In one of the shortest speeches you will ever hear, Dr. Jerry Bagaya, the Academic Registrar of Gulu University, expressed his gratitude:
“There are two critical departments we were lacking—ODELL and Special Needs. I am glad the problem is half solved. Thank you!”
With that, he returned to his seat. Laughter filled the room, as guests were surprised that a speech could be that brief—but Dr. Bagaya had made his point, clearly and directly.
The next speech, delivered by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. George Openjuru Ladaah, officially launched the Department of Open, Distance, Electronic, and Lifelong Learning (ODELL) at Gulu University on July 23, 2025.
Prof. George Openjuru Ladaah addresses guests during the launch
Gulu is now among the first few institutions of higher education in Uganda to formally adopt and establish such a department in recent decades. These include the universities of Makerere, Kyambogo, Soroti, and Cavendish.
ODELL offers online, blended, and distance learning options and supports students who cannot attend regular face-to-face classes due to distance, work, or other constraints—especially through digital platforms. Through the lifelong learning approach, it offers short courses, professional certifications, and community-based programs targeting working professionals, adults returning to education, and informal sector learners.
One of the major components of the launch event was an expert panel on the philosophical underpinnings of ODELL. It comprised Prof. George Openjuru Ladaah (Gulu University Vice Chancellor), Prof. Catherine Odora Hoppers (UNESCO expert in basic education, lifelong learning, science and society), Dr. Agatha Alidri (Gulu University BSU Project Coordinator), Dr. Asaf Adebua (Head of Planning and Development at Gulu University), Dr. David Monk (Coordinator for the Gulu University hub of the UNESCO Knowledge for Change [K4C] African Centre for Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education), Mr. Perez Matsiko (Chief of ICT at Gulu University), Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe (Vice Chancellor, African Rural University), and Dr. Josje Van Der Linden (former UNESCO Chairholder for Lifelong Learning, Youth and Work at Gulu University).
Dr. Robert Jjuuko, one of the developers and implementers of ODELL at Gulu, and the MC of the day, said the panel was meant to stimulate “real thinking and reflection” on what ODELL is and how it would be driven.
“ODELL is and will be driven by the principles, practices, values and traditions of indigenous knowledge systems and transdisciplinarity, widening and deepening lifelong learning, digital transformation and ODeL [Open, Distance and e-Learning] at Gulu University, community engagement and community transformation, and community-based research and participatory action research,” said Jjuuko.
Dr. Jjuuko addresses guests during the launch
Dr. Stephen Odama, the Head of the Department of ODELL, said:
“The launch of this department is designed to inform us about the department and inspire us to orient our [teaching] programmes following ODELL. We want you to help us shape the direction of ODELL. We request you to be our ambassadors—ambassadors of lifelong learning. We want to ensure that learning is lifelong, inclusive, and transformative.”
Dr. Odama (l) and Dr. Bagaya during the launch
Dr. Agatha Alidri, the Coordinator of BSU, which is contributing to the capacity building of the department, and an enthusiast of IK, said:
“We need to go transdisciplinary; look at learning in formal and informal ways, to achieve lifelong learning. Unfortunately, African scholars tend to neglect indigenous knowledge systems. I am happy that ODELL has come to Gulu University and that indigenous knowledge is part of it.”
She added:
“Through ODELL, we will be viewed internationally. We should come up with strategies to move ODELL to higher levels.”
While launching the department, Prof. Openjuru said it has high potential to boost the university’s student enrolment.
“Right now we have 6,000 students. With ODELL, we should be able to reach 11,000 students. We need to strengthen lifelong learning to improve access, wellbeing, and livelihoods,” he said.
Dr. Josje Van Der Linden said lifelong learning “is needed everywhere, especially in northern Uganda”, given its history of armed conflicts and the effects that come with them.
Photos by Dr. Francis Atube
