By Timothy Okurut
A heavy silence hangs over Uganda Christian University (UCU) as students and staff try to come to terms with the sudden death of the celebrated Director of Student Affairs (DOSA), Ms. Pamela Tumwebaze. The usual buzz of activity has been replaced with hushed conversations and sombre faces. The sense of shock and disbelief is palpable, with many grieving the loss of a beloved staff member, friend, and mentor. Tumwebaze passed away after an unknown assailant gained access to her house in Seeta and strangled her in the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to the Police.
Much of the university community remembers her dedication, kindness, and passion for excellence. Mr. Simon Tusubira, the Student Affairs Administrator in charge of the Kampala Campus, described Tumwebaze as a loving, prayerful, and sociable character.
“Pamela hardly mentioned three things without talking about prayer,” he says.
“She was my supervisor, but she never related with me at that level, she saw me as a brother.”
Tusubira recalls some fond memories with the late Tumwebaze that saw his working relationship with her grow even deeper. He shares that they related really well both at work and in their personal life and remembers an incident where she pointed him to a shopping outlet, letting him know he could buy affordable commodities for his wife from there.
“That was Pamela for you,” he said.
He also recalls that in one of his final moments with her during an administrative meeting on Monday, she had suggested to him the idea of holding intercessory prayers at the Kampala campus area. “She told me that we were going to have a prayer walk in some of the hostels in Kampala campus this Friday,” Tusubira says. That dream went unfulfilled.
Elvis Segawa, a former Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister of Finance in the Student Guild also has many fond memories of the lively DOSA and referred to her as a mother. His first encounter with Tumwebaze was when she still worked under the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration.
“Two of my classmates didn’t have tuition, I was directed to her and she took them to an office that is now the Scholarship Office,” he explained, relating how concerned and helpful she was to students in need.
He added, “She accepted to mother us here at campus to the point that even if you lacked something to eat, she would provide out of her own cash.”
Similarly, Ristella Ayesigye, the current Guild Minister for Presidency remembers an instance during the Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS) games that were played in December last year and were hosted by UCU. During that time, the campus is closed and it is difficult to find a nearby place to buy something to eat. But as Ayesigye recalls, Ms Tumwebaze came to their rescue.
“We were hungry and we needed a bite. She gave us her car and a driver and sent us off,” Ayesigye recalls, adding that they were able to go a distance away and buy something to eat.
Many students found Tumwebaze easy to approach and relate to. A number of them were commonly heard branding her as the coolest DOSA, a phrase they chanted during many public addresses she made.
The UCU community is expected to pay their respects to her during the Thursday community worship hour that will be held at midday in Nkoyoyo Hall. Tumwebaze is survived by two sons, Noah Matsiko and Elijah Matsiko, who are 10 and 13 years old, respectively.
