Written By |
DEAD: Luboobi
Search
By Kemigisha Shanitah
Kampala, Uganda — Former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Professor Livingstone Serwadda Luboobi, has died. His passing was confirmed on Tuesday, July 16, by the university's current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, through a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Livingstone Luboobi, former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University,” Prof. Nawangwe wrote. “A renowned Professor of Mathematics, Professor Luboobi led Makerere from 2004 to 2009, steering the institution through a pivotal period of transformation and development.
His remarkable contributions to academia and leadership at Makerere will be remembered with the highest respect and admiration.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Born on December 25, 1944, in Kalisizo, Rakai District, Prof. Luboobi was a distinguished mathematician and long-serving academic who made an indelible mark on Makerere University and higher education in Uganda.
He first joined Makerere University in 1970 as a Special Assistant, later serving as a tutor while still pursuing his undergraduate studies in Mathematics, where he graduated with First Class Honours. He was retained by the university as a Lecturer in 1973, promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1977, Associate Professor in 1985, and later Full Professor.
Prof. Luboobi held 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), and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Makerere University. He also trained as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, and conducted research at the University of Bergen in Norway.
During his tenure as Vice Chancellor from 2004 to 2009, Prof. Luboobi spearheaded key reforms and strengthened Makerere’s ties with international universities and research institutions. His leadership was widely credited with helping transition the university through a period of academic restructuring and modernization.
In recognition of his outstanding service, Makerere University awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award on June 29, 2013, citing his “limitless contribution to academia and institutional leadership.”
Prof. Luboobi is remembered not only for his scholarly excellence but also for his dedication to advancing higher education in Uganda and beyond. His legacy includes nurturing a generation of mathematicians and scientists who continue to serve the nation.
Torch Media Africa
