By Irene Best Nyapendi
The Rev. Dr. Christopher Yikii Agatre has the distinction of laying the foundation for the Uganda Christian University (UCU) campus in his native Arua. Agatre, born in Arua in 1962, set the pace for building the institution when he was appointed as director 14 years ago. In this top administrative position from 2009 to 2014, he oversaw the regional campus’ overall management and operations.
Now a lecturer at the Arua campus under the Department of Social Sciences, Agatre continues to impart knowledge in UCU research methods, social work research design and management, public budgeting and decentralization plus development policy and planning.
He recently shared part of his educational journey.
Agatre’s voyage at UCU commenced in 2006 when he joined as the Head of the Department of Development Studies, a position he held for three years. This experience fueled his ambition, leading him to apply for the position of Director of the UCU Arua Campus in 2009. Despite facing competition from three other applicants, Agatre’s qualifications and passion for education shone through, securing him a five-year contract as director.
During his tenure, Agatre achieved significant milestones. These include:
- The student population increased from 324 in 2009 to 688 in 2014.
- He oversaw the construction of a library, multi-purpose hall and four-roomed lecture block.
- He came up with an idea of asking students, parents and guardians to bank development fees on a separate account as a way of clearly marking it for infrastructural development.
All the while, he was at the center of mobilizing parents and students’ support for the mega projects the campus was undertaking, especially the construction of the multi-purpose hall. It was during his reign that the land boundary between the campus and the local community was opened.
Despite challenges posed by competition from other institutions, UCU prevailed because of the outstanding strides the campus had made in being a first-choice institution. Agatre said he prioritized the needs of students and staff, focusing on providing a quality education that prepared students for success as key to overcoming the hurdles of mushrooming institutions of higher learning in his region.
He encouraged students and staff to attend community worship and emphasized prayers before and after each lecture, particularly during his classes.
He highlights the uniqueness of UCU through its distinctive foundational course units.
“Our foundational courses, such as Understanding Worldviews, the Old and New Testaments and others stand out from those offered at other secular universities,” Agatre explained.
He said emphasis on Biblical understanding sets UCU students apart, providing them with a well-rounded education that encompasses both academic rigor and spiritual growth.
Agatre said he grew up in a loving and supportive home, guided by Christian parents who emphasized the importance of faith. He recalls his mother, the late Rhoda Ofutaru, who asked at least one from among her seven children to follow in their father’s theology footsteps. Agatre fulfilled his mother’s wish in 2012.
“Time came for me to hear the calling of God in 2012 while I was the director at Arua campus,” he said. “I started studying for a Post Graduate Diploma in Christian Ministry (Ordination Course) at UCU main campus in Mukono in 2015, graduated and was ordained in 2017. I have served as a priest in the Diocese of Madi-West Nile for six years now.”
After five years on the job as Arua campus director, he embarked on pursuing his PhD, which, as expected, was so engaging, he only managed to squeeze time as a part-time lecturer at the campus.
Agatre’s education summary is:
1999 – Masters degree in Applied Population Research at Exeter University in the UK.
2001 – Post graduate certificate in Public Finance Management, New Delhi, India
2008 – Masters degree in Organizational Leadership and Management at UCU
2017 – A post graduate diploma in Christian Ministries (Theology) at UCU Mukono
2020 – PhD in management and administration at Uganda Management Institute.
Agatre and his wife, Fredah, have four children and three grandchildren. Outside of his professional pursuits, Agatre finds joy in watching football and proudly supports Manchester United, a top-tier team in England.
