Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) October 2024 Annual Public Lecture was a success, drawing a packed audience to Nkoyoyo Hall on October 23, 2024. The lecture, guided by the theme “The Hidden Curriculum: Inescapable Biases in Education Curricula,” featured Mr. Graham Yoko, CEO of Accelerated Education Enterprises, as the Keynote Speaker.

Mr. Yoko emphasized the importance of a biblical-based curriculum in fostering holistic development, personal and social responsibility in addition to developing and maintaining strong communities. He highlighted that such a curriculum provides a coherent and consistent moral and ethical framework.

He further challenged the notion that curricular can be neutral, arguing that there’s always an underlying interest. “The idea of a neutral curriculum is a myth! There’s no such thing as a neutral education curriculum. It is always biased, either positively or negatively,” he said adding that “Every curriculum is shaped by underlying biases that reflect the values and assumptions of the designer.

Prof. Mushengyezi, advocating for and commending the integration of bible-based curricula with the competency-based ones, noted that UCU lawyers are respected for their professionalism and values. “We often tell our students, ‘Go out and serve God’s people as ministers sent by God,’” he said, emphasizing the university’s commitment to producing professionals with values.

“It’s no surprise that many have noted how UCU lawyers stand out—they carry Christian values with them wherever they go.”

The event was graced by UCU’s Vice-Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, Chairperson of the University Council, Rt. Rev. Prof. Alfred Olwa who was also representing UCU’s Chancellor, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, Mr. David Mugawe the Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration and Rev. Prof. John Kitayimbwa the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs among others.

This year’s lecture drew notable guests such as Dr. Lawrence Muganga, Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, and representatives from Uganda’s ministries including Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda Registration Services Bureau, National Curriculum Development Centre, Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Uganda Partners – USA, Ministry of Water and Sewerage Corporation, National Social Security Fund, National Agricultural Research Organisation, Review Uganda Initiative, Several Banks, Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Ndejje University, and other universities, and schools among others.

About the Graham Yoko- CEO Of Accelerated Education Enterprise

Graham Yoko is a Ministry Insights Certified Practitioner and CEO of Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) South Africa, which provides educational materials and services to schools and home schoolers. As a motivational speaker Graham has addressed audiences at conferences and seminars on four continents. His book, Get Out of Your Rut and Into Your Groove (CMP, 2010) addresses finding a personal niche in life and career. He lives with his wife Pam and their three children in Durban, South Africa.

Uganda Christian University (UCU) recently hosted an orientation for students who won grants from the UCU Students’ Innovation Challenge, bringing together talented young minds with groundbreaking ideas to solve societal problems.

This year’s challenge saw over 35 groups of students submit 35 innovative projects, however, only 10 were selected to receive grants after pitching their ideas.

The orientation event, held on October 29, 2024, was graced by Mr. Vincent Kisenyi, UCU Dean of the School of Business, Dr. Martin Kizito, Head of Research Partnerships and Innovation, Ageet Abraham Onyait, Senior Officer from Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and Achola Theona from National Agricultural Research Organisation (NAARO). The event aimed to inspire and equip student innovators to turn their ideas into reality.

Ria Joy Odong, a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, is part of a five-member team working on increasing the shelf life of jackfruits and adding value to them by producing oil and crisps.

Odong expressed gratitude to UCU for the opportunity and grant of USD 1000.

She believes that in six months her team will have a prototype to present.

“In six months, we hope to have a prototype, having tested either the oil, crisps, or both, I have experience in making oil out of jackfruit but I was doing it in small scale at home but with the help of our mentors, I am sure we shall make it happen in big scale to solve the problem of jackfruits getting  spoilt in markets because of their shelf life,” she said

Ria noted that UCU has the machines they will use to produce the desired products.

“We are grateful to UCU for this opportunity, grant and platform to bring our idea to life,” Ria added.

Gaspher Alir Ageno , a fourth-year Civil Engineering student, the team lead of a group of six working on a project about using the hybrid turbine to harness the wind- solar energy to solve the problem of water crisis in Kotido Karamoja

They hope to create a hybrid wind-solar turbine that powers water pumps for irrigation, livestock, and household use.

Their objective is to provide sustainable water access in Karamoja.

Ageno expressed his enthusiasm and gratitude to UCU for the grant.

