Ugandan university to honour fallen Tanzanian president

EDUCATION | MKAPA | UNIVERSITY

Kampala - Cavendish University Uganda is to honour its former chancellor, the former president of Tanzania Benjamin Mkapa who died in July this year.

Mkapa had served as the Cavendish University Uganda chancellor for five years, after he replaced former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda in 2015.

He had officiated at six graduations and over 6000 graduands had gone through him.

According to David Mutabanura, the Executive Director CUU, the university is organizing a memorial mass at Nsambya Parish this Wednesday to celebrate the life of President Mkapa.

"He is remembered for his education, Pan Africanism, diplomacy, conflict resolution, zeal for economic emancipation, his ethical leadership but above all his humility, warmth and friendliness. It is on this ground that our University will be commemorating the life of our late chancellor next week on the 30th of September 2020," Mutabanura said.

According to Mutabanura, this will be an opportunity to learn from those who studied with Mkapa and those who lived and worked with him.

"The culmination of which will be the launch of an Annual Memorial Lecture and a Scholarship in his name," said Mutabanura. President Museveni is expected to preside over the function as the Chief Guest.

At the same event, CUU unveiled 25 students who had gotten themselves scholarships to study different courses at the university. 

According to Dr. Olive Sabiiti, the deputy Vice Chancellor of CUU, the scholarships were awarded to vulnerable students, who are academically bright.

"In fulfillment of our mission and pursuit of offering accessible quality education, CUU is delighted to announce 25 merit, leadership and exemplary performance Scholarship Awards to successful applicants for the 2020 August intake," Dr. Sabiiti said.

"They are awarded based on academic quality, leadership and exemplary performance orientation.

This year, a total of 60 scholarships including two Rt. Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga Scholarship Awards have been awarded and we will continue to build on that as we respond to the needs, interests and lifestyles of our students in line with our academic model," Sabiiti added.  

"It will cover all the tuition and university fees for the entire student's study period," Dr. Sabiiti said. 

Every year, the university gives out 60 scholarships to vulnerable but bright students in phases of 20-25 students per intake.

Amos Olar Odur, the university academic registrar called on the students to work hard and concentrate on their studies to avoid retakes.

Unlike other universities that were closed due to COVID-19, CUU is utilizing its well established e-learning infrastructure to deliver the curriculum to all its students after being approved by the National Council for Higher Education.