Dr Mary Goretti Nakabugo, the Chair of the Kyambogo University Council has appreciated Staff Associations for playing an important role in the University ecosystems. She added that without academic staff, there’s no University. She appreciated Top Management and the Vice Chancellor for giving space to the Associations to operate freely.
Dr Nakabugo said the Council is ready to serve, welcome and interface with the Associations. She stressed that with leadership comes power but the worst thing would be to misuse that power, which is for the benefit of the beneficiaries. She concluding telling the KYUASA team that “If you do a good job, we all shine.”
The new KYUASA chair, Dr Grace Bakyayita Kizito appreciated the Emeriti Chairpersons on whose shoulders the new team will ride. He appreciated their efforts in taking the association through the infancy and turbulent years! “You will be immortalized with your names inscribed on the Kyambogo wall of fame!” he pledged.
The elections that ushered in the new executive were held on 26th July 2022 in which all the committee members were unanimously elected to various offices. He expressed his confidence in the ability of the team to diligently serve the association with self-sacrifice. On his part, he expressed enthusiasm to serve the association that craves for better working terms and conditions as well as welfare and staff development which ultimately support the realization of Kyambogo University’s Mission and Vision.
He noted that the past executives had bigger dreams and ambitions which we appreciate but they were erroneously perceived as opponents of Kyambogo University Management due to variations in views and methodologies. That history has had its toll on the public image of our Alma Mater. “As we come on board, having sailed through the storm and high tides, tried but not tired and weaponized with that background, this Executive’s main task is to stitch together our hope, faith, certainty and harmonic good for the prosperity of both academic staff and management.” he said, adding that the imminent issues are the teaching load, outdated part-time remunerations, duty allowances and tagged promotions.
He pledged to work synergistically not combatively in bonding not antibonding; adding that life and vibe will surely return unweathering hope and trust in each other. He pledged that his Executive shall be known by works and pledged dedication to promote humane and rational values, realizing sustainable welfare, development and distinction through increasing engagements, staff mentorship workshops, advocacy programs and motivational talks to increase our visibility guided by the strategic plan of the University to influence change as we reinvent our Association.
He requested teammates to accept and honour the invitation to cooperate, dialogue, communicate and work together to achieve the transformation as authors of a new chapter in Kyambogo University history.
To Management, he said they welcome consultation with the Associations and dialogue for harmonious service delivery.
Dr Marion Mugisha Mutabaazi, the outgone KYUASA Chair, in his relinquishing speech appreciated Management for working with the Association in a peaceful manner and for the competitive research grants, which he said is a direct opportunity for academia to generate and disseminate research findings. He also appreciated the University Council and the Chairperson for meeting the Associations and the transparency in publishing Council decisions.
He said his term was concerned with matters of staff welfare but didn’t achieve a lot because their term was affected by the COVID pandemic. He stressed that on their part, they did what was humanly possible but things didn’t go as expected. “We call upon the new committee to continue the fight. With the addition of two more public universities, you will have to fight much harder.” He said before continuing: “some concerns we’ve had with Management include: aspects of staff welfare which has been rolled back instead of forward. He added that there should be a committee to harmonize allowances for staff and get us to where we want. He concluded thus: “We may have stepped on some people’s toes but this wasn’t deliberate. If anyone feels aggrieved and rubbed the wrong way, we apologize. We need to think about building together and not creating acrimony in our work and service.”
Since its establishment, Kyambogo University has had seven KYUASA Executive Committee Chairpersons: Rev Fr. BIHIKIRWE Muntu (2003), Victor Locoro (2006), Dr Edith Mbabazi (2010), Dr Charles Twesigye (2012), The Rev. Dr Grace Lubaale (2014), Dr Marion Mugisha Mutabaazi (2020) and Dr Grace Kizito Bakyayita (2022).
Who is Dr. Grace Bakyayita Kizito
Dr Bakyayita Grace Kizito, the new Chair of the Kyambogo University Academic Staff Association holds two PhDs: one in Environmental Engineering from Makerere University (2020), and another in Land and Resources Engineering of KTH. Stockholm, Sweden (2019). He also has a Licentiate Degree in Land and Water Resource Engineering from KTH, Stockholm, Sweden (2014) and a Master of Science in Chemistry (2010) from Makerere University. He holds a Bachelor of Education from Makerere university (2001)
Dr Bakyayita has been teaching for 28 years now and 18 of these years have been at Kyambogo University. Currently, he is the Head, of the Department of Environmental Science. He has supervised postgraduate, published seven peer-reviewed articles and one conference paper. In the Department, he has been spearheading the development of new programs; one undergraduate, two masters and one PhD. He is involved in three research projects. He has also served the community outside Kyambogo university in other capacities as a:
- Cultural Leader: Omutaka Kidimbo from 2018.
- Chairman of Manganjo Parish Council from 2001 to 2018.
- Treasurer of the Uganda Chemistry Society from 2019 to date