“I am so grateful to UCU for this grant because it’s going to help me turn my dream into reality. Also, this opportunity has connected us with experts who have guided us on how to protect our innovation,” he said.

Among the other projects are:

• Developing an application that manages patients records
• Creating wine glasses from recycled bottles.
• Developing an app connecting students to the gig economy.

UCU’s Students Innovation Challenge stems from the University’s dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. By providing grants, mentorship, and intellectual property guidance, UCU empowers students to turn their ideas into tangible solutions, shaping a brighter future for Uganda and beyond.

Dr. Martin Kizito emphasized UCU’s vision as “A Centre of Excellence in the Heart of Africa,” stressing the importance of research and innovation.

He noted that the University’s Directorate of Research Partnerships and Innovation (DRPI) supports both staff and students, recognizing the potential within its student body.

“We believe that our students have potential and brilliant ideas that need to be harnessed. We want to promote ideas tailored to solving problems in our society,”Dr. Kizito said.

He explained that the Students’ Innovation Challenge attracts brilliant minds with excellent ideas, and the university is committed to supporting them from ideation to commercialization.

“We want to promote ideas tailored to solving problems in our society and we are ready and committed to supporting our student innovators all through the way,” Dr. Kizito said.

He encouraged the student innovators to embrace teamwork and appreciate that each member has value to add.

He also noted that engagements between the student innovators and the Directorate of Research Partnerships and Innovation will be governed by UCU’s policy and intellectual property guidelines.

Ageet Abraham Onyait, Senior Officer from Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), took the students through a comprehensive presentation on intellectual property, covering patent rights, utility models, industrial designs, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, and patent searches.

He emphasized the significance of intellectual property in protecting innovative ideas and facilitating commercial success.

“Intellectual property is a good indicator of the innovative capacity of a firm and facilitate commercial success,” he said.

Joseph Mbihayeimaana, a consultant for DRPI, took the students through team formation and team dynamics in innovation and research.

He urged them to build a strong foundation, setting clear goals and objectives.

Additionally, he encouraged open communication and feedback, emphasizing the importance of defining roles.

“Define your roles and responsibilities within the team, ensuring everyone has a distinct role,” he said.

UCU’s Students Innovation Challenge showcases the University’s dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. By providing grants, mentorship, and intellectual property guidance, UCU empowers students to turn their ideas into tangible solutions, shaping a brighter future for Uganda and beyond.

Compiled by: Irene Best Nyapendi, Writer @UCU

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

Today, Wednesday, October 23, 2024, Uganda Christian University (UCU) has signed a partnership agreement with Universite Chretienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC).

UCBC is a private, non-denominational Christian university chartered in 2010 under the Higher Education Ministry Act 078. The university office premises are located at Kasali Hope Campus, Beni, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In this partnership agreement, both universities aim to enrich their teaching, learning, research, and innovation. They also seek to provide various collaborative opportunities for faculty and students.

This Agreement commemorates the parties’ intent to engage in short and long-term faculty exchange, undergraduate and graduate student exchange, collaborative research and discovery, learning and teaching, and other mutually beneficial projects and mutually agreed educational or research programs.

The MOU was signed by Prof. Honore Bunduki KWWANY, the UCBC Rector, and Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, the UCU Vice Chancellor, who hosted the Congolese delegation at the UCU Main Campus ahead of the second partner of the 25th UCU graduation ceremony on Friday, October 25, 2024.

The guest of honour at the graduation will be Mr. Graham Yoko, CEO of Accelerated Education Enterprises Group.

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By Irene Best Nyapendi
Whenever Peace Mercy Mirembe was assigned a task, she wished she had a machine to simplify most of the work. This desire for efficiency drove her to dream of inventing machines that could ease the workload. And it could possibly be the reason she opted for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

Her fascination with technology began during childhood, upon hearing stories of inventors who created life-changing devices.

Now in her first year studying in the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology at UCU, Mirembe believes coding holds endless possibilities.

“I can create whatever I need, it’s just a matter of time,” said the 20-year-old who aspires to be an inventor and software engineer.

A week into the course, reality dawned on Mirembe that the journey would not be all rosy. When she was introduced to Discrete Mathematics, a course unit offered in the first year, she found the subject difficult to comprehend.  She wanted to give up on the course.

