General
Bukedde celebrates 30 years: Archbishop Ssemogerere urges media to uphold the truth
Vision Group which consists of print and broadcast media targeting Ugandans in the different parts of the country and the diaspora is a true and reliable partner of Makerere University. Vision Group has significantly contributed to the realization of Makerere University’s institutional goals through the promotion of its teaching and learning services, research and innovations, as well as coverage of community engagement programmes undertaken by students and staff. In addition, Bukedde, New Vision and other media entities under the Vision Group employ dozens of Makerere University graduates and provides internship training placements/opportunities to many of our undergraduate students every year.
On Thursday 29th August 2024, Bukedde newspaper celebrated 30 years of existence. The three decades (1994-2024) exemplify a remarkable journey of humble beginnings, dedication, resilience and continuous growth. The first copy of Bukedde newspaper was published on 29th August 1994 under the editorship of Mr. Maurice Ssekawungu. Bukedde which started as a black and white publication later transitioned into full colour. Bukedde is a very popular newspaper with a significant circulation in the different parts of the country.
To appreciate the admirable growth of Bukedde and the Vision Group, the Archbishop of Kampala, His Grace Paul Ssemogerere toured the giant media empire accompanied by the Group Chief Executive Officer – Mr. Don Wanyama, Deputy Chief Executive Officer – Mr. Gervase Ndyanabo, the Editor-in-Chief – Mrs. Barbara Kaija, and Bukedde Editor – Mr. Michael Ssebbowa.
Over the years, Bukedde newspaper has witnessed the birth of Bukedde F.M, Bukedde TV 1 and Bukedde TV 2 as well as transformation of the livelihoods of its employees and their families.
Impressed by the tremendous work and evolution of Bukedde newspaper, the Archbishop praised God for blessing the founding team with the knowledge and wisdom to come up with such a brilliant idea. He also thanked the previous and current leadership and staff for contributing to the success and growth of Bukedde.
Celebrating the Holy Mass, Archbishop Ssemogerere informed the congregation that the founding date of Bukedde newspaper (29th August) is the feast day for St. John the Baptist in the catholic church. He urged the staff of Bukedde and the media in general to uphold the truth in the course of their work.
Focusing on the gospel reading from the book of Mark 6:17-29, the Archbishop said:
“In the catholic church, we celebrate and remember John the Baptist for standing for the truth. This day of celebration has coincided with the feast day of John the Baptist, who was beheaded because of standing for the truth. He stood for what was the truth until the very end. I pray that you will have the courage to stand for the truth even under very challenging circumstances.”
Ssemogerere highlighted that King Herod respected John the Baptist because he always stood for what was right, and as such, King Herold consulted him. Although Herod and John the Baptist were friends, when Herod took his brother’s wife, John the Baptist courageously confronted him, and informed him that adultery was wrong before God. This truth irritated the said concubine, who when presented with an opportunity tricked her little daughter to request for the head of John the Baptist on a plate. To fulfill his promise to his daughter, King Herold ordered one of his servants to satisfy the request of his little daughter, and consequently, John the Baptist was beheaded.
Archbishop Ssemogerere rallied the media and the congregation to stick to the truth so that young people and humanity in general understand the consequences of promiscuity, adultery and the quick desire for money. His Grace appealed to Bukedde to continue publishing the truth in form of stories and airing information about the dangers of HIV/AIDS. “People need to hear the truth so that they understand the consequences of their actions, which not only threaten life, but lead to loss of life,” he added.
His Grace Ssemogerere acknowledged Vision Group for involving the catholic church in the 30 years’ celebration. He also thanked Bukedde and Vision Group for helping the catholic church in evangelization. “Through your media channels, you have not only dedicated space and airtime to messages that are spiritually uplifting, but you have also enabled the church to reach out to God’s people.”
The Archbishop called upon God to bless Bukedde and Vision Group abundantly as we wait for BukeddeAt50 celebrations in the near future.
After the thanksgiving mass, Bukedde’s current Editor – Mr. Michael Ssebbowa introduced the founding Editor – Mr. Maurice Ssekawungu and the editor who took on the mantle when he retired – Mr. Geoffrey Kulubya. The wonderful gentlemen (Ssekawungu and Kulubya) waved to the Archbishop and the congregation amidst applause from Bukedde staff and friends.
Mr. Ssebbowa then set the pace for the Archbishop and the entire audience to watch a documentary with powerful messages on the evolution of Bukedde from humble beginnings to greater heights.
In this documentary, the founding editor, Mr. Maurice Ssekawungu explained how the name “Bukedde” was selected. In this beautiful journey, they had come up with an idea of a Luganda newspaper, but did not have a name. So, William Pike, the CEO and Mr. Maurice Sekawungu put out a call for proposals. According to Ssekawungu, they received 90 submissions. That William Pike desired a name that would resonate with brightness. Finally, from the 90 names submitted by different people, they selected the name “Bukedde.” Mr. Ssekawungu explained that Bukedde meant a new day or a new morning, which presented new possibilities, new opportunities and hope.
In the same documentary, the Archbishop and the congregation listened to testimonies from staff of Bukedde who with a lot of happiness and pride attributed their success in different spheres of life to Bukedde media. Some of them have been nurtured, trained and skilled to become very powerful and respected journalists. Some of them credited Bukedde for being their source of livelihood while others highlighted that Bukedde has made them very popular and also provided an opportunity to them to network with people from different spheres of life.
