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Retired Col. Amanya Mushega, the chairperson of the education review commission has called upon citizens in the region to support the East African Community (EAC) integration move saying it is key for development.

Speaking during the second Benjamin Mkapa annual memorial lecture at Sheraton hotel in Kampala on Wednesday, Mushega said the earlier East Africans recognise themselves as Africans, the better.

The lecture was organised by Cavendish University in Uganda where Mkapa, also a former President of Tanzania, served as a chancellor for six years before his death on June 24, 2020.

“This issue of sovereignty is useless because when drought comes, you have no food and you have to go to the neighbors,” Mushega said.

Mushega, also the secretary general of the East African Community, described Mkapa, saying he was a Pan-Africanist, who had a lot of respect for public resources.

Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, who was the convener of the Moshi conference in 1979 that planned the overthrow of former President Idi Amin from power commended Cavendish University for immortalising Mkapa.

“I think by historising Mkapa, we must go back to 1962 when Uganda became independent and Obote, Muteesa, and Amin became President and you have Julius Nyerere in Tanzania who refused to recognise Amin because of the way he came into power. This explains why there was a Moshi conference,” Kabwegyere said.

Kabwegyere said the years Amin was in charge of Uganda created problems in East Africa because so many Ugandans ran out and caused the breakdown of the community.

Kabwegyere remembered Mkapa as a good listener who he said should be emulated.

Prof. Mwambusya Ndebesa, a former lecturer of history at Makerere University, said Mkapa did not force his views on people. “We should commend Mkapa for that. The difference at Moshi, is they did not talk about Ugandan questions but positions,” Ndebesa noted.

In his speech read during the function, Goodluck Jonathan, the former President of Nigeria who is the reigning chancellor of Cavendish University in Uganda described Mkapa as a great statesman, educator, and exemplary leader.

Cavendish University (Uganda) vice chancellor Prof. John Mugisha said Mkapa was a remarkable statesman, diplomat, and former chancellor of the University.

“Through this lecture, we are reminded of the profound impact Mkapa had not only on our institution but also on the broader landscape of governance in East Africa and Africa in general,” Mugisha said.

Mugisha added, “We are proud to be associated with Mkapa who was once our chancellor, and have gratitude for his guidance and leadership for the time he was our chancellor.”

Mugisha said Mkapa was not just a leader; he was a visionary whose political contributions to the history of Tanzania and the continent are hunched in annals of time.

“As we remember him, let us reflect on his crucial role in state formation in Uganda especially for the post Idi Amin dictatorial regime because he played a critical role.

In the turbulent era of Ugandan politics under the dictatorship of Amin, Mkapa emerged as a steadfast advocate for justice and diplomacy. His leadership and diplomatic prowess played a key role in orchestrating the Moshi conference, a gathering of Ugandans in exile. We need to honor his memory by carrying forward the torch of justice, and diplomacy,” Mugisha said. 

David Mutabanura, the executive director of Cavendish University Uganda said Mkapa was the second chancellor of the university and he saw it transform from a simple university with a small enrollment, and few resources into a very formidable institution with an improved reputation.

“We thought his passing away should not go unnoticed and we should immortalize him in annual lectures because he was a giant,” Mutabanura said.

Giving a keynote address, Aziz Ponary Mlima, the former Tanzania High commissioner to Uganda thanked Cavendish University in Uganda for selecting him as keynote speaker at the event.

He said Mkapa was very active in peace and negotiations. “Generally, Mkapa was a Pan Africanist, reformer, a journalist, statesman, peace-loving and an intellectual,” Mlima said.

Established in 2008, Cavendish University in Uganda is sponsored by Finn fund, and under Maarifa Education Holding Education now transformed into Africa Holding.

“We pride ourselves in an academic-centric model which employs best global practices to transform our students into employable, competitive, entrepreneurial, and ethical leaders,” Mugisha noted. 

Anna Mkapa thanked Cavendish University in Uganda for remembering her late husband.