Opportunely, at the Department of Computing and Technology at UCU, through a program named “Code Buddy,” every new student is assigned a mentor to walk the journey with them. That is how Mirembe met Daniel Wavamuno as her mentor. Fortunately, Wavamuno, a second-year Computer Science student, scored an A in Discrete Mathematics during his first year, which gave Mirembe reason to believe that it was possible to excel in the discipline.

While executing his mentor role, Wavamuno helped simplify concepts for Mirembe. He also provided her with resources and tutorials.

“I could have failed Mathematics if I had not met Wavamuno as my mentor,” Mirembe said. In addition to teaching her, he also guided Mirembe on which areas to pay more attention.

UCU’s Department of Computing and Technology launched its Code Buddy Mentorship Program on September 20, 2024, at the main campus. During the launch, attended by the Director of Academic Affairs, Assoc. Prof. Angela Napakol and the Director of Human Resources, Ms Florence Nakiyingi, students played fun games with their mentors, creating meaningful relationships and networking opportunities.

Dr. Innocent Ndibatya, the Head of the Computing and Technology Department, said: “We have found that students typically excel in their second and third years, but some are let down by poor grades acquired during the first year.”

The mentorship program, Ndibatya noted, will ensure a strong foundation from the start and quicken the transition from high school to campus life.

The Code Buddy mentors are selected based on their character and academic performance. 

Tirzah Atwine, a third-year student pursuing Bachelor of Computational Science at UCU, knows firsthand the challenges of navigating university life alone as a new student. To prevent others from facing similar struggles, she dedicated herself to mentor six students through the code buddy program.

“I don’t want new students to make the mistakes I did,” Atwine explains, noting that she has been able to learn more, by teaching others. “I’ve discovered that when I explain concepts to my mentees, I find it hard to forget the same concepts.”

Nathaniel Mugenyi, a first-year student pursuing Bachelor of Computer Science, testifies to the impact of the mentorship program. He noted that having someone to walk the journey with smoothened his transition into campus life.

Paired with Tobit (Tobby) Bushenyula Kabuya, a third-year student, Mugenyi found not only a mentor, but also a friend. 

Kabuya helped Mugenyi simplify difficult concepts, taught him effective time management and helped him avoid pitfalls like missing classes.

“I wasn’t planning to miss class, but when Tobby told me not to, I knew it was something I shouldn’t think of,” Mugenyi said. 

Mugenyi initially planned to keep a low profile on campus, focusing solely on classes and his room. However, the mentorship program changed that.

“If not for the program, I would have engaged less,” Mugenyi said. “I’m glad my campus life didn’t turn out as I had envisioned. Without Code Buddy, I would have missed out on valuable resources and opportunities.”

As a mentor, Theophile Shebakanga Bushenyula, a third-year student pursuing Bachelor of Information Technology at UCU, has developed strong leadership and communication skills. 

“My goal is to equip new students, get them academically on track, and make them independent,” he said. “It is rewarding to see mentees older than me become self-sufficient.”

Bushenyula’s passion for mentorship stems from his desire to share knowledge and become a teacher. “I enjoy guiding my mentees and seeing them succeed independently,” he said. 

According to the National Institute of Health, Uganda faces a high unmet need for surgery,with few operating theatres (OTs) (0.2 major OTs per 100,000 people) and a low surgeon density of 0.73 surgeons per 100,000 persons.

As part of the university’s Corporate Social Responsibility Uganda Christian University (UCU) recently donated a van to facilitate transportation for surgeons during the Ankole Region Surgical Camp.

Organized by the Uganda Association of Surgeons and the Ministry of Health, with support from UCU and several Members of Parliament, the camp addressed the pressing medical needs of individuals who had long endured pain and illness without the financial means to seek treatment.

Officiating at the closing of the event, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa said: “The surgeries are a remarkable achievement that has brought hope and relief to hundreds to Ugandans who had been struggling with various medical conditions.”

During the week-long surgical camp, held from September 22 to 28, over 2,356 patients received surgeries, with 20,054 operations performed. The camp also conducted 17,956 scans and 7,300+ lab tests, identifying critical health issues and providing timely interventions.

School children also benefited from comprehensive screenings, with 3,260 screened for eye issues, revealing 40 undiagnosed vision impairments, 648 screened for ENT issues, with 2011 requiring surgical attention and 162 (8%) showing significant muscle and bone problems.

