General
Mak VC Holds Thanksgiving: Praises God for Vice Chancellorship
On Saturday, 6th January 2018, all roads led to Busiwondo Village, Busia Municipality as Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and his wife Susan hosted clergy, cultural leadership and guests to a thanksgiving service held to commemorate his election as Vice Chancellor (VC) of Makerere University.
The colourful ceremony was presided over by the Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma; the day’s Guest of Honour, and attended by the Chairperson-Eng. Dr. Charles Wana-Etyem and members of the University Council, State Ministers, Members of Parliament, Political leaders, Members of Management, University staff and a host of other dignitaries and invited guests.
From the onset, the day’s theme was clear, it was a day to give thanks and glorify God for all the good that He had done for Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and the Hasafu family. Giving the opening remarks, Pastor Titus Kamya-a nephew to Prof. Nawangwe, thanked God for steering his Uncle through the competitive race to the Vice Chancellorship and eventual election as Busia’s first Vice Chancellor.
“It is a serious matter to give thanks to God. When you give thanks, you are glorifying God; you are pointing to God and not yourself as the source of your achievements. Thank you Professor Nawangwe for coming back to give thanks to God publicly and may God bless you indeed,” said Rt. Rev. Dr. Michael Kyomya the day’s preacher as he began his sermon.
Quoting the parable of the lepers from Luke 17:11-19, the Retired Bishop of Busoga Diocese observed that just like the nine lepers who did not return to thank Jesus for their healing, not many people want to point to God for their achievements. He therefore urged all present to emulate Prof. Nawangwe by always giving thanks to God for all that He does for them.
As part of the thanksgiving service, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and his family donated altar furniture to St. John’s Church Busia as its construction nears completion. Receiving the donation, the Retired Bishop thanked Prof. Nawangwe and his family for the good gesture to love and serve God. “I bless you in the name of The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” consecrated Rt. Rev. Dr. Kyomya.
“We return all the glory, all the honour and all the exaltation to God for everyone who has participated in making us what we are, by using you all in your respective capacities,” remarked Mrs. Nawangwe as the family began their acceptance remarks. She thanked the University Senate and Council for choosing the best candidate for the Vice Chancellorship, observing that “God is using you to favour my husband.”
Mrs. Nawangwe further testified that in the run-up to the VC race, she assembled an army of prayer warriors who fervently prayed for her husband to win the election. “All that we could do as a family was to pray and we thank the Almighty God that the time we spent before Him was not in vain,” she enthused.
In his remarks that followed, Prof. Nawangwe thanked his wife for rescuing him from the tide of Communism and Socialism that had threatened to sweep him away from God. “I thank my wife for taking me from so far. She has transformed me and I am now saved and able to say ‘Praise the Lord!’” beamed the Vice Chancellor.
“I thank God who I now believe used the minds of these great men and women to find me worthy of being elected as the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University,” shared Prof. Nawangwe as he paid tribute to the Chancellor, Chairperson and Members of Council, Members of Senate, Leaders of Staff Associations and Student leadership.
“I thank President Museveni who said at my Installation Ceremony that ‘the last shall be the first’ which is indeed a fulfillment of my father’s dream that one of us his children would one day also follow in his footsteps and become a Headmaster,” continued Prof. Nawangwe.
He thanked the people of Samia-Bugwe, the St. Augustine and St. Francis Makerere communities, the Makerere Imam and Muslim community as well as his family for all the prayers that culminated in his successful election. “We shall use all the wisdom from the East to transform our University and leave it better than we found it” pledged Prof. Nawangwe as he concluded his remarks.
“Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has invited us to come here and through this function, thank Jesus for what He has done in his life. All things come from God and the achievements and successes that we are celebrating here today all come from God,” remarked Eng. Dr. Wana-Etyem as he addressed the guests.
The Chairperson Council continued to thank God for uplifting Prof. Nawangwe; a Mugwe – the smaller grouping of the Samia-Bugwe community, to the highest office of University leadership, reiterating President Museveni’s biblical quotation that indeed, ‘the last shall be the first’.
Eng. Dr. Wana-Etyem reassured guests present that Prof. Nawangwe’s election was not by mistake but rather based on the fact that he was the best candidate for the position. He reminded Prof. Nawangwe that the entire country was now watching his performance and urged him to take Makerere University to the next level. He noted that Makerere University was not an easy institution to lead by virtue of its diverse constitution but expressed confidence that Prof. Nawangwe’s inclusive leadership style held the key to enable him succeed.
The Chairperson was thereafter joined by 10 members of Council and together, they presented an Appreciation Award to Prof. Nawangwe, in recognition of his distinguished service to Makerere University. Council members present included; Mr. Bruce Balaba Kabaasa, Hon. Thomas Tayeebwa, Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang-Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Mr. Charles Barugahare-University Secretary, Dr. Euzobia Baine Mugisha, Dr. Sarah Ssali, Dr. Umar Kakumba, Dr. Winston Tumps Ireeta, Dr. Tanga Odoi and Mr. Musoke Joseph.
Earlier, Mr. Okello Waata-Clan Leader of the Sirwa Clan had presented Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe with the Inaugural Award of Excellence, in recognition of his excellent academic and professional achievements. The presentation was witnessed by His Highness the “Omwenengo”, Philip Wanyama Nahama, the cultural head of the Samia-Bugwe community.
