By Irene Best Nyapendi
More than sh1.1billion (about US$317,800) has been collected since 2017 when the annual Uganda Christian University (UCU) Sunday was started. Of that amount, sh297,224,648 (about US $81,032) was collected during last year’s UCU Sunday.
In 2017, the House of Bishops of the Province of the Church of Uganda resolved to designate the last Sunday of September as a UCU Sunday.
Of the resources collected every year, 15% goes to capacity-building programs for the clergy, 20% caters for tuition support for children of the clergy and the balance is to support infrastructure development in the university. Of the 65% set aside for development of infrastructure in the university’s main campus and at its constituent colleges, UCU Mbale University College (MUC) got sh19,264,180 ($5,252), UCU Bishop Barham University College (BBUC) received sh31,819,651 ($8,675) and UCU Arua Campus received sh12,698,400 ($3,461).
The buildings established for the UCU schools of medicine and dentistry were made possible by the sh300 million (about $79,275) that was collected on the 2018 UCU Sunday.
UCU Sunday was established to mobilize financial resources to support the university’s projects, especially infrastructure and to raise awareness about the institution. This tradition spans across Uganda, with every Church of Uganda participating.
At this year’s UCU Sunday, celebrated on September 29, 2024, the UCU Chancellor, His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, encouraged the congregation to embrace spiritual disciplines of faithfulness and stewardship.
Preaching at All Saints’ Cathedral, Nakasero in Kampala, on the theme “Characteristics of a Transformed Life”, Kaziimba emphasized that wealth accumulated for selfish purposes is fleeting. Instead, he urged the Christians to always remember to commit (as they are able) resources to the service of God through supporting the church, its ministries and establishments such as “our provincial university, UCU.”
“We do not own what we have; it is all God’s. We are only caretakers. When we give, we honor God’s divine position, provision, and protection,” he said.
The Rev. Canon Eng. Paul Wasswa Ssembiro, the University Chaplain, preached at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe in Kampala. His preaching was centered on the theme “Conforming to the truth of God’s word and not the patterns of this world” (Romans 12:1-2).
Mr. David Mugawe, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, represented UCU at St. Luke’s Church of Uganda, Ntinda in Kampala, where he testified about the impact of the UCU Sunday contributions toward the university’s mandate of training the clergy.
“Through your UCU Sunday contributions, we have so far supported the education of over 40 children of our clergy, until their graduation,” he said. Mugawe added that several infrastructural development projects are ongoing on all UCU campuses, courtesy of the support through the UCU Sunday.
The Rev. Dr. Richard Mulindwa, Manager of the Church Relations Department at UCU, conveyed appreciation to everyone who actively participated and represented the university in diverse churches during the UCU Sunday.
“We deeply appreciate the time, energy, and funds you invested in making the 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.”
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.
To support UCU Sunday, donations can be made through Equity Bank, Post Bank, MTN Money, or Airtel Money.
Equity Bank
Account Name: Uganda Christian University – UCU Sunday Collections
Account Number: 1006201583777
PostBank
Account Name: UCU Sunday Collections
Account Number: 1630037000131
MTN Mobile Money
*165*80# (Code A20000)
Airtel Money *185*6*2*1# (Code A20000)
American donations can be made through the Uganda Partners Website donation button at https://www.ugandapartners.org/donate/. Put “UCU Sunday” in the comment box.
UCU Sunday collections since 2017 (UGX):
| 2017 | 67,256,250 |
| 2018 | 243,262,336 |
| 2019 | 257,133,805 |
| 2020 | 25,078,854 |
| 2021 | 35,740,200 |
| 2022 | 240,203,260 |
| 2023 | 297,224,648 |
