General
How Prof. Kyeyune’s Gifted hands got him to Pope Francis
A life changing experience
On 27th November, Pope Francis made his maiden visit to Uganda. Among the particular areas he visited was the Catholic Shrine at Munyonyo and the Uganda martyrs shrine at Namugongo. It is at Munyonyo that Prof. George Kyeyune, a member of Staff of Makerere University met and shook hands with the Pope.
Prof. Kyeyune made the sculpture of Andrea Kaggwa, one of Uganda’s martyrs, killed at Munyonyo during the reign of Kabaka Mwanga. We caught up with Prof, Kyeyune, who is still living in the glow of the life changing experience of meeting one of the top religious leaders in the world- Pope Francis.
Getting started
Prof. Kyeyune, a proud Professor of Fine Art in the Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, Makerere University is all smiles after successfully executing the assignment to make a monument of one of Uganda’s martyrs, Anderea Kaggwa that Pope Francis blessed and unveiled at Munyonyo. He successfully bided for the project alongside other sculptors.“The Polish Priest at Munyonyo, Father Marian Kajubi Golab, wanted a sculpture to commemorate Anderea Kaggwa who was martyred at Munyonyo. Several sculptors were contacted and asked to present marquees, and budgets. I emerged winner of the contract,” explains a jovial Prof. Kyeyune.
Throughout the interview, Prof. Kyeyune had a sparkle in the eye and smiled a lot especially when talking about Pope Francis. Prof. Kyeyune is from the catholic faith and dedicatedly wears his Rosary. He was delighted to take on the job, which he says gave him an opportunity to come close, so close to the Pope that he could make out the pores of his (Pope) skin.The sculpture in 
question is thus far the biggest piece of work that Prof. Kyeyune has laid his gifted hands on. It was sponsored by two catholic families; the family of Mr. Joseph Yiga- a known business man in town and the family of Rtn. Emmanuel Katongole of Quality Chemicals. It took him two and a half months to finish this work, which he considers to be one of his masterpieces. The seven feet highsculpture depicts a closer to life image of the deceased Kaggwa. It stands tall at Munyonyo for all to see. “I recommended seven feet. I wanted a monument that would not be dwarfed and one that would not be too big for the building, but also something I would manage to do. When it was done, people swarmed it, kissed it and did all sorts of things. I was gratified,” he reminisces.
Prof. Kyeyune emphasises that the sculpture is designed to bring out the last moments of this particular martyr who is said to have been tied on a log and his hands cut off moments before his death. “He died a painful death but at the same time he was not resigned. He was hopeful, looking forward to a better afterlife. That kind of resilience is what I wanted to infuse in the monument and maybe this is what people were responding to,” Prof. Kyeyune contentedly explains. The monument is made in bronze, a mixture of copper and brass.
Meeting the Pope
“We were made to rehearse and told to walk in a certain way, not too fast, not too slow,” Prof. Kyeyune gives a hearty laughter as he recalls the drills. “As a staunch catholic, I was very much part of the entire experience of the Pope’s visit and the climax for me was when I was able to get very close to him and shake his hands,” he adds.
The Pope was given an explanation of this particular project especially the history on how Anderea Kaggwa met his death because of his commitment to the Christian faith. “What we gave him was a small version of the big sculpture to take home. He asked some questions for clarity especially in relation to the death. One of the sponsors of this sculpture explained to the Pope that Kabaka Mwanga insisted not to have any meals until Anderea’s hand had been cut off and brought before him,” he narrates. History has it that the King’s order was executed by Mukaajanga– the Executor.
It was during this dialogue and explanations that Prof. Kyeyune took a keen look at the Pope. “I had a close look at the Pope because of this extended discussion and it was spiritually uplifting. I was a different person after. He is very ordinary in the human sense, but he has this clout of a Pope which makes the spiritual dimension overwhelming. In this presence, I quietly said a prayer to God, thanking Him for so much,” he asserts.
