Mugerwa re-appointed as Ndejje University chancellor

Dr Wilberforce Kisamba Mugerwa, the former chairperson of the National Planning Authority, has been re-appointed to the position of chancellor at Ndejje University for the next five years.

Mugerwa has held the position since 2013 at the Luwero-based Christian-founded university. Ndejje University has three campuses including the Luwero campus, Kampala campus, and a post graduate school in Lubaga division.

The university is owned by six dioceses which include: Luwero diocese, Mityana diocese, West and Central Buganda diocese, Mukono diocese and Namirembe diocese. Eriabu Lugujjo is the university's vice chancellor.

Mugerwa is a veteran planner, retired politician and farmer. He was until August this year, the chairperson of the National Planning Authority, a position he held from July 2008 to 2018.

He has also been a visiting professor for international studies rural development at Williams College in Massachusetts and senior research associate with Makerere Institute of Social Research at Makerere University.

He holds a PhD in agricultural economics from Makerere University and once worked with the International Food Policy where he served as a division director of the International Service of National Agricultural Research.

Mugerwa served as an MP for Bamunanika from 1980 to 2004 and held various cabinet positions in government.

In an interview with the New Vision on Monday, Mugerwa said he will use these five years to boost agriculture at Ndejje University for commercialisation.

"I am going to use my new term in office to ensure that students appreciate agriculture for commercialisation, so that even as they go out they do it for commercial purposes but not only for subsistence," said Mugerwa.

He also said his focus will be on getting students to do research in human rights so as to broaden on their knowledge on what human rights are all about as well as improving staff welfare.

Mugerwa said his re-appointment will see the university construct a faculty of medicine at the campus where national and international students will have their lectures.

"Though the university is found in Luwero where the war that brought the current government to power took place, we want to make it conducive to everybody by giving room for medicine," said Mugerwa.

Mugerwa said he wants to focus on expanding collaboration with other universities and have visiting professors for the students at least once a week.

"We will make sure we look for funds for academicians to participate in seminars and research," he said.

Mugerwa's achievements in his previous term saw the university put up a new hostel that accommodates about 600 students and he also managed to link the university to the President's Office and now some students have been able to get State House scholarships.