January Intake Ongoing
In an announcement that sparked pride across the Cavendish University Uganda fraternity, Mr David Mutabanura, the esteemed Executive Director of Cavendish University Uganda, was selected as the distinguished recipient of the St. Mary’s College Kisubi Old Boys Association (SMACKOBA) Distinguished Alumni Achiever Award for 2025.
This prestigious accolade, conferred by the St. Mary’s College Kisubi Old Boys Association (SMACKOBA), recognises individuals who exemplify the institution’s core values in their professional and personal lives, serving as beacons of inspiration. Mr Mutabanura’s selection underscores a remarkable journey of leadership, integrity, and innovation that began at St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK) in 1991.
The SMACKOBA Distinguished Alumni Achiever Award was presented to Mr David Mutabanura at the SMACKOBA 2025 Alumni Awards Dinner at Africana Hotel on Friday, 5th December 2025. The event was a gathering of the nation’s finest, celebrating a son of Kisubi whose life and work continue to inspire the fraternity and the wider community to strive for impactful, principled success. The award committee highlighted Mr Mutabanura’s profound commitment to leadership, integrity, professionalism, and innovation — principles deeply ingrained during his formative years at SMACK. These pillars have become the hallmark of a career spanning over two decades, influencing pivotal sectors across Uganda.
Other Award Recipients
“To be recognised by the fraternity that laid your foundation is profoundly humbling but also gratifying,” said Mutabanura, reflecting on the honour. “The lessons in discipline, excellence and service learned from Kisubi have been a constant compass throughout my journey since then.”
That journey is a testament to versatile excellence. With an academic foundation anchored on an MBA at ESAMI Business School, a BSc in Food Science & Technology from Makerere University and an MSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Leeds, Mr Mutabanura has seamlessly bridged science and enterprise and worked and served at various levels and in a multiplicity of sectors, including corporate organisations as well as the social sector. His career trajectory reads like a map of Uganda’s key economic sectors: pioneering roles at Shell Uganda Ltd in Oil & Gas, strategic leadership at Nilecom Ltd in Telecommunications, and ground-breaking execution at Farmers Creameries Limited in the Food industry.
Today, at the helm of Cavendish University Uganda, he applies this rich tapestry of experience to shape the future of education. As Executive Director, he directs the university’s operational, financial, and administrative functions, instilling a customer-first mindset and a culture of delivering outstanding value. Beyond administration, he is an educator at heart, having consulted for several institutions and shared his knowledge as a university lecturer in engineering and technology.
His influence extends across the boardrooms of the nation. Mutabanura leverages his skills in Business Strategy and Corporate Development for broad societal impact. This commitment to service is further mirrored in his role as Board Audit Chair for the Rotary Club of Kampala and his induction into The Africa List, a prestigious community of leaders steering the continent’s growth. Currently, as a graduate in the Executive Leadership Programme of the International Association of Universities (2024-25), he continues to scale his leadership capacities, affirming his dedication to lifelong learning.
“David embodies the ‘SMACK Boy’ ideal — excellence with humility, ambition with integrity,” remarked a senior member of SMACKOBA. “His path from science student to multifaceted executive leader, inspiring thousands along the way, makes him the perfect exemplar for this award. He is not just building businesses; he is building ecosystems and people.”
CUU Team at the Awards Dinner
