African Bible University takes to the skies with a new aviation course

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This year, African Bible University has a lot to celebrate with the acquisition of an airplane. The plane is a 1973 Cessna, which was revealed recently at Kajjansi Airfield.

Rev. Capt. Dr. Kurt Schimke, who wears many hats as a man of God, an engineer and a pilot is the in-charge of the plane project. He is also the ABU Department Chair, Biblical Studies and Director of Aviation.

Excitedly, he posed a question, “Can you imagine that we are starting an aviation course at ABU?”

Dr. Schimke said that 2024 is the year ABU goes into sciences. “ABU has been developing an aviation management degree that meets international standards,” he said.

Purchased in Namibia, Dr. Schimke said he flew it to Uganda with his son, Nicholas Schimke.

The chief guest, the Minister for Work and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, was unable to attend and was represented by the director of Transport, Benon Kajuna.

Reading the minister’s speech, Kajuna cautioned ABU, saying: “Aviation is a highly regulated industry, and its operations must comply with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

He also highlighted the steps the government has taken to improve aviation, which was previously a preserve for the army and the rich.

“As government, our strategy is to enable aviation industry growth, for instance upgrading Entebbe Airport and development of Kabalega Airport to support the oil and gas sector,” read Kajuna.

Gen Katumba pointed out the importance of compliance to the rules and regulations. “I would like to urge African Bible University to work very closely with Civil Aviation Authority and have its training programme certified.”

In addition, he said aviation is a science where universities can play a key role in carrying out technological research and making the industry more resilient, safe and affordable to the public. “I would like to encourage African Bible University to continue her mission and develop aviation professionals of strong character and integrity to ensure continued safety in the aviation market space.”

The ABU vice chancellor, Dr. Jeremiah Pitts, thanked God for all the blessings He has bestowed on ABU and the airplane. “We have used the plane for missions and we will use it with (aviation) students,” he said.

What makes ABU unique?                                                  

Naturally, every university is unique; nevertheless ABU’s uniqueness is very conspicuous. Right from the gate, the security guards warmly welcome visitors onto the undulating green grounds of lush green grass, old trees and flowers. So, even at a glance, the university is beautiful.

Besides its beauty, is the serenity that envelope the space, which makes ABU have an aura of depth that goes way beyond academic excellence.

Robert Mulanzi, the university’s publicist, explained that ABU is a fundamentally Christian university that teaches Bible and theology as modules. “Even students of Bachelor of Business Administration or Mass Communication study Bible and theology modules. They all do because at ABU, we believe that we need God in everything we do and that includes our professional work.”

He intimated that institutions ask ABU to recommend its alumni for teaching positions because of their work ethic that includes integrity.

Mulanzi added that the university also boasts of a good lecturer and student engagement because it has a student-lecturer ration of 1:7. “We are a community; we are one. We eat together with our students and staff,” he said.

Facts about ABU

- The founders, Dr. and Mrs. John Chinchen, realised the need for a university-level training that is pro-Bible and its teachings. They opened the first university in Liberia in 1978 and another in Malawi in 1991. 

- It began in 2005 in Uganda, following requests by Ugandans who used to travel to the Malawi campus for studies.