Bishop Barham University College, a Constituent College of Uganda Christian University held its first Post COVID-19 Graduation ceremony on the 2/12/2022 passing out 270 students from 38 different academic courses.

Bishop Barham University College last held its graduation ceremony at home in Kabale Municipality on 15th October 2019, and the following schedule was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the Government to suspend mass gatherings including physical education activities.

All other graduation ceremonies have been held from Uganda Christian University, Main Campus Headquarters in Mukono and the previous Bishop Barham University College Graduand have been contrived to travel to the main campus, while others participated virtually because of the expenses involved, especially on transport.

While Officiating at Ceremony on Friday held at St Peters Cathedral Rugarama gardens at Rugarama hill in Kabale Municipality, the Uganda Christian University Vice Chancellor Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi announced that all Uganda Christian University Sister colleges have officially been cleared to resume periodic Physical graduation ceremonies.

Prof. Mushengyezi asked the graduates to protect the good name of UCU by behaving well and performing excellently wherever they would be placed for employment.

“Uganda Christian University is known for its good name and excellence, therefore we request you to protect and maintain that brand wherever you go,” he said

Speaking as the Chief Guest, Dr. Brian Rushaju, the Kampala based dental Surgeon implored the graduates to contribute efforts in the Social economic transformation of Uganda and Africa at large through innovations and creativity.

The Bishop Barham University College Principal Dr. Alice Jossy Kyobutungi used the opportunity to recognize partners who had tremendously contributed to the growth, development and sustainability of the institution. Notable among them was Businessman Musinguzi Garuga who reportedly donated 100 million to the institution in sponsorship of 100 students from Kigezi sub-region.

“Special thanks go to academic sponsors for our students including Compassion International, sponsors from Canada and U.S and U.K, Former and Current Head teacher Bubare S.S, and in a special way, we thank Mr. Musinguzi Garuga who donated 100 million to sponsor some students from Kigezi region.” she Said.

Out of the 270 students who graduated in different Degree, Diploma and Certificate Programs, 164 were males, while 106 were females

Five students including the Rukiga District Speaker, Mr. Oscar Akampurira attained a first class in degree programs.

The Uganda Red Cross Society Kabale Branch in conjunction with the Red Cross Club of Bishop Barham University College engaged in a cleaning exercise around the college on Thursday 21st of July 2022.

Irafasha Godfrey the Chairperson of the Bishop Barham University Red Cross Society BBURCS noted that they collected and burnt the pollutants to make sure that the environment is preserved for the good of the university and the world at large.

Irafasha further appreciated the manager of Uganda Red Cross Kabale branch for sending members from the society to cooperate and ease the work.

Isaac Matsiko, one of the volunteers from the society appreciated the club members for the cooperation and noted that cleanliness contributes to living healthy lives in any community.

Matsiko indicated that the initiative is under the Red Cross umbrella and also driven by individual passion to keep the environment clean.

Matsiko also revealed other activities done by the society including helping in implementing some projects like farming, partnering with the blood bank to receive blood from donors and use it to save lives of patients among others. He further called upon whoever wishes to join the Red Cross Society to contact them and be taken through the membership process.

BBUC-UCU Conducts Leadership Training for Guild leaders 2022

Uganda Christian University Bishop Barham University Under the office of the dean of Students has to day the 10th/02/2022 conducted Leadership training for guild leaders. This was intended to equip them with knowledge that allows them to assess their decisions and examine their work. During the training that was held in the University Old Chapel .Leaders got the chance of exploring more on the Organization structure of the university, Students leadership and Academic performance, Students code of conduct and Budgeting.

In his remarks the university college secretary Mr. Ivan Habaasa encouraged student leaders to advocate and maintain peace having the fear of God as their daily guide while exercising their duties.

The College principle Mr. Aggrey Yesigomwe applauded students for the kind of leadership they have exhibited so far and encouraged them to keep the candle on fire. He encouraged them to keep in good books with the entire Administration for better service delivery knotting that two cannot move in the same direction unless they have agreed. The principle BBUC promised total support during their reign as guild leaders in his final remarks.

H.E Amos Nomwesigwa appreciated the entire administration through the office of the dean of students for the desire that they have to see their student leaders performing to the best with in the right procedures. He cautioned his fellow leaders to be diligent as they serve fellow students for many are the expectations that they have in them. He called upon them to be servant leaders and humble throughout their leadership time at BBUC.H.E Amos requested administration to be more supportive to them for the students demands are high though they can’t be meant at ago. He promised total support in return to BBUC community as the guild president and placed all his plans in the palm of God for implementation.

By Yasiri J. Kasango
Uganda Christian University (UCU) has been engaged in outreaches to address community education challenges. One of the latest was led by the university’s Faculty of Education and Arts, which conducted a seminar on online learning.

Members of the faculty showed parishioners of a church in Bweyogerere, near Kampala, ways of using the internet as a tool for education.

The UCU team, led by the faculty dean, the Rev. Dr, Can. Olivia Nassaka Banja, equipped parents at St. Luke Church of Uganda with skills on how to access some of the freely available online learning materials.

Some private schools have been conducting online studies since the Ugandan government closed education institutions as one of the preventive measures to reduce the number of coronavirus infections in the country. However, government barred public schools from conducting online studies, arguing that such a move would disenfranchise learners who did not have access to computers or the internet. Instead, government distributed education materials to learners throughout the country and encouraged teachers to conduct studies through radio.

At the end of December 2021, some learners had not stepped into school since the first lockdown in March 2020.

The main facilitator at the seminar at St. Luke Church of Uganda, Patrick Lugemwa, a lecturer in the faculty, showed parents the different sites with free reading materials for children. He also showed the parents how to easily access the learning materials. Lugemwa noted that there are many good sites that provide free reading materials and video classes for children.

Some of the sites that he shared with the parents were https://etutoring.gayazahs.sc.ug/,  https://examuganda.com/ and https://e-learning.education.go.ug/en/learn/#/topics

“However, before allowing your children to access any site, you must visit them yourself, to protect the young ones from accessing unwanted literature, such as pornography,” Lugemwa cautioned, emphasizing that the internet can be both useful and destructive.

He also introduced parents to an app, Family Link, which can regulate the amount of time a child spends on the phone, as well as the type of content they can access. The app is available on Google Play Store and Apple Store.

UCU has been championing online learning in the wake of the Covid-19-related lockdown on in-person learning in Uganda. Outreaches like these are a direct response to the appeal made by Uganda’s First Lady and education minister, Mrs. Janet Museveni, during UCU’s 22nd graduation ceremony on October 22, 2021.

Mrs. Museveni, who was the guest of honour at the graduation ceremony, said she was impressed by UCU’s “robust online education program” and encouraged the university to share best practices with other institutions.

In December 2021, the university’s e-learning department hosted leaders from Greenhill Academy, a group of Christian-founded primary and secondary schools in Kampala, for a virtual learning seminar to understand more about the university’s e-learning facilities.

The community of St Luke Church of Uganda commended UCU for the outreach, especially at a time when many parents were preparing their children to resume school on January 10, 2022. 

The Rev. Abraham Muyinda Nsubuga, the Vicar of St Luke Church, encouraged parents to embrace online learning so that their children can progress with their studies since it is not clear when the world would overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Patrick Kisiibo, one of the parents, said his child had not had a chance to access any reading material during the lockdown, noting that UCU’s intervention was timely.

“I didn’t know that there are free books and video classes online,” Kisiibo said. “I can now go back home and ably guide my child on how to utilize online learning tools.”