Makerere University's Professor Luboobi dies at 80 years

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Professor Livingstone Luboobi, former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, has passed on.

"A distinguished Professor of Mathematics, Prof. Luboobi served as Vice Chancellor from 2004 to 2009, guiding the university through a critical period of transformation and growth.

His contributions to academia and leadership at Makerere will be remembered with great respect and admiration", reads a statement released on Wednesday by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the current Vice Chancellor, Makerere University.

According to the MAK website, Prof. Luboobi, born on December 25, 1944, in Kalisizo, Rakai district, joined Makerere University as a Special Assistant in 1970.

He served as a tutor in his 3rd year of undergraduate studies.

He was promoted to the rank of lecturer in 1973, senior lecturer in 1977, associate professor in 1985, before becoming a full professor in 1997.

He also lectured undergraduates, graduates and supervised students and research at the MSc. and PhD levels.

During his term as Vice Chancellor, there were collaborations reached with International Universities and organisations in various areas and mechanisms established to mobilise resources to supplement funding, including investment and reaching out to alumni. Prof. Luboobi is also credited as a founder member of the Makerere University Private Sector Forum.

He is widely known as "Luboobi the Mathematician", and as an alumnus of Makerere University, he has a collection of academic awards.

Prof. Luboobi holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics (Biomathematics) from the University of Adelaide, Australia (1978 - 1980).

An MSc. in Applied Mathematics (Operations Research) from the University of Toronto, Canada (1971 - 1972).

A Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics (First Class Honours) from Makerere University.

He has also trained at the University of California, Berkeley as a Fulbright Scholar as well as a Researcher and Visitor at the University of Bergen. 

Luboobi's other Milestones

Chaired the task force that drafted the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2000/01 - 2004/05.

Coordinated the Makerere University-University of Bergen project.

Chaired Drafting Committee for the five-year development programme proposal to NORAD worth sh30 billion (1999).

Chaired the task force that drafted the first locally formulated Makerere University Strategic Plan (1990 - 1991).

Luboobi was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the University of Bergen, Norway, in 2008 in recognition of his significant contribution to the internationalisation of the University of Bergen.

On June 29, 2013, Prof. Luboobi was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Makerere University in recognition of his many accomplishments in academia and leadership as an alumnus of the University of East Africa.

He has previously lectured at the University of Toronto and Dar-es-salaam University.

He also served as Dean, Faculty of Science for two terms (1994 - 2001) and Head Department of Mathematics (1990 - 1991), Makerere University.