On August 3rd, over 50 students from Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo (UCBC) walked across the stage in Hope Chapel to receive their diplomas. Around 30 additional students will defend their theses and graduate by the end of September. As the community celebrated the incredible achievements of these future leaders, Congo Initiative (CI) and UCBC simultaneously announced an important leadership development.
One year ago, Dr. David Kasali shared with CI’s General Assembly (GA) his desire to give his full attention and energy to his role as President of CI and to turn over the Rectorship of UCBC to a successor. The GA put in place a commission that developed a succession plan and worked diligently to evaluate prospective candidates and recommendations. The GA voted and confirmed Vice-Rector Dr. Honoré Bunduki as UCBC’s second Rector!
CI Co-Founder Dr. Paul Robinson who chaired the commission for the GA, shared these words:
Leadership transition is one of the most difficult events in the life cycles of individuals and organizations. It can happen badly and with broken/fractured relationships. It can happen as a result of failures. It can happen unexpectedly because of illness, injury, or death. It can have unpredictable results — either positive or negative. In so many contexts and for a number of reasons, leadership is not released, it is clung to. But there is nothing worse than prolonged leadership that has refused to give way.
None of this has happened at UCBC. This is in significant part due to the exemplary leadership and vision of Dr. David Kasali. He has equipped and empowered those around him. He has led with personal, professional, and spiritual integrity. And now, as God has called him into focused attention on CI as President, we are together releasing UCBC into the capable hands of his trusted, equipped, mentored, and enabled colleague, Dr. Bunduki.”
In 2007, CI launched UCBC under the leadership of CI Co-Founder and President, Dr. David Kasali, who served faithfully for 12 years as Rector, casting the vision of transformation through a holistic education that embodies intellect, hard work, and service. Even amidst unyielding challenges, UCBC has flourished as young women and men received the encouragement, passion, knowledge, and skills to lead change in their respective fields and communities. Dr. Kasali guided UCBC as it developed five faculties, a unique triadic training (academic, work, and service), multiple campus facilities, global partnerships, and modeled a new system for higher education in Congo. Close to 650 UCBC alumni plus numerous staff have been inspired by his leadership. Many of these graduates point to Dr. Kasali’s mentorship and his core course, DRC Realities, as the transformative contexts that helped them re-imagine their own roles and opportunities to serve their communities.
Since the very beginning of UCBC, Dr. Bunduki has served passionately as Academic Dean and more recently, Vice-Rector. He earned his Ph.D. in Education from the University of South Africa (UNISA). Affirmed by colleagues, board leadership, and the wider community, Dr. Bunduki demonstrates the expertise, skills, and leadership required to lead UCBC into this new season. While Dr. Kasali cast the vision for this unique university in eastern Congo, Dr. Bunduki played a crucial role in implementing its programs and structure. We are confident that UCBC will grow, prosper, and deepen its roots under Dr. Bunduki’s leadership, maintaining the vision embodied in the university’s motto: “Being transformed to transform.”
For our global community of supporters and followers who have come to know Dr. Kasali, we want to affirm that he will continue to serve and lead CI as President. Additionally, he will continue to be actively involved at UCBC, teaching courses and mentoring emerging staff and leaders. This transition will empower him to focus on the growth and impact of CI’s programs (including UCBC) and strengthen the organization as a whole. In November, we will as a community welcome and celebrate the appointment of UCBC’s new Rector, Dr. Bunduki. Coinciding with the launch of the 2019-2020 academic year, an inauguration ceremony will officially install him as UCBC’s second Rector.
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For questions or further information, please contact our Director of Communications, Justin Hubbard, at justin.hubbard@congoinitiative.org or 919-806-7297.
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