One On one with VC

UMU spotlight caught up with the vice chancellor of UMU Rt. Prof John Chrysostom Maviiri.

By Sam Muhindo

The mood in the office is very jovial that he cannot hold to express his satisfaction so far with the members of UMU spotlight who have taken up the responsibility of becoming the ears and eyes of UMU: he wishes nothing else but success to the class.

 John Chrysostom Maviiri was born on 17th Dec 1955 in a staunch catholic family in Mbikko present day Buikwe district. For his education he did primary and later joined ST. Joseph minor seminary nyenga for his O and A ‘levels. After which he joined Uganda Martyrs Major Seminary Aloklum in Gulu for three years and ST. Mary’s major seminary Ggaba after which he was ordained into priesthood in 1981. He worked at swengere minor seminary   for three years after which he went to urban university in Rome to pursue his Masters and PHD in Theology and faith. Upon completion of his studies, he joined ST. Mbagga major seminary as the lecturer for four years and in the last two years, he became the Rector of the institution. After his four year stint at Nakulabye Catholic Church in Makerere, Fr. Maviiri then joined the Catholic University of East Africa in Nairobi for a record 16years. Within these 16years, he rose through the ranks to become the Vice Chancellor of the same university for 8 years before he returned back to his home Diocese (lugazi diocese) to rest from active work. It was within this period that one of his friends tapped him about an advert for the position of Vice Chancellor of UMU. He later assumed office on 1^st February 2016 after excelling as the best in the interviews.  So far as the VC of UMU, he feels that he’s just making a contribution like any other person towards the well being of the university which is a brainchild of the first black bishop south of the Sahara Arch Bishop Kiwanuka.

Upon consultation by the Catholic Bishops of Uganda, UMU was born on 23^rd February 1993 to fill the ethically grounded leadership vacuum in the corridors of power and other sectors in the country. He feels UMU has to some extent achieved being the source 0f virtuous graduates. It is thus not surprising that the University’s motto is virtute et sapientia duc mundum which literary means that in virtue and wisdom lead the world. This relates with Jesus’ plea to his disciples that they ought to love their neighbors in virtue and knowledge given by God.

As UMU celebrates 25years of excellence he feels there are very many reasons for the celebrations. Despite the different setbacks, the national and international recognition of UMU is one thing that cannot be underrated. “…we are the only private university in East, Central and Southern Africa hosting an African centre of excellence that is funded by the world bank to a tune of USD 6M…”. Also, the absence of a strike in the last 25years brings more glory. The fact that UMU is open to all students from every faith has also contributed to an abundant harvest of Alumni to a tune of now 20040 graduates.

After 25years, he envisages UMU as one of the greatest universities on the African soil offering a variety of courses and to start with, the faculty of law shall open in the next academic year to offer more ethically reach Learned Colleagues to the community of Uganda and the African continent as a whole. He carries with him a big dream about the future of new courses. He dreams of a school of journalism just like the celebrated school of Agriculture. The courses offered at UMU prepare people for job creation and link them greatly with the private sector. With support from Royal Dutch Kentalis, UMU shall become the first university offering a Bachelors in inclusive deaf education (BIDE).

In his closing remarks, he implored the UMU student community to open up to other issues. “…do not be in a closed circuit…” which shall help to bring up people that understand the world away from prioritizing the field one is pursuing.  Since everyone has something to contribute, then UMU shall indeed live up to expectations of her founders.