Irene Nyapendi

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UCU

Journey of learning, networking and compassion beyond borders

By Bena Nekesa
“Just as plants need sun, water and good soil to thrive, people need love, work and a connection to something larger.” So says American social psychologist and author, Jonathan David Haidt. 

This epitomizes the vision of Uganda Christian University (UCU) student Racheal Drateru.  She wants to establish an orphanage, fueled by the poignant scenes of suffering children witnessed during her family travels. The images of malnourished babies, tiny girls carrying jerrycans of water, boys toiling in the fields and malaria infection without medicine or mosquito protection inspire this deeper calling.

Racheal Drateru, right, with a student in her international studies cohort in Holland in 2023.
Racheal Drateru, right, with a student in her international studies cohort in Holland in 2023.

The desire to help such communities is reinforced by her studies in the UCU school of Social Sciences and part of who she is, including her 2023 international studies at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. While there, she also got the chance of traveling to other cities and countries such as Paris in France, Copenhagen in Denmark and Hamburg in Germany.

Racheal Drateru found herself at the crossroads of a life-altering opportunity when her department head, Kasule Solomon Kibirige, introduced the possibility of a study exchange program to the Netherlands. On February 2, 2023, Racheal ,accompanied by two other students, embarked on a six-month journey to the country in northwestern Europe.

Despite initial hesitations, Racheal stood as a lucky student among the 15 applicants for the study exchange program which embraced her chance to broaden horizons. The excitement of this venture prompted Racheal to share the news with her father, Moses Draza, a Christian and a social worker, whose character influenced his daughter. Racheal is also blessed with a mother and step-mother, both business ladies supporting her dreams. She choose UCU through the influence of her parents and a match with her Christian character.

Racheal on her bicycle – the regular mode of transportation in the Netherlands.
Racheal on her bicycle – the regular mode of transportation in the Netherlands.

Navigating the Dutch culture proved challenging for Racheal as she grappled with the emphasis on punctuality and the persistent cold weather. Yet, she maintained a positive mindset, focusing on the primary objectives of networking, making enduring friendships, and academic growth. Racheal’s time in the Netherlands fostered an openness to diverse perspectives, encouraging her fellow students to embrace opportunities for cross-cultural exploration. 

Beyond the academic benefits, Racheal’s journey abroad served to further crystalize her vision to help others. Instead of starting an orphanage, she realized the value of first working with a child-based NGO. 

“Students at Hanze were open-minded and free,” she said. “I thought more freely and clearer about how to accomplish my vision.  I started thinking, too, about how I could work with refugees.” Racheal’s advice to others engaged in international study is: “Learn to be open minded and embrace cross-cultural communication.”

Expressing heartfelt gratitude to her lecturers for guidance, Racheal age 22,  continues to be committed to a personal project aimed at aiding the vulnerable in her community. 

As Rachael Drateru returned to Uganda in July 26, 2023, her journey became a testimony to the transformative power of education, cultural immersion, and the unwavering support of family. “Beyond Borders” became a rallying cry for students to seize opportunities, embrace diversity, and wield education as a potent tool for positive change in their communities, Racheal’s indomitable spirit of learning, networking, and compassion.

Racheal hails from Arua city, a Lugbara by tribe from Ayivu. In addition to her parents, she has eight siblings. She obtained her secondary education from St. Mary’s boarding secondary school,  a school that in 2020 led her to UCU, working toward a bachelor’s degree in social work. 

“My advice for the rest of the students is never take an opportunity for granted because it’s a blessing since not everyone is able to attain it,” she said. “This enables one to travel across borders and network with others from other countries, including learning new things that are not in your country.

UCU

International Study: ‘People around the world think differently’

By Patty Huston-Holm
The experience that Julia Christy Ayinza Kizza had a year ago couldn’t have been farther from her comfort zone in terms of ethnicity, religion and outdoor temperature and landscape. In her first airplane ride from Africa, she dove in anyway.

“It’s flat and cold,” Julia recalled of her five-month international study experience at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands in 2023. Talking in January 2024 while getting a hair weave within the Uganda Christian University (UCU) main campus in Mukono, she added that in comparison, “Uganda has hills” with warm-to-hot days.

