By Kefa Senoga
Waste from water to flush toilets, take a shower and do laundry is not a waste at the main campus of Uganda Christian University (UCU).  It hasn’t been wasted in 17 years. It’s recycled and used to educate students, primarily those studying engineering. 

UCU constructed a $300,000 wastewater treatment plant in 2006. Two-thirds of the cost of the plant, the first of its kind for any institution in Uganda, was funded by the Diocese of Sidney’s Overseas Relief and Aid Fund of Australia.

About UCU’s treatment plant

Wastewater that is generated from various daily activities is toxic to both humans and the environment, hence the need to purify it, before it’s released into the environment. Wastewater is treated in 3 phases: primary (solid removal), secondary (bacterial decomposition), and tertiary (extra filtration).

According to Arnold Mugisha, a demonstrator at UCU’s department of Engineering and Environment under the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology, the wastewater treatment plant that was developed by Prof. Steven Riley, uses a biological process to treat the sewage and clean the water so that it is safe enough for disposal into the environment.

Mugisha says that the plant uses an activated biological sludge water treatment process, where microorganisms are used to break down the organic matter, which would otherwise be hazardous to the environment.

The plant has several sections, with the first having screens, where paper, pads and other similar waste are removed. The screened waste water then drops into the equalization chamber, from where the microorganisms break down the fecal matter. The water is then pumped into the aeration chamber, where more oxygen is supplied to the microorganisms, to enable them break down the waste completely.

“The waste is broken down by absorption, where the microorganisms eat the waste, and adsorption, where the organic waste sticks onto the body of the microorganisms,” Mugisha explains.

According to Mugisha, this is the most important step of the plant because that’s where most of the biological oxygen demand is reduced.

At the clarifier stage, solid particulates or suspended solids are removed from the liquid. At this point, the deposited sludge settles at the bottom and the clear water remains up, says Mugisha. The sludge is used for both manure and decomposition by anaerobic bacteria to produce biogas. At the time of installation, the plant was able to treat about 350 cubic meters of water per day.

At the chlorination chamber, chlorinated water is used to kill extra organisms that are still in the water. Mugisha says that if waste water is not treated properly, it can pollute water sources, cause illnesses and damage natural habitats. The treated wastewater is used for irrigating flowers, grass and plants in the university compound. People who would want to use the sludge for manure in their gardens are always granted permission to pick it from the facility.

Okot Innocent, a fresh UCU engineering graduate, says the facility provides a platform for engineering students to put their classroom knowledge into practice, learning in practical terms how the processes work. 

“Some of the students who want to become water engineers have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the equipment and the systems used in the treatment process,” Okot noted.

In Kampala, the Bugolobi wastewater treatment plant is the largest in the country and serves about four million people per day. The plant is capable of processing 45 million liters of waste daily.

By Patty Huston-Holm
Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) two lecturers with PhDs in nursing have reasons for their academic journeys not unlike those acquiring advanced degrees in other career fields. The passion for learning often starts with an interest through role model observations followed by personal growth and then understanding and application of how additional knowledge and skill improve people, organizations and systems.  

This is especially true in health care, according to Dr. Elizabeth Namukombe Ekong and Dr. Faith Rosemary Sebuliba Kasumba. They hold a half dozen each of nursing credentials including master’s degrees from UCU and doctoral degrees from other countries. They teach students pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees under the UCU Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery.  

“At the bachelor’s level, you are learning how you can improve yourself,” Elizabeth said. “At the master’s level, you enhance that while knowing more about policies and practices. With a PhD, you go deeper in questioning to solve problems, improve health, save more lives.”

Acquisition of these capabilities is especially critical for nurses and even more so for developing countries like Uganda.  The World Health Organization reports the 27.9 million nurses globally reflects a shortage of 13 million nurses. According to the World Bank, there are 1.6 nurses and midwives per 1,000 people in Uganda, compared to nearly 12 per 1,000 in the United States. 

