By Andrew Bugembe
Uganda Christian University (UCU) held a special event as Canon Professor Peter Nyende gave his first lecture as a full professor.
The event was attended by church leaders, bishops from the Church of Uganda and Kenya, UCU staff, students, and alumni. All of them gathered to celebrate a respected scholar whose teachings have influenced many in East Africa.
Rt. Rev. Assoc. Prof. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa, Bishop of Ankole Diocese represented the Chancellor, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, and praised Prof. Nyende for reaching this important academic level, saying it showed his hard work and deep knowledge.
Bishop Mwesigwa also thanked UCU for organising such lectures, which give professors a chance to share their knowledge with the public.
“Biblical scholars help shape how the Church thinks and responds to today’s problems,” Bishop Mwesigwa said. “I encourage UCU to continue supporting theological education and research.”
Vice Chancellor Canon Prof. Aaron Mushengyezi explained that becoming a professor is a big dream for many academics, but it takes more than a PhD—it requires publishing research and sharing ideas with the world.
“If you don’t publish, people begin to question your academic contribution,” he said. He praised Prof. Nyende for his achievement and hoped it would inspire other staff at UCU to aim high.
“Now that Prof. Nyende is a full professor, we hope he will continue to influence the Church and the academic world with his ideas,” he added.
Prof. Nyende has served as a priest in the Anglican Church of Kenya since 1998 and has worked in Kenya, Uganda, and Sudan. He also led Carlile College in Kenya and holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh. is married to Josephine and they have two children, Brodie and Arabel.
In his lecture, Prof. Nyende thanked UCU for giving him the chance to share his work. “The university has honored me by introducing me to the public as a full professor,” he said. “This lecture allows me to talk about my past work, current research, and future goals.”
Prof. Nyende stressed that theological schools must train pastors who are not only spiritually strong but also think clearly and wisely. He reminded the audience of tragedies like the Kanungu massacre in Uganda in 2000 and the 2023 Shakahola cult deaths in Kenya — terrible events that happened because of false teachings and untrained religious leaders.
“With proper training, Christians can be protected from being misled, abused, or even losing their lives due to fake pastors,” he warned.
As the event came to an end, everyone agreed it was more than just an academic achievement. It was a reminder that theological education is very important for building a strong society — one where faith and knowledge work together for the good of all.
