The Archbishop of Uganda, His Grace Henry Luke Orombi is a man who is passionate about his role as the leader of the Church of Uganda (COU).

The Archbishop of Uganda, His Grace Henry Luke Orombi is a man who is passionate about his role as the leader of the Church of Uganda (COU).

This extraordinary job, by any measure, keeps him quite busy with his flock. He has recently returned from countrywide tour of Western, Northern and Northeastern Uganda, during which he interfaced with over 10,000 young people of College and Secondary School-going age, including launching a multipurpose hall named in his honour at Kyeizoba Girls School, Bushenyi District in April 2011.

As he traversed the country preaching, mentoring and encouraging, His Grace, in both his former and current capacities, developed a new passion – for Girl Child Education. He was soon to discover another partner with the same cause, the Makerere University Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) headed by Ms Catherine Kanabahita. On 24th June 2011, the Archbishop hosted a dinner to celebrate achievements of the Female Scholarship Initiative and to publicize the Makerere University Female Scholarship Foundation (MUFSF). He has also willingly advised the GMD and pledged his support to Makerere University, in her quest to secure funding up to the tune of 1.5bn shillings, from the Peace Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda (PRDP) under the Office of the Prime Minister. The funding is meant to enable disadvantaged girls from greater northern Uganda pursue quality higher education at Makerere University.

Fresh from a function at Ogenda Girls High School, Nebbi District on 20th August 2011, where he and his wife Mrs Phoebe Orombi, and the Bishop of Nebbi Diocese Rt Rev Alphonse Wathokudi had installed Mrs. Patience Karugire as the patron of Girl-Child Education in Nebbi, His Grace visited Makerere University's Main Administration building for the very first time on 24th August 2011. His mission was simple and yet historic, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Makerere University and the Church of Uganda.

Reverend Canon Dr. Ebong Johnson, Chaplain St. Francis Chapel Makerere University, led the prayer at this historic gathering. In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba thanked His Grace the Archbishop for honouring the University’s invitation, and observed that there was a need for both parties to work together to ensure that development in Uganda is equitably distributed, by moving in to address the needs of education, especially in greater northern Uganda. “Our graduates need to be able to engage the communities through partnerships with the districts, local governments, private companies and other stakeholders.” He said. He further noted that the only way to foster this kind of engagement is by offering quality higher education students to disadvantaged students from these districts.

Mrs Elizabeth Gabona, Commissioner for Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, thanked the Archbishop for honouring Makerere University by his visit and lauded COU for partnering with the University to increase equitable access to Higher Education in Uganda. “The Government, in recognition of the fundamental role education plays is continuously extending invitations to partners like the Church to join in supporting equitable access to education,” she remarked.

She however noted the need for universities and the church to support efforts by Head Teachers to enforce morals and etiquette in the current generation of students, amidst the rampant moral degradation, “There are so many interventions we could put in place, that don’t necessarily need financial support, the Lord being our helper.”

In his speech, the Archbishop expressed his joy at the spirit of partnership and intervention in the communities of this country, as shown by such initiatives. As such, he commended GMD for engaging the COU on the needs of girls especially education. His Grace further extolled the School of Veterinary Medicine, led by Professor John Kabasa, and the Africa Institute for Strategic Animal Resource Services and Development (AFRISA) for partnering with the Church to bring services to the least constituency in Uganda. “The church and the religious bodies are spread allover the nation and if you use them as a vehicle, this country can be reached.” “I do believe very strongly, that as we work together, and as we think about this nation together, there will be a great output in the future to come,” he further added.

His Grace also thanked Makerere University and the Government for creating the community engagement platform – AFRISA, which is committed to nurturing transformative skills, technology innovations and community services, through Academic-Community-Public-Private Partnership. “Makerere has the key to open up the minds of the people and empower them to overcome disease, poverty and ignorance,” he added.

The Archbishop further urged university leaders to uphold the partnership and work to build on the synergies and God given gifts to make this world a better place to live in for generations to come. “COU undertakes to enter into partnership with Makerere University, because we believe this has been a missing link in making the communities we serve have better livelihoods.”

“I believe very strongly that this is only the beginning and this beginning will grow into something bigger and better because I can see that the key players are the key players that can change this nation.” “May God bless our partnership,” he concluded.

mwamai@admin.mak.ac.ug, Public Relations Office