Outgoing UMU VC launches autobiography

By Cecilia Okoth

The outgoing Vice Chancellor (VC) Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) Prof. Charles Olweny  has launched a book­–A Rolling Stone detailing his work and times.

Olweny who has held the post of VC at UMU for the last eight years, greatly transforming the institution launched the book, a biography on his life on Friday evening.

Born in 1940, Olweny is one of the most prominent medical professors, the founder friends of Makerere Canada and currently the vice chancellor Nkozi University.

The book was launched at the serene Hotel Protea in Kampala at a function attended by a bevy of literary friends and family and graced by former prime minister Apollo Nsibambi and Buganda premier Charles Mayiga.

Launching the book, the Tieng Adhola, Moses Stephen Owor also known as Kwar Adhola of the Padhola chiefdom vouched for the facts contained in the book, given his close association with Olweny, which he said dates back to the time he was born.   

Olweny and Owor are maternal cousins, who grow up together, becoming very close friends under the custody of Mark Owor, Olweny’s father.

“Olweny is everything for truth and due dignity and there to alleviate people’s sufferings, be it in form of ignorance, diseases, injustice and abuse of other people’s rights.” The Kwar Adhola said. Olweny will be replaced in January by Dr. John Chrysostom Maviiri.

Commending the autobiography which he recommended members of public to read, Owor urged readers to emulate Olweny’s, “thirst for charitable deeds without bounds.”

Olweny said the time has come for Africans to cultivate and embrace the culture of writing however little they know because many people die without passing on very important knowledge.

 “In my culture, oral history dominates. Information is passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth. Nothing is ever written, and this probably explains our poor reading culture,” explained Olweny.

He added: “Like I was taught by my parents, success in life can only be through, the fear of God, respect of authority irrespective of where it comes from and hard work. You can never have authority until you can respect authority.”

Dr. David Serwadda from the school of public health Makerere University extoled Olweny’s work, persistence and dedication that has seen him publish despite the enormous challenges, saying it is rare to come across an autobiography of a teacher.

“He has produced an important piece of work that represents a milestone in Africa. This means it can be shared widely and his relatable stories in this book will help our people know that any one from any part of the world can pave his way to the top,” Serwadda noted.

 A Rolling Stone is available in all leading bookshops in Kampala at sh25, 000.