KAMPALA, Aug. 31 -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has appointed the country's former ambassador to China as the new chancellor of Makerere University, the oldest and largest public university in the East African country.

Museveni named Crispus Kiyonga, former envoy posted to Beijing from 2016 to 2021, as the titular head of Makerere University in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, Barnabas Nawangwe, vice chancellor of the university, said in a statement on Saturday.

"On behalf of Makerere University Council, I extend our warm congratulations to Kiyonga on this prestigious appointment and warmly welcome him to the service of Makerere University," said Nawangwe on his social media handle on X, formerly Twitter.

Kiyonga, who previously served as minister of defense from 2006 to 2016, succeeds Ezra Suruma, who has served as chancellor of Makerere University since 2016.

Kiyonga, appointed on the recommendation of the university council, will preside at all ceremonial assemblies of Makerere University, confer degrees and other academic titles and distinctions, represent the university at various forums, and steer its strategic directions, according to the university.

  - Xinhua