Bishop Stuart University Management, Staff, Students and the community, today 18th March 2022, celebrated the life of one of the great women, Doris Rowney during a service that took place at the University, Main Hall.
Doris contributed much towards promoting education and development in Uganda while working at Bishop Stuart Teachers College – PTC (1958 – 1977) before it was National Teachers College which later transited to the current Bishop Stuart University. The Late Rowney was an eminent teacher according to those she taught and went ahead to sacrifice her hard-earned salary towards the construction of some of the buildings including the University Main Hall where we are today.
Brief background of Bishop Stuart University
Bishop Stuart University (BSU) was founded by Ankole Diocese of the Province of the Church of Uganda in 2002 transiting from National Teachers College (NTC) – Kakoba, received a provisional license in 2006 and was charted on the 25th of October 2014. The University has grown in terms of students enrolment from 200 students in 2002 to over 5,000 students in 2022.
Who she was?
Doris Rowney was born on Feb 23rd, 1920 at Wake Field- Yorkshire Metropolitan Northern England. She never married and therefore had no biological children. She came to Africa (Uganda) in particular as a missionary worker under the Church Missionary of England. Being interested in Education, she was deployed as a tutor at Bishop Stuart Teachers Training College-Kakoba in 1958. She was given accommodation at Kakoba hill near the gate of the college the current University Chaplain’s residence.
The ceremony was also attended by old boys and girls (Lay Canon Mrs. Eva Kagimba, Rev. Canon Kamuteera, and Dr. Edridah Tuwangye) who described her as a mother to the college-needy students, as a professional educationist who loved her job and as someone who kept her unconditional love for humanity and unshakable faith in her creator through Jesus Christ.
While delivering his key note address, Mr. Katongore Jackson Bells praised Doris for being a counselor, disciplinarian, gospel preacher, professional teacher/tutor, trusted leader and a specialist in infant methods (Early childhood learning approach).
“She was a very hardworking lady and very practical. During the period of teaching practice, she would spend most of her time in the night awake helping students to prepare schemes of work and sample lesson plans. She also followed students on teaching practice to assist them in their respective primary schools of teaching. She was a lover of co-curricular activities, especially music. She was a wonderful instructor of Waltz and Scottish dances in the college. Doris always aimed at creating an upright future generation and targeted at building strong ethical values and standards among the youth, especially Girl-Child.” He added.
Her exemplary life, attitude, professionalism and conduct made a great positive influence to many students and teachers of her time who later alone developed into great men and women of the country among whom included Bishop Emeritus Rt. Rev. Dr. George Tibesigwa, Bishop Emeritus Rt. Rev. Enock Kayeeye (RTD), Rev. Canon Eric Kamuteera (RTD), Rev. Canon Jackson Kayaayo (RTD), Rev. Canon Baker Habimaana (RTD), Lay. Canon Evah Kagimba, Lay. Canon Sam Ruharo, Rev. Canon Basingwire, Rev. Canon Stanely Byomugambi, Lay Canon Jonathan Ndyaijanaki, Rev. Muramuzi (Kiruhura), Lay Canon Elias Rwomushana, Lay Canon Daniel Maranga, Mrs. Idah Bagyenda, Mr. Katongole Jackson Bells to mention but a few.
In her speech, the Vice-Chancellor of Bishop Stuart University, Prof. Maud Kamatenesi Mugisha commended Doris for being an icon of teacher education.
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa called upon mourners to leave a reputable legacy for others to emulate as Doris did.
At the same ceremony, different important persons signed Bishop Stuart University Recognition Service Book and were recognised for their distinguished services towards the education sector in Ankole Region and Uganda at large. These include;
Bishop Emeritus Rt. Rev Yoram Bamunoba who was the principal of Bishop Stuart College that trained Grade (II) teachers from 1970 to 1975, was very instrumental in the construction of the Chapel of the Good Shepherd as a vital place of worship at Bishop Stuart University.
Prof. Dr. Emmauel Karoro was the director of National Teachers College (NTC) – Kakoba and the Chairperson Board of Education, Ankole Diocese who fostered a 10-year development plan of the Diocesan Education in which NTC would grow into a University.
He was a member of Bishop Stuart University Steering Committee from 2000 to 15th Feb 2003. He sponsored all preliminary activities leading to the University project with Bishop Elisha Kyamugambi.
He became the pioneer principal of Bishop Stuart University College before the Late Prof. Enoka Rukare in 2002.
He allowed the University to start within NTC Campus leading to the phasing out of the same in 2005 and facilitated the burial of the late Doris Rowney in 2000.
Lay Canon Elias Rwomushana was a member of Bishop Stuart University Steering and Planning Committee in charge of Benchmarking and production of a feasibility study report to the steering and planning committee; Visited Makarere University, Kyambogo University, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda Martyrs University, Nkumba University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Kabale University.
He was the pioneer Dean and Ag. Registrar of Bishop Stuart University who admitted pioneer students before the late Canon.Y. Bitashoborokire became the Registrar.
He witnessed much of what Doris Rowney did to the growth of the college.
Mr. Jackson Katongore Bells was the principal of Bushenyi Core Teachers Collage and the Chairman Board of Governors of Bishop Stuart Core Primary Teachers College old Students Association. He is one of the students of Doris Rowney and has been instrumental in the arrangement and organization of the celebrations of the life of Doris Rowney as a great educator.
Canon Evah Kagimba Babura was a deputy principal of Bushenyi Core Primary Teacher College and the principal of Rukungiri Primary Teachers College. An active member in Church activities and was nurtured by the late Doris Rowney and stayed with her for the time she was at the college.
Doris Rowney passed on in Yorkshire in her old age towards the end of 1999 and had willed that her remains be returned “home”, to Uganda. For her, Uganda was the home and wanted her remains interred at Bishop Stuart Teachers Training College, Kakoba where she had spent most of her active life. Her remains have been re-buried today, 18th March 2022 at Bishop Stuart University.
“May her soul rest in peace”.