Profile: Ekudu bows out as dean of students
Jul 06, 2010
FROM violent students’ strikes to university closures, Pastor John Ekudu, the dean of students Makerere University, has seen it all. The 59-year-old pastor is retiring officially today on his 60th birthday. He joined Makerere as a student lecturer after graduating in 1974.
By Winnie Nanteza
FROM violent students’ strikes to university closures, Pastor John Ekudu, the dean of students Makerere University, has seen it all.
The 59-year-old pastor is retiring officially today on his 60th birthday. He joined Makerere as a student lecturer after graduating in 1974. Due to the political turmoil in the country during that period, many lecturers had fled the country.
“Those of us who did well were invited back to teach,†he recalls.
The administrator
However, Ekudu decided to quit teaching and braced himself for student administration in 1982. He became the warden of Kabanyoro hostel from 1982 to 1989. He was also once a junior warden of University Hall for six years (1989-1994) and was later promoted to senior warden (1994-1995).
Ekudu was immediately made the dean of students in 1995 after completing a masters in social science (leadership studies) from Azusa Pacific University, USA.
He says his job as the students’ dean has been challenging but fulfulling because he feels he has served his contractual and moral obligation.
His challenges
Although Ekudu has faced hard times at the university, he highlights the 2010 guild elections saga as his greatest challenge.
Ekudu also recalls some of the trying times over the years. “There was a strike when I had just been appointed dean in which three students were killed. Students carried a coffin to my house and they wanted to put me in it,†he says.
Ekudu regrets the times when he had no resources to meet the students’ expectations. “There are no resources allocated for students’ welfare and the halls of residence are in bad shape because there is no money to maintain them. I was expected to raise the money to maintain them,†Ekudu says.
He is optimistic that Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba will do everything possible to improve the students’ welfare. Although Ekudu confesses that he is not sure about what he is retiring to do, he will continue with the few administrative duties that he has left for a while. He is the chairman of the board of governors of Gulu University and a member of Daystar University in Kenya.
What others say
Peninah Kabenge, the head of the department sports and recreation of Makerere, describes Ekudu as a good listener. “I have worked with Ekudu for 15 years. He has been one of the best dean of students we have had. Ekudu listens to everyone, irrespective of their level. He encourages and motivates most of us.â€
Lawrence Sewino, the former campus affairs minister in the student guild, says: “Ekudu has been with us for some good time and, therefore, has the best experience in dealing with student issues. Makerere University is going to miss him. He is a principled man. This has helped him to hold onto this position for such a long time.â€
Background
Ekudu grew up in Kaberamaido district. He is the only boy of the three children born to the Rev. Yosam and Norah Ekudu.
As a child, Ekudu was the only child who lived with his parents and admits to enjoying the monopoly of their love. His father being a clergy man, Ekudu was brought up in a home with Christian values. This explains his decision to become a pastor 18 years ago. He is the pastor of Entebbe Baptist Church.
Pastor Ekudu is husband to Grace Ekudu and a father of three children. He says he is giving up his duties today in respect of the retirement age of 60.
FROM violent students’ strikes to university closures, Pastor John Ekudu, the dean of students Makerere University, has seen it all.
The 59-year-old pastor is retiring officially today on his 60th birthday. He joined Makerere as a student lecturer after graduating in 1974. Due to the political turmoil in the country during that period, many lecturers had fled the country.
“Those of us who did well were invited back to teach,†he recalls.
The administrator
However, Ekudu decided to quit teaching and braced himself for student administration in 1982. He became the warden of Kabanyoro hostel from 1982 to 1989. He was also once a junior warden of University Hall for six years (1989-1994) and was later promoted to senior warden (1994-1995).
Ekudu was immediately made the dean of students in 1995 after completing a masters in social science (leadership studies) from Azusa Pacific University, USA.
He says his job as the students’ dean has been challenging but fulfulling because he feels he has served his contractual and moral obligation.
His challenges
Although Ekudu has faced hard times at the university, he highlights the 2010 guild elections saga as his greatest challenge.
Ekudu also recalls some of the trying times over the years. “There was a strike when I had just been appointed dean in which three students were killed. Students carried a coffin to my house and they wanted to put me in it,†he says.
Ekudu regrets the times when he had no resources to meet the students’ expectations. “There are no resources allocated for students’ welfare and the halls of residence are in bad shape because there is no money to maintain them. I was expected to raise the money to maintain them,†Ekudu says.
He is optimistic that Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba will do everything possible to improve the students’ welfare. Although Ekudu confesses that he is not sure about what he is retiring to do, he will continue with the few administrative duties that he has left for a while. He is the chairman of the board of governors of Gulu University and a member of Daystar University in Kenya.
What others say
Peninah Kabenge, the head of the department sports and recreation of Makerere, describes Ekudu as a good listener. “I have worked with Ekudu for 15 years. He has been one of the best dean of students we have had. Ekudu listens to everyone, irrespective of their level. He encourages and motivates most of us.â€
Lawrence Sewino, the former campus affairs minister in the student guild, says: “Ekudu has been with us for some good time and, therefore, has the best experience in dealing with student issues. Makerere University is going to miss him. He is a principled man. This has helped him to hold onto this position for such a long time.â€
Background
Ekudu grew up in Kaberamaido district. He is the only boy of the three children born to the Rev. Yosam and Norah Ekudu.
As a child, Ekudu was the only child who lived with his parents and admits to enjoying the monopoly of their love. His father being a clergy man, Ekudu was brought up in a home with Christian values. This explains his decision to become a pastor 18 years ago. He is the pastor of Entebbe Baptist Church.
Pastor Ekudu is husband to Grace Ekudu and a father of three children. He says he is giving up his duties today in respect of the retirement age of 60.