Vice-Chancellor Professor Muthwa shared that the institutional initiative to expand our African footprint has been conceptualised around Nelson Mandela’s footsteps as he travelled the continent from the year 1962 seeking support for the liberation of South Africa. Several partner university agreements were signed as part of the three-country visit.
Photo: Kenya Alumni Engagement Event
More than sixty alumni and friends attended a sponsored engagement event held at the Las Vegas Hotel in Kampala. The dinner and related activities were co-hosted by the Nelson Mandela University Uganda Alumni Chapter and the Alumni Relations Office. Professor Muthwa and the SA High Commissioner to Uganda, her excellency, Ms Lulu Xingwana addressed the members present.
Several regional universities were also represented. The university delegation received great support from the Mandela Alumni Chapter - Uganda chairman, Dr Geoffrey Nuwagaba. He welcomed Prof Muthwa, the university delegation and all alumni and friends present, stating the chapter members are looking forward for more interaction with their alma mater.
As part of her address to alumni, Professor Muthwa shared, “Our doctoral graduates have also been at the forefront in driving the Uganda chapter and engaging with Mandela University. Two hundred and seventy-two qualifications have been conferred on alumni from Uganda and a record fifty-one of those qualifications are doctorates. The Ugandan alumni chapter model is unique and commendable. Another unique characteristic of the Uganda Alumni Chapter is the special relationship it has with the South African High Commission in Uganda.”
More than thirty alumni attended the Nairobi alumni engagement event which was addressed by. Professor Andre Keet Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Engagement and Transformation and Acting Vice-Chancellor and Dr Denver Webb, Senior Director: Strategic Resource Mobilisation and Advancement as well as 2014 Alumni Award Recipient Dr Hanningtone Gaya. Alumni present were encouraged to establish a formal chapter by Dr Gaya and become active ambassadors of their alma mater. He challenged our young alumni to play an active role in building their alumni networks, which includes establishing a Mandela Alumni Chapter in Kenya. Our institutional records reflect that three hundred and forty qualifications have been conferred on alumni from Kenya and forty-five of those qualifications are doctorates.
Alumni in Uganda and Kenya were keen to engage in greater regional interaction and supported sharing more stories and profiles about regional alumni and their achievements. There is so much we can share about our alumni and their home countries, so we look forward to hear about your stories, countries and cultures. Please share any interesting stories and achievements with us –
alumni@mandela.ac.za