Always Remember your Lecturers and Tutors

(Ben Bella Illakut on Graduation Day 2005)

Do you believe that laughter is the best medicine? Well, lecturers like Ben Bella Illakut have really modeled a positive attitude within UCU Alumni. Many have paid homage to their various lecturers and I’m not a stranger to my own former dean’s motivational skills. Sometimes I would have very depressing days but attending his lectures would lift me up because it was all about laughter, notes and more laughter. His GOD-sent comedic skills made books worth reading.

During our first year, freshers from other faculties packed the Main Hall just to enjoy the original versions of the stories we boasted about. Although based on real life experiences, Ben’s stories had an aura of fiction, a storytelling technique applied to shock the audience.

Have you heard the one about how he got so drunk in the 70s that he walked backwards from Kampala to Mukono, leave alone the humiliating experience with Idi Amin Dada and Malyamungu? If that was believable, then how about Ibenya the most unforgettable narration among most students. They actually liken Ben to the young boy who rode a lion to impress his girlfriend by holding its ears and thus taming the fierce beast.

If that was funny, then how about my favourite selection of all time about how Ben Bella got hugged intimately by a pregnant rain cloud in Kapchorwa. While stranded on top of a hill, he helplessly watched it flying in slow motion like in the Matrix movies until it engulfed him. The cloud romantically hit a rock behind him and went back. No retreat, no surrender. The narration was so hilarious that my classmates laughed until rain, not tears, (Pun intended here) fell from their eyes.

Besides the humour though, he always advised students to fear God. Alongside Ben was the well informed Okoku Obomba, debonair plus outspoken Samuel Apedel, no nonsense Frederick Jjjuko, fatherly Jonas Tumwesigye, friendly Jackson Turyagyenda, anointed Isaiah Mbuga, photogenic Ben Ochan, linguistically concise Moses Musingo, the knowledgeable Wanyama Wangah (who taught us Advanced Editing in an air-conditioned room with sleek new Dell computers), spot on Epajjar Ojulu and Mesharch Katusiimeh Rwebiita (who made me like Political Science) plus the tutors not mentioned here who all added value to our education. Wherever you go after UCU, always remember your lecturers plus tutors and live your hardest days with a UCU smile on your face.




Edward Aikobua,
UCU Alumni