By: Wilber Tumutegyereize. Aka. The Duke of Kigezi
Kampala-Uganda. When family, friends, scouts, academics and public figures gathered in Kampala to mark the 77th birthday of Owek. Ambassador Al-Hajji Professor Badru Ddungu Kateregga, the evening became more than a celebration of age. It unfolded as a reflection on survival, faith and a life that has shaped education, scouting and public service across Uganda and the wider region.
At the centre of the gathering stood a man known by many titles—professor, ambassador, educationist, scout leader, entrepreneur—but to his children, he is simply “our father, our guide, our heart”. Their message set the tone for the evening: this was not merely a birthday, but a testimony.
“We Did Not Take This Evening Lightly”
Speaking on behalf of the family, Professor Kateregga’s children thanked those present for walking alongside their father across decades of work and public life. Every attendee, they said, represented friendship, loyalty and shared history. Above all, they expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for a moment they described as deeply meaningful, given the uncertainty that had surrounded their father’s life only a year earlier.
Affectionately referring to him as their “lion”, “mpologoma”, and the “Elephant” at the heart of his many honors, they reminded the audience that while the world knows him as a public figure, his most important role has always been that of father and mentor. His influence, they said, extended well beyond his own family to generations of students, scouts and young people whose lives he shaped through example rather than instruction alone.
That message carried particular weight because of what the family had endured months before. During a critical period marked by severe illness and complex brain surgery, days were filled with uncertainty, prayer and waiting. His recovery, they said, was not only the result of medical skill, but an act of faith—one that transformed the birthday gathering into a collective expression of gratitude.
A Life Rooted in Faith and Education
Born on 4 December 1948 in Butambala, Kabasanda, to Hajjat Aisha Nakato Namusoke and the late Ali Kateregga, Professor Kateregga’s early years were shaped by discipline and curiosity. He attended Kabasanda Primary School and Kibuli Senior Secondary School before continuing his studies at Makerere University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree with honours and a Diploma in Education. He later obtained a Master’s degree in Middle Eastern Affairs from the University of London.
Over more than five decades, his career would span education, diplomacy, scouting, philanthropy and national development. He is the Founding Vice-Chancellor of Kampala University, Managing Director of KU Ltd, and Executive Chairman of the BDK University Network, which has expanded beyond Uganda into Rwanda and Kenya. Thousands of students across East Africa have passed through institutions shaped by his leadership.
His contributions have been recognised through numerous honours, including the King Abdulaziz Medal from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Nalubaale Medal awarded by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Ambassador of Peace recognition in Washington, DC, and multiple honorary doctorates. Yet those closest to him say that titles were never the driving force behind his work.
“He taught us that faith comes first, education is non-negotiable, and excellence is a duty,” his children said. Integrity, discipline and service, they added, were lessons repeated not in speeches but in daily conduct.
The African Elephant
If education is one pillar of Professor Kateregga’s legacy, scouting is another. Representatives of the scouting fraternity described him not simply as a leader, but as a father figure whose commitment has remained steady through both progress and crisis.
Professor Kateregga is the recipient of the African Elephant Scout Award—one of the second highest and rarest honours in global scouting. Within the movement, the Elephant represents extraordinary service and moral authority. It is an award conferred only under exceptional circumstances and only by the highest levels of scouting leadership.
For Uganda, his recognition marked a historic moment. Scouts recalled the ceremony in Madagascar where, among delegates from more than one hundred countries, Uganda stood out as one of its own was honoured for a lifetime of service. To the movement, the award symbolised resilience, consistency and loyalty to scouting values at times when those values were tested.
“Beyond the medals, he stood with us when it mattered,” one representative said, recalling moments of challenge within the Uganda Scouts Association. Through influence, access and persistence, Professor Kateregga played a key role in restoring stability and dignity to the movement, particularly during disputes involving scouting land and governance.
