By Irene Best Nyapendi
The Rev. Dr. Christopher Yikii Agatre has the distinction of laying the foundation for the  Uganda Christian University (UCU) campus in his native Arua. Agatre, born in Arua in 1962,  set the pace for building the institution when he was appointed as director 14 years ago. In this top administrative position from 2009 to 2014, he oversaw the regional campus’ overall management and operations.

Now a lecturer at the Arua campus under the Department of Social Sciences, Agatre continues to impart knowledge in UCU research methods, social work research design and management, public budgeting and decentralization plus development policy and planning. 

He recently shared part of his educational journey. 

Agatre’s voyage at UCU commenced in 2006 when he joined as the Head of the Department of Development Studies, a position he held for three years. This experience fueled his ambition, leading him to apply for the position of Director of the UCU Arua Campus in 2009. Despite facing competition from three other applicants, Agatre’s qualifications and passion for education shone through, securing him a five-year contract as director.

During his tenure, Agatre achieved significant milestones. These include:

• The student population increased from 324 in 2009 to 688 in 2014. 
• He oversaw the construction of a library, multi-purpose hall and four-roomed lecture block. 
• He came up with an idea of asking students, parents and guardians to bank development fees on a separate account as a way of clearly marking it for infrastructural development.

All the while, he was at the center of mobilizing parents and students’ support for the mega projects the campus was undertaking, especially the construction of the multi-purpose hall. It was during his reign that the land boundary between the campus and the local community was opened.

Despite challenges posed by competition from other institutions, UCU prevailed because of the outstanding strides the campus had made in being a first-choice institution. Agatre said he prioritized the needs of students and staff, focusing on providing a quality education that prepared students for success as key to overcoming the hurdles of mushrooming institutions of higher learning in his region. 

He encouraged students and staff to attend community worship and emphasized prayers before and after each lecture, particularly during his classes.

Agatre Stresses Unique Blend of Education at UCU

He highlights the uniqueness of UCU through its distinctive foundational course units.

“Our foundational courses, such as Understanding Worldviews, the Old and New Testaments and others stand out from those offered at other secular universities,” Agatre explained. 

He said emphasis on Biblical understanding sets UCU students apart, providing them with a well-rounded education that encompasses both academic rigor and spiritual growth.

Agatre said he grew up in a loving and supportive home, guided by Christian parents who emphasized the importance of faith. He recalls his mother, the late Rhoda Ofutaru, who asked at least one from among her seven children to follow in their father’s theology footsteps. Agatre fulfilled his mother’s wish in 2012. 

“Time came for me to hear the calling of God in 2012 while I was the director at Arua campus,” he said. “I started studying for a Post Graduate Diploma in Christian Ministry (Ordination Course) at UCU main campus in Mukono in 2015, graduated and was ordained in 2017. I have served as a priest in the Diocese of Madi-West Nile for six years now.”

After five years on the job as Arua campus director, he embarked on pursuing his PhD, which, as expected, was so engaging, he only managed to squeeze time as a part-time lecturer at the campus.   

Agatre’s education summary is:

1999 – Masters degree in Applied Population Research at Exeter University in the UK.

2001 – Post graduate certificate in Public Finance Management, New Delhi, India 

2008 – Masters degree in Organizational Leadership and Management at UCU 

2017 – A post graduate diploma in Christian Ministries (Theology) at UCU Mukono

2020 – PhD in management and administration at Uganda Management Institute. 

Agatre and his wife, Fredah, have four children and three grandchildren. Outside of his professional pursuits, Agatre finds joy in watching football and proudly supports Manchester United, a top-tier team in England.

