A Word from the Principal
Rev. Prof. Manuel Muranga, Principal
Welcome to Bishop Barham University College, Kabale, Uganda!
Our students come from many parts of Uganda, as well as from Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya and Sudan. We have Ugandan, American, British and German lecturers. As a Constituent College of the Uganda Christian University, our academic and other programmes are identical with those of the Main Campus at Mukono. Indeed, our Graduation Ceremonies every October are presided over by the Chancellor of the Uganda Christian University, as well as by the Vice-Chancellor. As Principal of the College, one of my duties is to ensure that our academic and other standards here at Bishop Barham are in harmony with those at the Main Campus. So far we have done very well indeed despite certain inevitable economic challenges.
We are a Christian University and believe that academic knowledge alone, though valuable, cannot help an individual become a useful citizen – indeed some academic giants are dwarfs in matters of life and responsible citizenship. We therefore equip our students with Foundational Courses that are able to help the student to lead a responsible and meaningful life. This is all in addition to the normal academic curriculum for the different programmes, whether for certificates, diplomas, undergraduate degrees or postgraduate diplomas and degrees.
We have good friends in Britain, America and Germany who visit us from time to time and assist us with scholarships for gifted but needy students, or who help us in our infrastructural developments. We thank God for them. At the same time, we welcome new friends from all over the world. We believe that we too can at least offer friendship and hospitality where opportunity arises. One proverb from the African peoples who live in and around Kabale says Ah’okusiiba noohinga, osiiba noonywana (“You would rather spend the day making friends than digging”). Proverbs typically tend to exaggerate in order to make a point, of course. But we do believe in the message of this proverb and are also trying our best to live in tune with Hebrews 13:1, which calls every Christian to the practice of hospitality as a lifestyle. Lecturers and students need to learn this; we believe that the whole world needs this.