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Rev. Can. Asiimwe Feeds Spirit and Soul at 1st Joint Fellowship
For those who had never been to let alone heard of the St. Francis Students' Centre Upper Hall, the First Makerere University Joint Staff Christian Fellowship held on Thursday 31st October 2019 was the perfect opportunity to discover this venue. Located on the left of the first landing as you descend from the St. Francis Chapel parking lot to the Main Students’ Centre, this venue was hard to miss as the soothing songs from the St. Francis Choir drew and ushered brethren into the atmosphere of worship.
With hands lifted up and souls lost in worship and adoration of their God, staff from almost all Colleges, regardless of rank, staff association or denomination gathered as one to fellowship. The first gathering was organized by Joint Staff Christian Fellowship Steering Committee with the blessing of the Chaplain, St. Francis Chapel, Rev. Can. Onesimus Asiimwe.
Welcoming brethren, the Chairperson Steering Committee, Makerere University Joint Staff Christian Fellowship, Dr. Chris Tuhirirwe expressed gratitude to God for once again gathering the staff to fellowship as one, in addition to the more regular activities of their unit fellowships. He introduced other members of the Committee present namely; Mrs. Josephine Apolot Opolot (Vice Chairperson), Ms. Christine Ninsiima (Treasurer), Dr. Proscovia Katumba (General Secretary), Mr. Grace Musiime (Publicity Secretary), Mr. Samuel Kapasa and Dr. Barbara Nerima.
He thanked members for volunteering their time and energy to run affairs of the Committee and urged staff to continue praying for the filling of the vacant position of Vice General Secretary.
Ministering to the congregation, Rev. Can. Onesimus Asiimwe thanked staff for sparing time to attend the fellowship, noting that it is important for brethren to meet and break bread as one. He reassured the congregation that the Joint Staff Christian Fellowship was nondenominational and as such, all worshippers of God are welcome to attend.
Preaching from Luke 19:1-10; Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus, the Chaplain drew parallels between this man and Makerere University Staff, the former being Chief Tax Collector in Jericho on behalf of the Roman Empire and the latter being Civil Servants acting on behalf of the Government of Uganda.
Rev. Can. Asiimwe shared that whereas Zacchaeus was a man of great stature and wealth in Jericho, he was so moved by what he had heard about the miracles of Jesus that he abandoned his work and scaled a tree, just to catch a glimpse of Him. It was as a result of this act that Jesus spotted him and asked to dine at his house.
“The lesson here is that inconsiderate of our rank as staff of Makerere University, we should never miss our once in a lifetime opportunity to encounter Jesus. Had Zacchaeus missed this opportunity, he would never have found salvation. This was the last time that Jesus ever went to Jericho” he explained.
The Chaplain went on to share that it was because Zacchaeus found salvation that he immediately gave half of his possessions to the poor, and committed to pay back four times the amount to anybody that he had cheated out of anything.
“I want you to turn to your neighbor and ask them when was the last time that they ministered to someone about Jesus Christ…” challenged Rev. Can. Asiimwe.
He therefore urged staff to always be the salt and light in their spheres of influence and to always pray for their institution. “At yesterday’s midweek service, we prayed that the unrest on campus would cease in Jesus’ Name and we thank God that Heard our prayers.”
The Chaplain who confessed to have the gift of giving then invited the congregation to partake of a meal, for it is important for brethren to eat after they meet, especially if they are not fasting. He equally pledged to continue offering lunch to the monthly Joint Staff Christian Fellowship as his humble contribution to the brethren.
Article by Public Relations Office
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Utilise Your Authority Wisely – Archbishop Emeritus Orombi to Mak Staff
Makerere University on 1st August 2025, the eve of the first year students’ arrival on Campus, held the 2nd Prayer Breakfast aimed at reiterating that staff service at the institution is a calling to pursue excellence and purpose under God.. Hosted in the St. Francis Chapel gardens, the meeting was presided over by Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta who represented both the Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. The day’s message “Integrating Faith, Learning and Service” was delivered by Rev. Canon Dr. John Senyonyi, former Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University who also served as Makerere staff member between 1978 and 1987.
“This is a very good initiative” remarked Prof. Ireeta as he began his remarks, noting that the University’s enjoyment of a strike-free academic year 2024/2025 could perhaps be attributed to having commenced it with prayer. He expressed the Chairperson of Council’s and Vice Chancellor’s apologies, whom he noted would have loved to attend the 2nd Prayer Breakfast as they did the 1st but were unfortunately caught up in other meetings and official travel respectively.
“As we gather today, let us reflect on our shared purpose and values in this University and may this time of prayer and fellowship inspire us to make a positive impact in our work and community” Prof. Ireeta urged, noting that it was important to exercise compassion, wisdom and kindness as staff worked with the youth who are constantly bombarded with information from social media and other sources.
Prof. Ireeta therefore urged staff to always listen to diverse perspectives and work together to achieve the institution’s goals. He reiterated the University Management’s support to the Dean of Students, Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli and the Chaplains who report to her, “We shall continue supporting you in all you do”.
“We are weak but God is strong” remarked the Chaplain St. Francis, Rev. Dr. Lydia Nsaale Kitayimbwa as a rejoinder to Prof. Ireeta’s remarks. “This is a demonstration that truly we need the strength of God – we cannot start this academic year without the divine hand of God.”
She went on to say that when we do not pray, we boldly declare that we do not need God’s divine guidance, “but in coming here today, we are boldly proclaiming that we need divine guidance, so thank you all for coming.”