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Yesterday, December 10, 2023, the oldest Diocese of the province of the Church of Uganda (COU), Namirembe, witnessed a change of guards in its ranks.
The ceremony marked the formal installation of Bishop Moses Banja, who succeeds Rt. Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, the outgoing Bishop of Namirembe Diocese.
Banja, who was at birth named “Musa Omubazi Webbanja Omugenyi Asoka Sewatte,” Yet the question of why he, the eighth child, was named “Asoka,” meaning “firstborn,” lingered unanswered throughout his childhood.
In primary six, he found the name cumbersome and decided to drop parts of it. He translated “Musa” to “Moses” and dropped the second “b” from “Bbanja,” creating the name we know today- Moses Banja.
It wasn’t until recently, reflecting on his unique path, that the significance of his name dawned on him.
Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Chancellor, His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, defined Banja as a development- oriented person, a preacher of the word, a teacher, and a prayer warrior.

Kaziimba urged the congregation to support Banja and his ministry as he shepherds God’s people in Namirembe Diocese.
“I have no doubt that he will serve with dedication and devotion to the glory of God. Let’s support Bishop Banja and make his work a joy and not a burden,” Kaziimba said.
He confidently said that, with no doubt, he knows that Banja’s wife, Rev. Canon. Assoc. Prof. Nassaka Banja, will be a mother figure in Namirembe diocese.
He reflected on her time at UCU and described her as a great disciplinarian and role model.
Banja will be the sixth bishop of Namirembe Diocese and the tenth if counted chronologically from the diocese’s creation in 1899.
During the service, Banja took an oath of true and canonical obedience to the archbishop and declared his commitment to uphold the constitution of the Church of Uganda.
“I, Moses Banja, swear that I will pay true and canonical obedience to the archbishop of the church of the province of Uganda, in all things lawful and honest. So, help me, God,” Banja vowed.
During his address, Banja outlined his vision for the diocese. He emphasised the importance of preaching the gospel, building existing ministries, undertaking development projects, preserving church land, promoting clergy welfare, and improving the quality of education in the diocese.
“The first task that is closest to my heart is to preach the gospel of Christ and bring people to his body, including those from different faiths,” Banja said.

He aims to lead the diocese towards spiritual growth, social impact, and sustainable development ensuring the well-being of both clergy and laity.
Banja acknowledged two of the biggest challenges facing the country and the church: poverty and land ownership.
“When you have poverty around you, you may not fulfil the purpose you are trying to achieve,” Banja said. “Land is another challenge in this country. A lot of our land as a church has been taken unfairly.”
He expressed his gratitude to Luwalira for his service to the diocese and said he would strive to build on his accomplishments.
“While I intend to initiate new projects that God will reveal, I shallnot let those initiated by Bishop Luwalira die in our hands. I’ll strive to continue and advance them,” Banja said.
Banja was ordained as a deacon in 1996 and priested in 1998. In 2021, he became Archdeacon of the Luzira Archdeaconry. It was during his time as archdeacon that the Lord called him to the higher office of bishop in the Namirembe Diocese.
God has blessed the 59-year-old Banja and his wife with three children: two girls and one boy.
The ceremony was graced by H.E. Jessica Rose Epel Alupo, the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda, the Queen and Katikiro of Buganda, and other dignitaries.

Katikiro Mayiga Congratulates Bishop Moses Banja

Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga, representing the Buganda Kingdom, acknowledged the longstanding and strong ties between the Church of Uganda and the Buganda Kingdom.
“I congratulate and affirm to you Bishop Banja that we shall continue to strengthen ties between Buganda Kingdom and the church as we strive for the social and economic well-being of the people of Buganda,” Mayiga said.

The Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe, the Very Rev. Canon Jonathan Kisawuzi Ssalongo, also offered his congratulations to Bishop Banja and his wife.
Kisawuzi warmly welcomed Bishop-elect Banja to the cathedral’s deanery and chapter.
“I congratulate Bishop Banja and his dear wife on this higher calling and responsibility entrusted to them,” Kisawuzi said.
As the event came to an end, Banja was gifted a brand new car from the office of the President of Uganda.

