Goals

The Betty Bowe Castor (’63) Lecture and Banquet

The signature event for Operation Uganda Renewed will take place in the Eynon Ballroom at 6pm on Saturday, October 5, 2024. Prior to the banquet, we plan to invite various individuals and groups to host a series of tables and spaces and celebrate the history and culture of African nations, both those from the continent itself and those with rich Black histories as a result of the Africa Diaspora. The costs of the lecture and banquet have been covered by various entities on campus and by the generous donation of Betty Bowe Castor. For more details on the banquet, see here.

Supporting Denis Abaine

The banquet will serve as the primary fundraiser to pay the costs of Ugandan student Denis Abaine. Average salaries in Uganda range from $3,240 to $8,100 per year. As the son of a retired police officer, Denis requires much support to afford the costs of studying at Rowan. 

To read an interview with Denis Abaine, see here.

To donate to support the scholarship for Denis, click here and include “Scholarship for Denis Abaine” in the “Designation Instructions” line.

Building Community

We hope that our efforts build bridges not only between Rowan University and Uganda but between Glassboro and the many diverse communities in the larger region that care about the history and culture of Africa. We plan for the October lecture to be an annual event that brings these groups together, enriching the lives of our students and creating connections that are both local and global. 

Honoring the Trailblazers

We plan to honor all those at Glassboro State College and Rowan University that have come before us and helped prepare the way for our work.  This includes those who launched the original Operation Uganda in the 1960s as well as those students and staff over the years who have helped make Rowan University a place where all students can learn about African and African American history.  In this regard, the Betty Bowe Castor in the Fall pairs with the Corhann Okorodudu Lecture sponsored by Africana Studies in the Spring.