Maggie Kigozi: “An Original in an Age of Photocopies”
Among the evening’s most notable tributes came from Professor Maggie Kigozi, the Chief Guest and a long-time colleague within both public service and scouting. Speaking on behalf of the Uganda Scouts Association and the Africa Scouts Movement, she described Professor Kateregga as a “true African Elephant”—a symbol of wisdom, endurance and leadership.
Professor Kigozi traced their shared history back to Saudi Arabia, where Professor Kateregga served as Uganda’s Ambassador. At the time, she said, he distinguished himself as a professional and dignified representative of the country, earning respect among Ugandan delegations and international partners alike.
Their paths crossed again in investment promotion and education, where he served as Head of the Uganda Investment Authority and co-founded Kampala University. She highlighted the university’s regional expansion and its role in youth development, noting its early embrace of film and creative arts education—long before the sector gained national prominence.
As a Scout herself, Professor Kigozi emphasised that Professor Kateregga rose through the movement by election rather than appointment, earning trust at every stage. Today, Uganda counts more than five million scouts, many of whom, she said, regard him as a role model.
Reflecting on his recent recovery, she expressed visible relief and joy at seeing him strong, animated and fully engaged once again. The African Elephant Award, she noted, symbolises the same values she sees in him: honesty, discipline, compassion and service.
Speaking from the Heart
When Professor Kateregga finally addressed the gathering, he chose not to read a prepared speech. Instead, he spoke informally, acknowledging guests, colleagues, medical teams, security personnel and friends who had stood by him during his most vulnerable moments.
He paid particular tribute to his doctors and caregivers, reminding the audience that a year earlier he could not leave his bed. Standing, speaking and even dancing before them now, he said, was something he did not take for granted.
Much of his address focused on family. He recognised elders who guided him in his youth and spoke proudly of his children and grandchildren, many of whom live and work across Africa, Europe, America and Australia. Their achievements in medicine, engineering, accounting, academia, public service, sport and emerging sciences, he said, reflected the values he had tried to instil: education, global outlook and responsibility.
Repeatedly, he returned to gratitude—towards God, towards people, and towards life itself. Survival, he said, had sharpened his sense of purpose rather than diminished it.
Ugandan Music Icons Vinka, Cindy, and Lydia Jazmine Electrify Guests with Hit Performances
The celebration was equally defined by music and performance, as some of Uganda’s leading artists transformed the evening into a vibrant cultural showcase. Singer Vinka took to the stage with a string of her popular hits, including Malaika, Sure and Sweet Love, drawing loud cheers and spontaneous dancing from the audience. Her energetic performance set the tone for the night, blending modern Ugandan pop with a celebratory atmosphere that resonated across generations.
Cindy Sanyu followed with crowd-favourite songs such as Onina and Boom Party, commanding the stage with confidence and charisma. Her performance saw guests rise from their seats, singing along and dancing, as the celebration momentarily shifted from formal tribute to festival-like joy.
The evening reached another high point when Lydia Jazmine performed Masuka and Same Way, songs that quickly ignited the crowd. Her soulful delivery and stage presence left the audience visibly energised, with applause and cheers filling the venue.
Together, the performances by Vinka, Cindy and Lydia Jazmine electrified the gathering, reinforcing the sense that the event was not only a reflection on legacy and survival, but also a joyful celebration of life, resilience and shared cultural pride.
More Than a Birthday
As the evening drew to a close, one theme remained constant across every tribute: this was not simply a celebration of longevity. It was a recognition of survival, faith and continuity.
To his children, Professor Kateregga’s life stands as proof that leadership begins at home and radiates outward. To scouts, he is an Elephant whose footsteps will guide generations. To colleagues and students, he remains an educator who believes that institutions exist to serve people, not the other way around.
At 77, Professor Badru Ddungu Kateregga continues to occupy a rare space in Uganda’s public life—one where faith, service and resilience intersect. In a world his admirers describe as filled with “photocopies”, they see him as an original: a man shaped by adversity, sustained by belief, and committed to leaving something lasting behind.
For those gathered that night, the message was clear. This was not an ending, but a continuation—a life still in motion, grounded in gratitude, and guided by purpose.
