MITYANA – Bishop Joseph Antony Zziwa of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese has been installed as the new Chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) in a colourful ceremony that was performed by Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga at Nkozi main campus on Friday, 15th February 2019.
Bishop Zziwa’s installation follows his election as the new chairperson of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, the assembly of Catholic Bishops, which was held on Sunday, 11th November 2018.
Bishop Zziwa acknowledged the tremendous work that of his predecessors have done; the Uganda Episcopal Conference, Governing Council, management and staff of UMU. In a special way, he appreciated Kampala Archdiocese for availing land where Uganda Martyrs University was established. He urged UMU community to stick to the core values of the university.
The patron of the university, Archbishop Lwanga appealed to the management and staff of UMU to ensure that all university campuses maintain the same quality and standards because of the confidence that the public holds for the university.
He also urged the laity to renew their support to UMU both morally and financially for it to remain relevant in this present competitive era of higher education in Uganda since they contributed a lot in its establishment.
The former Chancellor Archbishop John Baptist Odama expressed gratitude to the Uganda Episcopal Conference for entrusting him with the stewardship role and being Chancellor of UMU for 8 years and 6 months. He prayed for his successor and the new team to lead Uganda Martyrs University to greater heights.
“I know you may meet challenges, but if you are firm and work as a team, God will always be with you because this is a University of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Archbishop Odama urged the UMU community to continue praying for the university, desist from using violence but instead resort to dialogue and finding solutions to any challenges that may arise.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof John Chrysostom Maviiri, was very grateful to the Uganda Episcopal Conference, the laity, alumni and students for the continuous material and spiritual support to the university. He highlighted some of the UMU achievements and recognized in special way members of the outgoing Governing Council.
