By Mark Wamai
Peter Kayonde’s youthful appearance complete with a lean frame often had many confusing him for a student. One could easily bypass him in the corridors of the Senate Building, Makerere University as he weaved from one office to another through groups of students as he went about his work. It was only when one got up close and interacted with him that his expertise and maturity shone through. Born on 23rd June 1973, Peter was slightly over 50 years old when he was crashed into by a speeding boda boda on 27th September 2023 as he crossed the road. He succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.
Peter Kayonde (at the front in a blue suit) as an official of the Makerere 71st Graduation on 18th May 2021
Kayonde joined Makerere University service in 1999 as a records clerk. He would later work as administrative assistant in the ICT Division of the Department of the Academic Registrar from 2010 to 2017, when he was promoted to the rank of senior administrative assistant in the same division. He held this position until that dark Wednesday in September when he passed on.
Maintaining the quality of student records in an institution the size of Makerere University is a complex and arduous task. Student records need to be accurate and complete at all times, and when the request for them to be presented arrives, it needs to be fulfilled in a timely manner. Peter performed this role flawlessly throughout his career and avoided any scandals related to compromising data.
In his eulogy, his supervisor the Academic Registrar, Professor Buyinza Mukadasi had nothing but praise for his fallen colleague.
“Peter has since joining Makerere University service in 1999 been working in positions that required hard work, utmost diligence and integrity. Fortunately, we never registered any incidence of impropriety throughout his career and we thank God for that,” he said.
Professor Buyinza who represented the Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe at Peter’s funeral also spoke of his great humility.
“Peter’s humility in life has shown itself strong by virtue of all these people gathered here to bid him farewell. And whereas he was very knowledgeable about his job, his humility and willingness to listen while dealing with others was exemplary,” eulogised Prof. Buyinza.
Dealing with student records necessitates constant interaction with students themselves. The ICT-based systems that support academics at Makerere require students to register, acquire their examination permits as well as do a number of activities online. Students often run into a number of issues requiring the intervention of staff in the ICT section, where they were most likely to be handled by Kayonde.
In 2012, Kayonde encountered one such student who later turned out to be a reliable partner in the management of student records. Now serving as Principal Systems Administrator in the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS), when contacted, Mr. Juma Katongole had nothing but kind words for his departed friend.
The late Peter Kayonde and Wife, Solange Kamaliza.
“Peter was honest, humble, welcoming, trustworthy and constantly optimistic; whenever we ran into any seemingly impossible tasks, he was always quick to reassure me that we would find a solution,” shared Katongole.
The weeks leading up to the annual graduation ceremony are some of the most stressful for staff in the Department of the Academic Registrar. Student records have to be in order, graduation schedules planned, invitations sent out, countless meetings held and when all is said and done, the precious graduation booklet has to be printed. This last task, requiring painstaking care and a few sleepless nights at the printer’s premises, is often assigned to a team of three. Kayonde has been a constant member of this team for as far back as anyone can remember.
“Every graduation, we would sit together at the printer to ensure tirelessly that we produce a graduation booklet,” reminisced Katongole.
The roles Kayonde performed called for the highest degree of confidentiality. He not only performed well on this front but also took it a notch higher by ensuring that this sensitive institutional data was kept securely. As such, he constantly reminded Katongole to back up his computer: “Anything can happen to me, the computer can easily be stolen…how can I account for all that information getting lost?” Kayonde often reminded him.
In hindsight, it looks like Kayonde was always preparing for his eventual departure. “A few days before he passed on, he called me and told me the same thing, ‘Juma, you need to back up my computer,’” Katongole recalls. “Good enough, I spared some time and went over to his office and backed up,” he added.
As the university prepares for the upcoming 74th Graduation Ceremony, it is hard for many not to feel the void that Kayonde left. Nevertheless, those who knew him are thankful to God for his life and contribution, and it is a prayer that everyone else will uphold the humility and integrity he espoused in life.
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