Today, Thursday 22, August, 2024, Uganda Christian University (UCU) hosted a research dissemination event for the project “Olutindo” (meaning “The Bridge”).

This project aims to promote sexual and reproductive health behavior change among teenage girls in Mukono district through strategic communication intervention.

The research team, led by Professor James Kiwanuka-Tondo, presented their progress report, highlighting the project’s objectives, activities, and outputs.

The research team consists of Professor James Kiwanuka Tondo, the Principal Investigator; Dr. Jeremy Waiswa; Mr. Solomon Kibirige Kasule; Mr. Martin Kabanda; Mrs. Elizabeth Nagudi Situma; Christine Nabadda Mpaulo; and research assistants such as Flavia Zalwango, Aggrey Mugisha, and Frank Obonyo.

The project aims to design a strategic communication intervention to promote effective sexual and reproductive health behavior change through participatory and community-engaged approaches.

The project funded by Directorate of Research, Partnerships and Innovation (DRPI) seeks to address the pressing issue of teenage pregnancy in Uganda, where 32,000 teenagers get pregnant every month, and 40% of teenage girls are married by the age of 18.

The interdisciplinary project, involving the School of Journalism, Faculty of Social Sciences, and Faculty of Public Health, aims to investigate the following questions about teenage pregnancy in Mukono District:

• What are the perceptions and attitudes of teenage girls regarding the causes of teenage pregnancy?
• What specific factors contribute to high rates of teenage pregnancies in Mukono District?
• What communication strategies can be employed to reduce teenage pregnancies in Mukono District?

The baseline data has been collected through focus group discussions and questionnaires shared with teenagers and parents.

The baseline data has identified four causes of teenage pregnancy: 26.5% is attributed to poverty, 23.7% is attributed to peer pressure, and 13.9% is attributed to lack of sexual education.

For the next six months, they will finalize data collection and analysis before moving on to message design and development.

The project’s findings and recommendations will contribute to addressing the challenges of teenage pregnancy and promoting healthy behavior among teenage girls in Mukono district.

Compiled by: Irene Best Nyapendi and Blessing Twine

Edited by: Harriet Adong, UCU Director Communication and Public Relations (Vice Chancellor’s Division)

By Kefa Senoga
In 2014, while playing football at Ntare School located in western Uganda, Alex Aturinda, a Senior Four student at the time, fractured his tibia. That below-the-knee fracture forced him to retire from sports.

However, it was not long after, when Aturinda picked up his boots, this time switching the sport to rugby. As the now Uganda Christian University (UCU) alum headed to the rugby turf, he knew he was joining a rough sport. Earlier, while in Senior One at Ntare School, he had vowed never to play rugby after watching his first game of the sport.

During his recovery process from the tibia fracture, Aturinda’s friends kept wooing him to join the rugby team as they hoped to benefit from his speed and physique. He was hesitant at first, but eventually gave in.

Aturinda’s rise in the sport was so meteoric that five years later, he earned a call up to the national team. In the same year, 2019, he joined the Stanbic Black Pirates, one of the clubs in Uganda’s rugby premier league. Two years after his call up to the national team, Aturinda got a fracture for the second time, this time on his jaw, during a rugby game.

For three months, he sat out of the games, as he recovered from the injury. He eventually made it back to the pitch and vowed to lead his country to winning at least a silverware during his playing time.

He has now won two, with Uganda’s Rugby Sevens. Both trophies came this year, with Aturinda playing a remarkable role in winning the latest, which came on the weekend of July 6-7, at the Labourdonnais Sports Grounds in Mauritius during the Rugby Sevens Africa championship. Uganda secured victory on July 7, the final day of the tournament, defeating South Africa 20-17.

In the final, Uganda gained an early advantage with tries from Alex Aturinda and Denis Etwau, pushing the score to 15-5 in Uganda’s favor.

Aturinda is a former player for the UCU rugby team, the UCU Shepherds. He joined UCU in 2017, eventually earning a Bachelor of Procurement and Logistics Management. He noted that the two weekends of competition in Mauritius were not a walk in the park.

Before travelling to Mauritius for the Africa Sevens competition, the team competed in the Olympic Repechage tournament in Monaco on the weekend of June 22-23. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful in the Repechage. This tournament was the final chance for the Uganda Rugby Sevens team to qualify for the Olympic games that were held in Paris, from July 26 to August 11, 2024, in France.

