching in a UK school in 2002.

“It was a life changing experience being with someone with a golden heart; her invitation filled me with indescribable joy,” Akampurira says. When she returned, she was a better teacher and resumed teaching at UCU and also was coordinator for professional and continuing education at the education department.

“My life has been a success by God’s grace in that I got a sponsor from senior one till university. Immediately I completed my undergraduate degree, I got a job at UCU, then pursued a Master’s degree at Makerere University, all sponsored by Mynors,” she said. “And three years ago, I won a prestigious scholarship from the Gerda-Henkel Foundation to do a PhD, which I completed last December.”

Akampurira, who also is a mother of three daughters, is thrilled about the UCU 10K campaign, which is an innovation of sponsoring needy students.

“I would urge any student who is lucky to get a sponsorship opportunity to use it to the best of their ability and excel,” she said. “A little dollar can change a life and even change the life of those around them.”

Akampurira recommends students to consider attaining their university education at UCU because the Christian institution offers all-round training.

“My story started from UCU, which gave me an opportunity to develop my career and a chance to progress in the field of academia,” she says.

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Former UCU student tops Uganda bar examinations

May 8, 2023News, Students, UCU School of LawPatty Huston-Holm

By Pauline Luba
Ordinarily, when a student studies Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics at A’level in Uganda, chances are they will opt to pursue a course in medicine at university. That was not the case with Emmanuel Okia. He says even before he completed A’level, he knew his heart was elsewhere.

The turning point in Okia’s career journey was a presentation made when he was in high school. For A’level students, Okia’s school, the elite St. Mary’s College, Kisubi in Uganda, invites professionals to explain to students what it means to pursue a career. On the day Okia attended the career talk, Ugandan lawyer Mathias Sekatawa made a mind-blowing presentation, arguing for why a career in law was the best that could happen to anyone.

“Sekatawa’s speech is what convinced me to go for a career in law,” Okia said.

And he is soon realizing that dream. Okia recently completed his Diploma in Legal Practice at Uganda’s Law Development Center (LDC). At the most recent bar examination that LDC conducted, Okia emerged the best student, with a Grade Point Average of 4.9 of 5.0. A bar examination is a written assessment that a student must pass if they are to get a certificate to practice law as an attorney. To practice law in Uganda, all lawyers must acquire a Diploma in Legal Practice.

And what other better way to launch into the law profession than with the man who swayed Okia away from a career in sciences? The 24-year-old has just completed clerkship in Sekatawa’s law firm, MMAKS Advocates.

Emmanuel Okia often topped the law class.

The news of Okia topping his class in the bar examination could easily shadow the fact that his journey to the helm was not as straight as many would think. First, he failed to meet the requirements for the pre-entry exams to get admitted for a Bachelor of Laws at Makerere University in Uganda.

“I had scored (lower) points in UACE, which meant I didn’t qualify for the Makerere pre-entry exams,” Okia said, noting that, however, he was able to sit for the exams at Uganda Christian University (UCU), which he passed.

During a virtual interview with Uganda Partners, Okia said for a large part of his studies at UCU, he often topped the law class. He recalls spending long hours revising and benefiting from UCU’s arrangement of the lecturer–tutor format of teaching. In the lecturer-tutor set-up, after class with the lecturer, the students would also meet the tutor, who would break down the issues learned and explain how they apply in the practical world. Okia said if one didn’t understand the lecturer, then they would understand the tutor, which was a great aid to the overall academic excellence.

He is grateful for the fact that he was able to form close bonds and friendships with classmates he met at the university. From that bond, he was also able to get a fiancée. Okia and Christine Leah were part of the same discussion group and eventually became friends for life – and more. After years of dating, Okia proposed to his fiancée early this year. The two are planning for their marriage later this year.

He considers his keys to success as the discussions he was involved in and having good lecturers who were also practicing lawyers.

Okia is the son of Alex Okurut, an accountant, and Esther Katalikako, the headteacher of Kakoro Primary School in the eastern Uganda district of Pallisa. He attended Nkonkonjero Primary School and St. Mary’s College Kisubi for his O’ and A-level. Both schools are located in central Uganda. While at Kisubi Okia says he was a leader in many school clubs. At UCU, among the leadership positions he held was being the vice-chairperson of the Moots Committee in 2019. At LDC, he was the student leader in charge of academic affairs.

