CCS

Education and Early Career

• Academic Journey:
  • Attended Ngogwe Primary School and Kako Primary School.
  • Continued at St. Leo Secondary School Kyegobe in Tooro.
  • Studied administration at the Institute of Social Development in Nsamizi.
• Government Service:
  • Recognized for his brightness, he secured a government job immediately after his O‑level.
  • Rose to the rank of district administrator, serving in locations such as Moyo and Madi.
  • Transferred to the Ministry of Finance, where he excelled in the budget department.
    He was among the top young men chosen to study monetary policies—a journey that took him to Washington, DC, for specialized training. Upon his return, he contributed to the team responsible for drawing the national budget. His tenure as a civil servant lasted eight years.
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  • Transition to Business:
    Motivated by his father, Mzee Yafesi Magulu—a prominent cocoa and crop farmer in Kyaggwe—Christopher Sembuya transitioned to the private sector. His father advised, “It is good to serve the government, but you don’t take too long because you have to establish yourself in business.”

Early Life and Family Background

• Birth and Origin:
  Born in Kyaggwe County (now part of Buikwe District), Christopher Sembuya was raised in Kikwayi village. Although his parents initially lived in Nkokonjeru, they later settled a few miles away in Kikwayi.
• Family Structure:
  • Siblings: Christopher was the firstborn of twelve children i.e. Ten boys and two girls in the family of the late Mzee Yafesi Magulu and his mother, Lakeri. His siblings included Henry Wilberforce Buwule, Christopher Nsubuga, Paul Wasswa, Livingstone Nsubuga, Mayanja, James Wamala, Charles Mukasa, Edward Mubiru, Godfrey Magulu, Jane Namubiru, and Namutebi.
  • Mothers: He was raised by three maternal figures: Mrs. Lakeri Magulu, Mrs. Katabalwa Edith, and Mrs. Victoria Magulu.
  • Extended Family: The family legacy continues through Maama Victoria Magulu Widow to the late Yafesi Magulu, the surviving widows of the children of Yafesi Magulu (including Mrs. Rose Wasswa, Mrs. Rita Sembuya, Mrs. Beatrice Buwule, Mrs. Juliet Buwule, and Mrs. Margret Nsubuga), grandchildren of the Magulu family, great-grandchildren of the late Yafesi Magulu, and other members of the Mamba clan.
• Early Childhood:
  In his infancy, Christopher Sembuya spent valuable time with his grandparents in Sii—a place located a short distance from Kikwayi—before starting school.

Sembuya lived with his grandparents in his early age. He recalls when his father collected him from his grandparents’ home, he did not know the reason why. He only submitted from early childhood upon starting school. C. Sembuya was given to a school headmaster, Mr. Katabalwa of Ngogwe Primary School who took him and set him into school. The family shifted to Kako Primary School in Masaka where C. Sembuya attended upper primary.

As a head teacher’s child, together with others, he had to be exemplary at school and at home. Early rising is one discipline that he observed throughout life. He learnt to live in an extended family unit. He learnt to be independent and to live away from his siblings, father and mother.

He was raised a disciplined child with Christian values. He showed a great deal of respect to elders and all around him. He never wanted to make any person feel offended. Those who knew him will remember his apologetic phrases even when making a phone call.

At Kako, he pursued a place to join secondary school away from home. This school was called St. Leo Kyegobe Tooro Kingdom. A student by the name Sempebwa visited Kako Primary and shared his school address with the Kako pupils. C. Sembuya utilized the opportunity and got access to St. Leo School. In his old age, C. Sembuya reunited with Sempebwa who was now a doctor and they became contemporaries.

While at St. Leo, he became very active with choir practices. He joined the scout movement and excelled as a scout. He took part in sports mainly marathon. It was from this practice that he was able to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and reached the peak.

While at school, he expressed desire to join the army. It could have been peer pressure from his friend Byarugaba who later joined the army. He also expressed being a lawyer but the career master dismissed his wish and said he will be an administrator.