The huge loss in Monaco, Aturinda notes, gave the team great lessons, which they carried to Mauritius. He says to redeem their image at the competition in Mauritius, they had to do thorough research and study the playing styles of their would-be opponents.

He holds the championship they won in Mauritius dearly, as it marks his second gold medal with the team this year. The first came in March from the All-Africa Games in Ghana, where Uganda secured gold after an outstanding performance, with players like Aturinda, Desire Ayera, and Philip Wokorach (all UCU alumni) scoring multiple tries.

Winning the Africa Men’s Sevens Championship opens the door for the Uganda Sevens team to compete in the Challenger Series again next year. The Challenger Series serves as a “second-tier” tournament, where teams that have not yet made it to the main World Rugby Sevens Series (the top tier) can compete and showcase their talent. The top-performing teams in the Challenger Series have a chance to be promoted to the World Rugby Sevens Series, the premier international competition for rugby sevens.

According to Aturinda, their goal as a team is to compete in the World Rugby Sevens Series, the highest level of the rugby sevens.

Aturinda recalls that it was in 2019, as he played for the UCU Shepherds during the inter-university competitions, that he was noticed by the management of the national rugby team. As a result, he was given an opportunity to join the Sevens setup and began training with the national team in January 2020.

He says that rugby has enabled him to earn a living. However, he is also focused on advancing his career and is currently in his final year, pursuing a Master of Science in Procurement and Supply Chain Management at Kyambogo University. Additionally, he is involved in business, specifically selling sports attire.

“My goal is to make sure that even after rugby, I can live a healthy and quality life,” Aturinda says.

Besides Aturinda, UCU has trained many people who have ended up playing for the national rugby team, including Ivan Magomu, the captain; Conrad Wanyama, the vice-captain; Philip Wokorach, who plays professional rugby in France; Pius Ogena, Desire Ayera, William Nkore and Collin Kimbowa, among others.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage Ms. Natasha Alinda who was voted the Most Influential Student. I have interacted with her, and I can attest that she is deserving of the award.” 

These were the words of the Rev. Prof. John Mulindwa Kitayimbwa, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Uganda Christian University, as he announced the name on July 3, 2024, during a commissioning service at the main campus in Mukono.

To get this accolade, Alinda, who was among the 1,160 students who graduated on July 5, defeated four other students who had been nominated. The winner emerged via a student poll on social media platform X. The guidelines were simple: Vote for a final-year student who has exemplified the theme of education at UCU as “A Complete Education for a Complete Person.”

Kitayimbwa described Alinda as someone with “a positive influence who has added vibrancy to the UCU community.”

“She has excelled in academics, sports, social activities, and leadership,” he said.

Alinda, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance degree at the July graduation, thinks she knows why her fellow students gave her 46% of the votes that were cast. 

She believes she was voted due to her extensive leadership experience and dedication to service, both within and outside UCU. She has served as the coordinator for Talk to Mama Pesh (a program hosted at UCU by Patience Mushengyezi, the wife of the Vice Chancellor), Vice President of the School of Business, a student leader at the Honors College and a member of the East African Youth Parliament.

Her impact was particularly felt by students while she served as a leader in charge of resident students. She says she personally visited the students every fortnight to check on their well-being, understand their challenges, and suggest solutions. She also communicated with concerned parents who couldn’t reach their children.

She gets the passion for leadership from her love for people –  a gift that she believes God has bestowed. Alinda believes that leadership provides the perfect platform to make a positive impact on people’s lives, enabling her to guide and support them in meaningful ways. 

According to Alinda, her father, Gad Mugisha, is her biggest believer, always encouraging her to be a good example to others. 

Mugisha always emphasizes the importance of leadership, encouraging his daughter to lead by example. He taught her that leadership is an “effective way to reach people and make a difference.” 

Mugisha says his father had 13 wives, which was one barrier for Mugisha to attend school himself although he believes in the value of education. . Despite this, he is proud of the person his daughter has become.

“She studied, became born again,” Mugisha said of his daughter. “I’m grateful she listens to my teachings and avoids harmful habits, like drugs.”

According to Mugisha, his daughter has always been a popular student. Finding Alinda during school visits was easy because many of the students knew her. 

