Professor G.W.S. Kajubi, A Person You Should Know
– Celebrating Greatness in our Midst Series
Almost as quickly as it started February is almost over and the doors are about to close on this year’s Black History
Month observance. A short walk down a hall less visited and the spotlight falls on a name that is less heard of.
Nonetheless this is a name that gathered descriptors such as “Renowned Educator, Administrator, Community
Leader”, “Towering Inspiration” “Events Shaper” “Infused a spirit of hope in whatever he did” “spirit of fierce
independence” “humble servant of the people” “a man who belonged to a higher league of leaders but exuded
outstanding humility, modesty and civility”, “a man who belonged to his time but also to the future”. His name you
ask? Professor George William Senteza Kajubi. Who?
Let’s start at the very beginning. George William Senteza Kajubi was born in 1926. He was the first child born to
Yoweri Lugonzi – a postal mail carrier who was recognized by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England for 40
years of dedicated service. His mother was Bulanina Namukomya. They lived in Busega, a suburb of Uganda’s
capital, Kampala. His early education was humble or what he and contemporaries light heartedly referred to as
“bush schools” with a “bush education”, terms they used referring to non-elite schools of the likes of Kings College
Buddo, where he later went for senior high school. He started his primary
education in 1933 at Mackay Memorial Primary School, Nateete Kampala and
went on to attend Mengo Junior Secondary 1941 – 1943. In 1944 he was one
of a select 20 students admitted to Kings College Buddo. The entire cohort
would later go on to Makerere University where he graduated and earned his
teacher certification. His first teaching assignment was Kako Junior Secondary
School in Masaka town – a three hour drive south west of the capital. Senteza
Kajubi would later meet his dear loving wife of many years, Nalongo Elsie
Nabaloga and together have three sets of twins and other children**.
TIES TO CHICAGOLAND
In 1952 Kajubi was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship that brought him to the University of Chicago in Chicago, the
home base of UCIGC. Three years later having earned his Master of Science in Education degree, specializing in
Geography, he returned to Uganda to teach at his alma mater Kings College Buddo. By 1977 he had risen through
the teaching ranks to become Senior Lecturer and then Professor two years later at the top regionally recognized
institution of higher learning in East Africa at the time - Makerere University.
INFLUENCE ON EDUCATION IN UGANDA
Senteza Kajubi is considered one of the premier shapers of Uganda’s policy
on primary through post-secondary education. While certainly known for his
teaching his influence went beyond classroom confines and indeed the
borders of Uganda. Most notable among his journeys was a visit back to the
USA in 1965 when he met with then President of the USA, Lyndon B
Johnson**. On the home front he played a significant role in shaping the
system for education in Uganda through advocacy for his theory of education
and policy formulation. He believed the education system should be
developed along Uganda’s interests. At the time of the country’s
independence in 1962, these were - to produce manpower needed for
economic development, expand education for girls and provide for adult education.
Later, as prominently featured in the Kajubi Report 1989, his emphasis moved to wide range access to higher
education and universal primary education UPE; indeed he is considered grandfather of UPE. The report was
accepted in 1992and remains the guide for government’s investment and strategy in education at all levels.
Kajubi was passionate in his advocacy for wider access to higher education. Far from mere rhetoric this was a
belief he put feet to and was clearly visible in his administrative and leadership tenure. Professor taught at some of
Uganda’s top institutions of higher learning. What’s more he provided leadership at a critical time of transition from
polytechnic colleges to universities to provide regionally competitive education. For instance, while teaching at
Makerere University Professor was appointed Vice Chancellor. Later he moved to become Principal at Institute of
Teacher Education Kyambogo ITEK - a polytechnic school at the time that became Kyambogo University. In 1994
Professor became Vice Chancellor of Nkumba University until then known as Nkumba College of Commerce &
Advanced Studies. He remained there until retirement in 2008.
Connection to the National Symbols
As Uganda prepared for independence in 1962 three subcommittees were set up to
oversee the creation of national symbols - the National Flag, Court of Arms and National
Anthem for Uganda. Kajubi was appointed to chair the National Anthem subcommittee.
This committee was charged with soliciting original composition entries and selecting one to
be the national anthem for the newly independent Uganda. Compositions had to be short,
original, solemn, uplifting and forward looking. The piece had to be harmonized in the standard four
voices -soprano, alto, tenor and bass. The subcommittee organized a country wide publicity
campaign calling for compositions and many Ugandans responded submitting their pieces,
including one George Wilberforce Kakoma. "Nevertheless the committee was not satisfied with the
compositions – more entries were needed but time quickly running out” as Kakoma later recounted.
Kajubi contacted Kakoma with a twelfth hour appeal to his creativity in order to save the work of the
committee. By his own account Kakoma went to bed in deep thought that night, arose to become the composer of
“Oh Uganda, Land of Beauty” the Uganda National Anthem and another subject for A Person You Should Know –
Celebrating Greatness in our Midst Series for another day.
After over 40 years of selfless service to Uganda on May 1 2012 at age 86,
Professor George William Senteza Kajubi** in the quietness of his home
slipped away from our midst into the ages “a man who belonged to his time but
also to the future” and A Person You Should Know.
**Photographs:

Professor Senteza Kajubi and beloved wife Nalongo with their three sets of twins

Professor Kajubi holds a portrait showing him and then USA President Lyndon B Johnson in 1965

Portrait photograph Professor George William Senteza Kajubi by Simon Mugerwa © 2002