Professor Livingstone Sewanyana Luboobi, the former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University and one of Uganda’s most respected mathematicians and education leaders is dead.
His death was confirmed by the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), where he paid tribute to Luboobi’s enduring legacy in academia and institutional leadership.
“I have received with deep sadness the news of the passing of Professor Livingstone Luboobi, former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University. A distinguished Professor of Mathematics, Professor Luboobi served as Vice Chancellor from 2004 to 2009, guiding the university through a critical period of transformation and growth,” Prof. Nawangwe wrote.
Nawangwe hailed Luboobi’s contribution towards the leadership of Makerere.
“His contributions to academia and leadership at Makerere will be remembered with great respect and admiration. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he added.
Born on December 25, 1944, in Kalisizo, Rakai District, Prof. Luboobi’s academic journey began at Makerere University, where he graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Mathematics.
His brilliance in the field propelled him to international recognition, earning advanced degrees abroad, including a PhD in Applied Mathematics (Biomathematics) from the University of Adelaide, Australia, and an MSc in Operations Research from the University of Toronto, Canada.
He further enriched his academic portfolio as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, and engaged in collaborative research at the University of Bergen, Norway, where he was later awarded an Honorary Doctorate in 2008 for his contributions to international academic exchange.
Prof. Luboobi’s association with Makerere University spanned decades. He first joined the institution in 1970 as a Special Assistant, having already served as a tutorial assistant while still an undergraduate.
His rapid academic rise saw him promoted to Lecturer in 1973, Senior Lecturer in 1977, Associate Professor in 1985, and Full Professor in 1997.
Beyond the lecture halls, Luboobi took on leadership roles that shaped the university’s academic direction. He served as Head of the Department of Mathematics (1990–1991), Dean of the Faculty of Science (1994–2001), and eventually became Vice Chancellor (2004–2009) during a pivotal era of institutional restructuring and reform.
During his tenure as Vice Chancellor, he championed international partnerships, institutional reforms, and financial diversification through alumni engagement and external funding mechanisms.
He was also instrumental in the founding of the Makerere University Private Sector Forum, bridging academia and industry to spur innovation and entrepreneurship.
In recognition of his outstanding service, Prof. Luboobi was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Makerere University in 2013, celebrating his contributions as both a scholar and an alumnus of the University of East Africa.
His academic influence extended across borders he previously taught at the University of Toronto and the University of Dar es Salaam, and supervised numerous students at both MSc and PhD levels, contributing to the growth of mathematical sciences in the region.