“She took good care of her belongings and was exceptional in relating with people,” Mugisha said of his daughter who is the third of five siblings.

To people who know Alinda, like Esther Auma, the Most Influential Student accolade was no surprise. Auma, a third-year student pursuing Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, first met Alinda during campaigns for student leadership at the UCU School of Business. 

She said Alinda came across as a confident, cheerful and down-to-earth person.

 “Alinda is a lover of people, she always makes it a point to make those around her happy, even when she is going through a tough time herself,” Auma said. 

Alinda looks to the future, she hopes to continue using her leadership skills to serve people and make a difference in the world.

(With a team of 29 dedicated student coaches from various schools and faculties, Uganda Christian University’s writing center, located within the Mukono campus’  Hamu Mukasa Library, plays a key role in academic enrichment. Officially opened in October 2022 and currently under the leadership of Kajubi Martin, the acting manager, the center strives to help students amplify their writing skills, scholarly voice and academic success. Christine Mirembe, a student in the School of Journalism, Media and Communication, got some insights into the center through interviews with four coaches.)

Christy Asiimwe – School of Education
Christy Asiimwe, alongside Joshua Gira, is working to develop an English language program tailored specifically for international students.

“I am excited about the curriculum,” Christy, an English major in the UCU School of Education,  said. “I would love to do a masters in Education, Management and Curriculum Development using experience from the writing center as a base. I wish to have an online presence where I teach English.”

Having a background in the French language as part of her high school curriculum has accorded Christy an advantage when tutoring students from Francophone countries. While she encourages them to speak and write English, she greets them in French. 

“I am assigned students based on their needs and my competencies,” said Christy, who has been a tutor, working twice a week for 90 minutes each, since 2023. “As much as I would have loved to engage more with my students, my busy schedule does not allow more.”

She credits supportive colleagues, particularly Joshua, also an English major, for any success she has. 

“Working at the writing center has been very fruitful,” Christy said.  “I cherish the bonds I’ve built with students. Watching them grow and being part of their journey brings me immense joy and fulfillment as a teacher. Helping them fit into the society by engaging them with the English language is an opportunity the writing center has availed.”

Two improvements she suggested are more tutor trainings and stronger collaboration with the International Students Association.

Milton Abel Opio – School of Business
“Writing should be a compulsory skill for every student; its power speaks a lot more if we go into details. Effective communication is crucial in all fields, business inclusive.”

These are the words of Milton Abel Opio, a writing center coach and student in the School of Business. He has a passion for writing and helping others share his passion. He is grateful that Martin Kajubi recruited him as a tutor in February 2023. 

“I tutor accounting in business administration because that is where my strength is channeled,” Milton said. “I find it more transparent; it is way more than just numbers, something that most people do not know. My sessions are usually two to four hours, depending on my students’ workload and their ability to grasp concepts.”

Helping others is a win-win as he has discovered improvements in his own work as he does more reading and research to have a better grasp of concepts and to share with those who he  tutors. His own writing about finance has multiplied. 

“Tutoring at the writing center has been amazing; you get to meet and interact with people from all walks of life,” Milton said. “I have hence used this space to learn, unlearn and re-learn from various people, making me better.”

He cited an example – “one of my most rewarding moments” –  of working with a student who had difficulties structuring essays and how together, they organized ideas, developed thesis statements and incorporated evidence.  

He acknowledged that time management has been difficult as he juggles his own work with time to help others with theirs. 

“I try to maintain a schedule that allocates time for my personal assignments and office duties,” Milton said. “Multitasking has become the standard practice. I would love to continue tutoring. The past year has been amazing and with unwavering support, I know there is still room for me to learn and create impact where passion lies. Learning never stops.”

Busobozi Ian John Baptist  – Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology
Before coming to the writing center in September 2023, Busobozi Ian John Baptist had a reputation for sharing knowledge with colleagues. He believes that teaching has rewards for both teacher and student. 

“You can teach someone; they get 90% and you get 80%,” he said. 

With average sessions running for two-to-three hours each, he guides groups of five to six students.  

“Engineering requires a lot of time and dedication,” Baptist said. “I recall conducting a study session that lasted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during which we thoroughly reviewed all the work from across all the course units in preparation for exams.”