On a July 31, 2023, morning when UCU nursing students were on a full break from classes or engaged in practical experiences, the university’s two nursing PhD holders shared their recollections about early experiences with health care that led them along their career paths. They elaborated on the value of advanced degrees in nursing. 

Faith and Elizabeth received their doctoral degrees from Texila American University (Guyana,  South America) and the University of Central Nicaragua, respectively.  Both are married to medical doctors.  Dr. Thomas Sebuliba has been the husband of Faith for 34 of his 37 years as a practicing physician; they have three children.  Elizabeth likewise has three children with Dr. Ekong Joseph, who has been a doctor for 18 of their 24 years of marriage. The husbands had some influence on the wives’ advancement in nursing but not all, especially at the onset.  

What inspired two of UCU’s lecturers

For Faith, her health care interest can be pinpointed to an injured ear at age five when living in the Fort Portal, western Uganda region.  

“I pricked my ear,” she recalled of how she tried to imitate adults cleaning their ears with match sticks. “My siblings and I dared each other to see who could go the deepest, and I won.”

The damage put Faith in a hospital, now known as Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, for two months. During a series of surgeries leading to full recovery, she was surrounded by caring, nurturing nurses. It was them as well as a “retired nursing officer” cousin who started her direction to become a nurse. 

On the opposite side of the country, Elizabeth was likewise young and watching happenings around a health facility in eastern Uganda’s Kamuli District. 

“I was fascinated to see people go in a place sick and come out well,” she said. “I was surprised that somebody could identify your problem and help you get better…By the time I  was in secondary school, I was looking for a profession where I could do that.” 

When considering higher education options and given the choice between being a doctor or nurse, Elizabeth and Faith chose nursing that would allow them closer contact with patients. While their education journeys after high school are roughly eight years apart, both Elizabeth and Faith started out as midwives – an occupation in 2023 that, according to the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council chaired by Elizabeth, is occupied by around 70,000 men and women. 

“To smile at a baby was pure joy,” Elizabeth said of her midwifery practice at Mulago. “I’m still passionate about newborns and identifying and helping mothers at risk.” 

While helping mothers deliver their babies, Elizabeth and Faith worked at deepening their health care knowledge with the growing realization of the need to pass on what they learned. They began to understand the value in stretching the knowledge and curiosity of the next generation of nurses in their country.

“Until 1993, nurses were only at the diploma level here,” Faith said. That year, she recalled, Makerere University started a bachelor of nursing program that interested her but she couldn’t begin because of child rearing responsibilities while her husband was getting surgical training in Zimbabwe. She got a couple more diplomas before getting her bachelor’s degree at UCU in 2007. 

Elizabeth, who got her UCU Bachelor of Nursing Science in 2008, also started to see the importance of teaching others while continuing her own learning. Like Faith, she worked her way up from tutor to lecturer. As teachers, they share both the academic and practical sides of nursing. 

“I’ve seen a critically ill person, not able to talk or open the eyes and then functioning after treatment,” Elizabeth said. “As I am enlightened with deeper understanding and ownership, I pass that on  to students.”

Faith and Elizabeth cite Dr. Karen Drake, emeritus professor of nursing, Bethel University (St. Paul, Minn.), as their mentor. Karen, who holds a PhD in educational policy and administration, has been a practising nurse since 1968, including at the side of her late husband in East Africa; as well as a nurse educator at UCU for more than a decade.  

The difference among bachelor, masters and doctoral degrees is primarily critical thinking and problem solving, according to the two UCU nursing doctoral holders.  Those with undergraduate degrees are primarily applying what they have been told while those with advanced degrees are more likely to keep questioning. 

“Many times, people say the PhD is for the sake of self-actualization,” Elizabeth said. “I don’t see it that way.  I see it about more help for the patient, better services, improved policies and processes.” 

