CUEA: Growth Will Not Stop, Says Chancellor As University Marks 40 Years
Bishop Charles Kasonde
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Chancellor of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) has assured stakeholders that as the Institution celebrates achievements that have been accumulated for 40 years, this will “not stop” its growth.
Addressing graduands on the eve of the 43rd graduation ceremony on Thursday, October 24, Bishop Charles Sampa Kasonde said, “As Chancellor of CUEA, I assure our University’s stakeholders that our efforts on the growth and prosperity of this University will not stop here. We intend to fulfill our wish to make CUEA a world-class University as we continue molding and forming our students into ethical leaders who serve the Church and Society.”
The Chancellor who doubles as the Chairman for the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) which owns CUEA pointed out that the association is passionate on the role of transforming communities through ethical research, innovation, education, and service which it does this CUEA.
“CUEA champions modern methods of research, and the use of scientific tools for a more relevant specialization geared towards promoting ethics-themed academic studies in Theology, Canon Law, and, secular academic and professional programs,” Bishop Kasonde who is the Local Ordinary of Zambia’s Solwezi Diocese said on the rehearsal day.
While appreciating the successes and achievements of CUEA for the past four decades not only for making the dream of AMECEA a reality but also for carrying the dream to unprecedented heights of academic excellence, the Chancellor thanked CUEA’s Board of Trustees and the University Council for their dedicated service and, for “symbiotically working together with the University Management to make CUEA the University she is today.”
The Zambian Prelate narrated the history of CUEA’s humble beginning and how it has progressed to date highlighting that the late Pope Paul VI (now Saint) challenged African Bishops in 1969 during the Eucharistic Celebration at the conclusion of the Symposium that was organized by the Bishops of Africa in Kampala-Uganda to evangelize to the Church in Africa, “through self-ministering, self-propagating, and self-sustaining.”
“This led to the then Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (now the Dicastery for Evangelization) proposing to the Uganda hierarchy, through the 3 Pro-Nuncio, its readiness to support plans for the realization of a Theological Higher Education Institute,” he disclosed.
After several logistics that involved various actors, on 8th July 1980, the then Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, now the Dicastery of Culture and Education gave its full accord to the launching of the Catholic Higher Institute of Eastern Africa (CHIEA which is now CUEA).
“In May 1984, His Eminence William Cardinal Baum, Prefect of the then Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education communicated to His Excellency Rt. Rev. Medardo Mazombwe (he was later Created a Cardinal), the then Bishop Chair of AMECEA the authorization for opening CHIEA and praised the efforts taken,” Bishop Kasonde narrated and concluded, “This dream came into fruition in September 1984 when CUEA opened its doors to her first students.”
The Catholic University launched the 40-year Jubilee celebration on Wednesday, August 7.
