KAMPALA: Former Ugandan Chief Justice Bart Katureebe has been appointed as the new Chancellor of the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) and promises to build bridges and harness networks.
He said at the inauguration, on Friday, at the institute in Kampala that UMI is committed to continuing to do research that affects communities.
The 71-year-old judge, who headed the Uganda Judiciary from March 2015 to June 2020 when he was replaced by Chief Justice Alphonse Oni Dolo, becames UMI’s first male Chancellor.
The institute’s immediate predecessor is Mrs. Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, and Florence Mugacha was the institute’s first Chancellor.
UMI is a public Institute that awards university-equivalent degrees.
In his speech, the new Chancellor promised to work to ensure that the institution becomes one of the best in the world.
He acknowledged that he was stunned by his appointment by President Yoweri Museveni as Bitamazires’ successor, but that since he accepted the role and now that he has been installed, he is raring to take on the task at hand.
His predecessor, former Minister of Education Bitamazire, warmly welcomed him and wished him well. She said Katureebe’s knowledge and experience will help UMI take it to the next level.
During the installation, the Vice President Jessica Alupo, who represented President Museveni, handed over a Ugandan constitution and other legislation for universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act to the new chancellor.
The incoming chancellor also received instruments supporting him as Chancellor and those appointing him as Chancellor of the institute.
The Vice President robed Katureebe with a hood, cap and gown, and handed the instruments of power.
She then read President Museveni’s message, in which he applauded Katureebe for accepting the job to continue serving Uganda.
Museveni urged him to use his career expertise and impeccable character of hard work to further improve the image of the institution.
He also thanked 80-year-old Bitamazire for her examplary leadership in the education sector.
‘I assigned her [Bitamazire] a task to roll out the Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education and she did not disappoint me. She is an example of the NRM commitment to the betterment of our society,’ said Museveni.
On his part, the State Minister for Higher Education, John Chrysestom Muyingo, thanked the newly-installed Chancellor for accepting to serve the country again.
He thanked seasoned educationist Bitamazire for her contribution to the education sector.
Bitamazire served as education minister from 1979 until 1980, and again from 2005 to 2011. She was also a legislator, representing Mpigi district as Woman MP from 2001 to 2011.
Under her leadership at UMI, the institute got ISO certification and international recognition for training people in public administration. The enrollment also increased to 70%.