In some of the comments he received from his teachers says, “Behind a quiet personality, there is a Volcano”.

This takes us back to his father Yafesi B Magulu. He named his son Christopher Columbus Sembuya, alluding to Christopher Columbus the explorer who discovered America. This nomenclature presented it reality through the discoveries that Christopher Columbus Sembuya made in his life time.

When he completed O level, he applied for a government job. He is among those who were selected. Upon this recruitment, he was enrolled to study Administration at the Institute of Social Science in Nsamizi. Upon completion, he was posted to Madi Moyo district where he became an administrator.

He was later shifted to the Ministry of Finance in Entebbe. Due to his hard work and brilliance, he was selected as a young officer to be trained by the International Monetary Fund IMF in Washington DC. In this training he studied government budgeting and taxation.

On his return, he worked in the budget department drawing budgets for this country. He worked for the government civil service for only eight years. A decision he took himself to join private business. 1969-1970 is the time he shifted from civil service to private business.

K.C Patel

The late Mr. K.C Patel was a Ugandan of Indian origin. He and Christopher Columbus Sembuya met between the mid‑1960s and early 1970s in Uganda, where they bonded over business ventures—particularly in the steel industry. As a businessman with diverse interests (including shops and general merchandise), K.C Patel introduced Sembuya to key contacts in Kenya, such as Nalin (who dealt in steel) and friends like Bateesa. Their relationship extended beyond business; they traveled together to India several times and shared similar entrepreneurial visions.

When the expulsion of Indians from Uganda occurred, K.C Patel, being a Ugandan citizen, chose to remain. However, as many friends left the country, he began to feel isolated. He advised Christopher to relocate to Kenya—a decision that disappointed Sembuya, yet he supported his friend wholeheartedly. Notably, even after the deadline for departure had passed, Sembuya ensured that K.C Patel reached the airport safely.

In Kenya, K.C Patel transitioned into agricultural projects, exporting goods such as vegetables, flowers, and spices to Europe. Despite his resettlement, his bond with Sembuya remained strong. Living in Kenya with his family while also maintaining ties in London, K.C Patel established himself as a prosperous supplier in London. In 2000, he invited Christopher and Rita Sembuya to his son Umang Patel’s wedding—a reunion that celebrated family ties and lasting friendship.

Around 2003, K.C Patel faced a serious kidney problem. He personally informed Sembuya about his need for a kidney transplant. Supported by family and friends, he fought hard for his recovery. Sadly, by 2005, his transplant was unsuccessful, and he succumbed to kidney failure. Although he had expressed the wish to be buried in Kenya—the country where he had built his life—he was cremated. His passing was deeply mourned, and his life was celebrated through cultural rituals and a memorial gathering in Uganda. At the memorial, Sembuya reflected on the invaluable lessons learned from K.C Patel, whose generosity and guidance helped shape his own business journey.

Today, K.C Patel’s legacy lives on through his progressive son Umang, as well as his wife and daughter, who continue to be remembered fondly. The foundation remains committed to nurturing the bonds with the Patel family and carrying forward K.C Patel’s work.

Francis Gafabuusa

At St. Leo Kyegobe, Christopher Sembuya forged a close friendship with Francis Gafabuusa. Their bond was so strong that Sembuya later named his first son, Francis Sembuya, in his honor. Tragically, Francis Gafabuusa lost his life in a motor accident on Hoima Road. At the time of his passing, he was a prominent lawyer at Kirenga and Gafa Advocates, residing in Lubaga.

Dr. Sempebwa

Dr. Sempebwa is remembered as a significant early influence on Sembuya’s life. During a visit to Christopher’s school in Kako, his presence helped secure the contact details of St. Leo Kyegobe Secondary School. When it came time for choosing a secondary school, Sembuya’s first choice was St. Leo Kyegobe—a decision that had a lasting impact. In the 2000s, Dr. Sempebwa reconnected with Sembuya, not only as an old friend but also as a fellow father. Their regular Sunday visits were filled with shared ideas, reminiscences, and support. On one memorable occasion, Sembuya recalled how Dr. Sempebwa’s early guidance led him to his school, an influence for which he remained profoundly grateful.