For Faith, her advanced degree has reinforced the “importance of collaboration for change” with increased confidence and a “spirit of inquiry.” One area in need of louder,  more informed voices is  mental health that is “highly stigmatized” in an ill-informed East African culture that may label mentally ill people as “possessed,” she said. 

In addition to what their advanced degrees offer for their students, Faith and Elizabeth are frequently at the table for policy and research discussions and conference presentations. Topics have included early postnatal care improvements, work-based learning, menstrual hygiene among adolescents and technology learning and application.

“We need to have nurse leaders at various levels,” Elizabeth said. 

In addition to their on-paper credentials and reputations as esteemed lecturers and nurse practitioners, Christian walk is critical to UCU’s two PhD holders. 

“God has called me to do this,” Elizabeth said. “My model is Jesus Christ.”

“It’s a calling,” Faith concurred, admitting that she initially didn’t want to teach but a higher power nudged her there. “When I feel almost like giving up, I know who is my strength. God is my strong foundation.” 

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Working parents continue the struggle to find a convenient, safe and responsible child care school that gives them a peace of mind as they do their jobs. For Uganda Christian University (UCU) staff members, the dilemma is less because of a high-quality Kids Care Centre on the Mukono campus.

Deborah Mugawe, the administrator, said the Kids Care Centre offers day care to children of UCU current and former staff and students, those of UCU service providers and those recommended by the above categories. The plan is to expand the school to UCU’s general community members who subscribe to Christian values and principles. 

“One can be sure of the child’s safety, good moral and Godly values as well as quality learning,” Mugawe said.

About the UCU Kids Care Centre

The Centre admits children from 1 to 6 years. They are grouped into Toddler Class (1-2 years); Baby Class (3-4); Middle Class (4-5); and Top Class (5-6). There are currently 23 children studying at the Centre that has a capacity for 60 children. School fees are about $191 for a term.

Mugawe recalled one humorous incident involving a child who submitted his workbook for grading. A young boy named Isaiah had a sentence error. He wrote “My name Isaiah” instead of “My name is Isaiah” because he thought the verb “is” was already embedded in his name.  

“I love coming to school to play with my friends, to sing songs like, ‘The Lord is my shepherd’,” said five-year-old student, Nicole Kwikiriza. “I  also love to write.”

The Centre incorporates play and education based on an integrated system of Uganda and basic early learning format.

How UCU staff is benefitting from the Kids Care Centre

Rev. Alex Kamoga, the assistant chaplain at UCU and a part-time lecturer at Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology (BTSDT), enrolled his son, Kisakye Kamoga, at the Centre last year based on convenience and holistic learning. 

“I shared a fence with the school,” said Kamoga, a resident of Tech Park. “Usually in the morning, we would see my son going to the fence to listen to the children at the school as they read the Bible and sang; that inspired me to take him there.”

Kamoga said his son is now able to count with added confidence because teachers encourage him to express himself.

 “I am glad my son has learnt to pray and memorized a few verses,” he said.

The Rev. Can. Rose Ekirunga Muhumuza, a BTSDT lecturer, is a mother of two children under age five at the Kids Care Centre. Muhumuza said it was a necessity for her to take her children there when she joined UCU in 2020 because she had a two-year-old child and no nanny.

“The UCU Kids Care Centre is one of the blessings I found here. When I interacted with the teachers there, I loved the way they look after the children,” she said, adding that having her children in the centre makes her a better lecturer as it “lessons my burden” and allows her fuller concentration on teaching. 

Daphine Okiria Nabimanya, who works at the UCU church relations office, recommended the school to her brother for his son – her nephew who now lives with the aunt. 

“When I am busy, the teachers at the Centre look after him for me until I pick him after work,” she said. “Sometimes, I even pick him up at 7 p.m. on days when I have a lot of work.”

Nabimanya said in less than a year, there was a remarkable turnaround in the life of a boy who was shy and didn’t speak English. 

“Now, he speaks English and is confident,” she said, adding. “I am happy that my nephew has learnt how to pray.”

