Dozens of mourners who turned up for Makerere University Journalism scholar, Dr Brian Semujju, eulogized him as a fast rising academic giant. Dr Semujju succumbed to cancer on Sunday in a Kampala hospital and his body was on Tuesday prayed for at St Francis Chapel at Makerere University.
The requiem service attracted several academic giants who praised Dr Semujju who has left the world with only two months shy to his 45th birthday as a fast rising academic giant. Prof James Kiwanuka Tondo, the Dean of Uganda Christian University (UCU), who met him in 2016 said he quickly recognized him as a very prolific scholar.
“He was a brilliant scholar. He was in a trajectory to become one of the best in the journalism fraternity,” Prof Kiwanuka said. Prof Monica Chibita, former lecturer at Makerere University and now at UCU said Semujju was well known at UCU and had taught many students.
“I met in 2007 when he was an M.A student and he was known as anusual student and you needed to understand him in his own way. He completed his PhD book at University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in one and half years. But the University had to slow him down because it was impossible to complete the PhD in less than two years,” Prof Chibita said.
Prof Gorretti Nasanga from Makerere Journalism Department said Dr Semujju has left the world with 22 academic journal articles of which 17 were in journalism. “He loved music. His students are in shock and the staff too. He leaves a legacy of academic excellence. We all have a duty to keep his legacy alive. We want to say farewell Brian and we’ll miss you,” Prof Nassanga said.
Dr Semujju wrote many articles in areas of climate, gender, communication and journalism. He has left a communication theory of Small Systems Dependency Theory (SSDT) with his arguments based on Community Audio Towers (CATs).
Prof Nassanga said Dr Semujju was her research assistant for several projects. She express pain for now addressing him in the past because he is no more. Prof Nassanga said Dr Semujju was one of the people who completed their Master’s Degree program in the two years’ time schedule.
“It is painful to address Brian in the past. He was a great scholar. He was liked by students and staff. We thank God for the 44 years. He was at the department since 2010. He finished his Masters within two years. During his study we noticed that Brian was an exceptional student,” Prof Nassanga said.
Dr Semujju has left a wife Peace and a daughter Venus. He will be laid to rest tomorrow in Mityana district. A vigil will be held at his mother’s home. However, the mourners were left in more shock when it was revealed that Dr Semujju’s sister is currently bedridden in UK with cancer and their elder brother is currently confined in a wheel chair because of stroke.