Rev Prof John Chrysostom Maviiri, the hitherto Vice-Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi (UMU), has concluded his term of office and will not renew his contract. 

He says he is going back to his home diocese of Lugazi, where he will continue to serve the Church as an ordinary priest.

The news of Maviiri’s departure has saddened many people, who think his departure will slow the university’s unprecedented progress. 

Prof Maviiri (centre) during a field visit to the farm of one of the women's organisations in Nkozi, Mpigi district, which is being sponsored by Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi

Maviiri nonetheless dismisses their concerns and assures the stakeholders that the university will not only survive but also flourish. 

“I have not been acting alone. I have been working with all the stakeholders, using the university’s established institutions. So, I am sure UMU will prevail even more dynamically owing to its strong institutions and team-sprit,” Maviiri explained during an interview with The New Vision. 

Maviiri also spoke about his contribution to UMU.

 “I have opened up the university for collaboration and partnership. For instance, we are in partnership with the Italian University of Milan. I have also exposed faculties to new sources of knowledge. The staff are engaged in partnerships that are helping the university to be publicized.

Prof Maviiri ( front-left) in an academic procession during a previous graduation ceremony at UMU.

“We have attracted unique programmes such as TESEA, to transform higher education for employability. Such programmes have a big component of ICT, which became even more relevant than ever at the advent of the Novel Coronavirus in 2020. We trained and retooled our staff to adopt online teaching and learning.

“Upon arriving at UMU, I organized into one viable unit the academic programmes that had big similarities. This helped to boost their capacity and also, to eliminate duplication. I then helped to create the Institute of Ethics. Ethics has been core to the identity of UMU since its establishment. Without ethics, we cannot have good leadership. 

“Lately I also championed the introduction of courses such as Bachelor of Laws, and Mass Communication. I made the study of English language compulsory to all students during the first year on realization that many students join University with very little knowledge of the language.

“I further helped to establish the Department of Education for sustainable development and outreach, to take care of the sustainable development goals of the UN. Together with my team, I also established the Centre of Excellence in Agro-Ecology and Livelihood Systems, to promote Agro-ecological practices in Agriculture. The programme trains people who will advance organic farming for sustainable growth. 

Prof Maviiri (left) interacts with a rural businesswoman in Nkozi (Wakiso district), who benefitted from the sustainable development programme of UMU.

“Through this programme, the university basically promotes the use of nature in agriculture. We push for the use of indigenous seeds, organic manure, natural fertilizers and natural pesticides. We now have Masters and Doctoral programmes in this area. During my reign, UMU distinguished itself as the only private university hosting aWorld Bank Centre of Excellence,” Maviiri explained.

Prof Maviiri cited limited sources of funding as one of the university’s major challenges. He proposed that UMU diversifies is income base and also, puts in place strategies to cut on the costs of its staff. He further proposed that the university puts in place effective measures to check on the big turnover of its staff. 

He also proposed that UMU improves its internet connectivity on all its campuses, to advance the online teaching/learning mode.

 “The university also needs to take even more seriously the approach of student-centered learning and teaching. Gone are the days when the teacher was the encyclopedia and dispenser of academic truth. The lecturer is just a facilitator of learning. The learning process should be centred on the student. Exams should also be used to test the capacity and understanding of the student,” he further proposed. 

Maviiri said the Search Committee of the Uganda Episcopal Conference has already started its work of looking for his successor, who will be unveiled shortly in the future.

“I am going back to my diocese of Lugazi. I will do the jobs that a retiree can do. I will focus on the restoration of nature. Pope Francis, in his encyclical, Laudato Si, asked us to take care of mother nature so that mother nature can protect us. What I see around is very destructive to our country. Nature is being polluted with toxic waste. Our natural forests are being depleted. Swamps are being destroyed. People are acting with total disregard for the environment,” he said.

A brief on Prof Maviiri 

The Rev Prof John Chrysostom Maviiri was born on December 17, 1955. He is a son to Anna Maria Nannozi and Ssalongo Joseph Muwaga, who lived in Nyenga, Buikwe district. 

He attended King’s College PS Mbikko, St Peter’s PS Lubanyi and Nile SS Jinja.

He did his priestly formation at St Joseph’s Minor Seminary Nyenga, Alokulum National Major Seminary (Philosophy, 1975-78) and St Mary’s National Major Seminary Ggaba (Theology, 1979-81). 

He was ordained a priest (by the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga) at Lubaga Cathedral in 1981.

He was subsequently appointed to Nswanjere Preparatory Seminary (1981-83). 

He did a Masters Programme and later, a PHD in Theology at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome (1983-87). Upon his return (1989), he was appointed Rector of St Mbaaga’s Major Seminary Ggaba. 

He was later appointed parish-priest of Nakulabye Catholic parish (1991-95). 

In 1995, he was appointed to the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), in Nairobi, as a lecturer of Theology. 

IN 2002, the Catholic Bishops of Eastern, Central Africa and Madagascar appointed him as the Vice-Chancellor of CUEA. He reigned until 2011.

After his Sabbatical leave in Israel and Italy, the Bishop Emeritus of Lugazi, Mathias Ssekamaanya appointed him to St Paul’s Catholic Church, Mukono (curate, 2012-2014). 

In 2015, he became the Vice-Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi.