ARU's different approach to learning

Nansimbi Marygoret recycling bottle 

Third year students making gardens out of plastic bottles 

Much as most Universities in Africa depend on theoretical approach to learning. African Rural University considers practicals are key to our learning whereby the curriculum is designed to cater for 60% theory and 40% practicals.
During the third year, students learn Appropriate technologies as a course unit which is basically practicals in preparation for field work.

ARU Radio program on KKC radio

At least a team of three students of ARU every Saturday participates on  information sharing and sensitization of the communities within Bunyoro region. They sharing on Kagadi Kibaale Community Radio (KKCR) is on different topics however this semester the major emphasis is on Girl Child Education and women empowerment this semester.
For the last three weeks they looked importance of girl child Education, Causes of high rate of dropout from school and in the next consecutive weeks, they will be sharing the experience on how to overcome challenges that affect girl child.

Mugisha  Kobusinge in light blue dress  (1st year student) sharing how she raised money to meet her personal needs.

Mrs Anyinge Christine Ojok during the radio programe

ARU students sharing their experience on how they overcame lack of financial support.

New Guild Office handed over

Today 29/09/2018, the current Guild president and her cabinet officially received the office which was requested by the Guild president during the handing over and swearing in ceremony in May this year . The key to the office which was pledged by the Vice Chancellor (Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe)  was officially handed over to the Guild President by the University Admin Assistant.
During the event, Mr. Serevano Birungi confessed that this is the most focused Guild cabinet out of the three he has worked with since he joined African Rural University. He also appreciated the work being done by the ministers in different fort-folios and encouraged them to keep with the spirit and produce more positive results.

Admin Assistant talking to the Guild cabinet before handing over the office 

The Guild President giving speaking during the handover

During the event the Guild President appreciated the Administration of the University for their constant support both Financially and physically to her office which has enabled them to achieve 40% of what they pledge to do during their regime. she added that she and her cabinet will use the office provided effectively and efficiently to ensure welfare of students are catered for. 

The Guild President (Mrs Anyinge Christine Ojok) receiving the key to the Guild office from Admin Assistant (Mr. Birungi Serevano)

Information sharing is key

African Rural University's Guild cabinet to share what they learnt from the 10th Guild conference with the rest of URDT family. The sharing by five guild leaders is taking place today 25th/09/2018 at the center for reflection from 07:45am-.09:00pm.
The five students to facilitate the sessions include; Anyinge  Christine Ojok (GP) Atugonza phiona (GP), Atuhaire Juliet (FM), Asiimire Olivia (IM) and Katushabe Gorret (FAM).

Foreign affairs minister (Katushabe Gorret) sharing on Life at campus

Guild President (Anyinge Christine Ojok) sharing during FC

Information Minister (Asiimire Olivia) sharing information on security.

Atugonza Phiona (Guild Speaker) sharing in FC

Finance Minister (Atuhaire Juliet) showing the audience how to use chemical powder to extinguish fire

Learning outside class

11 third year's  students attended a joint conference with over 200 speakers from the town councils and municipalities within the western region for two days (20th-21st/09/2018).The conference which was organized and hosted by the speaker of Kagadi town council in URDT multi-purpose hall had  theme " Together with one voice will lead us to greater heights in leadership.

The students attended this two day's sessions to learn the practical and have sharing with the speakers of the different Municipalities and town councils under the two course units of Local governance and Good governance and Public policy management and Analysis under the instructions of the two lecturers Mr. Lwanga Anthony Claret and Mr. Ndagijje Varerious who teaches the two course units respectively.

During the introduction, the speaker of Kabarole Municipality appreciated the Guild leaders of ARU for the attendance as this will help them to learn more about the leadership of this country and urged them not to take their leadership roles lightly since its from this leadership background that they will build on to be the next leaders of this country.

Inter-color competition on Thursday 26th

In preparation for the inter-universities games and sports,  Education games and sports minister (Miss Apok Jenifer) in collaboration with the foreign affairs minister (Miss Katushabe Gorret), have organised inter-color competitions on Thursday 27th/09/2018. The students who are categorized in the three university colors that is to say Green, Blue and Red shall play against each other in the two sports (Netball and Volleyball) and one game (Brain chess).

The winning color for each category shall walk away with a cake worth 10,000/=. The University secretary (Akello Jacqueline) is expected to be the guest of honor and hand over the awards to the winning teams.
On Thursday afternoon and evening, African Rural University students participated in inter-colour competitions and these were Red, Blue and Green.
In the results part of it ,Red was the winning team for both Netball and Volleyball, then Green won in Chess.

New Technologies in the ARU guild farm

2 ARU students leaders (Augonza Phiona, the guild speaker and Anyinge Christine Ojok , The Guild President) on Wednesday 19th/09/2018 trained the rest of the students in new technologies in Agriculture. Atugonza and Anyinge who  have a background in Agriculture from Baraka Agricultural college (Kenya) and Bukalasa Agricultural college (wobulenzi) respectively trained and demonstrated technologies which are aimed at improving family household income and nutrition.

 During the half a day session they students learnt and demonstrated how to make sack mount garden, liquid manure, Organic pesticides and plant tea.

The V.GP (in a red kitenge) with other student practically making a garden out of sack (Mount sack garden)

Students  digging compost pit during the training sessions 

Phiona (Guild speaker) in a sky blue vest explaining the different nutrients got from plant tea

The GP and year two class representative putting cow dung in the sack for making liquid manure

Phiona and Christine also went a head to explain the old technologies in the Guild farm. the old technologies include; Mandala garden, Raised seed box, vermiculture, compost manure and organic compost manure using the heap methods.

Old raised seed box which was demonstrated last semester

Old Mandala garden currently planted with cabbages, Spinach and spring onions in the Fam

DEANS OF STUDENTS FORUM AND 10TH GUILD LEADERS CONFERENCE

A group of five student leaders of African rural university represented the university in a three days conference which took place at Muni university in Arua. these were the guild president ( Mrs. Anyinge Christine Ojok), the guild speaker ( Miss Atugonza Phionah), the foreign affairs minister (Miss Katushabe Gorret), the minister of finance ( Miss Atuhaire Juliet) and the information minister (Asiimire Olivia). The conference  brought together all Ugandan universities  Deans of students and the student leaders to learn, interact,and share different issues that take place in their universities

The facilitators,the student's Deans and the student leaders at Muni University

During the conference, the Vice chancellor of Muni university Mrs. Christine N. welcomed us and told every one to feel at home while at Muni university. She first thanked the Deans of students for the work they do and she encouraged them to put in more effort in the student's academics since the University's name is only sold by its academic quality.she further explained the best practices of student leaders in the university and she encouraged them to do everything in a special and exemplar way and to always be unique from other students, that is to say, academically, financially, way of conduct, way of dressing and other spheres of life in order to leave behind a good legacy/ history for themselves.she also advised ARU to change their university's name from AFRICAN RURAL UNIVERSITY to AFRICAN RURAL WOMEN UNIVERSITY because it makes it clear and it can easily be located and found. She advised student leaders to be visionary ,do things in a planned way and learn how to balance academics with leadership. student leaders should learn to do planning, monitor and evaluate which will help them to be good future leaders.she also talked about dialoguing always ,this will help young leaders to build their thinking capacities  stronger. and always behave in an inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary manner which will help us young leaders to succeed in life.while ending her speech ,she emphasized that leadership comes from God and quoted (Titus 2:7)

Mrs.Christine Ndrnzoa (standing)

 

During the conference, we had two sessions with two police commanders Arua who faclicitated about two issues ,that is to say , people's security and fire protection and fighting where also had some practicals about fire fighting,

Atuhaire Juliet (Finance Minister) fighting the fire during the session

Anyinge Christine Ojok (Guild President) fighting fire using carbon dioxide gas during the training.

Asiimire olivia (Information minister) extinguishing the fire during the session

During the last day of the conference, African Rural University students were given an opportunity to talk about their university since it was the first time for them to know about it. the Guild speaker of ARU (Miss Atugonza Phionah) took the lead and informed the people about the university's methodology, vision and mission, curriculum and the university's co-curricular activities though the majority of the people challenged her about the university being of one sex which made them argue that it promotes discrimination and gender inequality in an area.

As the Vise Chancellor of Muni University (Mrs Christine N) had earlier advised us, we didn't leave any stone un turned, the facilitators gave us time as student leaders to dialogue together, we did that in three groups and through that we were able to share experiences with each other, discussed different issues, and made friends.

ARU Guild president with other guild presidents from other universities were given a golden opportunity of representing their universities' in Nile FM 94.1 where every guild president was supposed to talk about their university. During the program ARU GP, Mrs. Anyinge Christine Ojok, told the listeners and other guild president in the studio that she is not happy to be the only female president in the studio. This made the discussion in the studios to take anew twist from only talking about the Universities by the Guild Presidents to looking at the challenges facing girl child and women in Universities , reasons for the drop out and the recommendations.

Anyinge Christine Ojok (ARU GP) in a kitenge  during the talkshow with other Guild Presidents

Northern Uganda appreciates work being done by ARU in women empowerment

Four Guild Cabinet Members that is to say, the guild president (Anyinge Christine Ojok), the Guild speaker ( Atugonza Phionah), Minister for Education ,Games and Sports (Apok Jennifer) and Welfare and campus affairs minister (Nansimbi Marygoret) were involved in 3 radio talk shows on Mega FM in Gulu and Voice of Lango FM in Lira on 29th/July/2018 and 2nd/August/2018 respectively. The talk shows were meant to create awareness about the University in Northern Uganda as well as to mobilize the student for the next intake.

During the talk shows, the Guild president gave the background and opportunities at ARU. She added that ARU is a unique university that offers the best approach to Rural Development (Visionary approach) which is not found in any University and any institutions in Uganda. she expounded that "Visionary approach helps one to consistently create what he/she really wants".

The Guild President (Mrs Anyinge Christine Ojok) unleashing opportunities at ARU on Mega FM

The Minister of Education Games and Sports (Miss Jennifer Apok )informed the public about the different Games and sports which included Football, Netball, Volleyball, Chess and scrabbles among others which help the students not only to be physically fit but also to think critically for examples game like chess.

Minister of Education, Games and Sports (Miss Apok Jenifer on Mega FM)

Welfare and campus affairs minister (Miss Nansimbi Marygorety) on the other hand appreciated the quality o services received by the students of African Rural University through out the semester. She pointed out that, ARU provides balanced meals, medical services, good accommodation, amongst others.

Minister of welfare and campus affairs (Miss Nansimbi Marygoret)

The Guild speaker (Miss Atugonza Phiona) assured the listeners that, there is a job assurance immediately after graduation which is not the story with other Universities.

The Guild Speaker (Miss Atugonza Phiona) during the talkshow

All the callers appreciated the work being done by ARU in attaining women empowerment which is still a big issue in Uganda since most of the girls/ women are unable to attain university education. He encouraged the girls/ women within the Lango  and Acholi sub-regions to take up opportunities being offered by African Rural University.

ARU Guild President, speaker and the Ministers with Fedinand Achai Okello and Aliga Sam Brundo (Staffs of VOL) after the talk show.

ARU incubating the leaders of today and tomorrow

The two days guild orientation which was aimed at equipping the Guild Cabinet of African Rural University with the deep understanding of the Visionary leadership and System Thinking ended successfully yesterday 05th/09/2018.
The  Guild President (Mrs Anyinge Christine Ojok) who organized the orientation for the Ministers and class Representative in her opening remark welcomed all the participants and appreciated the Administrators for the endless support and guidance given to them since they got into office in May 2018. she urged the cabinet ministers to use the two days of orientation to awaken the sleeping genius in each of us not only to be good leaders of the University but also in their homes, communities and advancement of their political careers for the benefit of our Country Uganda and the world at large.

The Guild President Mrs Anyinge Christine Ojok  , giving an opening remark.

The two days sessions were fully facilitated by the ARU Vice Chancellor Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe and the University Secretary Madam Jacqueline Akello. Dr. Mwalimu grounded the participants in Visionary approach of planning which enabled all the ministers to come up with the Structural Tension Chart for their individual  Ministries for the period August-December.

ARU Vice Chancellor Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe (standing) taking the cabinet through visionary leadership and systems thinking

Meanwhile the US, took the participants through the institutional management systems and the Guild constitution. This made the ministers to become aware of the different organs in the University and how they can relate to them in order to realize the desired outcome for their term in office.
Furthermore, she emphasized the issue of using reference materials ,that is to say, the guild constitution. the cabinet ministers were reminded to always follow what the constitution says and should always protect it . It was discovered that some ministers love their titles instead of their responsibilities, she advised them to love their responsibilities first then their titles since its the responsibilities which make those titles.

In the closing remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Appreciated the participation and work being done by the current guild leaders and he encouraged them to continue with commitment and enthusiasm that they are exhibiting so that to be excellent leaders and promised to render them all the needed support.
Lastly, he encouraged the participants to use the Structural Tension Chart in all spheres of life to create what they care most about and help others create