By Pauline Luba
The leadership journey that Nkurunungi Seth Niwabiine started in May 2023 was not for the fainthearted. His courage was resolute. With faith, he forged challenges.

The 24-year-old had just made public his longtime desire of leading Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Bishop Barham University Campus (BBUC) as its guild president. That particular semester, Niwabiine says he had reported to school with sh10,000 (about $2.6) as money for upkeep. Many who knew Niwabiine’s financial status thought his ability to fund his campaign was wishful thinking. 

“No matter where you come from or what your background is, be positive,” Niwabiine said during a late November interview with Uganda Partners. “My personal motto is ‘believe, begin, become’.” Indeed, he believed he could win. On November 11, 2023, he did. He became the university’s guild president.

But Niwabiine’s was no ordinary campaign. He was honest with his classmates about his financial status and, therefore, many of those who campaigned for him did not expect compensation. 

“In my first meeting (to strategize about how to conduct the campaigns), only five students showed up and I was honest about having no money,” Niwabiine said. “I ended up receiving contributions and help from several students.”

As luck would have it, on voting day, Niwabiine said his name was the first on the paper ballot. Could that opportunity have worked to sway fence-sitting voters who could have opted for any candidate whose name was first on the ballot? Perhaps, but Niwabiine says he believes voters knowingly chose him because he was the best among the contestants. 

BBUC Guild President: Niwabiine’s Triumph Amidst Family Tragedy

To Niwabiine’s mother, Mary Aida Nkurunungi, her son’s victory was a family triumph. Nkurunungi said she informed almost every relative she could reach about the new pride of the family. She said she not only often talks to her son on phone, but also prays for his successful tenure as guild president. 

There is no doubt his father, Eric Nkurunungi Muhoozi, would have been just as excited. However, the day Niwabiine reported to school to start his journey of university education was the same day Muhoozi complained of pain and was rushed to hospital. Tests at hospital revealed he had liver complications. Three months later, those complications claimed his life. 

That tragedy catapulted Niwabiine, as the first born in a family of five children, to fill the leadership void that his father had left in the family. He would often engage in different money-generating activities, with the hope that they would supplement whatever his peasant mother got in her pursuit to put bread on the table. Tasks like brick laying and farming were common activities from which Niwabiine and his family earned a livelihood.

The manifesto of Niwabiine, a year-three student of Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurship, is built on accountability, security, advocacy and welfare of the students. He said he will strive to establish a cash fund, to support the tuition of needy but bright students, especially those from humble backgrounds. 

Niwabiine attended Ishasha Primary School and Rushoraza Secondary School for O’level and and Kyamakanda Secondary School for A’level. All the three schools are found in western Uganda. In both primary and secondary school, Niwabiine was a student leader, including holding the position of head prefect. 

Today Uganda Christian University (UCU) officially closed the highly successful DALILA project after three years ever since it was launched. This was during a closing conference held at the UCU Main Campus, Mukono, which was graced by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration Mr.David Mugawe.
DALILA focuses on technological and economic subjects, paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future. This groundbreaking initiative brings universities together to tackle the challenges of energy management for sustainable and green economic growth. Join us in celebrating this significant milestone towards a brighter and eco-friendly tomorrow!

Andrew Bugembe covered the event and brings you the highlights in pictures below:

Deputy Vice Chancellor David Mugawe addressing at the closure of the DALILA conference as the representative of the Vice Chancellor.

Kironde Dennis,Jenavive Iucot, middle is Dr. Miria Agunyo, Okot Innocent, Namonyo Blessed, and Ogwang Emmanuel are ucu alumnus who did research, tests and wrote a paper about Assessing the viability of an Integrated Renewable Energy System for Institutions; Case of UCU Mukono.

Extreme left Dr. Miria Agunyo, left Dorcas Magoba,Centre Sempungu Godfrey, RodgersTayebwa and extreme right is Percy Mulosi the UCU DALILA project coordinators Giving their experiences.

