Last week, Uganda Christian University (UCU) honored its former Vice Chancellor, Rev. Canon Dr. John Ssenyonyi, by naming a multi-million-shilling building at the Kampala Campus in Mengo after him.
Canon Ssenyonyi joined UCU in 2001 as University Chaplain. In 2003, he transitioned to Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, and in 2006, he was appointed to the newly created position of Deputy Vice Chancellor for Development and External Relations. He served in that capacity until September 2010, when he was appointed Vice Chancellor of UCU.
Speaking at the unveiling of the building, Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi, the current Vice Chancellor of UCU, said that on December 2, 2024, the University Management and Planning Development Board found it fitting to honor Rev. Canon Dr. John Ssenyonyi by naming the building after him.
“It is a privilege, on behalf of the management of UCU, to officially unveil the John Ssenyonyi Building,” Mushengyezi said.
In his acceptance speech, Ssenyonyi expressed gratitude, saying it came as a surprise but a very welcome one.
Initially, he was reluctant to join UCU, but it was his wife, Dr. Canon Ruth Ssenyonyi, who encouraged him to serve at the Christian-founded institution.
“I was also hesitant to apply for the position of Vice Chancellor. In fact, my application must have been among the last to be submitted. Nevertheless, in 2010, I became Vice Chancellor,” he recalled.
“I am deeply honored that you chose to construct this building and name it after us here at the Kampala Campus. As soon as I assumed the role of Vice Chancellor, one of our major concerns was finding a suitable permanent home for this campus,” he said.
Together with Dr. Alex Kagume, a tough negotiator, Ssenyonyi approached the Eagle’s Nest Proprietors to convince them to sell the property to the university. They eventually agreed, and UCU purchased the site for Shs 2.25 billion.
“One of the greatest advantages of this location was its close proximity to the premises we had been using before. This meant our students would not have to relocate to distant areas,” he noted.
“I remember vividly: after we acquired the property, we fenced it in. For those unfamiliar with our early days, we started from the building that now houses Nkumba University on Kabaka-Nyagala Road.”
He recalled visiting the Post Office building where the property owner had a small office. They negotiated an arrangement, having previously asked for the first option to buy the building should it be sold. Unfortunately, the owner sold it without informing them.
While flying back into the country, Ssenyonyi received news that the property had been sold.
“We were going to be evicted—yet we had more than 1,000 students on that campus. Upon arrival, we tried diplomacy. I spoke with Nkumba University, who had purchased the property. Though they had their own plans, they gave us three months to vacate even though the semester was ongoing.”
“At that point, we went down on our knees in prayer, because that was the only thing we knew to do. We searched for buildings in Bukoto and other areas, but none were suitable for students. Eventually, someone whispered to us that a property in the Butikkiro area formerly occupied by JCRC and belonging to the Buganda Kingdom—was vacant. It’s worth noting that we already owned the Kampala Campus land but had not yet begun development.”
Negotiations began. Fortunately, the university had a strong ally in the Buganda Kingdom. While many opposed the idea citing the presence of Muteesa I Royal University Dr. Ruben Kibuuka, a renowned economist, advocated on UCU’s behalf. With his help and that of others, the university secured the site and relocated before the three-month deadline expired.
However, Ssenyonyi noted that the Buganda Kingdom was not entirely comfortable with UCU occupying the site, as it was historically significant—the headquarters of the Butikkiro. Over time, the rent increased from Shs 20 million to Shs 40 million per month.
“We were paying this amount without having sufficient funds to begin construction. I won’t go further into the long story. What matters is that we thank God we had a place for our students to continue learning. When you are responsible for over 1,000 students and have no place to house them, the weight is unimaginable.” Senyonyi said.
, “Every time I visit this campus, I am filled with joy to see the developments taking place. It is our great pride to know that our name is part of this institution’s legacy. I look forward to the day when my grandchildren will also study here.” He said.
