Bugema University, affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church, has commenced a weeklong celebration to commemorate its 75th anniversary. The university, along with its sister institutions—Bugema Adventist Vocational Institute, Bugema Adventist Secondary School, and Bugema Adventist Primary School—launched the festivities.
Addressing the press at the Kampala campus, Dr. Pr. Israel Masika Kafeero, the university Vice Chancellor, traced Bugema University’s origins back to its establishment as a ministerial training college in 1948. Initially dedicated to training ministers and teachers in Luganda and English, the institution has evolved, having educated tens of thousands of learners, including notable figures like Pr. Dr. Blasious Ruguri, the SDA leader of the East-Central Africa Division.
Bugema University has not only extended education to Ugandans but also to students from countries such as Ethiopia, Zanzibar, Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, Zambia, and Cameroon. Situated on a 640-acre land in Luweero district, the university received government charter in 2007.
The 75th-anniversary celebrations, set to commence on February 18, will include a march from Bugema University to Zirobwe and back, aiming to raise awareness about education and funds for the construction of a science complex at the university. The celebrations will culminate in a dinner at Hotel Africana on February 22, with funds contributing to the construction of the science complex.
Dr. Kafeero highlighted the university’s fundraising goal of sh35b to complete the construction of the science complex. The complex, under construction, aims to house state-of-the-art science laboratories, accommodating more students and introducing additional courses like medicine. The laboratories, once completed, will be utilized by primary and secondary school students, fostering an increased interest in science courses.
Steven Bukenya, the head teacher of Bugema Adventist Secondary School, emphasized the celebration’s focus on science to nurture students capable of learning, critical thinking, and making informed decisions to solve diverse problems.
The Bugema University 75th anniversary celebrations unite the various institutions under the SDA umbrella, reinforcing their commitment to quality education and advancements in the sciences.