As Okia looks forward to contributing to jurisprudence in the country, he also wants to have a firm grip on accounts-related issues. He is currently pursuing a course for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

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UCU community weighs in on artificial intelligence

May 5, 2023Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, StudentsPatty Huston-Holm

In late 2022, Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots took the internet by storm. Then came the ChatGPT, which is the Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer, a software that a user can ask a question using conversational or natural language. The software then processes the questions before framing the responses. The AI chatbots gather information faster and more precisely than other search engines would do. As a result, it has, of recent, become one of the most used AI software and is popular among university students as some of them now use the technology to do assignments for them. Pauline Luba asked the community of Uganda Christian University (UCU) about their views on ChatGPT.

**Jasper Ashaba, second-year student of Bachelor of Computer Science and leader of student Google Developer Club at UCU**

“I think ChatGPT is a good thing. I have two jobs and I study at the same time. AI has helped me plan my life and reduce my stressful circumstances. It was designed to be an assistant, not a teacher. I relate the current use of AI chatbots to the days when the electronic calculator had just been introduced and people detested its use. Just like the calculator, AI chatbots are something that will help people solve problems faster. It is something that will become the norm for younger generations.”

**Desire Namanya, a second-year student of Bachelor of Information Technology**

“ChatGPT is efficient and makes our life easier, but if you look at it from a learner’s point of view, it weakens our thinking capacity. It will make one lazy and make them depend highly on technology to solve even challenges that they would have solved. I have previously used Quill bot, an AI that rephrases one’s statements, and had got fond of it, until I realized how it was slowing down my learning. I faced the same experience with YouTube when learning how to code and I do not wish to be that dependent on the app again. Books are the way to go.”

**Nathanael Simbilyabo, a student of Bachelor of Journalism and Communication**

“I feel like it’s an addiction. Once you start, you can’t stop because it makes life easier. It is teaching people the easier way of doing things. Artificial Intelligence is spoiling the future generations and, therefore, it should only be used in education, but not in the professional field.”

**Trevor Musinguzi, a third-year Bachelor of Laws**

“AI is the best thing that has ever happened to law students. This is because they are constantly required to search for and acquire certain information, a practice which is time-consuming. With AI like Snaps AI, I have been able to easily acquire material that I need, instead of spending time searching through different books.”

**Rodney Begumisa Tumwine, fourth-year student of Bachelor of Laws**

“Of course, AI is going to take over many jobs, but the question is, how efficient is it? As a user of ChatGPT and Draw AI, what separates a human brain from AI is how a human thinks. We all don’t think the same way. Whereas the AI may have an advantage in offering a quicker analysis of an issue, the human brain has the advantage of emotions.”

**Michelle Atim, student of Bachelor of Business Administration**

“I have just recently begun to think of AI in terms of employment after news broke of a robot that would have the ability to perform a lawyer’s job, hence flushing out the need for lawyers. Uganda may take long to get affected by such developments because it is still traditional, as far as technology is concerned. Otherwise, I believe that it can still be beneficial to the employment sector.”

**Sabali Muguluma, a student pursuing a degree in procurement and logistics**

“AI has helped me save time when it comes to research work and interests. I have used Bing and AI Monica. I know they can be bad when misused. However, I think it all depends on how they are being used. Some people abuse the innovations, instead of using them to make their lives easier.”

**Jim James Gortland, a student of Bachelor of Information Technology**

“ChatGPT has saved me time, especially when I am in a fix, trying to search for things. I praise the algorithm of ChatGPT spinout for being able to give me instant information, considerably cutting the time I would spend searching for something. It’s such a powerful AI and you can get a huge amount of data within a short time. Of course, the downside is that it can make one lazy.”

**Timothy Ddumba, Guild President and a student of Bachelor of Computer Science**

“Artificial Intelligence can simplify voting and influence politics through consultation. But I would not turn to base totally on it to make policies as a leader. As an individual, I prefer to stick to my intuition. I think AI is something that needs to be explored more by both teachers and students.”

