Prof John Okedi’s grand vision to transform Kyambogo University 

Two months ago, Prof JOHN YAKOBO OKEDI was installed as the third chancellor of Kyambogo University. He follows in the footsteps of Prof John Ssebuwufu and Dr Eric Tiyo Sekebuga, the first chancellor.

For the next four years, Okedi, a professor of Hydrobiology, a research scientist, and an environmental expert, aims to use his leadership skills and networks to pave way for partnerships as well as bring together the university alumni, and mobilize resources to supplement the government subventions to support major activities of the university, writes Yudaya Nangonzi.

Professor John Yakobo Okedi is now the titular head of Kyambogo University and shall preside over all the ceremonial assemblies of the university. This is the second highest position in the university hierarchy after the visitor, who is the president. He is a renowned highly-principled academic with vast experience in the administration and management of institutions of higher learning.

Aged 84, Okedi is not alien to the affairs of Kyambogo. He joined the university in 2005 as the chairperson of the Appointments Board until 2010. He was later appointed chairperson of the Kyambogo University Council and served for two terms [2010 to 2020] before getting a nod to the top job.

During this time, he confessed to rubbing shoulders and stepping on the toes of some people, thus making his appointment miraculous.

“I thought that nobody in Kyambogo would like to see me back because I probably stepped on many shoes but I was totally surprised that the university council entrusted me with this noble office. This, according to me, shows that the debates and arguments we held in council were not acrimonious but academic and appreciated by people,” he said.

“This job of chancellor is a high-sounding one. When I travelled to Soroti recently, the local people in my area misunderstood my appointment. They were all celebrating that I had been elected a member of the LC 5 council. In Teso, everybody addresses me as Mr Councillor instead of chancellor. I will proudly walk as councillor in Teso and chancellor in Kyambogo University,” Okedi said

while bursting into laughter. In his four-year term, Okedi pledged to use his leadership skills and networks to pave way for partnerships as well as bring together the university alumni, and mobilize resources to supplement the government subventions to support major activities of the university. Whereas the government has continued to support the university with a current enrolment of 33,000 students, he’s concerned that the resource envelope is still limited.

TOUGH JOURNEY

During his initial years at Kyambogo, Okedi enjoyed his stay until the appointment of the former vice chancellor, Prof Isaiah Omolo Ndiege, which plunged the university into endless strikes and “bad press coverage”.

Ndiege came in at a time when Okedi was in charge of the appointments board for a newly-established public university. This followed a 2003 merger of three institutions; the Institute of Teacher Education (ITEK), the Uganda Polytechnic, Kyambogo (UPK), and the Uganda National Institute of Special Education (UNISE).

Ndiege had a rough time manning the institution as he faced rejection from students and staff members – accusing him of mismanaging the institution and undermining staff. The never-ending standoffs resulted in endless strikes that suffocated the institution.

In one of the council meetings led by Okedi as chairperson in 2012, members unanimously agreed to sack Ndiege and replaced him with the former National Council for Higher Education executive director, Prof John Opuda Asibo, as acting vice chancellor. This council resolution saw the university dragged to court which reinstated the embattled Ndiege before he was officially shown the exit door in 2014 by not renewing his contract.

According to the Vice President, Jessica Alupo, it was a tough period as the serving minister of Education and Sports as the university was always on the negative in the media. Despite the turmoil, she enjoyed working with Okedi to resolve the stalemate.

“I think Kyambogo appeared on a daily in the news, sometimes thrice or even more. Whenever he [Okedi] saw me, he would tell me that we shall pacify Kyambogo University. He often said: “As Okedi, I didn’t study only at Cambridge University but I also lectured there.”

He would insist that the difference in it is that those who lectured in Cambridge then had a brain that was a class apart. Therefore, the Okedi is a resource at Kyambogo,” Alupo told The Observer recently.

She was not surprised that Okedi had been appointed chancellor of Kyambogo immediately after relinquishing his responsibilities as chair of the university council to Dr Mary Goretti Nakabugo, who doubles as the Uwezo Uganda executive director.

Alupo added: “We are looking forward to greater achievements for the university and it is blessed to have you at the helm.”

Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka has closely worked under Okedi’s supervision when he first served as deputy vice chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, acting vice chancellor for four years, and finally confirmed vice chancellor in May 2017. This was after working with him at Makerere University.

“The toughest period was between 2009 and 2013 because the university went through a period that was characterized by recurring staff and student unrest due to major disagreements involving the council, management, staff, and students. I am pleased that the university has not registered major upheavals since Prof Okedi took over as chair of the council in 2014. This marked the beginning of peacebuilding and reconciliation at Kyambogo,” Katunguka said.

He is confident that the university will achieve more under Okedi’s leadership as its titular head.

“KYAMBOGO, A FAR BETTER PLACE”

Now a retired academician and author having served as chancellor for eight years, Prof John Ssebuwufu, said he was more than thrilled to see Okedi, an old campaigner in the field of institutional leadership and academia, as his predecessor.

“When President Museveni commissioned the three of us nearly ten years ago; Prof Okedi as chairperson of the university council, Prof Eli Katunguka as vice chancellor, and myself to transform Kyambogo for the better, he strongly warned that if we failed, the only option that would be left for Kyambogo University was to consult a witch doctor,” Ssebuwufu recalled.

He added: “I am privileged to serve my two full terms and glad that I am leaving Kyambogo a far better place than the three of us found it. We have reduced the university’s bad press and walked the talk. The president assigned us a daunting task but as scientists, we all agreed that nothing is impossible. I am leaving Kyambogo University proud and satisfied that we raised it to a higher bar.”

Ssebuwufu, aged 75, said Okedi will do his best to improve the university’s research portfolio having worked as long research colleagues while at Makerere University.

Meanwhile, Nakabugo said the decision to recommend Okedi is a sign of the good leadership he exhibited while serving the university in various capacities; chairperson of the third and fourth university council for eight years, chairperson of the appointments board for four years.

“He has committed his time to the university. His 12 years of service have seen the university improve in teaching and learning as well as infrastructural developments. It was during his era and as chairperson of the 4th university council that a decision was made to take the university to the communities by establishing learning centers in various parts of the country,” Nakabugo said.

WHO IS OKEDI?

Prof John Yakobo Okedi is a professor of Hydrobiology, a research scientist, and an environmental expert. He conducted freshwater research in all East African and Zambian lakes from 1964 to 1979. During this research, he attained international recognition as the world’s authority on the Mormyrid Family of fishes.

He became a director of the East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organisation from 1971 to 1978. He also headed the department of Zoology at Makerere University from 1980 to 1990.

Okedi’s research and publications specifically cracked the mystery of lake flies bursting out of Lake Victoria and forming huge fiery, mysterious brown clouds over the lake.

He is also recognized as a visiting professor at Cambridge University, UK, University of Main, University of Tallahassee, and University of Gainesville, USA in 1988/89.  From 1996 to 2001, he served as the executive director of the National Environmental Management Authority. He has worked as an environmental consultant with several local and international organizations.