This is the souvenir copy of the UCU 23rd graduation newspaper that Uganda Christian University (UCU) graduates took home on Friday, July 29, 2022. 

The publication entitled Ebenezer was partly published in honour of the UCU@25 celebrations, whose climax will be the October 2022 graduation ceremony. 

It has 40 stories and 50 visuals featuring all 11 UCU faculties and schools along with e-links to videos and other UCU-related information.

By Jimmy Siyasa

Uganda Christian University (UCU) will on Friday, July 29, will confer degrees on 2106 graduands, during the 23^rd Graduation ceremony. Of those, I164 are females, accounting for 55% and 942 are males, making up 45%.

55 students will graduate with First Class. The overall best student, Mugaga Leslie Lubowa scored 4.91 CGPA. He pursued a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Statistics. Mugaga has also emerged as the best male student and best science student.

The best overall female student is Cynthia Birungi Muhumuza, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Statistics with a CGPA of 4.76. Furthermore, the best Arts student is Hajara Nanziri, who attained First Class, having scored a 4.72 CGPA. She will graduate with a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management.

The 23rd graduation will be UCU’s first total in-person ceremony since the outbreak of Covid-19 more than two years ago. The previous two graduation ceremonies — on December 18, 2020, and October 22, 2021 — were virtual, in line with the Uganda Government’s policy of observing the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures.

The graduating students are also coming from some of UCU’s constituent colleges, namely Bishop Barham and Mbale University College; and the Arua Campus. 

The University Chancellor, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, will preside over the graduation and the Chief Guest will be the Rt. Rev. Dr. Sheldon Mwesigwa, who is the former Chairperson of the University Council and the Bishop of the Diocese of Ankole.

We congratulate the graduands upon this remarkable academic milestone and also commend their families, friends and sponsors for supporting them to this date.

Note: UCU endeavour to avail graduates both their transcripts and certificates on the graduation day, and will not revoke this commitment.

To God be the glory!

The Dotcom era

The ongoing digital revolution which started with the internet around 1980, has impacted the way of life and activities in all sectors. As the pace of digital transformation accelerates, the birth of a very connected yet lonely society has become a real threat to mental health. The digital society has seen both the old and young replace human company with the company of digital devices.

Just recently, my 21-year-old “jolly” friend broke into tears after I made a considerably usual statement; “Hey Ian (not real name), you seem very happy these days!”. I said when I had noticed his “over-excitement”, every time we happened to meet. Our conversation revealed to me the depth of prolonged depression and brokenness he was struggling with. “Why hadn’t Ian sought counseling all this while?” I wondered.

Of sad, but happy-looking people

In Uganda, you will often hear the statements; “Guma nga omusajja” or “Guma makazi”, which is literally translated as, “Be strong like a man” or “be strong like a woman”. Just like Ian, many opt to “act” strong and happy instead of seeking counseling due to the fear of being judged among other fears. Thoughts like; “people will see me”, “people will think I am weak”, “I am a leader in society”, and “I am a prominent person”, among others, are killing more people than we realize.

Some reports have indicated that about 7 out of every 10 people with a mental disorder do not seek treatment! So, what can be done?

Here are a few digital solutions to be considered:

• Develop software, and integrate it with social media platforms and other interactive technologies that would bring together professional counselors and people in need of counseling services without requiring patients/clients to reveal their identities.
• Create virtual counseling rooms that have invisible counselors and hold virtual counseling sessions to encourage people to seek help anonymously until they are ready for physical interaction.
• Create a follow-up mechanism for persons that have sought counseling services to monitor the healing process.
• Leave an avenue for people ready for physical interaction to access them

The health sector, companies/organizations, institutions of learning, and the church, can co-opt some of these suggestions into their existing digital platforms or create them in a situation where they do not exist. Not all happy-looking people are okay. Not all unwell people are getting help! Therefore, We need to create digital platforms to ease access to help. A healthy mind is a healthy person, a healthy person is a healthy society.

The author is a Lecturer at the UCU Department of Computing and Technology

By Mukalere Justine

Uganda Christian University (UCU) participated in the 7^th National Conference on Communications (NCC2022) under the theme; “Inclusive Digital Transformation Through Innovation”, which happened between June, 21 -22, 2022.

The annual conference organized by; the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University in collaboration with the Uganda Communications Commission brought various ICT players on the same platform to discuss issues of inclusion through innovation in the digital era. Policymakers (Ministry of ICT, NITA-U), Academia (Institutions of learning), and the industry (RENU, HUAWEI, WUGNET, OUTBOX among others) graced the event.

With the discussions steered in the direction of digital inclusion through innovation, the need to bridge the gap between academia and the industry was very evident.

The question of how the academic institutions teach and train learners to equip them with skills to innovate and serve in the industry became too loud to ignore, requiring an urgent solution to the challenge of inadequate resources and skill gap amidst the various opportunities to light which can be utilized.

Inclusion, innovation, and skill gap is not a conversation to be exhausted in a two-day sitting; prompting the need for policymakers, industry and academia to come together in order to develop a practical, yet sustainable plan on how to support learners in both public and private institutions if the so needed digital transformation is to be realized.

A few proposed ways to encourage and support innovation:

• Mindset change towards ICT and innovation
• collaborations between and among academic institutions
• involvement of the industry players in curricula development
• development and operationalization of supporting policies
• creation and equipping of accessible incubation hubs

UCU was physically represented by two lecturers (Ms. Mukalere Justine (Myself) and Mr. Kubanja Martin) and six students from the department of Computing and Technology, with another team of students attending the event online since the conference followed a blended approach (physical and online).