Prior to all sessions, he gives students a heads-up on what will be discussed and when. This allows prior preparation, hence making the work more effective. Meeting and interacting with a diverse audience is an opportunity tutoring has provided.  

Baptist has been impacted by the “learning by teaching” principle, where teaching others has helped him solidify his own understanding of concepts and retention of knowledge. He grasps concepts much better and attributes his good grade-point average to this.

UCU student Isooba Mbeiza Rachel- Faculty of Engineering,Design and Technology

Since childhood, Isooba Mbeiza Rachel has enjoyed passing on what she knows to others. 

“Helping someone understand concepts brings me joy,” she said. 

Since assuming her writing center coach role in September 2023, she has met with one-to-two students for two hours each week. While helpful, she feels sessions could be more beneficial if they were longer and more frequent. 

“Mr. Martin Kajubi, our director, is amazing, helpful and very understanding,” Rachel said. “It is such a blessing to be part of the writing center. People are very kind, friendly and embrace teamwork. Generally, the atmosphere is very conducive for all.”

She also lauded the 2024 writing week that exposed students to different types of literature. 

As with other tutors, balancing their own academics with tutor duties can be challenging, according to Rachel who added that the benefits outweigh obstacles. 

“Witnessing the great academic impact the writing center has had on the student body and my passion for teaching others, I would love to continue working with the writing center,” she said. 

Uganda Christian University Students Innovation Challenge Call for Proposals, 2024

Introduction

Uganda Christian University (UCU), guided by its vision, aspires to be a leading institution in research and development across disciplines applicable to the institutional, national, and global environment. To achieve this, UCU has made efforts to create an enabling environment for research, including establishing research coordination structures under the Directorate of Research, Partnerships and Innovation (DRPI). UCU aims to create and stimulate innovations that solve real-world problems and challenges for societal transformation.

Against this background, UCU has established the Uganda Christian University Student Innovation Challenge (UCU-SIC) under the Uganda Christian University-Research Fund (UCU-RF) framework, coordinated by DRPI. The UCU-SIC is an annual competition for UCU registered students, providing support and funding for innovative and viable ideas. The Challenge seeks to create an inclusive space for innovation, encouraging students to turn their ideas into prototypes and commercial products that can be scaled up into successful innovations and entrepreneurial business ventures.

The Challenge benefits student-led projects in agriculture, food and nutrition, engineering, ICT, health, and other applied science fields aligned with the University’s research agenda. Proposals will undergo rigorous assessment, focusing on new products and innovations addressing real-world problems and market needs.

The Call

UCU invites students with innovative ideas tailored to market and societal challenges to submit concept proposals for consideration under this funding window. Students must form multidisciplinary teams with a minimum of three individuals, clearly indicating their respective roles on the project. Teams must integrate a UCU staff member as a mentor.

Eligibility

The UCU-SIC call is open to fully registered UCU students across all campuses with an idea or solution that could have a positive impact on society. All main team members must be enrolled and registered UCU students at any level (Diploma, BSc., or postgraduate levels). Students must form multidisciplinary teams geared towards developing new technologies, innovative business ideas, and competitive products.

Selection Process

1. Submission of concept proposals with innovative ideas (2 pages max, Times New Roman 12, spacing 1.5).

2. All submitted concept proposals will undergo internal and external technical review for merit.

3. Shortlisted proposals will undergo training, including validation of proposed ideas and innovations, Intellectual Property Management, Certification, communication coaching, entrepreneurship support, and product and business development.

4. Teams will pitch their proposals to a panel of judges (technical and industry experts) to assess viability and practicability.

5. Final selection of winning projects and award.

The Award

A maximum of ten winning teams will be awarded up to USD 1,000 to actualize their idea for six months. Teams will also benefit from continuous mentorship and linkages to upscaling opportunities, including incubation.

Submission

Call opens on 23rd July 2024. Submit concept proposals to the Directorate of Research, Partnerships and Innovations (DRPI) through the UCU Grant Management Portal (https://grants.ucu.ac.ug) and email: grants@ucu.ac.ug by Friday 23rd August 2024, 11:59 pm. Note that this Call will close immediately after the deadline, and no submissions will be accepted thereafter.