UCU students Julia Christy Ayinza Kizza, Joyce Nakalema, and Drateru Racheal during their 2023 international study experience
UCU students Julia Christy Ayinza Kizza, Joyce Nakalema, and Drateru Racheal during their 2023 international study experience

Uganda’s year-round, daytime temperatures average in the low 80s Fahrenheit. In the northwestern European country of the Netherlands, winters can be snow covered, and summers average in the low 60s (17 Celsius). The Netherlands, which is sometimes called Holland, is known as one of the most liberal countries in the world with 55% of its citizens declaring to be non-religious. In Uganda, over 80% of the population is Christian. 

Julia, a senior in UCU’s School of Business, was the only African among French, Italian and Spanish students and Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese lecturers for her International Marketing and Management cohort. The other three UCU students there at the same time weren’t in her classes because they are in social work.

Since 2017, UCU has offered four business and social work undergraduates the opportunity to study abroad during each late January to early July term within Hanze undergraduate programs of study. More than 30 students, including Dutch counterparts who have come to UCU and completed fieldwork training in Ugandan agencies, have participated. In the six years since the partnership began, two faculty each from UCU and Hanze, have served annually as guest lecturers at the respective locations. 

Julia Christy Ayinza Kizza at Hamburg, Germany, City Hall, during an end-of-study visit to that country and Denmark.
Julia Christy Ayinza Kizza at Hamburg, Germany, City Hall, during an end-of-study visit to that country and Denmark.

Such collaborations are supported by UCU leadership and coordinated by the Research, Partnerships and Innovation directorate.

According to Kasule Kibirige, head of undergraduate studies, School of Social Sciences, and one of the UCU faculty who guest lectured, the teaching and learning have been “immensely valuable for both students and faculty.”

“Academic networks have developed through regular meetings among faculty members during guest lecture exchanges,” he said. “Student world views have been broadened, and participants indicate gaining broader insights about practice within the academic domains. Participants report increased professional growth and enhanced interest in personal exploration.”

Martin Kabanda, acting dean, UCU School of Business, concurred that the experiences “serve to increase student exposure to learning, culture, and life skills and increase their social network.”  Seven business students are part of the Hanze alum with two more going in 2024.

Julia, age 23, is one of the nine from business. For her, the curriculum blend was in international marketing and management, change management and research.  The latter involved a group project related to a simulated company offering advice on color applications.

“I knew very little about the Netherlands except that it would be cold and that people there have a special celebration called King’s Day every April,” she said. The national holiday celebrates King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. 

One of four children to professional parents – a father in IT and mother in journalism – Julia is from Kooki in Rakai District, which is southwest of where she grew up in Kampala. 

“Being here taught me to grow up, to realize that people around the world think differently, and I can’t take offense to that,” she said, recalling one student who believed her life includes lions and mud huts.

Julia overcame homesickness and three bouts of flu without her usual emotional and physical support system that was over 3,800 miles away. She engaged in student work of cleaning rooms for 12 euros ($13) an hour to support her financial needs in a country with an average food cost of $40 a day, compared to Uganda’s roughly $5 a day cost.

“Jobs are more available there,” she said.  “I took advantage of that.”

UCU Julia’s Kind Gesture Articulates Her Faith

Except on snowy days, she rode a bicycle everywhere. She grew to appreciate a simpler life devoid of large ceremonies, “like our big weddings.” She maintained her 4.57 GPA academic standing. While she didn’t spend time talking to students about her faith, it was during one day of the work experience that her Christian character was noticed.

“When a van came around to pick us up, I gave up my seat to another student who looked really tired, and I did it without thinking,” she recalled. “A student asked why I would do that because she never would. I told her I was trying to be nice. Kindness isn’t a strategy but a way of life.”

Additionally, during one exercise when students were asked to prioritize their values and others listed religion last, Julie put it first. 

“It was a bit awkward because I’m used to being surrounded by people that think like me,” Julia said.  “I found more (like-minded thinkers) as I attended a local church. I stayed away from parties that were mostly loud music and alcohol.” 

Regardless of challenges, Julia says she “came back a better person.”  As she graduates from UCU in October and thinks about her next steps – an HR consultant or owner of a beauty school – she sees her international experience as a reminder to avoid complaining and a lesson in flexibility.

To Holland, she offers up the only Dutch word she recalls: “Dank je wel.”  Translated to English, that’s “thank you.”

UCU

UCU students advised to safeguard personal information online

By Kefa Senoga
It is not uncommon for people to post on the Internet, informing their followers on social media about an impending trip, and where they will be going. However, such actions, according to an online safety expert, could jeopardize one’s security.