The author is a Lecturer at the UCU Department of Computing and Technology

By Jimmy Siyasa

If, ever, any Bible scriptures, conceivably held God guilty- in the eyes of many Christians and heathens-for ‘sexual perversion’ and/or a sheer lack of “Christian euphemism”, none testify better than the Song of Songs.

The Canticles of Solomon, as the book is sometimes called, uses such “graphic imagery” of romantic love and sexuality, as to trigger a measure of embarrassment or shyness, even among the clergy, let alone Christians, who read the Bible.

It is only until a few decades ago that Bible scholars began to render keen focus “on the themes of human sexuality and marriage,” as noted by the author, Rev. Emmanuel Mukeshimana, Ph.D., whose publication offers some answers…

A Review

The paper entitled “Love and Sex: Applying the Song of Songs in a Global Cultural Context” makes for a good and deeply insightful read for all; scholars, clergy and the most simple-minded of “sheep”, who often run the risk of erotically interpreting the Song of Songs. The chapter appeared in the first issue of the 2022 Volume of The Global Anglican.

In this publication, the author sets the stage for a healthy interpretation of the scriptures in question by noting that “The Song of Songs teaches that Love and Sex are to be seen as the Foundations of marriage.” He recognizes love and sex as complimentary gifts from God, which are indispensable ingredients for a functional marriage.

He argues that scripture does not teach that the spirit is good and the body is bad; rather, both the physical and spiritual are part of the Lord’s good creation

In a similar vein, he juxtaposes contemporary and conventional courtship, while appreciating the uniqueness of each. Mukeshimana asserts that “the progression of their [Love and sex] relationship is a model for courtship and marriage today, by contrast with the traditional practices in many African communities, and with contemporary secular ways of doing things.

He calls for the recovery of “this model” urging that doing so will be relevant to the church and to theological educators for marriage preparation.

The controversy of Song of Songs

The scholar attempts to clear the moral mustiness associated with popular Christian and secular interpretations of the Song of songs by offering a background of its carnal interpretation that is linked to ancient Greek teachings:

On the contrary- away from secular interpretation- Mukeshimana, presents the purpose of the Canticles… as follows: “Song of songs was written as an affirmation of the goodness of love and sex within marriage,” he notes, arguing that “the church must not shy away from addressing and teaching every generation about love and sex because they are such important experiences in everyday life.”

In sum, the publication, [available here] justifies God as the author of love, marriage, and the gift of human sexuality, just as much as it exposes the erotic, distorted human view of sex and romantic love: It goes ahead to offer a healthy, truth-orientated, well-elucidated interpretation of the Songs of Solomon.

Nuggets

• God made a world that was originally “very good, commanding human beings to procreate and fill it (Gen. 1: 26-31)
• Sex within the context of marriage is good and holy, and a gift for spousal enjoyment, the furthering of; physical, spiritual, and emotional intimacy between husband and wife.

• Recovering this biblical model will be relevant to the church and theological educators for marriage preparation.

• Young people seeking guidance on love, sex, and marriage would find it useful, and it will also be valuable for individuals who are in a rush to make decisions about whom and how to love.

The author, Rev. Dr. Mukeshimana is a Lecturer at Uganda Christian University (UCU) Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology.

My name is Geoffrey Kiwumulo and I am a student at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Kampala Campus. I am currently in my fourth year pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Law.

When I joined UCU in 2019, I did not have tuition-related challenges; at least not the kind that would grind to a halt my university education. I was excited and optimistic like any other freshman because I was joining a leading university in the country to pursue my dream course: UCU is unique, mainly because since its inception in 1997, it has delivered on its promise for academic excellence for all who enroll.                      

Unfortunately, when Covid -19 hit in 2020, everything changed.  My father, a Lay reader with the Church of Uganda, could no longer afford to pay tuition fees to keep me and my siblings in university. A national lockdown was imposed. Churches were closed and the economy was severely damaged by the pandemic. This meant that my father, who in capacity was an employee of the church had effectively become unemployed.

My hope of attaining my goal started to dwindle. Life became difficult, and so many things changed. I could see my dream of becoming an advocate slipping through the vicious claws of COVID-19: Dad’s primary source of income was no more; the little he got only helped to keep the family from starving! I feared that this was the beginning of a downward spiral into a future of lack and poverty.

A miracle: Turning point

While I was sinking in despair, watching my once bright future growing dim, dimmer…, a miracle happened! Yes, I believe miracles still happen!

I got a scholarship!

Having shared my story, God was gracious enough to intervene in my predicament through the office of the UCU Vice-Chancellor, which offered me a fully-funded scholarship.

Courtesy of the scholarship, I have been able to complete my third year of study in Law School and now I am in my final semester of the fourth year.

Only God knows how grateful I am! Now, more than ever, I am determined to touch more lives out there, the same way mine has been touched through the generosity of strangers.

A Call For You To Give and Help Others like me

I know there are so many ‘Geoffreys’ with a similar or worse story, in different years of study at UCU. They are hopeful that one day their stories will turn around just like mine did.

UCU has created an opportunity for you to donate and help, through a campaign dubbed “For Just 10K, change a life”. The target is to raise UGX 1 billion (USD 270,000). This money will help over 74 needy students finish their university degree.

HOW TO GIVE   

• Follow the link:

• Through Stanbic Bank: Account No: 9030005916673 (Account Name: Uganda Christian University)

Vice Chancellor’s message (WATCH):