Guide for Concept Development

1. Title (not more than 10 words)

2. Background & Rationale/Motivation (not more than 300 words)

3. Problem being addressed (not more than 100 words)

4. The innovation (strategies to address the problem above) (not more than 250 words)

5. Methodology (how to achieve the innovation/strategies) (not more than 300 words)

6. Amount requested

7. Team composition (include Access Number for each student and particulars of a mentor)

For inquiries and more information, please contact: Mr. Hamilton Mbokureeba, hmbokureeba@ucu.ac.ug, +256782281661

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Prof. Daniel Asua Wubah, the keynote speaker for  Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Annual Public Lecture (July 3) and guest speaker at their 25th graduation ceremony (July 5),  leads a remarkable, diverse life in two continents.

In Africa, he is Nana Ofosu Peko III, a revered traditional leader in Ghana, his birthplace. There, he holds absolute power in his community. In North America, he is a respected academic leader at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, where he has served as president since 2018. Here, his authority is collaborative.

In the USA, Prof. Wubah primarily resides in Millersville, Pennsylvania, but in Ghana, where he ascended to the royal family throne in 2017, he resides in his private home in the capital city (Accra) and his palace at Breman Asikuma. He skillfully bridges the distance by fulfilling his royal duties virtually, connecting with his council of elders each morning before his workday starts at Millersville. Additionally, he visits Ghana annually to connect with his people and perform essential traditional functions.

These seemingly disparate roles – traditional leader and academic – have a surprising synergy, according to Prof. Wubah.

 “The training I received as a king has been crucial for my success as a university president, and the vice versa is true,” he explains. 

Both roles emphasize active listening and thoughtful decision-making. 

Growing up in Ghana, his mother often reminded him that there is a reason why humans have two ears and one mouth. His uncle, the previous king, bluntly advised him that it was essential to “Listen carefully before speaking.” This philosophy translates well to Prof. Wubah’s approach as a university leader, where he prioritizes collaboration and input from his cabinet, the trustees and other campus leaders before formulating decisions.

Wubah’s professional accomplishments garnered him recognition as a UCU keynote speaker in July. During the graduation ceremony, he challenged graduates to become agents of positive change. He emphasized that success goes beyond personal gain; it involves using one’s talents to improve the world. 

“You have been prepared to make a difference,” he counseled.

Prof. Wubah highlighted UCU’s potential to excel due to its entrepreneurial leadership and Christian foundation. 

“The university’s focus on programs like computer science and artificial intelligence, which address real-world challenges, sets UCU apart,” he said. “This is why Millersville University partnered with them through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on July 3, to facilitate student, staff and faculty exchange.”

Who is Prof. Wubah?
Prof. Wubah’s story is one of resilience forged in the face of tragedy. At the tender age of seven, his life took an unexpected turn. His father, also named Daniel, typically traveled home every weekend to reunite the family. However, a twist of fate intervened.

Daniel Wubah Senior, the Chief Accountant of Ghana Sugar Products Corporation at Asutsuare, worked far from his family. He maintained a residence near his workplace and traveled home on weekends. However, unforeseen challenges on January 20, 1968, prevented him from taking the entire family. He tragically left with only his wife on a journey of no return.

A devastating car accident claimed the life of Wubah Senior. His wife, Elizabeth Appoe, endured physical and emotional trauma, requiring two years of rehabilitation before resuming normalcy.

Faced with this hardship, his mother, a professional seamstress, shouldered the responsibility of raising their four children. In turn, the children, including Prof. Wubah, displayed remarkable determination. They redoubled their efforts in school, vowing not to let the accident shatter their aspirations.

Prof. Wubah’s academic journey is a testament to his perseverance. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in botany and a diploma in education from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, followed by a master’s degree in biology from the University of Akron and a Ph.D. in botany from the University of Georgia. He even pursued postdoctoral research at the EPA laboratory in Athens, Georgia. 

Before assuming his role at Millersville University, he served as Provost and later Senior Advisor to the President at Washington and Lee University. Prior to that, he served as a faculty member and academic administrator at Towson University, MD; James Madison University, VA; University of Florida; and Virginia Tech. Prof. Wubah has been married to Dr. Judith Wubah, a developmental biologist, for four decades, and they have two daughters and two grandchildren. 

At Millersville, this esteemed microbiologist has spearheaded initiatives that have fostered a more student-centered and values-driven learning environment.