Baker Birikujja, the Manager for Compliance and Investigations at the Ugandan Government’s Personal Data Protection Office (PDPO), said when people use social media to share their locations and upload photos of their travels on a regular basis, it makes it easy for people with bad intentions to harm them.

Baker Birikujja, Manager for Compliance and Investigations at the Ugandan Government’s Personal Data Protection Office, addressed students during the sensitization talk.
Baker Birikujja, Manager for Compliance and Investigations at the Ugandan Government’s Personal Data Protection Office, addressed students during the sensitization talk.

Making a case for data privacy and security at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Birikujja urged the students to pay more attention about the kind of information they share on the internet and with whom they share what information.

“Only share information with people you trust, anything you upload on the internet can be stored and used against you,” Birikujja told students during an address on January 24. The event was organized by the Computing Sciences and Engineering Students’ Association in the UCU Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology.  

“You may not have something to hide, but there are people who value your data and they could use it for not-good intentions,” Birikujja counseled.

His call came as part of activities to preach the importance of personal information, as the world marked the International Data Privacy Week, January 21 to 26. The International Data Privacy Day is celebrated every January 28.

Birikujja, a lawyer, also referred to the risk associated with downloading some mobile applications (apps). He said some apps collect sensitive information about the phones on which they have been installed, as well as the digital profiles of the users. 

In a study conducted from 2018 to 2020, Privacy International, a global agency that works to promote the human right to privacy, reported it was discovered that some menstruation-related applications were sharing certain sensitive information with companies such as Facebook, without user knowledge.

UCU students attending the data privacy awareness campaign at Ankrah Hill on the main campus
UCU students attending the data privacy awareness campaign at Ankrah Hill on the main campus

“Out of the 36 apps we tested, we found that 61% automatically transfer data to Facebook the moment a user opens the app. This happens whether the user has a Facebook account or not, and whether they are logged into Facebook or not,” Privacy International wrote on their site.  

It added: “We also found that some of those apps routinely send Facebook incredibly detailed and sometimes sensitive personal data. Again, it didn’t matter if people were logged out of Facebook or didn’t have an account.”

However, in a response, Facebook said: “Developers can receive analytics that allow them to understand what the audience of their app enjoys and improve their apps over time. Developers may also use Facebook services to monetise their apps through Facebook Audience Network.” 

UCU Cyber Security Improves Data Privacy

Ddumba Timothy, the interim chairperson of the UCU Cyber Security Chapter, said they intend to organize more awareness campaigns to teach people how to keep their data private. Ddumba said they distributed fliers with information on data privacy, such as teaching readers how to safeguard their passwords, for instance, by changing them frequently. 

In 2019, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni assented to the Data Protection and Privacy Bill, making it law. The Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019 protects the privacy of an individual and personal data by regulating the collection and processing of personal information. The Act also provides for the rights of the persons whose data is collected and the obligations of data collectors, data processors and data controllers as well as regulates the use or disclosure of personal information and for related matters.

UCU

Students share how UCU helps build their faith

Schools like Uganda Christian University (UCU) provide a platform for students to develop a religious identity, with the view that such a move will enable them to deepen the understanding of their faith. Such schools often also offer an environment that allows the cultivation of a sense of belonging among students. Pauline Luba recently talked to UCU students to better understand how the university has helped them develop their faith.

Isaiah Tom Opio, UCU Bachelor of Business Administration, Year 1

Isaiah Tom Opio
Isaiah Tom Opio

My educational journey has taken me through different communities and settings. And that has meant that I had to adapt to the different cultures in which I found myself. Each time I found myself in a new environment, I have had to reassess and re-establish myself in a way that allows me to fit in. 

In a way, God has always been using me to bless those around me. I learned this as I grew older and got deeper in life and began to understand my identity in Christ and who I was in the presence of God. That helped me understand and see the bigger picture of what God was doing in my life. So, I’ve been able to build better relationships and learned to connect on a personal level with the people around me. One of the safest and most productive places for growth is the community in which someone is living. Uganda Christian University provides a community that allows people to express themselves in a spiritual way in the understanding of Christ.

Amayo Samantha Aleni, Bachelor of Journalism and Communication, Year 2

Amayo Samantha Aleni
Amayo Samantha Aleni

I think God is using me to bring healing to the cities and the nations through ministry. I’m quite passionate about ministry, so I volunteer my creative skills to the youth and young adults’ ministry at Watoto Church in Uganda. This way, I can impact broken and disheartened youth by showing them God’s unconditional love through my works. I believe the continuous fellowships at Uganda Christian University help reinforce my value of Christianity. Whether it is community worship or fellowship with fellow coursemates, it helps me remain accountable to God as I’m always surrounded by His presence, an atmosphere UCU doesn’t fail to create.