**Emmanuel Isabirye, lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology in the Department of Computing and Technology**

“Technology in itself is not an end, but, rather, a means to an end. Chatbots can facilitate research and learning, just as the Google search engine has always done, but there is potential for them to be abused by those who do not appreciate technology nearly as much as the enabler. I have caught students using ChatGPT to do all their essay work and thus decided to dwell more on the student’s comprehension and application of the subject matter, rather than essays which can be generated from the chatbots.”

Esther Aguku, Executive Officer in the Vice Chancellor's office — **Esther Aguku, Executive Officer in the Vice Chancellor’s office**

“I didn’t know about it. But if you are one who resorts to having AI to do all your work, still, during exams, it will be evident and that will not benefit you. Also, life in the real world is real. With time, we could consider policies regarding the use of AIs, but our system, as a university, is able to adapt to whatever comes its way.”

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UCU student-developed ‘blue light’ designed to improve road safety

May 3, 2023Faculty of Engineering, Design & TechnologyPatty Huston-Holm

(Left to right) Students Anei Agany Mabui, Gary Mathew Nkuraija and Marvin Kauta with their lecturer Emmanuel Isabirye in the robotics laboratory. The students made a prototype blue traffic light to curb road crashes at Kampala city traffic lights

By Irene Best Nyapendi
A personal, grim reality inspired Uganda Christian University (UCU) student, Anei Agany Mabui, to invent a robot to curb road crashes.

“One time I took a patient to Mulago hospital, and I couldn’t get a bed for him because most of the beds were occupied by patients from motorcycle accidents,” said Mabui, a South Sudanese student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. “I decided that I needed to do something to think of a solution to reduce the risks of road accidents.”

With the help of two course mates, Mabui developed the model robot to alleviate collisions at the traffic junctions. Mabui, Marvin Kauta and Gary Mathew Nkuraija developed the prototype with equipment that UCU Partners donated to the university’s robotics laboratory.

According to Dr. Olivia Kobusingye, an accident and emergency surgeon, more than 40 percent of the financial budget allocated to the hospital’s trauma center is spent on treating victims of motorcycle crashes.

“Our aim is to reduce motorcycle accidents at traffic light junctions in Uganda,” Mabui said.

He observed that at the traffic lights junction, accidents are a result of the mad dash after the lights have turned green for the motorists to go. “There are three colors on the traffic lights, whereby red signifies stop, orange means get ready to move and green signifies move. When the green lights go on, it allows both motorcycles and vehicles to move at the same time, but because of the huge volume, it causes collisions.”

The students reasoned the solution to avoid the collisions was adding a fourth traffic light, which is the blue light. “So, when the blue light goes on, it signifies that only motorcycles can move, to avoid congestion of both cars and motorcycles moving at once,” Mabui said.

The project gives a basic idea on how to reduce traffic accidents on major roads and road junctions with traffic lights. The Uganda annual police crime report 2022, registered 20,394 cases of road accidents. Of those, 4,534 died, 15,227 had serious injuries and 1,712 sustained minor other injuries.

The students also derived inspiration for the project from the 11th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) set by the United Nations to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Emmanuel Isabirye, the students’ lecturer in charge of innovation, said UCU has a dedicated practical training program and research laboratory for robotics, data science, artificial intelligence and mechatronics.

“I am so proud and happy to see my students innovate and create impact in the community,” Isabirye said. He said Mabui, Kauta and Nkurajja hit two birds with one stone: that is the 9th and 11th SDG. The 9th SDG aims at building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation.

“We appreciate Uganda Partners for their timely intervention through the donation of equipment,” Isabirye said. “The students have been wanting to experiment their ideas, but they didn’t have the equipment to make the prototypes”. Isabirye hopes innovations will become a culture for university students before they graduate.

UCU Partners donated an assortment of items including sensors like the infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, led bulbs, batteries, arduino boards, breadboards, jumper wires, glue and servo motors. The project was entirely a brainchild of the Department of Computing and Technology students.

“We are implementing what we learnt last semester and through that knowledge, we have come up with something impactful,” Kauta said.