The aftermath
“Some people suggested that I should not wash my hands. Many came to shake my hand to get the first experience of the Pope’s blessings. My sister, Catherine Namyalo was the first to call. She was astounded seeing me on television while following the proceedings of the Pope’s visit. Other people came to hug me in the days that followed the Pope’s visit. It was as if I had carried some attributes of the Pope with me,” Prof. Kyeyune recounts amidst laughter. The Pope gave him a Rosary which he has since decided to frame and hang in his house. He is grateful to the project sponsors for considering him for the historic opportunity.
The benefit to Makerere University
“One of the reasons I suffered a lot with this work is because our studios are not well facilitated. We lack a lot of basic equipment. We certainly can do much more with some financial aid. I thank the Presidential initiative, it has given us some materials and tools but we need more,” says Prof. Kyeyune. He explains that the project was ambitious, necessitating some components to be done outside Makerere University. He worked with a team of students to accomplish the task and is grateful to Makerere University for allowing him to use the facilities. And as such, Prof. Kyeyune has committed to giving back a percentage of the proceeds towards renovation of the studio at the Margarett Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art.
The project also presented an opportunity for him to try out a mixture of beeswax, paraffin wax and sap from a tree to mould the sculpture. “I used this combination for the sculpture. It makes the wax softer and easier to mould. This is an ongoing experiment. At the moment I am still trying to establish the right proportions. This is going to be my next level of research,” he says.
Other works
Prof. Kyeyune is part of the team that sculpted the CHOGM monument and the monument of 50 years of Uganda’s independence. Both these monuments proudly stand at Uganda’s Parliamentary gardens. He worked with Maria Naita on these pieces. He was also the overall in-charge of the team that designed the current legal tender in circulation, right from the 1,000/= note to the 50,000/= note. Within Makerere University, some of his works are visible in the monument of the late President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania.
Story by Marion Alina
A significant development unfolded at Makerere University during a strategic, hour-long meeting in the vice chancellor’s boardroom on 7th October 2025, marking a deepening bond with the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. The primary goal was to move beyond existing collaborations and formalize a new Double Doctorate (PhD) program. Prof. Sarah Saali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, set the tone by emphasizing that institutional partnerships are crucial to Makerere University, which she proudly called the leading research and most collaborative university in the world.
The discussion promptly formed the core structure of the program: a four-year PhD (or three if the master’s was research-based), with supervision duties split 50-50% between the two institutions. A key feature is the mobility requirement, stipulating that PhD candidates would spend a total of six months in the Netherlands, potentially divided into two three-month periods. Crucially, the University of Groningen confirmed there would be no teaching requirement during this stay, allowing students full access to focus on their research. A major financial hurdle was overcome with the adoption of a fee-waiver policy; Makerere would waive tuition for incoming Groningen candidates, and Groningen would reciprocate for Makerere‘s students, significantly boosting the program’s financial viability.
However, the critical issue of the stipend remained. Dr. Anita Veltmaat explained that to meet the required living standard of approximately €1,875 per month in Groningen, the incoming candidate must secure a partial external scholarship of around €250 per month. The positive news is that if the candidate secures this minimum scholarship, the University of Groningen is prepared to top up the amount to the full living standard for the six months the student spends in the Netherlands. It was noted that this initial financial hurdle might be simplified for Makerere students, as many are already staff members receiving a salary, which could help cover the required €250.
The path forward was clear: it was to complete the agreement template guided by the setup committee from both institutions. The plan culminated in scheduling an online follow-up meeting for Tuesday, November 11th, to review the first revision of the agreement, capping a highly constructive discussion that solidified the two universities’ shared future in graduate education.
Makerere University was represented by Prof. Sarah Ssali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics Affairs; Dr. Ruth Nsibirano, Head of the Department of Gender Studies; Dr. Patricia Ndugga, School of Statistics; Dr. Stella Achen and Dr. Joseph Watuleke, School of Distance and Lifelong Learning; Agatha Ainemukama, School of Engineering; Racheal Nuwagaba, School of Psychology; Awel Uwihanganye, Martine Rugamba, and Hawa Ndagire from the Advancement Office; and Muhammad Kiggundu from the Institute of Gender and Development Studies.