Hilda Marianne Asio, Bachelor of Laws, Year 2

Hilda Marianne Asio
Hilda Marianne Asio

I’ve grown to learn that one’s relationship with God should not stem from the perspectives other people have but rather from one’s own experiences with God. I’ve had several encounters with people who have never experienced God’s presence in their lives, or so they say. All I say to them is pray to God so that they can receive His blessings before the time is too late for them to give their lives to Christ. In other words, I feel like God is using me to help others discover Him in their unique ways rather than “indoctrinating” them. When I joined UCU, I found my Christian family, and that has helped grow my spirituality.

Esther Kabwe, Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication, Year 3

Esther Kabwe
Esther Kabwe

It feels different when you’re within a space where people are not ashamed of the gospel. It’s a relief knowing that I can greet a random person by the phrase “Praise Jesus” and they won’t judge me because I am in a Christian setting. 

One time, a friend received sad news and she was crestfallen. To lift her up, I invited her to a prayer in the open. It then hit us that we didn’t have to hide for fear that people would think praying was weird. I advise others to have a group of friends that you can share matters about faith with, people who can send you scriptures, invite you to church, and be ready to pray for and with you.

Sifa Kubalezaga Nadège, Bachelors of Business Administration, Year 2

Sifa Kubalezaga Nadège
Sifa Kubalezaga Nadège

As a choir member, I believe God used me to preach to His people through songs of adoration and worship. God is the center of my life; He has been there for me and is still walking with me. To me, worshiping God is not because it is an obligation, but, rather, a sign of appreciation towards the many good things He does in my life. UCU contributes to the development of my Christian life through activities such as community worship and family fellowship, where we get time to meet as a community and speak to God. We also use the opportunity to share with Him our burdens. Sunday services enable me to fulfill the commandment of the respect for the Sabbath.

UCU

Education, experience propel alum to serve humanity

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Paul Ssenyonga, a recipient of Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration, is using his education and real-world experiences to make a difference.

One part of his story involves his help to pregnant and parenting teens because of his first-hand observation when living with a teenage relative who impregnated a 16-year-old girl. Ssenyonga saw lack of financial livelihood, community shunning and fear of hospitals as among the challenges of this early, unwed pregnancy. Still a student himself, Ssenyonga offered emotional support, reinforcement of the importance of antenatal care and chipped in what little money he had to help the young boy and girl.

Ssenyonga speaks to youths on mindset change during a skilling workshop in Kampala.
Ssenyonga speaks to youths on mindset change during a skilling workshop in Kampala.

Ssenyonga, 27, says the obstacles the girl faced opened his eyes to the trials of other teenage mothers.

Amidst the challenges, Ssenyonga saw an opportunity to empower teen mothers, first, starting with the 16-year-old who was carrying the baby. Together, with the soon-to-be-father, they empowered 17 youths to make paper bags and liquid soap with the hope that a skill like that would support the livelihood of the teens, a majority of whom had dropped out of school.

The success of that first venture inspired Ssenyonga to register Save A Youth, a non-profit organization, in 2019. His intention was for the organization to help more people, beyond just teenage mothers.

Ssenyonga speaks during a Rotaract function.
Ssenyonga speaks during a Rotaract function.

In 2020, Ssenyonga says he found out that many young people were struggling with challenges related to drug addiction and sexual promiscuity, something he says presented an opportunity for him to continue making a difference in the community.

Fortunately, he had taken an addiction therapy course, which he used to his advantage while interacting with the young people.

In addition to his work with the non-profit, Ssenyonga also serves humanity as a Rotaractor, aligning with his belief that generosity begets positive response from nature. Serving as the President of the Rotaract Club of Mukono from July 2022 to June 2023, Ssenyonga supported Mukono General Hospital to acquire a fully-equipped teen mother facility through the Mukono Rotary Club. 

The commissioning of the zebra pedestrian crossing at Jinja Road next to the general hospital in Mukono.
The commissioning of the zebra pedestrian crossing at Jinja Road next to the general hospital in Mukono.

He also mobilized the painting of a zebra crossing (pedestrian crosswalk) on a road near Mukono General Hospital.

And that’s not all.

