Justice Sebutinde installed Muteesa university chancellor

KAMPALA- Justice Julia Sebutinde of the International Court of Justice has been installed as the second chancellor of Muteesa 1 Royal University.

She was installed in Kampala on Wednesday by Kabaka Ronald Mutebi, the out-going chancellor.

A student of Muteesa I Royal University holding a mace led the academic procession with Kabaka Mutebi, Justice Sebutinde and vice chancellor, Prof Arthur Sserwanga.

Justice Sebutinde, after a citation by Buganda minister for education and sports Kawaase Twaha, stepped forward to take oath, pledging to uphold the values of the university and lead it overcome existing challenges.

After she took the oath, Kabaka Mutebi helped Justice Ssebutinde to put on the academic gown, the symbol of her ceremonial role, amid applause.

She was then handed the mace, a ceremonial stuff that symbolises authority of the office.

“In the name of Muteesa I Royal University, I now install you in the office of the chancellor and bestow you with the rights and privileges of this office,” Kabaka Mutebi said, asking the new chancellor to ensure that the university has community engagements as well as emphasizing international linkages and having a vocational curriculum.

“We are strongly dedicated to providing guidance and support to the development of its infrastructure,” the Kabaka pledged.

Promoting the university
Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga said there was need to market the university through local and external research programmes as well as leveraging on Justice Sebuntinde’s international image.

Mr Kawaase asked Justice Sebutinde to steer the university to an institution befitting the royal tag, saying: “This will be achieved by providing skill-based education.”

The chairman University Council, Dr Frank Sebbowa, said they had formulated several policies and put in place an endowment fund because “modern universities do not develop from students’ fees but from the endowment fund.”

The vice chancellor, Prof Sserwanga, said they hoped to achieve a lot under the guidance of Justice Sebutinde.
She hailed Kabaka Mutebi for the “honour and responsibility” bestowed on her, saying it was the first time “I have served Buganda even if I have served other organisations”.
Kabaka Mutebi appointed Justice Ssebutinde in a December 2015 letter which the Katikkiro read to the Lukiiko (Buganda parliament) on October 26, 2015.

She pledged to uphold the university just like the Mutesa I iconic name, whom she described as a true hero who gave Buganda and Uganda a perfect direction.
Justice Sebutinde takes over from Kabaka Mutebi, the founding chancellor.

History

Founded: Muteesa 1 Royal University is privately owned and was founded by the Kingdom of Buganda in 2007 in the former premises of Masaka Technical Institute and Buganda Royal Institute of Business and technical education. It has three campuses in Kakeeka-Mengo, Mubende and Masaka.
Accredited: The university was accredited in July 2007 and in October it admitted its first students and held its first graduation on April 15, 2011.
Enrollment: It currently has a student population of at 2,424 students Kakeeka, 595 students at Masaka campus and 55 at the Mubende campus. It also has 124 academic and 68 administrative staff.
Leadership: Its first vice chancellor was Prof Nsereko Munakukaama who retired in 2011. He was replaced by Prof Isaac Kigongo Bukenya who took over as acting vice chancellor until Prof Arthur Sserwanga was installed on September 3, 2014.

Profile
Justice Julia Sebutinde, International Court of Justice in the hague

Education: Justice Sebutinde studied at Lake Victoria Primary School, Kings College Budo in the 1960s, before joining Makerere University where she did a Bachelors of Laws degree and graduated in 1977.
She acquired a post-graduate diploma in legal practice from Law Development Centre in 1978 and in 1990 she graduated with a Masters of Law from the University of Edinburgh.
Work. She has worked in the Uganda Judiciary, where she rose through the ranks to a High Court judge.
She has headed a number of commissions, including the judicial commission of inquiry into corruption in the Uganda Police Force (1999-2000), the commission of inquiry into corruption in Uganda Revenue Authority (2002).

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