Additionally, the camp screened 66 women for breast cancer, detecting 4 likely cases. They also screened 67 women for cervical cancer, identifying 1 likely case and 61 men for prostate cancer, finding 12 likely cases.

UCU’s donated van played a vital role in transporting surgeons to the camp, ensuring the success of this humanitarian effort.

UCU’s participation in the Ankole Region Surgical Camp embodies the university’s core values of Christ-centeredness, integrity, diligence, servanthood and stewardship. By partnering with medical professionals and organizations, UCU demonstrates its dedication to improving lives and transforming communities.

Looking forward, the Uganda Association of Surgeons plans to extend its outreach services to West Nile come September 2025, reinforcing its commitment to serve more underserved populations.

Compiled by: Irene Best Nyapendi, Writer @UCU

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

By Irene Best Nyapendi

Unlike public universities that get financial support from the central government, private universities in Uganda, in which category Uganda Christian University (UCU) falls, are run on tuition fees paid by students. This places a heavy task on private institutions to source for resources through various avenues including partnerships, projects, fundraising initiatives, among others.

Such was the state of affairs that prompted a resolution by the House of Bishops of the Province of the Church of Uganda, in 2017, to support UCU- the Provincial University- by designating every last Sunday of September as UCU SUNDAY.

On UCU Sunday, which fell on September 29 this year, every church under the church of Uganda took time off to pray for the institution but also mobilize support and resources for various activities at UCU; as well as create awareness about developments at the institution. 

Speaking during the UCU Sunday launch on September 9, 2024, the university Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, shared that the objectives are three-fold. “Our objectives include; praying for UCU; mobilizing financial resources to support UCU projects, especially infrastructural development; and to raise awareness about the university,” Professor Mushengyezi said.

Rev. Canon Eng. Paul Waswa Ssembiro, the University Chaplain, represented the University at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe, where he delivered a profound message centered on the theme, “Conforming to the truth of God’s word and not the patterns of this world” (Romans 12:1-2). During the service, the UCU Sunday report was presented to the congregation, highlighting the vital work and mission made possible through the UCU Sunday funds.

Mr. David Mugawe, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, also presented UCU at St. Luke’s Church of Uganda Ntinda where he was also the preacher of the day. During the service, he testified about the great impact of UCU Sunday financial contributions toward UCU’s mandate of training clergy.

“Through your UCU Sunday contributions, we have so far supported the education of over 40 children of our clergy until their graduation.” He also mentioned that several infrastructural development projects are ongoing on all UCU campuses, courtesy of church support through UCU Sunday.

UCU is deeply grateful to the members of Church of Uganda for their warm reception, love for the Lord, and generous support to UCU during this year’s UCU Sunday 2024.

UCU also extends gratitude to its dedicated UCU Sunday ambassadors for their tireless efforts in promoting the university’s vision and mission across various churches.

Rev. Dr. Richard Mulindwa, the university head of Church Relations Department on behalf of UCU extended gratitude to all who participated and represented the university in various churches during UCU Sunday.

“We deeply appreciate the time, energy, and funds you invested in making UCU Sunday engagements a success,” Rev. Mulindwa said. “Your efforts have brought immeasurable value to the university and helped create lasting connections with the church.”

This annual event is crucial for UCU’s growth and sustainability.

Collections from the UCU Sunday is used to implement a number of projects at the institution. For instance, 15% of the collection goes to capacity-building programs for clergy, 20%: tuition support for clergy children and 65%: infrastructure development projects at the main campus and our regional colleges.

Through UCU Sunday collections, tuition support has been provided to over 43 clergy children from various dioceses

Here is a breakdown of the 65% contributions from UCU Sunday 2023 allocated towards enhancing infrastructure across Uganda Christian University’s campuses:

• Mbale University College (MUC) received UGX 19,264,180.
• Bishop Barham University College (BBUC) received UGX 31,819,651
• UCU Arua Campus received UGX 12,698,400.

These investments significantly improve the learning environment and facilities for students across the university’s campuses.

Below are UCU Sunday collections from 2017 when UCU Sunday first took place to 2023.

UCU Sunday Donations can be made through;

EQUITY BANK:   Uganda Christian University -UCU Sunday Collections A/C No: 1006201583777 UGX

POST BANK:      UCU Sunday Collections A/C No: 1630037000131 UGX

MTN Money:     *165*80# (A20000)

Airtel Money    *185*6*2*1# (A20000)