Ssenyonga also offers voluntary service to Buganda, Uganda’s biggest traditional kingdom. In Buganda, he is in charge of publicity in Kyaggwe county, one of the divisions of the kingdom.

“Serving the king isn’t a paid assignment because we are responsible for the wellbeing of our king,” Ssenyonga, who is a master of ceremonies, said. He says his devotion to the kingdom is the most fulfilling experience of his life. It’s not just a job for him, it’s a calling that goes beyond financial compensation.

Born to Nathan Kigongo and Catherine Namutebi of Mukono district, Ssenyonga is the first of five siblings. He attended Little Cranes Primary School, Kanjuki Secondary School, and Paul Mukasa Senior School. All the three schools are found in central Uganda.

Ssenyonga’s Journey from Law to Social Work at UCU

Despite his parents’ initial desire for him to study law, Ssenyonga chose social work at UCU

“I chose UCU for its clearly defined values-based system,” Ssenyonga said. “I pursued social work to impact the community, inspired by my transformation from a stubborn high school student. I aspired to assist someone like the past me, bringing a professional touch to school talks.”

UCU

Alum journey from teacher to refugee researcher

By Pauline Luba
Beyond imparting academic knowledge, John Vianney Ahumuza has been a teacher espousing a lot of both life and school values. It’s a calling he gleaned from his parents, Joseph and Mary Bagambe — both primary school teachers — who ensured their three children loved learning just like they loved teaching. 

“He was a brilliant and inquisitive boy,” Mary says of her now 43-year-old son. “As a child, Ahumuza used to ask many questions, even though he studied in rural schools. We once saw a beautiful bird that was singing, and he asked if that was the preacher of all the other birds.”

UCU Alumni Ahumuza Makes History: Fourth in His Village to Earn Degree

In 2004, Ahumuza made history in his village in the western Uganda district of Rukungiri by becoming the fourth person to acquire a degree. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

Initially, Ahumuza had hoped to pursue a course in law. However, he says the marks he garnered in Senior Six national examinations and his parents teaching salaries could not guarantee him an opportunity in that field. A course in education became the natural choice.

“I love teaching and, along the way, I discovered that reading gives one a lot of opportunities. From childhood, academics were always instilled in us,” Ahumuza explained. 

He attended Kishonga Primary School, which was 2km (1.2 miles) away from his home. From Kishonga, Ahumuza went to St. Gerald’s High School, also in Rukungiri, and then St. Mary’s College Rushoroza, in Kabale district, south-western Uganda, before joining UCU, where he was one of the student leaders. In 2012, he enrolled for a Master of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies at Makerere University. 

From that foundation, Ahumuza has scaled the education ladder, and is currently winding up with his research for a PhD course he is pursuing at the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, which hosts over 50,000 students, with 7,500 of those graduate students. The scholarship, which seeks to develop 30 PhDs in Africa, is offered at three universities in the continent — the University of Ghana, Makerere University in Uganda and a university in South Africa. 

With his topic “The Refugee Question in Ugandan History, 1942-2010,” Ahumuza believes his research will, in addition to contributing to the body of knowledge on the subject, also help to harvest indigenous knowledge to enable the creation of appropriate policies to help in the response to refugee-related issues. 

Ahumuza’s choice of the subject of refugees in Uganda is not by accident. For many years, the country has hosted refugees and asylum-seekers from more than 10 countries, such as Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Rwanda, Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. Many of the refugees and asylum-seekers run away from conflicts in their countries.

As of December 31, 2023, Uganda had 1,615,162 refugees and asylum-seekers, according to statistics by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Of these, over 1.5 million were refugees, with South Sudan responsible for over 900,000 of that number. The Democratic Republic of Congo contributed over 500,000 of the number.

Ahumuza, who is currently in Uganda completing his data collection before returning to Ghana to complete his studies, is married, and a father of four girls. While in Ghana he regularly holds online conversations with his family, to ensure his absence is not felt that much. He thanks his wife, Nyangoma Patience Ahumuza, who he says has been able to run the family in his absence. During his free time, Ahumuza likes reading for pleasure, listening to music and sport fishing. 

UCU

Lawyer who escaped Kony insurgency wins elite South African scholarship

By Pauline Luba
Frank Mike Ogwang Uche grew up in a life of scarcity, sometimes hiding from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) extremist group and intermittently being inspired by adults who worked as a driver and another as a teacher. 

