ULIA mourns departure of two legendary librarians: Dr Frederick Mukungu and Mr. Sengero Lawrence

The Library and Information Science fraternity in Uganda is mourning the loss of two legendary librarians; Dr Frederick Nathaniel Mukungu and Mr. Sengero Lawrence. Dr. Mukungu, one of the longest-serving staff at Uganda Christian University (Mukono), succumbed to COVID-19 on the 1st /January 2021 at Uganda’s National Referral hospital, Mulago after a two week’s battle to the deadly virus. Dr, Mukungu, worked at UCU for about 23 years, as a University Librarian; before joining Muni University in Arua. He will be remembered as a very professional person who put the values of christianity in practice, said Dr. Sarah Kaddu, the ULIA President in a eulogising message read by ULIA Secretary General Mr. Charles Batambuze during the funeral services held at St. Philip’s and Andrew’s Cathedral, Mukono. The late Mukungu was a social, reliable, committed leader and hardworking person who served with diligence and integrity.

As a professional librarian, he served in various capacities. He started his career as a secondary school librarian of Mt St Mary's Namagunga, a college librarian of Uganda Christian University (UCU), university librarian to UCU up to 2015. Dr. Mukungu also vigorously supported a lot of initiatives such as the start of the Bachelor of Library & Information Science Programme of Uganda Christian university, a programme which has benefitted many students. He has supported the Library Association to host the Standing Conferences of East, Central, and Southern Africa Librarians twice. The most recent one being in 2018. Mr Charles Batanmuze noted that “a man's reputation goes ahead of him. His reputation of reliability, integrity and hard work earned him respect”.  This was true of Dr. Mukungu, Batambuze told mourners. Dr Mukunku had just served a contract with Muni University where he has been the founding University Librarian retiring in November 2020.

Mr. Batambuze noted that many young librarians have been nurtured by Dr Mukungu. He has been such a great pillar of professionalism in Uganda and beyond. We will surely miss him. The Uganda Library & Information Association (ULIA) has benefited from the leadership of Dr Mukungu when he served the General Secretary from 1998 to 2001. Dr Mukungu was also a founding member and the inaugural Chairperson of Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL) from 2001 to 2003. He will be remembered for his commitment and dedication towards the inauguration of one of the most powerful academic library consortia on the African Continent. He was so instrumental in the design of the CUUL structures. He was also one time, a treasurer - Standing Conference of National and University Libraries in East, Central and South - SCANUL ECS from 2002 to 2004. The LIS fraternity will forever be inspired by the leadership qualities that Dr Mukungu possessed.

Hardly after a day, another LIS legend in Uganda Mr Sengero Lawrence passed on. The late Sengero was one of the great lights of librarianship at the Institute of Teacher Education (ITEK) now Kyambogo University. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 2nd of January 2021. He will be remembered for working with others to start a Diploma in Library and Information Science program at Kyambogo University which continues to train key Library & Information Science Professionals in the East African region. Like Dr Mukungu, Mr Sengero also served as Secretary of ULIA in the 1990s when Uganda hosted SCECSAL. 

Mr. Sengero was laid to rest on the 3rd of January 2021 at his ancestral ground in Lugazi while Dr Mukungu will be laid to rest today Monday 4th January 2021 in Luzinga, Jinja district. 

May the souls of our fallen friends rest in peace. 

The late Dr. Mukungu

The late Sengero Lawrence