LIVING THE UCU CHRISTIAN ETHOS BEYOND CAMPUS.
UCU is a by-product of Bishop Tucker Theological College (BTTC) the Clergy training college that produced and continues to produce thousands of Clergy for the Church of Uganda, East Africa, Africa and beyond.
By extension and instruments of institutional growth and development, I am an alumni of Uganda Christian University (UCU). UCU inherited the core values and institutional culture of BTTC and one of the most memorable phrases of BTTC was, ‘Called to serve’ Any student that walked through the gates of BTTC and took snapshots from the Steps of the monumental imposing gothic architectural Master piece administration block; currently housing the Vice Chancellors office; cannot fail to identify with the UCU Motto “Alpha and Omega: God the beginning and the end; UCU alumni derive their identity from being God’s children and being called to serve through witnessing for Christ in word and action. I have been privileged to be a student of BTTC from 1987 to 1990 while pursuing my Bachelor of Divinity Degree, a senior lecturer at UCU from 2005 to 2010 including holding responsibilities Like Head of Education Department and later Dean Faculty of Education and Arts (which at the time had over site on Mass communication); Member of University council from 2012 to 2016; Member of UCU Holdings, Chairman UCU Governing Council from 2016 to 2020. Having been squarely involved with the life and times of UCU for a period spanning sixteen years gives me a rare opportunity to reflect on some ways the UCU Christian ethos has enabled me to serve as a priest, professional teacher and a Bishop.
Christ-centeredness as a core Value of UCU has been so central in my ministry that in all institutions I have served in, I have fronted my testimony of Christ being My Lord and savior and the motivating factor of my service. Christ-centeredness has assisted me to regard Jesus Christ as my role model and that means that I have always questioned myself, “If it were Christ, what would he do in my situation? The leadership positions I have held including being a Deputy Headmaster of Kibubura Girls S.S.S, at the tender age of 28, couldn’t have been effectively dispensed if Christ did not inform my choices, decisions and actions. A young man working in a girls boarding secondary school, with authority and succeeding not to fall prey to sexual temptations, is not a mean accomplishment. Likewise, in a top academic boy’s school, Ntare School where I served as Deputy Head teacher and chaplain, it was not easy to witness to boys and model of Christ in a school with a secular school culture. I am glad that there are several boys who not only got saved, but went on to train as priests. Some of the students I mentored include Rev. Abaasa Edson, who is the Diocesan Secretary Ankole Diocese, Rev. Mugume Richard, Coordinator of Youths and Children at the Province of Church of Uganda (COU).
The second core value of UCU, diligence, being conscientious of duty has been cardinal as a work method. This is the opposite of a situation where a Supervisor can describe an employee thus, ‘Works well under supervision’. The good Use of time as an important resource in a self-driven manner has helped me to do multi-tasking and that is why I am able to do research and to publish thus being promoted to the rank of Associate professor even when I am a Bishop. I have also been able to publish four books and I am working on two other books to be published this year. I have always looked at my work as serving God and not men (Colossians 3:23-24). A pity that many young folk look at pleasing their bosses not their Lord Jesus Christ. When you want to please God Chances are high that God will reward you mightily instead of men who disappoint.
Integrity is yet another core value of UCU that I have been very deliberate in promoting in the execution of my duties beyond campus. Upholding high moral character is Cardinal for any alumnus of UCU. As a teacher, priest and Bishop, I have promoted truthfulness as a basic tenet of any Society or institution. Jesus told his disciples, (John 8:32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” if you asked any of my children the one thing that turns me off, chances are that they will tell you lies. I have tried to live and encourage truthfulness wherever I have worked including at UCU. Mark Twain said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything! Pity people who tell lies, they struggle to recall which lie they told who? Some people including my priests, have taken advantage of my love for the truth since they know that if I discover that they lied to me, the cost is high. Once in the wrong, they say truth and ask for forgiveness. If the world lived by truth, a core value of UCU there would be less or no effect of corruption, domestic violence, Marriage break-ups, student indiscipline etc.
Stewardship is another core value of UCU that I have endeavored to uphold in my acknowledgement of God, the Alpha and Omega: Beginning and the End. My perspective, towards the resources that are put at my disposal is that I hold them in trust for the good of others. I have never looked at resources at my disposal as for use for personal aggrandizement. In fact, I need to state that when you serve selflessly and ensure that you are a Conduit for those in need, the vulnerable and less privileged, the Lord blesses you. (Mathew 6:33). I wish to add, “If you love Money very much and it is your primary motivation to work and not service, “You will never become wealthy, and if you ever become wealthy, eventually your wealth will fizzle out! Why? I don’t know how it works but now in my sixty fourth year, I know it to be true. I can add, if you don’t love Money but good stewardship is on your heart, you will become wealthy? My experience as Bishop of Ankole Diocese for the last sixteen years has involved being at the helm of institutions with mega finances totaling to 41.32 billion. I have been lured into using public funds for personal gain and the reality is that however financially robust a system is the corrupt will always find a way around it.
It is therefore incumbent upon every UCU alumni to hold true the cove valves of UCU that will give us an edge over other institutions of learning because in the market place, there are so many learned graduates of the numerous Universities, but few can boast of producing transformative leaders with high integrity, diligence and servant leadership attributes which only UCU and a few other Christian Universities can provide.
Rt. Rev. Assoc. Prof. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa (PhD)
Bishop of Ankole Diocese and Dean of Province of Church of Uganda
Founder Patron Revival Radio/Revival TV and Chancellor of Bishop Stuart University. He is an Associate Professor of Religious Education and was a professional teacher at Kibubura Girls’ Secondary School and Ntare School. Mwesigwa holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom.