Ugandan retired professor, environmentalist and researcher
Oweyegha-Afunaduula Fred Charles (born 1949) also known as F. C. Oweyegha-Afunaduula is a Ugandan retired professor, environmentalist, academician, author, researcher, farmer and a social critic. He co-founded Centre for Critical Thinking and Alternative Analysis (CCTAA).
Oweyegha-Afunaduula served as the principal of the defunct Crane Media Institute. He also held several other notable positions, including Chairperson of the Nile Basin Discourse, leader of the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) from 1997 to 2002, Secretary for the National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE), and Senior Fisheries Research Officer at the East African Marine Fisheries Research Organisation (EAMFRO). Additionally, he held the position of Public Secretary for the Makerere University Convocation.
Background and education.
Oweyegha-Afunaduula was born in Nawaka, in Luuka District to Stephania Kyabwe and Charles Afunaduula Ovuma who was the first speaker of the Busoga Lukiiko in 1965 during the reign of Sir William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Gabula Nadiope II.
Oweyegha-Afunaduula attended his primary education at Ikumbya primary school in Iganga district and at Mwiri primary school in 1963. He attended his secondary education (O-level and A-level) at Busoga College Mwiri from 1966 to 1971.
In 1970, Oweyegha served as the president of dramatic society, head of Hannington house, president of the debating society, and also as prefect in charge of cafeteria at Busoga College Mwiri.
Oweyegha-Afunaduula enrolled at University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) in 1972 to pursue zoology, botany, geography and development studies. He pursued a master's degree of Biology of Conservation specializing in zoology at University of Nairobi.
In 1991, Oweyegha-Afunaduula enrolled at Makerere University to pursue his PhD with a sponsorship from the African Wildlife Foundation.
Career and working experience.
Research.
In 1972, Oweyegha-Afunaduula worked as a research zoologist in several national parks including; Tsavo National Park in Kenya, Serengeti national park in Tanzania.
In 2000, Oweyegha-Afunaduula was among the contributors to the World Commission on Dams (WCD) Cross-Check Survey. He also presented at the World Commission on Dams (WCD)'s Regional Consultations as a participant from Africa and the Middle East.
Oweyegha-Afunaduula served as a senior fisheries research officer at the East African Marine Fisheries Research Organisation (EAMFRO).
Lecturing and academic administration.
From 1986 to 1990, Oweyegha-Afunaduula worked as a geography and biology teacher in several schools in Kenya including Kanunga High School, Tinganga secondary school and Torongo secondary school. From 1983 to 1985, he also taught at Jinja senior secondary school.
In 1991, Oweyegha-Afunaduula joined Makerere University as a lecturer, a position he held for 18 years until his retirement in 2009. He served as a lecturer of zoology in the Department of Environmental Sciences at Makerere University. He also lectured Environmental planning and management in the Faculty of Science at Makerere University.
Oweyegha-Afunaduula headed the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) from 1997 to 2002. He held a position of a public secretary for Makerere University convocation.
Oweyegha-Afunaduula served as the principal of defunct Crane Media Institute, Kampala until 2014.
In 2016, Oweyegha-Afunaduula served as a lecturer of environment management at Busoga University for three months.
In 2019, Oweyegha-Afunaduula co-founded the Centre for Critical Thinking and Alternative Analysis (CCTAA) alongside Hyuha Mukwanason and Mahir Balunywa.
Politics.
Oweyegha-Afunaduula served on the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) Presidential Policy Commission (PPC) before it was dissolved in March 2005. In 1997, Oweyegha-Afunaduula and James Rwanyarare of the Uganda Peoples Congress petitioned the Constitutional Court (during Katureebe's tenure as Attorney General) to declare that the Movement system, as outlined in Articles 69(2)(a)70 and 271(1), did not exist during the 1996 elections in Uganda. They were represented by Peter Walubiri (a constitutional lawyer) and they sought the annulment of both the presidential and parliamentary elections that were won by Yoweri Museveni. However, the constitutional court that was led by Nasa Tumwesige, dismissed the petition on a technicality, ruling that a presidential election could only be contested in the Supreme Court.
Non-governmental organisation experience.
Oweyegha-Afunaduula served as a programme manager for Sustainability School at the National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE), where he also held the position of Secretary. He served as Deputy Coordinator for Save Bujagali Crusade (SBC). He served as the chairperson of the Nile Basin Discourse Forum.
Environmentalism.
In 2005, Oweyegha-Afunaduula was among the demonstrators who protested against the use of DDT to combat female Anopheles mosquitoes in an effort to reduce malaria in Uganda. In 2013, he urged Ugandans to oppose the parliamentary bill on Genetically modified organism (GMOs) claiming that the bill was drafted without input from the public (Ugandans).
Oweyegha-Afunaduula has discussed various environmental concerns including deforestation, pollution (of water and soil), encroachment and destruction of swamps and wetlands, excessive use of fertilisers that are later washed into water bodies, the increased spreading of Water hyacinth (a water weed) on Ugandan waterbodies, the growth of Algae on Ugandan water bodies, desertification being caused planting of certain tree species that include: pine tree and eucalytus tree.
In 2024, Oweyegha-Afunaduula commented about the assembled plastic rice and eggs from China on Ugandan markets.
Writing and social criticism.
Oweyegha-Afunaduula has authored articles and books on various topics and genres that including education, environment, politics, religion, economy, agriculture, security and culture, among other subjects as part of his social criticism.
Personal life.
In 2016, at the age of 66, Oweyegha-Afunaduula married his wife, with Sabasi Ngobi serving as his best man. He is a beekeeper and a farmer, and he engages in tree-planting and vegetable cultivation in Nawaka Village, Luuka District.
Controversies.
Oweyegha-Afunaduula facebook post about not receiving his pension for 12 years.
In September 2021, Oweyegha-Afunaduula posted on his Facebook page that he had not received his full employment benefits for twelve years. He was able to obtain a percentage of his benefits with the assistance of the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA), after the government of Uganda paid him and other retired public servants, including his wife. On his retirement, Oweyegha-Afunaduula received some of his pension money and it was transferred from NSSF Uganda to NIC in 2010.
References.
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