The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) has appointed Rev. Fr. Prof. Elias Omondi Opongo, SJ, as the eighth Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), marking a historic milestone in the University’s forty-year history. For the first time since its establishment, the University’s leadership has been entrusted to a member of the Society of Jesus, ushering in a new chapter for Catholic higher education in the region.
A Kenyan Jesuit priest, Fr. Opongo is widely respected as an accomplished scholar in peace studies, international relations, and conflict transformation. He currently serves as Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Research, Training, and Publications at Hekima University College, where he also lectures at the Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations (HIPSIR). Over the years, he has played a pivotal role in strengthening Hekima’s academic and institutional life, having previously served as Dean of HIPSIR and in several leadership capacities overseeing administration, finance, and human resources.
His appointment comes at a significant moment in the history of CUEA and the wider Church in Eastern Africa. Although the Society of Jesus has maintained a close relationship with the University since its formative years, particularly through the establishment of Hekima Jesuit School of Theology as a constituent college in 1984, this is the first time a Jesuit has been called to lead the institution as Vice Chancellor.
Announcing the appointment to the Hekima community, the Principal of Hekima University College, Fr. Marcel Uwineza, SJ, described the news as both a moment of celebration and of generous sacrifice:
“As a Hekima University College (HUC) family, we celebrate this important appointment with gratitude and pride. Indeed, HUC seems to keep losing some of its best men to wider responsibilities! Yet we offer this sacrifice to God with gratitude, knowing that what may be a loss for Hekima is ultimately a gift to the wider mission and for the greater good.”
These words capture the spirit of Jesuit mission, where leadership is understood not as personal advancement but as a response to the needs of the universal Church. Fr. Opongo’s appointment reflects the confidence placed in his intellectual leadership, pastoral experience, and commitment to forming leaders capable of addressing the complex social, political, and ethical challenges facing Africa today.
Throughout his academic ministry, Fr. Opongo has contributed extensively to research and public engagement on peacebuilding, governance, reconciliation, and social justice. His work has earned international recognition and has positioned him among Africa’s leading voices in peace studies and Catholic social thought.
As he prepares to assume his new responsibilities, the JHIA community joins AMECEA, CUEA, Hekima University College, and the Society of Jesus in congratulating Rev. Fr. Prof. Elias Omondi Opongo, SJ, on this well-deserved appointment. We assure him of our prayers and best wishes as he begins this important ministry of academic leadership, confident that his service will further strengthen Catholic higher education and advance the Church’s mission in Eastern Africa.
The JHIA Editorial Team