Nkuraija said during their study, they looked at the Kampala-Jinja Road as their case study because of the high number of accidents on the carriageway. During heavy traffic, cars and motorcycles follow each other so closely, many times resulting in accidents. He said with automation, it is possible to ensure a certain level of safety on the road.

“We are basing on improving the traffic light system through using automation to reduce stampede and accidents on the road,” Nkuraija said.

He called on motorists to embrace the project once it is offered to them, so that the road is safer for them, their passengers and other road users.

The student solution to end fatal crashes on the road is a significant step towards integration of technology and electronics in pursuit of optimizing the limited resources.

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‘Digital Mama,’ Rev. Lydia, becomes new Makerere chaplain

May 1, 2023Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and TheologyPatty Huston-Holm

Rev. Dr. Lydia Kitayimbwa, newly named chaplain for St. Francis Chapel, Makerere University, and husband, Rev. Prof. John Kitayimbwa, preach at Central Uganda King’s College Buddo.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
As Rev. Dr. Lydia Kitayimbwa recently shifted her duties from the Uganda Christian University (UCU) chaplaincy to chaplain for St. Francis Chapel, Makerere University, she received significant accolades from members of the clergy and academic faculty. At that, her favorite professional title is “digital mama.” She got that nickname from youth engaged in on-line church.

“When people started calling me digital mama, I couldn’t turn the name down because through the digital platforms, lives are being touched by God’s grace,” she said. “God is enabling us as clergy to reach people who may never come to church.”

In a world of traditional, in-person church services, especially in East Africa, Rev. Lydia is swimming not against but alongside that tide. She believes that Christ teachings can and should be provided on various platforms. It’s a belief grounded in research. Her new climb to a Practical Theology PhD degree from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, is tied to her thesis entitled, “Communicating the gospel in a digital age: A case study of the dioceses of Kampala and Namirembe in the Anglican Church of Uganda.”

Rev. Dr. Lydia Kitayimbwa during her PhD graduation. She studied practical theology and media at Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.

In response to the 2lst century influx of digital media use in daily life with a specific interest in this usage by the Anglican Church of Uganda (ACOU), Rev. Lydia’s study examines the digital age communication of the gospel focusing on four churches in ACOU Namirembe and Kampala dioceses. She has brought this passion to her role as coordinator of the Online Church of Uganda.

“My love for the Lord compels me to share the gospel within the Church building and beyond the four walls of the church,” she said, giving much credit for her understanding to UCU students who shared with her how to effectively serve God in their generation. She added, “I often organized open talks with the students both physically and virtually to offer guidance and prayers. We learn from each other.”

Rev. Lydia, wife of Rev. Prof. John Kitayimbwa, who is the UCU Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, is a born-again clergy of the Diocese of Kampala Church of Uganda. She was raised in a Christian home and has served in the church since 2004. Before joining UCU in 2022, Rev. Lydia was serving at St. Luke’s Church of Uganda Ntinda where she was overseeing several ministries, including leading the youth ministry and starting an online ministry. In early 2021, she asked for and was granted leave to focus on her doctoral studies. Following her leave, she was sent to serve at UCU.

Former assistant Uganda Christian University (UCU) chaplain Rev. Lydia poses with her family and Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu during the chancellor’s pastoral visit. At left is her husband, Rev. Prof. John Kitayimbwa, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) of UCU.

During the study leave, Rev. Lydia, who graduated with her PhD in December 2022, was among the team that helped establish the Online Church of Uganda, which was especially timely and relevant during the Covid-19 lockdown. The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kazimba Mugalu, appointed her to coordinate the church that conducts a number of services throughout the week on a daily basis. Through the Online Church of Uganda, the gospel message is shared by priests and laity through different digital media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and Zoom. There are many testimonies that have been registered as a result of this online ministry by the Church of Uganda.

“I am committed to discipling and mentoring male and female students in their walks with the Lord and challenge them to use their gifts to serve God in their different professions,” Rev. Lydia said. “ I am grateful to God for my gifts to serve God and draw many to Him.”

Rev. Lydia and Rev. John Kitayimbwa live on the UCU Mukono campus with their children.

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