2 ebenezer Friday, july 29, 2022 news over 2,000 graduate today Doug Fountain Public lecture focuses on local health systems By Jimmy Siyasa Many developing countries have poorly funded and underdeveloped health care systems. Good health care tends to be a privilege for few, with ongoing concern about how local health systems can be improved for more people. It is on the basis of this that Doug Fountain, a former UCU Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and External Relations, was scheduled to give a public lecture on July 27, on the topic “Christian University: The Strongest Asset for Building Resilient Local Health Systems.” Doug, now living in Maryland, USA, is the Executive Director of Christian Connections for International Health, a global network of over 100 organisations that works to advance health and wholeness from a Christian perspective. Doug was part of the planning for UCU’s School of Medicine that launched in 2018. Joel Okullo, the Chairperson of the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council, was the invited discussant for the Wednesday lecture while Gen. Katumba Wamala, the Minister of Works and Transport, was invited to be the Guest of Honour. By Jimmy Siyasa Over 2,000 Uganda Christian University (UCU) students are expected to be part of today’s graduation ceremony at the main campus in Mukono. Of these, 55 students have graduated with First Class. The University Chancellor, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, will preside over the graduation. Kaziimba is the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. Top University administrators led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, will also be present at the ceremony. UCU’s graduation ceremonies start with the commissioning services of the graduating students a day before, in the Nkoyoyo Hall. The 23rd graduation will be the institution’s first total in-person ceremony since the outbreak of Covid-19 more than two years ago. The previous two graduation ceremonies — on December 18, 2020, and October 22, 2021 — were virtual, in line with the Uganda Government’s policy of observing the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures. At the time, the Government had banned public gatherings, to reduce avenues through which the Covid-19 pandemic can spread. The graduating students for the 23rd ceremony are from seven of UCU’s 11 faculties and schools — the School of Social Sciences, School of Business, School of Law, School of Education, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, School of “ “UCU’s motto, vision, and core values form the standards to distinguish our graduates with excellent academic performance and credible character. One key message to students is that both in public and in private, they should hold to sound moral character, as defined by Biblical principles of upholding honesty, transparency, truthfulness, faithfulness, and exercising humility. At the end of the day, all honour and glory go to God, for all that we have and what we are, is given to us in trust, for God’s glory.” – David Mugawe, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration about us The Ebenezer has been produced as a collaborative venture among the Uganda Christian University’s Department of Communication and Public Relations, The Standard of the UCU School of Journalism, Media and Communication, and the Uganda Partners. The a print product, but a convergence of print, audio, visual and online products, using the cutting-edge technology that the Quick Response (QR) two-dimensional bar code offers. Enjoy the experience using the Ebenezer newspaper. Ebenezer is not just Uganda Partners Executive Director Mark Bartels, centre, cuts a cake to celebrate the first year of an on-line, hands-on collaboration between the USA-based nonprofit and the Uganda Christian University (UCU) School of Journalism, Media and Communication. The NGO’s e-lab was launched in January 2021 to offer an opportunity for students to get resume-building, real-world experience in print and audio-visual production while providing communication services to Partners, which has been supporting UCU programmes, students, activities and services for more than two decades. The Partners website is www.ugandapartners.org. Information also can be found through the organization’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages. Scan the QR code on the photo to visit the Uganda Partners website, where you will read more stories about UCU. Journalism, Media and Communication, and the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology. The graduating students are also coming from some of UCU’s constituent colleges, such as Bishop Barham; Kampala Campus and study centres. The Schools of Medicine and Dentistry; Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery; and Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology have no graduating students for this ceremony. The School of Medicine and School of Dentistry, started in 2018, are expected to have the first graduates of their five-year programmes by late 2023. One student, Owen Alleluya, is expected to receive his Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Entrepreneurship award posthumously. In line with UCU’s stepped-up online services, the July 29, 2022, graduation ceremony is to invited Chief guest Former Chairperson of the University Council, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Sheldon Mwesigwa, is expected to be the Chief Guest. Mwesigwa, the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Ankole, is also a former Dean of UCU’s Faculty of Education. The faculty has since transitioned into a school. Mwesigwa, appointed bishop on July 18, 2010, is a former deputy head teacher of Kibubura Girls’ School in Ibanda district, western Uganda. He was also once the chaplain at Ntare School, where he also served as deputy head teacher. Mwesigwa is an alumnus of the Bishop Tucker Theological College, where he studied from 1987 to 1990. He also served as Senior lecturer at UCU, Head of the Department of Education and, later, becoming the Dean of the Faculty of Education and Arts, from 2005 to 2010. He was also a UCU Council member and Chair UCU Council from 2012 to 2020. uCu in years... 1922: The year the Bishop Tucker Building, which is 100 years old this year, was inaugurated. This was after three years of construction. The building hosts, among others, the Office of the Vice Chancellor. 1997: The year UCU started, having transitioned from the Bishop Tucker Theological College. UCU was established by the Province of the Church of Uganda at the Bishop Tucker Theological College. The college was named after Bishop Alfred Tucker, a Christian missionary from England. 2022: UCU is 25 years old this year. The institution has transformed many lives through its theme: A Complete Education for a Complete Person. The institution today boasts five campuses and nearly 13,000 students. be streamed live on the university’s YouTube page, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMryuGybZ_ pZxqqeEIp_q4Q/featured, as well as its other social media platforms. This year marks 25 years of existence of UCU. It also marks 100 years of existence of the iconic Bishop Tucker Building, the face of the university. The building hosts, among others, the Office of the Vice Chancellor. UCU started in 1997, having transitioned from the Bishop Tucker Theological College. The college was named after Bishop Alfred Tucker, a Christian missionary from England. Today, with five campuses and nearly 13,000 students, UCU has become a trusted education brand and a household name in higher education in the East Africa region. UCU is one of the fastest growing, modern higher education institutions in Uganda. At the graduation ceremony last year, Chief Guest Mrs. Janet Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, having heard the story of the success UCU had made in virtual learning, said she was impressed by the university’s “robust online education programme” and encouraged UCU to “share best practices with other institutions.” Some academics of UCU have since participated teaching in community outreach programmes, parents how to help their children benefit from the opportunities that online learning offers. Also, leaders from Greenhill Academy met with UCU e-learning staff in December last year, to keep abreast of virtual learning best practices. Interns of The Standard with their supervisor, Roggers Akanyijuka (left). The Standard is a Uganda Christian University newspaper established in May 2007 under the Mass Communication Department and operated today under the School of Journalism, Media and Communication. Currently, it operates through a multimedia platform that works as a training lab for students while providing news, features, opinion and other stories for the university community and others. Many leaders in the media and other career fields have received their professional launch from The Standard. The content, including visuals and podcasts, can be accessed at https://standard.ucu.ac.ug. Scan the QR code on the photo to visit The Standard website, where you will read, watch and listen to more stories about UCU.
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