Uganda Christian University

Uganda Christian University (UCU)
MottoAlpha And Omega: God The Beginning And The End
TypePrivate
EstablishedJuly 1, 1997; 27 years ago (1997-07-01)
ChancellorStephen Kaziimba[1]
Vice-ChancellorAaron Mushengyezi[2]
Students15,000 (2020)
Location,
0°21′19″N 32°44′26″E / 0.35528°N 32.74056°E / 0.35528; 32.74056
CampusUrban Campuses: Mukono and Kampala; Rural Campuses: Kabale, Mbale and Arua.
WebsiteHomepage
Uganda Christian University is located in Uganda
Uganda Christian University
Location in Uganda

Uganda Christian University (UCU) is a private church-founded university administered by the Church of Uganda. It was the first private University in Uganda to be awarded a charter by the Government of Uganda.[3]

Location

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UCU's main campus, with approximately 8,000 students, is in the town of Mukono, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi), by road, east of Uganda's capital city, Kampala, on the Kampala-Jinja Highway.[4] The coordinates of the main campus are 0°21'27.0"N, 32°44'29.0"E (Latitude:0.357500; Longitude:32.741389).[5]

Bishop Barham University College is a regional constituent college of UCU, with about 1,500 students, located in the city of Kabale, approximately 420 kilometres (261 mi), by road, south-west of Kampala.[6] Other regional campuses include UCU Mbale Campus, which is in Mbale, and UCU Arua Campus, which is in Arua. In 2019 construction of a permanent fifth campus in Kampala began, in the Mengo neighborhood, along Musajja Alumbwa Road.[7]

Origins

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UCU was founded in 1997 by the Anglican Church of Uganda from its premier theological seminary/college Bishop Tucker Theological College, which was established in 1913 and named after the pioneer missionary bishop Alfred Robert Tucker.[8]

Chancellor

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UCU's chancellor is the Archbishop of Uganda, currently Stephen Kaziimba, since March 2020.[9] Te table below outlines the tenures of the chancellors of the university since its inception, in 1997.

The Chancellors of Uganda Christian University
Rank Chancellor From Until Notes
1 Livingstone Mpalanyi Nkoyoyo 1997 2004 [9]
2 Henry Luke Orombi 2004 2012 [9]
3 Stanley Ntagali 2012 2020 [9][10]
4 Stephen Kaziimba 2020 [9]

Vice Chancellor

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The first vice chancellor, Stephen Noll, was installed in 2000. He is an American Anglican priest, theologian, and missionary. He helped UCU to receive a government charter in 2004, the first of its kind in Uganda. Noll's term as vice chancellor ended in 2010.[11]

John Senyonyi, an evangelist and mathematician, is the UCU's second vice chancellor. He joined UCU as a chaplain in 2001. He rose to become the deputy vice chancellor for finance and administration. Later, he became the first deputy vice chancellor in charge of development and external relations, the first such position in any Ugandan university.[12]

On 1 September 2020, Aaron Mushengyezi, a linguist and former dean of the department of languages, literature and communications at Makerere University, became the third Vice Chancellor at Uganda Christian University.[2]

UCU today

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While the majority of faculty and students are Ugandan, UCU has attracted students from other African Great Lakes countries and a number of expatriate staff from North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. These international ties are in part historic through societies like the Church Mission Society and in part new ties formed among churches of the Anglican Communion.[13]

Schools,Faculties and departments

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As of March 2020, the university is divided into the following schools, faculties, and departments:[14]

  1. School of Law
  2. UCU School of Medicine[15]
  3. Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery
  4. UCU School of Dentistry
  5. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
  6. School of Social Sciences
  7. School of Education
  8. Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology
  9. School of Business
  10. Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology
  11. School of Journalism, Media & Communication.[16]

Library services

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Hamu Mukasa library
Hamu Mukasa library building
Bishop Tucker Library
Bishop Tucker Library
Church of Uganda Archives
Church of Uganda Archives

UCU has two libraries based at the main campus; that is the Hamu Mukasa Library which serves as the main library and Bishop Tucker Library and branch libraries in all branch campuses and constituent colleges; that is to say; in Mengo, Kampala, Mbale and Kabale Campuses. There is also an archival library based at the main campus.[17]

