My Experience

What a Joy! 12 Years of Building for the Future..

2013-04-01T17:51:00.000+03:00

March 2013 has marked the end of my 12 tenure at Makerere University. What a joy it has been serving at this great institution, a place I did not think I would work this long. I was ready to move on in 2004 but was stopped on my way out by Prof. Venasius Baryamureeba, the then Director of the Institute of Computer Science. He offered me an opportunity to work at the Institute which grew into the Faculty of Computing and Informatics Technology. Although I told him that I am not cut-out for real academics but love teaching, he assured me that there would be something for me to do. "We have a mission to accomplish and you can be part of that team" he said. I joined a vibrant team that made great strides amidst numerous challenges. What a rewarding experience this was.

During my 12 year tenure I have seen our students being transformed into influential people. I sought to inspire greatness in all the students that came before me in one way or the other. It has been a great joy seeing young intelligent people come in and leave ready to take on the world. I have continued to interact with a number of my former students some of whom I meet and can hardly recall. Their warm smiles and the zeal to remind me that I taught them always warms my heart. I have met and worked with people that have enriched my career and personality. Makerere University will always be that foundation on which I have grown.

It’s now time to move on. I have joined a highly energized and passionate team at CEMM Group www.cemmgroup.com. CEMM is passionate about enabling greatness in people, to us, it is ‘people first.’ As a Certified Franklin Covey Facilitator, sharing the Franklin Covey Solutions is not only humbling but energizing. I will also continue committing some of my time to mentoring the next generation of technology entrepreneurs across the globe such as the Hive Colab, OutBox and MaraLauch Pad.

I am greatly indebted to all those that I have worked with especially Prof. Baryamureeba, you are a visionary of our time. To the team at the College of Computing and Information Sciences, staff of Makerere University and students, working with you has been a joy and blessing. To my wife and children you are an amazing rock on which I stand!

Thank you all, God bless your hearts! Let us keep doing what we were created for and that is greatness. Guess what it’s just a change of address :-)

You Can Tell...!!

2012-02-15T05:43:00.000+03:00

I have spent the last 10days visiting Concordia University in Canada on a partnership project. My visit was more exploratory to try and understand how the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science engages industry. Coming from Makerere University there are certain things that ordinarily would attract any teacher. You want to look at the facilities, the students, the resources available and the like. I am sorry I did not do that, I opted to go for the more aesthetic (read visual or optical nutrition :)) as I walked through this large University with two campuses.

This University and specifically the campus downtown where the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science is located is in the middle of town and there you have a lots of activities from the surrounding environment. With a student population of about 50,000 students that makes the activities even more intense! Typical Wandegeya situation when Makerere University is in session.

Students will be students, reading for their mid-semester on the bus, discussing the past test that has just been done, utilizing every little space to discuss, mapping the next opportunity for employment and many other typical student issues and ofcourse earphones stuck you know where. If not talking to someone eyes and fingers on the phone..same, same, same..!! I was on the bus every morning with students shuttling between one campus and the other. I could relate with our own students

Walking through the building and every building that I entered there was a student activity not one not two, ranging from exhibitions, project fairs, fundraising, selling valentine flowers from fibers made by students and the list goes on. These students are engaged or let me put it this way they engage themselves. These activities are organized and run by students and the university gives them the space to be...you could definitely see creativity at work. They publicize their events in the most cost effective way, using painting or simple hand-drawn messages "cell-taped" not "glued" around the high traffic points like the lift areas, inside the lifts themselves, cafeteria points, walk ways, critical is being able to attract your attention!

This reminded me of a meeting where we (CIT) were interfacing with the industry. During that meeting one member told that our students are over taught, they hardly have time for themselves....for them to be...!! This is debatable for sure. On average a student will be in class not more than 17hours a week which is the normal semester load...(we shall come back to this again).

In the building where I was working from, there were over 15 fast food points, and you could tell that majority of the people in these points were students, same goes for the shops and restaurants around the university. The cleanliness discipline was impeccable, there were signs telling do not litter, they understand the purpose and value of litter bins!

It was evident that these students had a sense of purpose, focused and in a transition to start a new life. Obviously my observation is not scientifically proven! Let me also say this, the facilities are purpose built to enable the students have the space to be themselves, explore their talents. Its not all about books and reading the well being of the student was well put into consideration and yes if one is focused you can attain your highest goals.