Schoolmates often bullied him for the things he lacked, mocking his poverty. For instance, while in secondary school, Ogwang says he was teased for owning only one pair of underwear. Though he tried to develop a thick skin, there were times he was overwhelmed to the point of contemplating suicide. 

Indeed, the world is a better place with Ogwang in it – something recognized by many.

At UCU, Ogwang graduated with a second-class upper degree.
At UCU, Ogwang graduated with a second-class upper degree.

Now a lawyer, Ogwang managed to squeeze his way through the narrow passage of education, with his most recent academic achievement being admission to South Africa’s University of Cape Town under the Mandela Rhodes School scholarship. At the University of Cape Town, Ogwang will pursue a master’s degree in environment and energy law. 

“When they (scholarship foundation) called, I was freaked out,” he said. “It was quite emotional, knowing that everything I believed in as a child was coming true.” 

Pursuing a master’s degree in law at one of Africa’s elite universities is a dream come true for the sixth born in a family of 12 whose childhood life is one he wants to erase from his memories.

Ogwang, who was born in Soroti and raised in Lira, a district in northern Uganda, slept in the bush on many occasions as his family kept away from the atrocities committed by Uganda’s rebel leader Joseph Kony and his rebel group, the LRA. From 1986 and for 20 years, the LRA waged an armed struggle against the people of northern Uganda.

Since Ogwang’s peasant father — Atum Richard — had other families, it became difficult for him to provide the basic necessities for Ogwang and his siblings. As such, his mother — Akao Hellen — had to take over the full responsibility of caring for the family that often struggled to get food, clothing and school requirements.

When he joined Rehoboth Integrated High School in Jinja district, Ogwang met an American benefactor who sponsored his education up to the end of Senior Five.  From university up to when he completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Law Development Centre, Ogwang’s tuition and other basic needs were being met by a Canadian family. 

Ogwang Chooses Law to Rectify Injustices in Northern Uganda

In 2016, Ogwang joined Uganda Christian University (UCU) to study for a Bachelor of Laws. He said law was never his dream. In their neighborhood, there was a man who earned a living as a driver. That man, Ogwang says, inspired him to be a driver when he grew up. However, priorities later changed. His literature teacher in secondary school was so kind and inspirational that Ogwang almost got lured into a career in teaching. 

However, each time as he looked at his past, what reflected back were the injustices due to the bullying he met because he did not have as much as his other schoolmates, as well as the injustices his family and the people in northern Uganda faced at the height of the insurgency caused by the LRA rebels. As such, Ogwang found a career in law.

“A child’s biggest asset is to have peace, and be able to play,” Ogwang said, adding: “I didn’t have that. We were always either running, sleeping in the bush, or hearing of abductions and violence.”

“I wanted to fix the injustices caused by the insurgency in northern Uganda. I wanted to find a way to help my community,” said Ogwang, who is a program Associate at Uganda National NGO Forum and currently a teaching assistant at UCU’s Kampala campus. He made the decision to pursue a career in law in Senior Six.

UCU Sparks Ogwang’s Leadership Passion

Once he set foot at UCU, Ogwang ignited his passion for leadership, serving as one of the student leaders, as well as in clubs he felt would help improve his social skills. For instance, he joined the International Justice Commission, as well as Para Counseling and the Africa Youth Leadership program, where he was able to groom social skills, meet several people and build his character.

“Frank is intelligent and creative,” Richard Agaba, a tax lawyer in Kampala, said. “For the time I have known him, he has grown more confident from a rather shy personality.” Agaba and Ogwang were students at UCU. 

“I have never doubted his determination and I knew that from an early age,” Ogwang’s mom said, adding: “He is an ambitious man. He has overcome many obstacles to reach where he is. I am proud of him. This scholarship has come because he is always aiming higher, and it is a reward for that.”

At UCU, Ogwang graduated with a second-class upper degree and also set up businesses, such as salons, around the campus, to help supplement his income. The salons are still operational to date. 

As Ogwang begins his postgraduate studies in South Africa, he hopes to use the knowledge he will acquire to support the transition to clean energy and offer environmental consultancy on the green economy. 

UCU

Pamela Tumwebaze: From UCU student to Director of Student Affairs

By Kefa Senoga
When Pamela Tumwebaze joined the three-year-old Uganda Christian University (UCU) in 2000 as an undergraduate student, neither she nor the institution envisioned that it was the start of what would become nearly two decades of a symbiotic relationship.