Building on to the story of success and hard work, the Chief Executive Officer of Vision Group, Mr. Don Wanyama stated that Bukedde has just not survived, but it has actually thrived. He recognized the Government of Uganda for the different media channels under the Vision Group, which includes Bukedde newspaper whose achievements and impact are crystal clear. “One of our biggest highlights was in 2014 when we were marking the 20th anniversary of this newspaper. On that day, Bukedde sold a record of 100,000 copies in a single day. This is an achievement that has not been registered by any newspaper in Uganda,” he said.
Noting that Bukedde remains the best-selling newspaper in Uganda, Mr. Wanyama appreciated the loyal readers, past and present staff, advertisers and distributors for their hard work, sacrifices, support as well as being the lifeblood that keeps Bukedde progressing.
Ms. Barbarah Kaija, the Editor-in-Chief of Vision Group said Bukedde is one of Uganda’s most widely newspapers because it appeals to the ordinary person. “Its content centres on the ordinary person with issues that impact him or her in society. It is a people-centered approach with coverage bringing out the human interest angle.”
In his congratulatory remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe re-affirmed the readiness of Makerere University to intensify its mutually beneficial relationship with Vision Group in order to contribute to the transformation of Uganda. Once again, the Vice Chancellor acknowledged the Vision Group for being a valuable partner during celebrations of Makerere University at 100 years (1922-2022) which lasted for a year (commencing on 9th October 2021 up to 8th October 2022). Prof. Nawangwe also thanked the Vision Group for contributing to the resounding success of Makerere University Run 2024 (MakRun2024) held on Sunday 18th August 2024.
The Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has today, Friday, 26th June 2026 handed over the CCE (Complex) Hall of Residence Site to National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) Managing Director and CEO, Lieutenant General James Mugira for renovation and overhaul works. The UGX 12billion Government of Uganda-funded works, expected to be completed within a year, are the fourth project to be undertaken by NEC. They were preceded by; construction of the University Perimeter Wall, Renovation of Lumumba Hall, and Renovation of Mary Stuart Hall.
NEC’s Record Lauded
Prof. Nawangwe in his remarks at the handover ceremony lauded these projects. “The quality of work done by NEC makes us proud because we can finally say that we have Ugandans who can do the things, which we previously depended on foreigners to do.” He therefore thanked the Government of Uganda for fully funding the projects and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni, whose visit set the renovation projects in motion.
The Vice Chancellor added that as the Alma mater for most members of both the Contractor and Project Management Teams, this was a moment of great pride as their expertise and skills have saved the country billions of taxpayers’ money. “Thank you for being patriotic”, he commended.
Prof. Nawangwe concluded by noting that CCE Hall, by virtue of its location, provides a first impression of Makerere University as a whole. He therefore urged the contractor to ensure that upon renovation, CCE Hall would create a memorable and lasting first impression, exceeding even that of the renovated Mary Stuart Hall.
A Project Fueled by Nostalgia
Speaking of impressions, Lt. Gen. Mugira, with nostalgia recalled that close to 42 years ago, he not only attended his first lectures in Hall 1 of the CCE Complex but also, on a more personal note added, “my wife was a resident, and so I have every motivation to put in a lot of effort and make sure that I deliver more than was done with Mary Stuart and Lumumba.”
He therefore extended heartfelt appreciation to his Alma mater Makerere University for the trust and confidence bestowed in NEC, which underscored their ability to deliver. “Trust is earned through performance, through integrity and consistency, and your decision to engage us motivates us to work even harder to exceed your expectations.”
In his remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe reechoed the need to ensure that the project is executed with adherence to the cost, quality, specifications and safety related issues as earlier shared by the Acting (Ag.) Chief Engineer of Estates and Works, Eng. Ezra Sekadde.
“NEC has already demonstrated this (with previous projects), and that is why we have all the confidence that you can deliver this project within 12 months” remarked Prof. Alinaitwe. He equally lauded the Project Management Team (PMT) led by Arch. Dr. Kenneth Ssemwogerere whose supervision ensures timely project completion.
Relatedly, Arch. Dr. Semwogerere was on 25th June 2026, the eve of the handover, promoted to the rank of Associate Professor, a milestone Prof. Alinaitwe attributed to his track record as Head of PMT. He therefore, on a light note, urged him to keep up the good work as this could equally contribute to his promotion to the rank of full Professor.
Also present at the handover ceremony was the Principal, College of Education and External Studies (CEES) Prof. Anthony Mugagga, whose unit will be greatly affected by the renovations. He nevertheless welcomed and reiterated his full support for the project, noting that just as renovation of Lumumba and Mary Stuart Halls had resulted in many alumni revisiting, the CCE Complex would upon renovation attract former residents and teaching professionals to give back or forge new partnerships.
Student Welfare at the Forefront
On her part, the Dean of Students Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli lauded the renovations of Halls of Residence as a clear demonstration of Government’s dedication to the improvement of student welfare, and creating an environment conducive for nurturing responsible citizens who can contribute to national development. She pledged her Office’s and the Student Leadership’s readiness to ensure that the renovated facilities used responsibly for the benefit of future generations.
As a resident of the recently renovated Mary Stuart Hall, 92nd Guild President H.E. Kadondi Gracious could not help but appreciate how impactful the renovation of CCE Hall would be to student welfare. “The female students will be very excited (to occupy CCE Hall) but the male students will be left complaining – so we shall be expecting more renovations, not just for the female but also the male students,” she amiably concluded.
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