My patting shot, we should not expect much when we have put in less! Our Universities sorry to say are advanced secondary schools difference could be the students get a "degree" and there is a graduation party. I guess its time we went back to the basics, National Council for Higher Education should have minimum expectations, for example sports facilities should not be optional but rather mandatory. Lecturer offices should enable thinking, have the space to breathe...our toilets let me stop here! One of the former Executive Directors visiting CIT sometime back said you can the quality of an institution by its toilets....I am glad the ones in the main building have regained their decency, we need that across the entire university!

We do it only if we will to do so...!!

I rest my case,

I acknowledge the support from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, and Association of African Universities Who provided the seed grant that enabled support my travel and activities. I also would like to thank the College of Computing and Information Sciences and Concordia University for supporting my travel and stay.

So What is this all about 5* Airline-Qatar Airways?!!

2012-02-07T07:00:00.002+03:00

When I requested for booking quotation from our pre-qualified travel agent Bunyonyi Safaris to Montreal Canada, I got the shock of my life, i.e. the 5* airline was far cheaper than the none starred airlines. The difference was a staggering USD 700. I was silly I did not confirm and as the seats filled the price went up. The 5* airline uses an auctioning system as more bookings are made the price goes up, hmm that is interesting because for the other airline the price was intact.

Qatar airways was my choice, I wanted to experience the 5* airline "hands on" and that came to pass on the 4th February 2012. All expectant and optimistic once on board I started to tweet "on board the 5* Start Airline, first impressions great", I go a reply to my tweet "I traveled QR from Nairobi to Doha and my seat could not allow adjustment" ouch! I checked my seat and it was working! I do not remember the last time I used the aero-bridge at Entebbe airport, I even thought they ceased working was surprised when I ushered to the bridge by the staff, more that the AC was functional, it was a great welcome. I later learned that to use the aero-bridge you have to pay!

I am now settled in, and guess what I am trying to look around for anything similar to 5*, I honestly could not tell it looked ordinary like all other airlines and so I asked myself what is 5* about this airline? Feeling a little bit disappointed I decide to stretch my legs and that happened without sweat there was more leg in economy :). By all standards at 6.3ft I am fairly tall and leg room is my trouble, I make sure I choose the aisle seat so that I can encroach on the aisle if there is no movement. I did not to trouble encroaching I was comfortable and that is important.

The real 5* was not what you and I see normally when on board, it was in the processes. The processes executed by Qatar Airways are exceptional, the attention to detail is meticulous boy or boy that was it. I had cracked the code. My boarding pass jacket or pouch was blue and it meant quite a lot, I was later to discover before arrival at Doha airport. Blue is for passengers whose final destination is Doha and all hand luggage carries the same color coded tags. I am amazed to learn later that the intention was enable the ground staff provide help at the first point of engagement. I had 13hours of waiting and I was taken to hotel with a couple of other travelers to a 4* Hotel Moevenpick Hotel, with all meals catered and it was comfortable for the night.

If you travel 1st class or business class it is exclusive all through, not like some airports and airlines where you are separated at the time of boarding, with Qatar you do not mix, its a total experience!

A few tips to carry home;

1. Process defines experience; we pay so much attention to product and less on designing the experience and processes. For Qatar Airways its not just flying you to your destination, flying you is an experience like no other! To become an air hostess is defined, your height, burst size, hips size nothing is left to chance...its the small details that matter.

2. Simplify life; whatever product you deliver it ought to simplify life and not complicate it, the color coded boarding passes and tags simplify life and you have help at all times. When you fly business or first class its a limo that picks you off the craft...!! You could tell how the employees were ready and willing to simplify your life, this video tells it all

3. Just make it a habit; It was easy to tell that doing their job and delighting their customers was there habit! And the customers will not stop talking like this one Excited Client, he had to educate other consumers...

Winning companies do not just do what is expected of them, they go an extra mile to simplify life, the pay attention to what is taken for granted. We need to identify those points of delight and just do what is exciting and not just a product.

You can bet I travel with you again and again because you have delighted me.Looking forward to my return journey from Montreal to Entebbe on the 17th February 2012. We shall repeat! Chao let me enjoy the cold..... :)