General
“Look to the future with faith”, Archbishop Kaziimba charges Makerere University
By Sadiiki Adams
As Makerere University celebrates 100 years of academic excellence, the Chairman of the Council of Presidents of Inter Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) and Archbishop of Church of Uganda, The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu has commended the leadership of the University for the thought of thanksgiving and charged them to look to the future with faith.
“Today we are celebrating 100 years of God’s faithfulness and acknowledging that in all success, there has been God. Thanksgiving is a sign of people’s gratitude towards God. I am glad that the University leadership thought it wise to thank the Lord and to commit the future to God.” Archbishop Kaziimba said.
The Archbishop made make the remarks while preaching in a thanksgiving Service for the 100 years of Makerere University at the University’s Freedom Square today, Friday 2nd September, 2022.
“We thank God for the small beginnings with big surprises, small beginnings with big impact, mindful that whatever we begin is not ours but for the next generation. We are called to look to the future with faith.” Archbishop Kaziimba advised.
He called for dialogue amongst the students, staff and other stakeholders.
“There must be a deliberate effort to consider using dialogue to solve the problems affecting the University. It’s very bad for the University of intellectuals to use strikes and riots as a solution. It paints a bad image and does not portray the glory of God in Uganda’s premier public University.” Archbishop Kaziimba said.
He added, “My prayer is that the University continues to remain relevant with the world’s changing dynamics, continues to stand the challenges of this world and continue to magnify the glory of the Lord.”
Mrs. Lorna Magara, Makerere University Council Chairperson said that the thanksgiving service was to acknowledge God’s goodness towards the University since it’s establishment in 1922.
“We have gathered to say thank you Lord for all we have gone through. To thank God for the last 100 years and to remember those who were here before us beginning with the Late Nsibirwa who was killed because of giving land to this University.” Mrs. Magara said.
Prof. Ezra Suruma, the University Chancellor lauded the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda for his message of gratitude to God.
“I have always called upon students and other stakeholders here to have an attitude of gratitude. The existence of God has enabled us to reach this far. All we have to express is love, unity and gratitude.” Prof. Suruma said.
He added, “The example of Makerere University as an Institution which gives, empowers, supports and gives an opportunity for people to serve and be better should be copied in our hospitals, schools and other Institutions.”
He called for teaching of love in Schools and society for the nation to be stable.
“We need to teach love in our schools and society so that we bring back our Country. This country does not belong to the government but to us. We need to make it a God-centered country.” Prof. Suruma advised.
The thanksgiving Service to mark 100 years of Makerere University was held under the theme, “Ebenezer, Thus far the Lord has brought us” (1 Samuel 7:12) and was jointly led by the Presidents of IRCU.
Sadiiki Adams is the Communications Officer, Church of Uganda | Tel: +256778854739, +256701550775 | Email: asadiiki@churchofuganda.org
General
Makerere University and Xiangtan University Advance Strategic Partnership in Chemical Engineering
Makerere University and Xiangtan University are set to update their close to 20-year academic partnership, with a new focus on launching a joint Master’s degree program in Chemical Engineering and expanding student and staff exchange initiatives.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a recent visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University to Makerere University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in the company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively.
While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to diversify academic offerings and contribute to national development through training in Chemical Engineering. Through this new initiative, the University will better prepare graduates for the petrochemical industry and support the country’s industrial growth.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated that the proposed collaboration aims to address Uganda’s growing need for industrial expertise, particularly as the country develops its petroleum sector. The two universities here are working toward a 1+2 training model, which will enable Makerere students to gain practical experience and access advanced laboratory facilities at Xiangtan University.
Professor Nawangwe further reiterated that “our relationship with the people of China, not just for Makerere but also for a big part of Uganda, has been opened wider by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, considering that many other collaborations like one being discussed now have come through this collaboration.”
The head of the Xiangtan delegation, Professor Dingyu Ou, expressed appreciation for the meeting, and acknowledged the history between the institutions. “As mentioned, we have a very long relationship and a very stable friendship between our two universities.”
Professor Ou extended appreciation for the support provided to the Confucius Institute at Makerere, the care shown to his colleagues, and looked forward to the successful start of the Chemical Engineering collaboration.
Assuring the delegation of Makerere’s readiness for the collaboration, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba the Lead, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Makerere University Advancement Office, aligned with the Vice Chancellor’s emphasis of University goal to have both theory and practice imparted to the students.
She said “the curriculum of the university and Uganda as a whole is moving towards competence-based education training to ensure students are equipped to demonstrate those skills in the actual field, particularly regarding petroleum exploration.”
Ms. Ndagire Kajumba also emphasised a shift in strategy for the partnership office, saying, “we are moving away from just signing MOUs that collect dust, and moving towards those that are more collaborative to benefit our faculty and students, just like this one.”
Professor Gilbert Kumushabe aligned his remarks with those of the Vice Chancellor and Ms. Ndagire Kajumba, and described the method used at Xiangtan University as “actually competence-based teaching.”
Based on his recent visit, Prof. Gumoshabe shared that students in China are divided into groups with dedicated teachers to perform practical, hands-on work beyond the theoretical lecturers. He expressed gladness that the same was being adopted for the Ugandan context.
Both institutions are now working to finalise the specific agreements for the joint degree and exchange programs. Beyond academic training, the collaboration will advance cultural and professional exchange.
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