“To be grateful is an important source of joy,” quoted Prof. Ezra Suruma, further explaining “To be grateful, you have to receive the gift of sight to see value in what God has given you.”
Delivering his remarks as the Guest of Honour, Prof. Suruma had earlier expressed his gratitude to Prof. Nawangwe and his family for their invitation to the thanksgiving ceremony. “I am especially glad that Prof. Nawangwe has recognised the value of what God has given him. He has opened a chapter for the rest of us to be thankful to God.” said the Chancellor.
Prof. Suruma extended warm greetings from Rt. Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda to Prof. Nawangwe and his family, and announced that the Prime Minister would donate a cow towards the fundraising drive aimed at completing St. John’s Church Busia.
He thanked the Makerere Community present at the function for honouring the Vice Chancellor’s invitation to his thanksgiving ceremony. “Your presence here is a demonstration your support for Prof. Nawangwe and this spirit of unity is going to open a greater and more important chapter in the future of Makerere University,” said Prof. Suruma.
Following a sumptuous lunch, Prof. Ezra Suruma was joined by Eng. Dr. Charles Wana-Etyem and Prof. Barnabas and Mrs. Susan Nawangwe to cut the thanksgiving cake, an artistic impression of the Main Administration Building.
Article by MAK Public Relations Office
In a vibrant celebration of youth leadership and African unity, Makerere University hosted the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit, an event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, student leaders, and international partners for a powerful dialogue on the future of the continent. The summit, organized by the Guild Presidents Leadership Academy, served as a rallying point for East Africa’s young leaders to confront Africa’s most urgent challenges—on their own terms and with their own solutions.
A Warm Welcome and Reflections on Makerere’s Legacy
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, welcomed the distinguished guests, who included Former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo, former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda, Justice Simon Byabakama, Hon. Mathew Rukikaire, and European Union Deputy Ambassador Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, among others.
In his address, Prof. Nawangwe reflected on Makerere’s deep historical ties to East Africa’s liberation and development movements. He reminded the audience that Makerere University has been a crucible for the continent’s leadership, stating:
“Jomo Kenyatta was the first person to receive a degree from Makerere when, in 1963, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by then Chancellor Julius Nyerere. All freedom fighters in East Africa studied at Makerere.”
Building on this rich history, Prof. Nawangwe affirmed the university’s current mission to tackle pressing continental issues. “Today,” he said, “Makerere is committed to addressing Africa’s challenges—climate change, disease, poverty, food security, conflict resolution, and economic development. But we cannot do this alone.”
He echoed sentiments later shared by the keynote speaker, stressing that Africa must no longer depend on external interventions:
“Foreign agencies will not solve all Africa’s problems. It is our young people who must step forward and lead the change.”
Uhuru Kenyatta: “You Are the Last Line of Defence”
In a keynote address that resonated deeply with the students and delegates in attendance, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a bold and urgent call to action for Africa’s youth.
“No one is coming to save us,” Kenyatta declared. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.”
Positioning today’s youth as the heirs of the continent’s freedom fighters, Kenyatta described the current moment as a new “independence era”—not of political liberation, but of economic and intellectual sovereignty. He urged students to think critically about intra-African trade, which currently accounts for less than 2.5% of global commerce, and to advocate for the removal of internal barriers to trade, innovation, and mobility.
“You are the freedom fighters of this generation,” he said. “Universities must be incubators of change, and students must be the trustees of tomorrow’s Africa.”
Pan-Africanism, Leadership, and Action
Uganda’s Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo encouraged students to take up the mantle of Pan-Africanism with unwavering commitment. She acknowledged that while the rhetoric of African unity is inspiring, real progress demands more than words:
“You must embrace the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But it is easy to say these words—the challenge lies in collective implementation.”
She emphasized the importance of action-oriented leadership and urged the youth to harness their creativity, energy, and education for the benefit of the continent.
European Union’s Message: Leadership with Integrity
Representing Team Europe, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Guillaume Chartrain, gave a passionate speech on the values of authentic leadership, integrity, and inclusive development. He praised Makerere University as a space where “intellectual ambition meets civic responsibility” and emphasized that leadership is not about prestige, but purpose:
“Be a leader because of what you want to be—not because of what you want to have,” he said.
Citing former Makerere alumni such as Julius Nyerere and Wangari Maathai, Chartrain called on students to model courage, resilience, and humility:
“True leadership emerges in moments of loss—when resilience, not triumph, becomes the measure of one’s character.”
The EU, he said, remains committed to supporting youth through programs like Erasmus+, the EU Youth Sounding Board, and partnerships with organizations like Faraja Africa Foundation and Restless Development. These initiatives empower youth not as symbols, but as active participants in shaping policy and governance.
The Legacy Continues
Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the importance of legacy and long-term impact. They challenged young leaders to think not just about the present, but about the systems and institutions they will leave behind. In the words of Former President Kenyatta:
“Leadership is not about the next election. It’s about the next generation.”
The summit ended on a high note, with students invigorated and inspired to lead with purpose. As global support grows less predictable and Africa stands at a crossroads, the message from Makerere was clear: the future of the continent is in the hands of its youth. And as the Guild Leaders’ Summit demonstrated, they are ready.
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