Education
Memorial Lecture: Nsumba-Lyazi’s unforgettable Legacy
He was a great educator, a loving father, very calm despite his level of education, a good listener, a smart guy, punctual, disciplined, religious, social, trustworthy, dependable, cooperative and a great mentor were some of the words used to describe the Late Robinson Nsumba-Lyazi.
Speaker after speaker poured praises on the fallen Robinson Nsumba-Lyazi, a great educationist, to whom many owe their success.
This was during the maiden Memorial Public Lecture in his honour, held on Wednesday 25th January 2023 at the Makerere University Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility.
Nsumba-Lyazi is said to have died a contented man in 2022 after 40-years of service to the education sector.
“It takes a lot to raise men and women who are admired and we can stand up and speak about them. If you evaluate yourself, will you have people to celebrate and speak about you when we are gone?” asked Hajjat Zaujja Ndifuna, the Director of Mbogo Schools during her keynote address.
Speaking about Nsumba-Lyazi, Hajjat Zaujja said he always emphasized to people that ‘Our beginnings do not define our future’. Having been born to peasant parents in Mityana, Nsumba-Lyazi rose to the rank of Director Basic and Secondary education. Before serving in that capacity, he served as the Commissioner Private Schools and Institutions, Assistant Commissioner Comprehensive Education, Chairperson Church of Uganda Schools in Uganda, Head teacher Mityana SS and Head of Laity Mityana Diocese.
The public lecture was attended by different dignitaries including; his family members, officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports, Makerere University, different secondary schools among others.
In his speech read to the congregation by Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe praised Lyazi as a great Educationist.
“Robinson Nsumba-Lyazi attended Makerere during a period of great political upheaval. Academic and Administrative staff had fled into exile and only a handful remained holding fort; doing their best to ensure that Makerere continued producing graduates despite economic hardships that characterized the period,” he said adding,
“Specifically, the University’s plan 1980-1986 outlined efforts to reintroduce correspondence courses or distance education courses, which included External Degrees. Distance education courses are particularly designed to take the University to the people. This was Makerere’s way of recognizing the challenges at hand and in response, extending the principles and quality of University education to the greater majority of people who are unable to attend full-time courses due to work, financial and other obligations,”
This strategic move by the University, he said, could have inspired Robinson Nsumba-Lyazi to pursue a postgraduate diploma in Education immediately after completing his Bachelor of Science to enable him teach Physics and Double Math at Secondary school level.
“Looking back, I think Nsumba-Lyazi was not going to wait for the people to come to the University. He wanted to inspire them even before they embarked on their respective Higher Education journies,” the Vice Chancellor said.
“As one who had witnessed firsthand what his parents’ entrepreneurial skills had helped the family achieve, Robinson Nsumba-Lyazi’s exposure to higher education and science subjects in particular made him an even stronger advocate for the value that education adds to our God-given talents. Education unlocks one’s potential and in so doing, opens many more doors for that talent to shine even brighter”.
It is against this background that Robinson Nsumba-Lyazi was a strong advocate for the competence-based curriculum, and worked hard to ensure that its implementation gains traction before his retirement.
“It is very important that our young men and women graduate with skills and competencies that empower them to make meaningful contributions to society,” he added.
Despite being born to peasant parents, Nsumba-Lyazi according to Speakers broke the chains and became a great person who worked tirelessly to promote private schools not only in Mityana but Uganda as a whole.
“He was passionate about teaching right from his early days, after S.6 he was invited in Mityana to teach fellow students which he took on. He rose through the ranks of a teacher to lead and education institution and finally to the Ministry of Education,” Hajjat Zaujja noted adding,
“His family members described him as a great husband, father, relative who worked towards instilling humility, discipline, respect in everyone that knew him.”
Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo the State Minister of High Education in a speech read for him by Mr. George Mutekanga, Commissioner of Private Education Institutions, asked the audience to emulate the works of the late Nsumba-Lyazi whom he said gave his best to humanity.
Nsumba-Lyazi, Dr. Muyingo said, walked away from the Ministry with satisfaction that he had done his part.
“We liked the way he did his work, there a number of lessons: our beginnings should not define our destiny,” he said
Nsumba-Lyazi’s services, the Minister noted, were always with a smile that lit up the room.
He is credited for having developed education standards in Mityana and also started the association of Private Academic institutions in an effort to ensure that the schools had a voice and could participate in the decision making at the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Nsumba-Lyazi is said to have loved a quote by Martin Luther King, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” He is said to have been moving until his death in 2022.
Education
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Makerere University’s Centre for Life-Long Learning (CLL) under the College of Education and External Studies celebrated a significant milestone on January 24, 2025, as over 40 students successfully graduated with diplomas and certificates in various fields accredited by the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB).
The graduation ceremony, held at Makerere University, marked the sixth cohort to complete their academic programs at the Centre, highlighting its role in equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for professional and personal growth.
The ceremony included a moment of pride for Namagembe Saidat, who emerged as the best-performing student. She graduated with a Diploma in Secretarial Studies, achieving an outstanding CGPA of 4.86. Saidat’s accomplishment reflects the Centre’s commitment to academic excellence and nurturing top-tier professionals.
In his address, Dr. Oscar Mugula, the National Coordinator of CLL, congratulated the graduates for their resilience and hard work over the two years of study. He commended the government for revising the admission policy for diploma programs, which now requires only one principal pass instead of two. This policy adjustment, he noted, has significantly increased student enrollment and widened access to higher education opportunities.
Dr. Mugula also encouraged the graduates to register with professional bodies as technicians, emphasizing that such affiliations would enhance their employability and competitiveness in the job market.
Speaking on behalf of the Principal of the College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Dr. Harriet Nabushawo extended gratitude to the government, particularly the Ministry of Education and Sports, and UBTEB for entrusting CEES with the training of diverse education stakeholders. She further thanked Makerere University’s management for its unwavering support of the College’s activities and acknowledged the collaboration with the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, which provides access to laboratories and workshops essential for student training.
Dr. Nabushawo urged the graduates to consider advancing their studies by enrolling in degree programs to further enhance their qualifications. Additionally, she shared valuable life skills and encouraged the graduates to adopt a mindset of continuous learning and self-improvement to remain relevant in a dynamic labor market.
The graduation ceremony underscored the transformative impact of lifelong learning in fostering socio-economic development and empowering individuals to achieve their full potential. The Centre for Life-Long Learning continues to play a pivotal role in bridging educational gaps and promoting inclusivity in higher education.
As the graduates embark on their professional journeys, their success serves as a testament to the dedication of CLL’s faculty and staff, as well as the vital role of Makerere University in nurturing skilled professionals equipped to contribute to national development.
Congratulations to the graduates, faculty, and all stakeholders who made this milestone possible!
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