Ronald Mayanja Pionior Graduate of the Post graduate Diploma discussing his experience while in Italy during the project implementation.

Seyyid Bukhari, one of the participants giving remarks during the closure about the research project.

Pioneer graduates giving their internship experiences in Europe and AFRICA.

A Group photo taken inside the UCU principal’s hall after the conference.

Pioneer Graduates of the Post graduate Diploma posing with Dr. Miriam Agunyu the Dean Faculty of Engineering Design and technology.

Solid waste management is a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa in general, and its food waste component is high and increasing with the rapidly increasing population.

Survey data (class p1) collected from households, hotels, restaurants, schools and produce markets were analysed using descriptive and logistic regression analyses for insights into the types and amounts of food waste, and respondents’ attitudes and practices towards its collection, disposal and alternative uses.

Households produce the highest amounts of food waste compared to institutions (hotels, schools and restaurants) and produce markets. In a week, about 96, 72, and 93% of all the respondents in households, institutions and produce markets respectively experienced food waste at least one to three times.

On average, with a solid waste collection coverage of 45%, households, institutions and markets in Kampala can respectively supply 680, 80, and 8 t of food waste daily. Moulding, poor food storage, food leftovers, food expiry and excess food produce were the major reasons for condemning food to waste.

Over 90% of the respondents recognized food waste as a problem, and as a resource especially for use in livestock feed production, and were willing to consume house crickets raised on feed from food waste.

Lower levels of education (none, primary and secondary levels), unemployment, and being divorced at household level were positively associated with recognizing food waste as a resource [X² (21, N = 209) = 137.77, p =  < 0.0001] and re-use for alternative purposes [X² (21, N = 209) = 47.44, p = 0.001] by households and institutions [X² (14, N = 92) = 30.97, p =  < 0.019]. Majority of the respondents were willing to donate food waste, especially married people and institutions that have been in existence for a period of 5–10 years.

To read the full article, visit this link: https://sustainenvironres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42834-023-00195-6

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, 31204, UgandaGeoffrey Ssepuuya
2. Department of Food Science and Technology, Kyambogo University, Kampala, 10308, UgandaGeoffrey Ssepuuya
3. Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, 31204, UgandaElsie Nsiyona
4. Department of Natural Resource Economics, Busitema University, Namasagali, 20217, UgandaMoses Kakungulu
5. Department of Linguistics, English Language Services & Communication Skills, Makerere University, Kampala, 20217, UgandaJane Frances Alowo
6. Department of Agriculture, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, 31204, UgandaPaul Nampala

For more information on research at UCU, visit this link: https://grants.ucu.ac.ug/

Economic and social disruptions, such as the global COVID-19 pandemic, heighten the vulnerability of adolescents. These disruptions exacerbate health and economic inequities, which are further compounded in informal labour settings such as the mining sector.

Therefore, strengthening adolescent resilience and coping are crucial for well-being and equitable health outcomes. However, there is a limited, comprehensive literature that synthesizes adolescent resilience interventions, especially in mining communities.

This study presents a scoping review, following Arksey & O’Malley’s (2005) framework, to map existing literature on interventions for adolescent resilience in mining communities. Relevant studies were identified from academic journals and grey literature published between 2012 and 2022. Of the 1286 studies screened, 13 were retained for final analysis.

Literature showed that common economic resilience interventions included policy-level advocacy and activism, and predominant health interventions focused on sexual and reproductive health, including HIV counselling, screening, and testing, targeting both individual and community-level change in mining communities. The findings emphasize the necessity for interventions to adopt multi-level, multi-sectoral, and multi-stakeholder approaches while mainstreaming gender.

Future research should prioritize intersectional, gender-transformative, and community-based interventions to strengthen adolescent resilience in mining communities and advance health equity and rights amongst this last-mile population.

To read the full article, visit this link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214790X23001582

For more information on research at UCU, visit this link: https://grants.ucu.ac.ug/