By Irene Best Nyapendi

Jemimah Jehopio, an accomplished graduate of Uganda Christian University (UCU), has emerged as the most exceptional graduate at the 50th Law Development Centre (LDC) graduation ceremony.

With an impressive collection of awards that included the prestigious Director’s List, LDC/Agaba Muhairwe Prize, and Inspector General of Government Award, Jehopio left no doubt that she had soared above her peers at the Kampala campus graduation held on June 23.

Overwhelmed with joy and delight, Jehopio expressed her excitement upon receiving the highest number of awards at the graduation ceremony. “I am extremely thrilled to receive these awards; they represent the fulfilment of my dreams. These accolades acknowledge my dedication and are pivotal for my future career endeavours,” said Jehopio, her eyes, gleaming with joyful pride.

Jehopio’s journey through LDC was not for the faint of heart. It demanded her time, energy, and unwavering commitment. But she approached it with an unwavering determination to give it her all. Having traversed the world of theory during her undergraduate years at the UCU School of Law, LDC became her gateway to unravelling the intricacies of the law, transforming her into a true legal professional.

“At LDC, I had the privilege to apply the theories I acquired during my undergraduate studies through seminar sessions, court visits, and interactions with government agencies, enabling me to witness firsthand how the law operates,” explained Jehopio.

A beacon of inspiration, Jehopio fervently urges fellow students embarking on the same journey to seize every opportunity that comes their way. She knows all too well the whispers of doubt that can cloud one’s path, but she advocates for silencing those voices and embracing steady self-belief. “As students, we must exercise unwavering self-discipline. When the weight of work threatens to overwhelm us, it is in those moments that we must push harder, challenge ourselves, and remain steadfast in our pursuit of excellence,” Jehopio advised, her words infused with the wisdom of experience.

Jehopio attributes her victory to the unwavering emotional and financial support from her parents throughout the demanding and costly journey at LDC. Currently working as an advocate at Sebalu & Lule Advocates Law Firm, Jehopio expresses her deep passion for teaching and plans to pursue a career in academia.

Receiving a congratulatory call from UCU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, further amplified Jehopio’s joy in recognition of her remarkable achievements. Prior to achieving First Class Honors in Bachelor of Laws at UCU, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry from Makerere University.

Jehopio has also been the recipient of numerous awards, including the John H. Jackson Moot Court 2020, the National Disability Rights Moot Court 2019, the Nuremberg Moot Court 2019, and the Uganda National Mathematics Contest 2015.

Furthermore, she has held significant leadership positions, including Guild Vice President and Guild Minister of Education and Sports at UCU, as well as Firm Leader at the Law Development Centre.

UCU Graduates top LDC list in 2023

In the Law Development Center final examination results released a few months ago this year, students who graduated from Uganda Christian University (UCU) topped the list of first-class graduates.

Out of the total number of 20 first-year students from the bar course, at least nine had gone through UCU’s law school. The rest, according to the list were from across the universities.

Among the first classes, the top four were all from UCU. The nine include Emmanuel Okia with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.90, Shamira Kitimbo with 4.80, Reagan Ahumuza with 4.75, and Jemimah Jehopio with a CGPA of 4.70. Others are Ernest Ayesiga with a 4.55, Samuel Odiye with a 4.50, Josephine Namagembe with a 4.40, and Martha Uwizeye with a 4.40.

By Irene Best Nyapendi

On June 26th, Uganda Christian University (UCU) hosted a team from the Ministry of East African Community Affairs (EAC) led by the Minister of East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga.

The team sensitized the UCU community on the mandate of EAC and matters on regional integration. Kadaga emphasized the importance of EAC towards fostering unity and cooperation among countries.

Kadaga on the mandate of the EAC

“We’ve come a long way, and as a country which is landlocked need to have this integration. The African people have for long wanted to have the United States of Africa but has been delayed because of various political differences which is why we have a regional economic block that will eventually become the basis of the integration,” Kadaga said.