Max Rohrer

 Max Rohrer was an engineer and the founder of Roko Construction Company Limited. His friendship with Sembuya flourished during the early 2000s. They shared many discussions on business and life, and their bond was strengthened by several journeys together, including trips to Switzerland.

Mr. Nathan Mubiru

Mr. Nathan Mubiru first crossed paths with Christopher Sembuya while working in the Ministry of Finance, likely in Entebbe. Despite coming from different professional backgrounds—Mubiru as a civil servant and Sembuya as an entrepreneur—their friendship deepened over the 1980s. They met regularly, often spending Sunday afternoons together over tea and card games. Mubiru’s visits, sometimes accompanied by his wife Mary and their children, became a cherished routine for nearly 30 years. Sadly, after 2010, Nathan Mubiru passed away at Kadic Hospital following complications from a leg injury.

FRIENDS

Edward Mubiru

Edward Mubiru entered the banking sector as a young and promising professional. Impressed by his poise and competence, Sembuya recognized him as an ideal candidate for a managerial role at Sembule Commercial Bank in Jinja. Edward’s hard work eventually led him to become the bank’s first manager. Even during Sembuya’s retirement, Edward maintained a strong bond by visiting him frequently. Following Sembuya’s passing, Edward expressed his admiration for his mentor by delivering heartfelt remarks during the funeral. Today, as one of the founders of the Christopher Columbus Sembuya Foundation, Edward Mubiru continues to honor his friend’s legacy.

Honorable Ken Lukyamuzi “The Man”

Ken Lukyamuzi came to Kampala for his studies and quickly became an integral part of the extended Sembuya family, as well as the late Buwule family, who embraced him like one of their own. At the time of Sembuya’s passing, Lukyamuzi delivered a moving keynote speech that celebrated the enduring legacy of his mentor. Even before that, as a Member of Parliament, he often mentioned Sembuya’s contributions to economic development, particularly in advocating for the rejuvenation of Sembule Steel Mills. His ongoing recognition of Sembuya as both a mentor and a familiar figure underscores the deep, lasting impact of their relationship.

Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire

Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire’s relationship with Christopher Sembuya began in the 1980s when they met at Pan World Insurance Company. Over time, Kiryabwire’s visits to Sembuya’s home became a regular occurrence, and he was welcomed as a member of the extended family. He maintained close ties with the Sembuya children and played a significant role during Sembuya’s final moments, regarded by the family almost as a son.

Rosco Nsubuga

Rosco Nsubuga met Sembuya in the banking world during the 1980s. Known for his dynamic energy—often described as a “James Bond” for his proactive approach—Rosco quickly became a trusted friend and collaborator. Their discussions on business and life were many, and when Sembuya passed, Rosco was there to bid him farewell, escorting him to Nkokonjeru, where he now rests in peace.

Other Friends and Associates

Over the years, Christopher Columbus Sembuya built a network of lasting relationships, including:

• Deogratious Kayemba: Who regarded Sembuya as a father figure in the economic realm.
• Young Entrepreneurs: Including Emmanuel Katongole, Mr. Stephen Musoke, Mr. Nyanja Musoke, Mr. Kakembo Ntambi, and Mr. Serebe—many of whom were mentored by Sembuya.
• Business Consultants: Such as Mr. Leo Kibirango, Dr. Sulaiman Kiggundu, Mr. Kibirige of the Bank of Uganda, Mrs. Sarah Odong, and Mr. Obura.
• Clergy Members: From both the Anglican and Catholic Churches. Notable among them was His Eminence Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga—who once attended the funeral of the late Yafesi Magulu—along with other religious leaders like Msnr. Obunga, Father Katende, and Archbishop Nkoyoyo. These relationships underscored Sembuya’s broad influence across business, education, and faith communities.