In the 21 years since Tumwebaze completed her undergraduate course at UCU in 2003, she has worked both for UCU and other organizations beyond the university. The farther she moved away from UCU, however, the harder her heart beat for her to return to her alma mater. 

When she left the country for a teaching job in Rwanda, she was there for just two years. When she went farther to Tanzania for yet another teaching job, it was not for more than one year.

Tumwebaze during one of the Honors College mentorship programs.
Tumwebaze during one of the Honors College mentorship programs.

Tumwebaze eventually returned home, but was still hesitant to return to UCU. As such, she got a job in a non-governmental organization, but that was not for long, until she returned to her home, UCU. Today, she is the university’s new Director of Students Affairs (DOSA).

Tumwebaze recalls that in 2003, after attaining her Bachelor of Arts with Education from UCU, she took a job as a tutorial assistant in the Faculty of Education. Thereafter, she pursued a Master of Arts in Literature at UCU. She is currently completing another master’s degree, MA Strategic Communication at UCU.

At the university, she has served in the positions of teaching assistant, administrative assistant, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Affairs, Executive Officer to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Finance and Administration and the Head of the Honors College, a role she currently juggles with being DOSA, a position she has held for three months now. 

As DOSA, Tumwebaze says she has to serve all the students in the university, as opposed to the job at Honors College, where it’s just a select few of the university’s top students. The Honors College, whose concept is borrowed from the Dutch and American universities, admits only the institution’s crème de la crème students from the different faculties. 

Applicants must have at least a 4.0 Cumulative Grade-Point Average out of 5.0 to be enrolled to the college that offers talented students the opportunity to tap on their mettle through an extra certificate-program, alongside the regular bachelor’s degree course. 

UCU DOSA: Nurturing Future Leaders with Passion

Tumwebaze says she enjoys working and guiding young people who are still going through formation. “I love to see them become adults, I also love the chaos that comes with being young because I guess it says much about them,” she notes.

“Being DOSA means looking at probably a 20-year-old troublesome young adult. But five or more years from now, that 20-year-old may be a CEO or a big-name journalist; so, what can we do now to make sure that they become that?” Tumwebaze asks. 

As a mother, Tumwebaze views students as children, she understands that each child has weaknesses and uniquenesses and that there is something about each of them that needs to be groomed into something better. She is a mother of two boys and is married to Alexander Matsiko whom she met at UCU.

“As the older generation, we have the burden of putting things into perspective for the younger generation; if we don’t focus on that then we could lose the next generation,” Tumwebaze warns. 

She notes that her job as DOSA requires a skill set that comes with having an open mind because “everyday has its own shocks.”

Tumwebaze comes from a large family in Mbarara, a district in western Uganda. She attended St. Helens Primary School Mbarara for her primary education and Kyeizooba Girls Secondary School in Bushenyi district for her secondary education. From Kyeizooba, she joined UCU for her undergraduate course.

UCU

Green economy project leaves mark in four East Africa universities

By Kefa Senoga
As a project established to foster a green economy in Africa closes at four universities in East Africa, the institutions are counting the benefits they have accrued from the multi-institutional venture that has been running for three years. 

The DALILA project, a collaborative venture, sought to increase awareness about clean energy, climate change, the green economy, and global emission targets. To achieve this goal, the project, courtesy of a 99,993,700 Euros ($117.8 million American) grant, was supposed to lead to the creation of new academic curricula on sustainable energies and green economy in Africa, as well as the installation of green laboratories at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Uganda Martyrs University, and two Tanzanian institutions — the University of Dodoma and the State University of Zanzibar. The Education, Audio-Visual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Union provided the grant for the project.

UCU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), David Mugawe, at the closure of the DALILA conference in December.
UCU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), David Mugawe, at the closure of the DALILA conference in December.

The Swahili origin of DALILA means delicate and gentle. Since 2020 and connected to UCU, it refers to the Development of Academic Curricula on Sustainable Energies and Green Economy in Africa. It’s a capacity-building project funded by the Education, Audio-Visual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Union­.

The courses were rolled out at the four universities, as were the green laboratories. For instance, Uganda Martyrs University developed and implemented the undergraduate course on the green economy in Uganda, while UCU created the curriculum for a related post-graduate diploma course. 

When Uganda’s supervisory body for curricula in higher institutions of learning, the National Council for Higher Education, gave the nod for the rollout of the course at UCU, the first cohort was admitted in 2022. That group was among the 986 students who graduated at UCU’s October 13, 2023, graduation, according to UCU Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Rev. Assoc. Prof. John Kitayimbwa. The nine students received the Post-Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Business and Renewable Energy from UCU.

