Mak at 100: Kalimuzo’s family grateful, remembered after 50 years

The family of the late Frank Kalimuzo, Makerere University's first Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude after a building named after him was unveiled on the Campus on Thursday.

The family also thanked the university for honouring the late with an annual inaugural lecture to pay tribute to his distinctive contribution.

Daniel Kalimuzo, son to the late Frank Kalimuzo. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Kalimuzo was kidnapped in October 1972 and later killed. The building formerly called the Central Teaching Facility 1 was renamed the Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility.

This was after the University Council on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, approved the proposal from the university management to rename it.

Phyllis Kalimuzo one of the children of the late Kalimuzo said she broke into tears on Wednesday when she came to the University to see the building named after her father.

Phyllis Kalimuzo one of the children of the late Kalimuzo. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

“I passed by the building and just realized it was a cross the road that we used to take when going home and saw the name Frank Kalimuzo on the building.  It was our wish, it has happened, we are so grateful and it’s an honour.

It is 50 years on and the name was almost forgotten and maybe the youths don’t even know that there was a Frank Kalimuzo here. He was here, he was a very hardworking man, a loving father to us and I can’t explain when I saw the building everything that happened then when I was 11 years old came rushing back.

Mrs. Esther Kalimuzo (seated) with the Family members of her late husband Frank Kalimuzo during the Inaugural Frank Kalimuzo memorial lecture at CTF-2 Auditorium. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

It was very emotional for me. I thank God. I am so grateful that Dad's name can be there and it's implanted in the history of Makerere. It was almost erased but this is great. Thank you Makerere, the family is grateful,” Phyllis said.

Speaking at the same function, Kalimuzo’s widow, Esther thanked the entire Makerere University management and administration for deciding to set aside a day for remembrance of her husband.

Kalimuzo’s widow, Esther thanked the entire Makerere University management and administration for deciding to set aside a day for remembrance of her husband. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

“It has been many decades since he was taken away from us, the family organised a memorial service in remembrance of him many years ago at which the late Canon John Bikangaga told the congregation that the Frank memorial was too big for the family and should be done by either Makerere University or the Government of Uganda. Since we had no power to influence either of the institutions, that he suggested, we had no option but to wait and wait for whether it would be proposed. We are extremely grateful that Makerere has chosen to recognize Frank’s service during this centenary celebration,” she said.

The keynote speaker at the inaugural memorial lecture under the theme, “Remembering Frank Kalimuzo: Lessons for Universities in Cultivating a Culture of Service and Distinguished Leadership”, Professor Joy Kwesiga, the Vice Chancellor of Kabale University, who also served as Kalimuzo Secretary said Kalimuzo took charge of the University amidst a hostile environment.

Professor Joy Kwesiga, V.C Kabale University during the Inaugural Frank Kalimuzo memorial lecture at CTF-2 Auditorium. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

She also said Kalimuzo helped build the University workforce and gave herself as an example.

“Within a short spell of two years, I can state without hesitation that the lessons I learnt from Kalimuzo had an impact on my career growth and whatever I have achieved in the process.  He provided space for me to learn,” Prof. Kwesiga said.

On Kalimuzo’s legacy, she said the contribution to a University should not be assessed through tangible results only “yes indeed infrastructure and other resources are important, however, Kalimuzo's role comes out clearly as that of bringing about a new dispensation and ushering in a new era in the institution,” she said.

Kalimuzo’s widow, Esther

She noted that Kalimuzo was able to do this within a short spell and listed some of his legacies as bridging the relationship between the University and the State, “he was the right choice for managing the change from dependency to bringing it to a national institution.”

She also said Kalimuzo opened up Makerere University to the wider Uganda society, “previously it was a closed society of people living together practically in an ivory tower, socializing within University premises, staging dances within campus. The late Kalimuzo opened up the University to the centres of power such as Kampala Club where national issues would be discussed and strategic networks built.”

Mrs Esther Kalimuzo (second left) attending the Inaugural Frank Kalimuzo memorial lecture. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

She also said Kalimuzo opened up the University to society which did not just go back to social interactions, “Kalimuzo ushered in the widening of access to the University education as opposed to the restricted college provision of the 1950s and 1960s.”

Prof. Kwesiga said Kalimuzo ushered in a new era of student politics and in particular the State and the ruling party then the Uganda People’s Congress took interest in student politics same as students who took interest in national politics.

Mrs. Esther Kalimuzo autographing a drawing of her late husband during the Inaugural Frank Kalimuzo memorial lecture. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

She also said Kalimuzo demystified the belief that only people in the academy can provide effective leadership of the University.

Unveiling Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility

Earlier on Thursday morning, the university unveiled the newly renamed Central Teaching Facility 1, which has been renamed Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility.

Former Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda and Special Envoy for special Duties, Office of the President (right) and Professor Edward Rugumayo,Chancellor, Mountain of the Moon University at a panel discussion. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Makerere University Council Chairperson Lorna Magara said, “as Makerere University celebrates her 100th anniversary, lectures such as today’s are a strong statement by the University Council that we have not forgotten the men and women that made significant contributions to who we are today as an institution.

Furthermore, today’s lecture demonstrates that no matter how long it takes, the legacies of these great men and women will be brought to memory, publicised extensively and immortalized through acts such as the naming of our Central Teaching Facility 1, the Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility.”

Invited Guests to the inaugural Frank Kalimuzo public lecture posing infront of Central Teaching Facility (CTF-1) which was renamed Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility in his honour. (Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo)

Some of the notable guests present included the Justice of the Supreme Court led by Justice Micheal Chibita, Retired Justice Patrick Tabaro the head of the Makerere Staff appeals tribunal, Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Executive Director Allen Kagina, and Rwanda's Ambassador to Uganda Ambassador Col. Joseph Rutabana among others.