Tribute to James Musinguzi Garuga – The Kigezian

Kabale University, yet again mourns the passing away of a key founding member.   On 24^th June, 2017, Kabale University awarded an honorary degree to James Musinguzi Garuga – Doctor of Business (Honoris Causa), along with three other distinguished Kigezians. He was particularly honoured for excelling in philanthropy, community mobilization, and for his role in industry/business.  Kabale University wishes to join the nation to celebrate his unique service to the community.

Special Contribution to the Foundation of Kabale University
James Musinguzi Garuga is not a mere statistic in the long list of the founders of Kabale University, formerly a community institution established by the people of Kigezi.   He lays claim to several initiatives that go beyond his initial generous cash contribution. A few of these include:

• Donation of land in Kanungu for the future development of Kabale University. This was his original offer during the planning period. Later, when he realized that the University was “limping” he offered, in writing, to turn this offer into cash.  He instead handed over UGX 100,000,000 to save the University.  He reasoned that the University can secure more land later.   The crucial matter was survival then.
• Establishment of the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management:  Garuga (as he was popularly referred to), encouraged the University to institute an academic unit to support the development of tourism in the Kigezi region.  The University started a Diploma Programme in Catering and Hospitality.  Funds were lacking.  The University was toiling with the idea of closing that programme since there were no basic facilities. Again, when Garuga realized that things were not moving at his pace, he personally sponsored ten (10) students at ago under that programme.  He encouraged these students with strategic tips about how to move on thereafter. Learning from the Garuga strategy, the staff of the unit decided to use part of their salaries, and bought basic stoves and related equipment and ingredients for practical work.  The students equally pitched in and hawked the products.   The Institute was born!
• Establishment of the Paulo Ngorogoza Scholarship Scheme for Female Students at Kabale University:    Garuga initiated the idea of this Scheme during the Annual Convention of the International Community of Banyakigezi (ICOB) held in Kanungu in 2017.  He was a key organizer of that Convention, which was hosted at his hotel – Savannah.  He proposed the establishment of an Endowment Fund, for purposes of sustainability.  Although that particular idea is yet to be realized, the Scholarship has taken off in earnest.  Currently, ICOB is sponsoring 20 needy students at Kabale University, in various fields of study.
• Special Support in the Governance of the University:  Garuga provided financial, moral support, and invaluable guidance to the Governance Organs and Management of the University. For example, in September 2010, he hosted over 100 leaders and senior staff of Kabale University in a five-day planning retreat at his Savannah Hotel in Kihihi.  He met most of the expenses.  His family, led by his dear wife Dr Peace Musinguzi were fully involved. The Retreat became a turning point in that the University became better organized thereafter, and its future direction was clearer.  Kabale University cannot count the times James Garuga engaged the Management of the University in lunch discussions where he provided useful feedback from the public.

Pride in His Roots
The late Garuga placed great value to his roots and identity.  He loved to explain his lineage and the process that his family went through before settling in Rugyeyo in Kanungu.  I believe that his actions, his investments and his spirit of giving were hinged on his identity as a Mukiga person.  He often expressed his frustration that our community was constantly experiencing the downgrading of a people.  He wondered how we could try and emulate and match the famous Banyakigezi of the past.  He For often recalled, with nostalgia, how leaders from other parts of Uganda would visit Kigezi to benchmark the basic education system because in the 1950s and 1960s, Kigezi students were excelling in Secondary School across Uganda.

It was therefore not by accident that Garuga invested in the Kigezi region –  tea plantations; tea factories; tree plantations, hotels, radio stations, golf course, airstrip, and others. He had the singular idea of boosting the economy of the area.  He wanted to see positive change.  It is no wonder that many individuals are thankful to him for promoting tea-growing in the region.  Many testimonies abound where local citizens attribute their socio-economic transformation to his economic engagements and guidance.

Garuga, the Philanthropist
At the grassroots level, James Musinguzi Garuga is appreciated as a philanthropist. His contribution to building institutions has been highlighted extensively – churches, schools, colleges, political parties, etc.   But he also helped individuals with viable projects.   I recall when he served as Chief Walker in Kabale in order to strengthen the work of Rev. Father V Kanyonza, in his effort to help orphans under the NGO Bridge of Friendship.  He went further to support his work on recording meanings of place names and important indigenous medicinal plants.  While he was in active politics, he gave generously.  When he was focused on other areas of development, he equally gave generously.  In his own words, he followed up those who did not put to right use his contributions, and put them to shame, thereby discouraging corruption and deceit.  What comes out in all this is his regular statement:  what is the use of having a lot of money when you cannot use it for the betterment of your own society?

On behalf of the Kabale University community, and on my own behalf, we offer our deepest condolences to the Garuga family for the loss of a patriarch.  We mourn the passing of a patriot, philanthropist and institution builder.  At the same time, we celebrate the life of a courageous warm-hearted leader whose legacy is already etched in the hearts of individuals, in government and its agencies, in varied religious institutions, and therefore, on the map of Uganda.

May his soul rest in eternal peace!

By Professor Joy C. Kwesiga,
Vice Chancellor, Kabale University