Pioneer graduates share their internship experiences in Europe and Africa at the closure of the DALILA conference in December.
Pioneer graduates share their internship experiences in Europe and Africa at the closure of the DALILA conference in December.

At a seminar held in December 2023 to mark the closure of the project at UCU, the university’s Director of Academic Affairs, Vincent Kisenyi, underscored the project’s unique approach, emphasising that the integration of classroom learning with hands-on, practical experiences enables the learners to participate in renewable energy businesses while simultaneously contributing to environmental conservation.

One of the main objectives of the project was “transferring both theoretical and practical skills, identifying and bringing together stakeholders, creating links and synergies between companies and those who will be the professionals of tomorrow, and preparing them to be the driving force of positive change.”

The green laboratories established at each of the four project-implementing universities in East Africa were equipped to enable the students to achieve skills in converting sunlight into electric energy using photovoltaic panels. At the State University of Zanzibar, the green laboratory was equipped with solar simulators, lab computers, sputtering units, photovoltaic panels, DC voltmeters, and DC ammeters, among others.

Partners outside Africa in the European Union three-year funded project through the Erasmus+ Programme were Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, the University of Cadiz in Spain, and professional agencies, such as Sahara Ventures in Tanzania, Asud in Italy, and a renewable energy organisation called INOMA Renovables in Spain.  

The Director of Research, Partnerships, and Innovation at UCU, Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito, said the project has taught them how to respond to climate-related issues by educating them on how to improve the world and how to take advantage of business opportunities that arise from the different life challenges.

During a seminar to close the project at UCU, Eng. Simon Sekitoleko, the Assistant Commissioner for Renewable Energy in Uganda’s energy ministry, said: “As the nation embraces cleaner energy sources, UCU’s role in offering a postgraduate diploma in sustainable business and renewable energy is recognised as a crucial step in building capacity and turning graduates into job creators.” 

David Mugawe, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Administration, said that the project’s combined focus on business and renewable energy not only gave participants real-world skills but also sparked a collective response to urgent climate issues. 

Sharon Longora, Agatha Ankunda, and Ronald Mayanja, who were part of the pioneer class of the PostGraduate Diploma in Sustainable Business and Renewable Energy at UCU early last year, travelled to Spain and Italy for a resume-building internship that included visiting solar and hydropower plants, doing hands-on experiments, and getting exposed to sustainable waste management research.

During an interview with Uganda Partners last year, Amos Mangeni, who was also part of the UCU team that travelled to Europe, said: “I visited a 100kw solar PV grid connected plant at the University of Cadiz faculty of business in Spain. This PV plant supplies energy to the faculty, and the surplus is connected to the grid for sale, especially during the day.” 

UCU

Changing of the guard: UCU Guild Government hands over office

By Irene Best Nyapendi

The 25th Guild Government of the Uganda Christian University (UCU) has handed over the office to its successors. Outgoing Guild President Timothy Ddumba handed over a file and other instruments of power, to the in-coming Guild President, Birungi Agira.

At the handover ceremony, conducted on January 11, 2024, the outgoing team was given certificates of recognition for their services to the university. The event was graced by UCU’s Vice Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyenzi.

Among the new members of the guild were the recently vetted cabinet and tribunal members. Agira mentioned that they had been candidly selected and approved by parliament.

“Today was a beautiful day for me, watching leaders being sworn in because I believe in each one of them, and I am confident that they will excel in their respective ministries,” Agira said.

New Leaders Urged to Prioritize UCU and Embrace Inclusivity

Meanwhile, she urged the incoming leaders to prioritize UCU at heart, acknowledging the multitude of interests that may arise over time.

Agira emphasized the importance of remembering their commitment to serving UCU before personal interests, fostering an effort to achieve her slogan “Inclusivity in Action.”

See pictorial below.

DSC 0108
Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi hands over the prestigious Orombi Award for outstanding performance to former Guild President Timothy Ddumba.
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Former UCU Guild President Timothy Ddumba hands over a file to his successor, Birungi Agira.
VICE PRESIDENT
Former Vice President Melissa Kamikazi Nsaba,hands over a file to her successor, Richard Mutebi.
PRAYERS
Bishop Joel Obetia blessed and prayed for the new cabinet to do the right things at the right time.
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New Cabinet ministers taking the oath of allegiance. They promised to preserve and protect the UCU and Guild constitution.
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