Medical school

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In March 2016, the Daily Monitor newspaper reported that UCU and Mengo Hospital were negotiating for the establishment of a UCU school of medicine at the hospital. No time-frame was disclosed.[18]

On 26 February 2018, the Uganda National Council for Higher Education gave the university a letter of accreditation for three new medical courses (a) Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, (b) Bachelor of Dental Surgery and (c) Bachelor of Public Health. The three courses will be offered at the Uganda Christian University School of Medicine, starting in August 2018.[15]

Notable alumni

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Monuments at Mukono University

The Church

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Politics

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Sports

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Others

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Notable faculty

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  • Stephen Noll, 1st Vice Chancellor of UCU, 2000-2010[22][23]
  • John Ntambirweki formerly lectured in the Faculty of Law.
  • John Senyonyi, University Chaplain, 2001-2003. 2nd Vice Chancellor of UCU from 2010 to 2020.
  • Monument At Uganda Christian University
    Keith Sutton, lecturer at the then Bishop Tucker Theological College, 1968-1973.
  • Monica Balya Chibita, Professor & Dean, Faculty of Journalism, Media and Communication at Uganda Christian University.[24][25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jessica Sabano (21 March 2020). "Archbishop Kaziimba installed as new UCU Chancellor". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b Jessica Sabano (2 September 2020). "UCU students to start exams in two weeks". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  3. ^ Campus Times (16 May 2013). "Courses offered at Uganda Christian University". Kampala: Campus Times Uganda. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  4. ^ Globefeed.com (22 March 2020). "Distance between Kampala, Uganda and Mukono, Uganda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Location of Uganda Christian University Main Campus" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  6. ^ Job Namanya (13 October 2017). "Over 500 graduate from Uganda Christian University Kabale Campus". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  7. ^ Uganda Christian University (March 2020). "The Five Campuses of Uganda Christian University". Mukono, Uganda: Uganda Christian University. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  8. ^ Uganda Christian University (March 2020). "History of Uganda Christian University". Mukono, Uganda: Uganda Christian University. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Jessica Sabano (21 March 2020). "Archbishop Kaziimba Installed As New UCU Chancellor". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  10. ^ Henry Nsubuga and Cecilia Okoth (5 July 2013). "Archbishop Ntagali Installed As Uganda Christian University Chancellor". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  11. ^ Administrator (25 October 2009). "UCU Vice Chancellor Prepares To Step Down". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  12. ^ Watuwa Timbiti (2011). "From A Humble Start, UCU Leaps Forward". New Vision Mobile. Kampala. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  13. ^ Ward, Kevin (2011). "New Chapter For Uganda Christian University". Uganda Church Association. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  14. ^ Uganda Christian University (March 2020). "Uganda Christian University: Faculties and Schools". Mukono, Uganda: Uganda Christian University. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  15. ^ a b Businge, Conan (16 March 2018). "Government okays two UCU medical courses". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  16. ^ "Uganda's journalism Professor, Monica Chibita appointed to UK's Journalism Studies Editorial Board". Education News Uganda. 2020-05-20. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  17. ^ Libraries.org (19 May 2021). "Uganda Christian University Library". Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  18. ^ Nalubega, Leilah (19 March 2016). "Mengo Hospital & UCU plan joint medical school". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  19. ^ Hilary Heuler (21 September 2012). "In Uganda, Mixed Reactions to Africa's Youngest MP". Washington, DC, United States: Voice of America News. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  20. ^ Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo (23 September 2014). "Lumanyika elevates to new level, Egypt wait". Daily Monitor. Kampala. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  21. ^ DeNeen L. Brown (10 May 2006). "A Child's Hell in the Lord's Resistance Army". The Washington Post. Washington DC. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  22. ^ Peggy Noll (3 July 2013). "Reading Room Dedicated To Trinity Professor Emeritus Stephen Noll". St. Ambridge, Pennsylvania, United States: Trinity School for Ministry. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  23. ^ Alex Taremwa (18 December 2015). "The Nolls: A story of an unending love for UCU". Mukono, Uganda: The Standard UCU (Uganda Christian University Community Newspaper). Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  24. ^ "Profile of Professor Monica Balya Chibita: Dean, Faculty of Journalism, Media and Communication at Uganda Christian University". Education News Uganda. 2020-05-01. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  25. ^ The Independent (24 May 2019). "UCU promotes Dr. Monica Chibita to rank of full professor". The Independent. Kampala. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
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