By Eriah Lule
‘’I Byaruhanga Augustine retired from Uganda Christian University today 30th June 2010, I started working in Bishop Tucker College in September 1970, a young man and energetic . 27 years later, the college was turned into a university ‘’.
That was the first paragraph in Mr. Byaruhanga’s Speech on his retirement ceremony ,one of the longest serving dining masters from Bishop Tucker to UCU, in the presence of Rev. Prof Stephen Noll the then Vice chancellor.
Mr. Byaruhanga is now a dairy farmer who supplies milk on a daily basis to the dining hall since Uganda Christain University was founded in 1997, a job he has done faithfully for the last 24 years. Many organizations and companies in Mukono have hired him for his diary services due to his faithfulness.
He married Antonia Byaruhanga in 1978 with whom they have 7 Children, 6 of them living.
Byaruhanga found his way to Mukono, when the late Bishop Amos Betungura spotted him out from Makerere , University Hall having admired his excellent services as a waiter during one of the seminars he had attended recommending him to Bishop Tucker principal , Yutus Ruhindi (Bishop) in 1970 who hired him.
“I was employed as one of the surplus labor to help the permanent workers with the huge workload that was created by this seminar ‘’ said Mr. Byaruhanga. ‘’When it’s your time, oh my God, who can close your gates? “he added.
With a positive mindset, he joined Bishop Tucker dining section, a job during which at occupied by the Jaluo who had marked their names on the walls of this sector all over the country.
Due to his humbleness and trustworthiness, he was given the responsibility of being the head cook after 8 head cooks had failed on this job by Nicodemus Okire (Bishop ) who was heading the dinning.
‘’Most of the present and past Theologians in Uganda and in East Africa passed through my hands, because they ate the food I prepared’’ he said with a sense of pride listing most of the Theologians he could recall that have painted their walls in ministry he found as young students at Bishop Tucker and later UCU.
In 1997 when the University started, Byaruhanga was serving as the head cook and in 2004 when the construction of the Janani Luwum Dining Hall was done, he was promoted to be the Head waiter where he was in charge of the dinning and thus left the kitchen till when he retired in 2010.
Later that year the Caterer left and he was asked to serve as the acting head caterer, store keeper, and supervisor of the dinning for some time as long as performing his original duty as the Human Resource was in search of eligible candidates.
Born to the Late Yohana Kyoboli and the Late Mrs. Rose Mukanshi of Rukunyu Village present Day Kamwenge District, Byaruhanga lost his father at a very early age. This gave him a chance to grow in a simple hard working background.
“Iam privileged, I didn’t go past fourth grade but due to my strong moral conduct I reached big heights with chief administrators as my personal friends to even head a University/College department “he said.
“All my children are well educated because of the benefits I got as an employee of this place “he added.
Growing from a simple background, Byaruhanga was very innovative, he liked mixed farming a lot. He used the vast College land to carry out mixed farming, he had cows grazing in paddocks at where both the current male and female halls of residences are located, the procurement offices and the mass communication department . He had a passion for fruit gardening at the current woodball pitch which helped him to keep productive even when he was not on duty.
‘’It is from me that the university also started the Nwo farm, though at first it failed they still pushed it again to where it is now’’ said Byaruhanga.
‘’After the University started, they now had plans for everyspace they had, I found myself transferring my farm to Kawuko on Entebbe road’’ he added.
He also has a love for old cars which dates back from 1971 after taking driving lessons from the then famous Kawerimide driving school in Nakasero (the only driving school in Kampala then), his friend the late Rwamirengo the then Town Clerk of Mukono left him with his car and went to Europe for further studies for a full year.
“It is with his car that I picked him from the Airport back home after his studies’’ he said.
‘’This was the first car in my compound, so I had to keep it jealous though it wasn’t mine, I had belief in me that one day I will buy mine”. he added.
He later bought a Datsun Nissan pickup in 1977 which he still owns to date, he has never looked back in terms of rides.He owns a Datsun 1600 model which has made him a darling to the vintage car lovers all over the streets he passes or supplies milk.
Byaruhanga is a member of the Rotarians Vintage and Collectibles fellowship whose main objective is to promote tourism in the country, conserve old classic materials, and networking.He has over time been to these exhibitions showcasing his Datsun 1600 model, a 1967 Morris Minor, a Toyota Corolla 1970 model and the late Allan Galpin’s car which are all still in good condition. His car collection contains over 5 classic vintage cars.
Byaruhanga has participated in the Vintage Classic Jinja Edition called Conservation Drive to Jinja held in Jinja town.
‘’He is a very authentic man and we are always glad to have him on our team. He is experienced and his words always bless us as a team ’’. Said Thomas Magambo, the Fellowship Secretary.
His big collection always helps the team to always showcase a big number of vintage cars thus promoting tourism’’ he added.
Apart from the old vintage fleet of cars, Byaruhanga is a moving museum where he owns a gramophone (though not in good condition) which increases his spirit to preserve and maintain in order to promote tourism.
