16 EbEnEzEr Friday, july 29, 2022 news Community worship grows at School of Medicine SoM, but he was often stuck in traffic UCU School of Medicine By Patty Huston-Holm with Muduku Derrick Brian and Jimmy Siyasa (This article was edited from the May 2022 published version) First, there were five. Then 10. And on a spring Tuesday and under a white tent shelter below darkening skies, there were 50. On the Ides of March 2022, half of the 100 blue plastic chairs in the pavilion were filled by Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) School of Medicine (SoM) doctor hopefuls. “I pray, Jesus, that you will cleanse our hearts,” a young woman began before bowed heads, concluding, “Father, we pray that you bring your spirit in this place.” According to the Rev. Ocen Walter Onen, the 28-year-old UCUMukono chaplaincy priest assigned to the medical school, participation in community worship at the Mengo hospital location has been growing, albeit slowly, in the past five months. Spirituality for UCU’s future doctors became a priority following a discussion among the university’s theology and divinity leaders in the fall of 2021. Previous to Rev. Walter’s assignment, the Rev. Alex Kamoga was straddling responsibilities at the UCU Kampala campus with the jams, delaying the service. At that, Rev. Alex had little time for one-onone counseling. The Rev. Eng. Paul Wasswa, UCU’s chaplain, initiated the discussion among the clergy. Coming out of Uganda’s Covid lockdown, he expressed his concern about the need for added spiritual infusion for the current 230 students who would become pediatricians, surgeons, dentists and other medical professionals. “The work of the chaplaincy is more than coordination; it includes teaching, but most importantly, it includes discipleship and pastoral care,” he said. “Because of discipleship and pastoral care, effectiveness requires consistent presence on every campus.” According to Rev. Wasswa, community worship exists for teaching, reinforcing a sense of Christian community and a reminder of God’s presence. When it comes to addressing student problems, the UCU chaplaincy “does not work in isolation,” but engages the counseling staff, he said. The five-year SoM program began in 2018 with the vision of adding to Uganda’s health care system more physicians that were not only highly skilled, but also encompassing Christian values and practices. SoM planners were aware that some professionals mentoring and teaching students would not be believers in Jesus Christ. They were, UCU School of Medicine students pray during community worship on their campus at Kampala’s Mengo Hospital. Why the community worship? “We realized we had a population of students not receiving the Christian services that those in other programs in chaplaincy work did,” Rev. Walter said. “Medical courses are full of stress and these students have the same frustrations and temptations that others do.” “Science and theology are complementary in wisdom, but God is the ultimate creator of that knowledge and wisdom,” Rev. Walter said. “Without our Lord and Savior, the work within the medical discipline would not exist…when you go to a hospital, you ask Jesus to treat you through a doctor.” likewise, aware of the science vs. religion debate that continues today, globally. At the UCU main campus in Mukono, as well as at Kampala, students have easier access to clergy guidance. Additionally, the Mukono UCU students engage in sports, student leadership groups and other activities to relieve stress and youth pressures related to drugs, alcohol and sexual activity that can lead to pregnancy out of wedlock. “I tell them that I am single, too, and have the same pressures that I overcome through my faith and understanding of scriptures,” Rev. Onen said. “Romans 12 addresses that we need to be a living sacrifice.” In Apostle Paul’s Romans 12:1, sacrifice references service or offering to God. “God has a plan for all of us,” Rev. Onen said. “If you partner with God, you are headed for prosperity.” In this day’s message and as midday Islam chants echoed in the background, Rev. Onen referenced Luke 11:1-4 and the Lord’s prayer, reminding students that “our Father is in heaven” but that “He also is everywhere.” Such is among the messages that Rev. Walter delivers to the 3-5 students, mostly female, who come to him privately, with problems and questions at the SoM campus. His messages are about faith, strength to have it, forgiveness and understanding. One lesson he repeats is the importance of Christian character in a world where “beauty can fade.” On this particular day, he closed his message with a story about a man who borrowed a spear from his brother with the intent of using the weapon to stop an elephant from destructive behavior. When the elephant took off with the spear, the lending brother was angry and not forgiving. “There is power in forgiveness,” Rev. Onen said. “There is power in the Word.” Rival Guild President campaign manager now deputy student leader ‘Great virtue’ By Muduku Derrick Brian (This article was edited from the February 2022 published version) How often is the campaign manager for a defeated candidate offered a top position with the winner? Rarely. But that’s what happened to Kivuna Jonathan Ahurira when the aspirant he directed lost the race for Uganda Christian University (UCU) Guild President. “I was home after a long day’s work when I got a surprise call from the victor, Racheal Sserwadda, informing me of her intention to appoint me Vice President,” he said. “I felt surprised but joyful.” Ahurira, a UCU student working toward a Bachelor of Business Administration, gave Sserwadda, a Law student, the green light, but it was not over yet. He had to go through another hurdle of being vetted by the UCU Guild Parliament – where a vast majority seconded the appointment. As expected, many in Ahurira’s camp in “Ahurira has a great virtue of servanthood, which is one of the main pillars of UCU,” Sserwadda said. “He was among the first people to call and congratulate me upon becoming Guild President, in spite of the fact that we were in rival camps. That was admirable.” Ayebare’s contest as an opportunity the candidate presented for him (Ahurira) to serve as a student leader. “My strong footprint, values, and willingness to serve the students at UCU spoke for itself, even to the rival camp,” he explains. But what gave Sserwadda the confidence to have trust in someone who was in a rival camp? “Ahurira created a healthy competition the campaign to elect Ayebare Phillip Bravo saw this move to support a rival as betrayal. In fact, some said Ahurira disengaged with the campaign team when he sensed a loss looming. Ahurira (left) and Sserwadda at their swearing-in But Ahurira disagrees, noting, “I endured and stayed in spite of some disagreements in the strategies to use during campaigns.” Ahurira noted that during the campaigns, he worked tirelessly because he also saw during the campaigns,” she said, noting that her deputy’s “respectable character” pushed her to choose him. Sserwadda’s victory in the elections held on November 24, 2021, entered her into the annals of UCU as the institution’s third female Guild President in its 25 years of existence. Blessed Murungi was the first female Guild President in 2014. Two years later, in 2016, the institution got another female Guild President in Prisca Amongin. Ayebare, who lost to Sserwadda, said the university is in “safe hands” with Ahurira as the Vice Guild President. “His inclusive nature will be of great need,” Ayebare said. “He does not make a decision without consulting people.” Ahurira expects to build on the leadership experience he has garnered as a class leader at UCU for two years as he takes the mantle of guild government leadership. He says UCU has taught him “the virtues of humility and being a good listener.” A Guild Vice President stands in for the Guild President where need be and also oversees all student social clubs and associations within the University. When not in politics, Ahurira is a Christian music minister whose face is not hard to catch during worship services at UCU’s Nkoyoyo Hall. He is a vocalist in the Mustard Seed choir in the University. “I like prayer and I put God first in every task that I undertake,” he said. “The [Christian] environment at UCU makes it even easier for me to pray as I go about my work.”
17 Publizr Home