The University of Groningen was represented by Dr. Dinie Bouwman, Senior Policy Advisor, Internationalization and Quality Assurance; Dr. Anita Veltmaat, Faculty of Social Behavior and Social Sciences, Department of International Studies, involved in mentorship programs for women; and Dr. Alette Arendshorst, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, working on graduation/collaboration for students/staff.
Makerere University on Tuesday, 7th October 2025 hosted a delegation from Nelson Mandela University (NMU), South Africa in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom in a bid to strengthen academic partnerships and operationalize their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The delegation, led by Prof. Azwinndini Muronga, Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Internationalisation, NMU, aimed to turn earlier agreements into actionable collaborations and build sustainable partnerships with various colleges.
The Acting (Ag.) Deputy Vice Chancellor; Finance and Administration, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, provided an overview of the institution’s structure—nine colleges, two schools, and two institutes—while acknowledging the challenges of maintaining excellence amid resource limitations and post-pandemic recovery. He emphasized that collaboration must serve the broader goal of research-driven development, calling for teamwork and resilience among African universities. “We have to work together to sustain high academic standards and contribute to the continent’s progress,” he noted.
Prof. Muronga spoke passionately about the NMU’s “African footprint agenda.” He urged both institutions to start with small, practical projects that can build confidence and momentum for larger initiatives. “We must grow partnerships within Africa first,” he stated, “before we expand globally. True collaboration begins when both sides contribute equally, share capacity, and build self-reliance.”
Prof. Muronga also expressed interest in joint research projects, doctoral supervision, and shared grant applications, noting that NMU and Makerere are strategically positioned to lead regional academic innovation.
In her remarks, Prof. Judy Peter, Senior Director in the International Office at NMU emphasized the University’s commitment to African-centered collaboration and the importance of internationalizing the curriculum and expanding research capacity.
Prof. Peter underscored the importance of student mobility, joint supervision of postgraduate students, and the recruitment of talented African scholars, noting that such exchanges enrich both institutions’ academic communities. She also emphasized the need to internationalize the curriculum, particularly through virtual learning platforms and co-teaching models, to ensure broader accessibility and shared expertise.
Contributions also came from Prof. James Wokadala, Deputy Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), further amplified the need to “start small and build on existing collaborations.” He proposed developing a clear roadmap that defines short-term goals and identifies areas for mutual growth.
From the College of Health Sciences, Dr. Richard Idro, the Deputy Principal highlighted opportunities for fellowship, training and collaboration in clinical subjects, emphasizing the need for practical exchanges that benefit students and staff alike. He also addressed logistical challenges such as transportation and coordination, urging for targeted partnerships that can yield tangible results.
The meeting reaffirmed the universities’ commitment to collaboration in areas including faculty exchange for guest lectures, seminars, and sabbaticals; joint research and grant applications for regional and international funding; co-supervision of postgraduate students; virtual classroom exchanges; curriculum internationalization and exchange of academic materials; and capacity development for academic and administrative staff.
The teams also identified “quick-win” projects that could be implemented in the short term and agreed to establish a joint implementation team to monitor progress. Further discussions will explore funding mechanisms, including the possibility of leveraging programs like Erasmus+, to support student exchange and joint research initiatives.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Muronga reaffirmed Nelson Mandela University’s commitment to ensuring that the partnership yields visible outcomes. Both universities agreed that future engagements will be structured around mutual respect, accountability, and measurable results.
The meeting concluded on a note of optimism, with both institutions expressing confidence that their partnership will not only advance academic excellence but also contribute to Africa’s broader vision of educational and research self-reliance.
The meeting was attended by several officials from Makerere including; Prof. Eric Awich Ochen-Deputy Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze-Deputy Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Prof. Godfrey Akileng-Dean School of Business, Dr. Geoffrey Nuwagaba-CoBAMS, Mr. Martine Rugamba-Ag. Chief Advancement Office, and Ms. Hawa Kajumba-Advancement Office.
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