She mentioned that as EAC they have security interests in the region because what happens in the neighbouring communities affects each member state due to the many ways they are linked.

While addressing the UCU community, Kadaga mentioned that some of the challenges they face in implementing policies are the mindset of the population. Hence the need for enlightenment. Furthermore, Kadaga pledged to address the challenges of international students who often struggle to travel and study in Uganda and vice versa.

On his part, the UCU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi commended Kadaga for the initiative of coming to sensitize the UCU community about the EAC. He explained that the issues affecting EAC affect UCU directly as a member of the university which is part of the Inter-university Council of East Africa to which he is UCU’s representative.

“We do appreciate the work you continue to do for EAC, especially as you fight very aggressively the non-tariff barriers that sometimes crop up which hamper business in EAC, implementation of our protocols, treaty and free movement of persons and goods in our region,” Mushengyezi said.

On a light note, he further noted that Kadaga is a parent and friend of UCU because her son, “Timothy Kadaga,” was the institution’s 22nd guild president.

The Vice-Chancellor, additionally, mentioned that UCU is a very active university when it comes to EAC affairs because it has a very big representation of students from neighbouring countries including; Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Nigeria, among others.

“As a university, we also participate in the African mobility program for lecturers which we have embraced through the inter-university council for East Africa,” Mushengyezi said.

Over the years, UCU has managed to recruit academic experts from across the East African region to lecture and conduct research on campus, which best practice facilitates cross-border knowledge and skill exchange.

Edith Mwanje, Permanent Secretary Ministry of East African Community Affairs appreciated UCU for hosting them to share about the issues of East African Integration.

“We are so grateful to UCU for giving us this opportunity to implement a part of our big agenda of reaching out to our stakeholders and share with them information on the benefits of what we do and why we do it,” Mwanje said.

She noted that the visit was the beginning of a long journey that they are to have with UCU. She urged the university to form an association of East Africans through which communication can be made to keep the students updated on the happening within the region.

Mwanje explained to the UCU community about the EAC treaty that was signed in 1999, emphasizing the importance for the community to remind themselves of certain facts about EAC.

The treaty for the establishment of EAC was signed in 1999 and became operational in 2000. The regional community is a regional inter-governmental organization meaning we take decisions collectively as Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan and DRC.

Through EAC, the customs union which came into force in 2004, eliminates tax of goods within the partner states such that goods produced in Uganda can move freely to neighbouring countries and vice versa. EAC guides the free movement of goods, people, labour, services and capital from one Partner state to another as well as the rights of establishment and residence without restriction.

However, the journey through the EAC still has challenges in the implementation of its policies.

UCU’s 25th guild president Timothy Ddumba commended the team from EAC for their timely visit. A time when UCU is celebrating International Students.

“I’ve heard the wonderful ideas in the pipeline of getting implemented but perhaps we are facing a challenge of enforcing these policies. So, unlike other institutions, we are students who won’t remind you of your problems but rather problem solvers, because that’s what we do,” Ddumba said.

He stated that through the university’s various initiatives, they will start an East African Students’ Association. Click the video below to watch the rest of the programme

By Irene Best Nyapendi

Uganda Christian University (UCU) has launched the first-ever audio-visual university podcast in Uganda dubbed “Unikonversationz”.

About the UCU-based UniKoversationz podcast

This is an inaugural university podcast that seeks to stimulate intellectual conversations and social commentary that appeal to and are relevant to university students or semi-educated people. Our goal is to provoke thought on topical issues ranging from academia, Christianity, worldviews, social life on campus, growth, personal improvement, etc. Our guest/guests take on intriguing subjects and discuss them with utmost precision.
While the podcast is curated by a team based at UCU, its appeal stretches beyond the university to broader audiences in Uganda and beyond. The audio-visual podcast is available on our YouTube channel.

Below is a glimpse of our first-ever audio-visual university podcast.