Introducing the day’s speaker, Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi, the Chaplain admitted that she did not know any speaker who was better placed to address the topic, given his vast experience as an academician, theologian and university administrator. She added that the speaker in his exemplary style had come along with his wife, Canon Dr. Ruth Senyonyi, a lay Canon of the Diocese of Kampala, under whose jurisdiction St. Francis Chapel falls.
Commencing his address, Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi shared that he had an issue with the framing of the day’s topic, particularly the word “integrating” for it made it seem as if God, the author of faith and creator of heaven and earth was separate from the quest to “learn” about the very things he created and “service”, the act of people providing stewardship over the God-given talents, abilities and His creation. Referring to the theme scripture, Ephesians 4:10-12, he singled out three important conclusions to dwell on.
“And those are simply; 1) the sovereignty of the ascended Jesus Christ, 2) Jesus is the giver of every ability, talent, skill, gift, whatever you may call it, even your education, and 3) Jesus equips whosoever He calls for service to others” he remarked.
Rev. Canon. Dr. Senyonyi further broke the conclusions down by noting that 1) Jesus is placed above all things and as such is sovereign over everything as further illustrated by scriptures; Mathew 28:18 – all authority in heaven and on earth (including academia) has been given to Him, John 1:1-5 – all things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made that was made, and Colossians 1:15-19 – by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth and for Him (including education and work). “If Jesus is sovereign, then our work in the universe, our education enterprise is a mission and that mission must be submissive to the mission of our sovereign.”
Proceeding to no 2) Jesus is the giver of every ability, and citing his personal experience, Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi said, “I left the teaching with this University because God was calling me to be an evangelist but I cannot say God gave me the gift of evangelism, that’s a mistake; that’s not how the scripture reads.” He added that the problem facing most people today is the tendency to think that everything is about them, and not recognizing that Jesus is the giver of the very things they call their own.
Turning to scriptures, Exodus 36:1 and Exodus 28:3 he explained that the craftsmen that Moses relied on to build the tabernacle and furnishings for His Temple were only able to excel because they were equipped by God. “In other words, what they had was a talent that God Himself gave… when we focus elsewhere, we forget what God has given us to… and your training is intended to be a gift to others.”
Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi then concluded with no 3) Jesus equips whosoever He calls for service to others, emphasizing the latter bit, the need to use all we are and have for the benefit of others. “If students are reporting tomorrow what are we going to do?” he challenged. “Are we going to facilitate soft landing or are we going to facilitate anger in their hearts?” he further pondered.
“If all of us are giving, if all of us are taking our faith where it should be, if all of us are showing the way, if all of us are ambassadors of Christ where we are, then everybody receives” the day’s speaker encouraged. “So your work is to equip the students until they graduate” he summed up, adding that one of the greatest joys is encountering former students whose faces light up with excitement when they see you.
The 2nd Prayer Breakfast would have been incomplete without prayer sessions, some of which were led by the Heads of the Joint Staff Fellowship Dr. Eve Nabulya and Mr. Moses Oluka. The final blessing was delivered by the day’s speaker Rev. Canon Dr. John Senyonyi.
The Chairperson and Members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Board of the Higher Education Council on Tuesday 29th July 2025 paid a courtesy visit to Makerere University following the 5th Meeting of the IGAD Universities Forum held in Kampala from 28th to 29th July. The delegation was received by the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Edward Bbaale in the presence of Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke, Makerere University’s representative to IGAD.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Bbaale on behalf of the Vice Chancellor and the University Management thanked the delegation for including a visit to Makerere on their Kampala itinerary, “It is an honour and privilege to host you here today,” he remarked. He equally thanked Dr. Kiggundu Musoke for representing the University on IGAD and facilitating the visit.
Prof. Bbaale acknowledged that IGAD continues to play a critical role in fostering regional cooperation, peacebuilding, and sustainable development in the Greater Horn of Africa. “The inclusion of higher education in IGAD’s strategic priorities speaks volumes about the importance you attach to knowledge, skills, and research as tools for transforming societies,” he supplemented.
The Acting DVCAA reiterated that Makerere University takes great pride in her IGAD membership, as well as the collaborative research partnerships, capacity-building initiatives, and policy dialogues that seek to harmonise and strengthen higher education in the region undertaken therein. He equally lauded the participation of regional Vice Chancellors and Senior Academic Leaders in IGAD’s activities, “Your presence affirms our collective resolve to build stronger institutions and knowledge systems that respond to the developmental needs of our communities.”
He noted that Makerere in pursuit of her strategic research-led agenda takes cognizance of the importance of partnerships at regional and international levels and urged the leaders present to nurture them. “We need to build a strong academic and research network so that we have seamless flow staff and students on the African continent,” adding that “We hope this visit will further deepen the bonds between our institutions and inspire new opportunities for collaboration in teaching, research, innovation, and regional integration.”
Dr. Kebede Kassa Tsegaye, the IGAD Senior Coordinator of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Program expressed delight at visiting Makerere, noting that the University and Republic of Uganda are strategic and extremely valuable partners of the regional body.
In her remarks, Dr. Victoria Anib Majur the Head, IGAD Health and Social Development Division thanked Makerere and other regional universities for promoting mobility among learners by endorsing the implementation of the IGAD Regional Qualifications Framework (IGADQF). “It is our pleasure that your institution and all other partner institutions in the region are joining IGAD in fulfilling the mission of regional integration through skills development and through qualifications.”
She reiterated IGAD’s commitment to push for; excellence in education, inclusivity of gender and persons with disabilities, and promotion of skills that will prepare learners, especially refugees, returnees, and those from host communities in the IGAD region for the marketplace. The IGAD Secretariat is hosted by the Republic of Djibouti and region covers the host country-Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
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