On the evening of 17th March 2021, the country and the Africa continent received a great shock on the death of it's great leader Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Dr. Magufuli was born on October 29, 1959 in Chato -Biharamulo [now in Geita], his journey started at Chato Primary, 1967-1974; Katoke Seminary/secondary, 1975-1977; Lake Secondary, 1977- 1978 and, for senior secondary education, Mkwawa High School, 1979-81. In 1981, he enrolled for teacher training in science subjects (Chemistry, Mathematics and Education) at Mkwawa College of Education. He had a brief period of teaching at Sengerema Sec School (1982-1983) before joining the University of Dar es Salaam for undergraduate studies (BSc in Education degree) from 1985-1988. In the meanwhile, he seized an opportunity for applying his scientific skill and innovative passion in Chemistry to industry by joining a progressive farmer Mwanza-based Nyanza Cooperative Union Ltd where he worked as an industrial chemist for four years until 1995. In that year, he ran for and succeeded in winning parliamentary elections in his own Chato constituency.

This was the beginning of Dr.Magufuli’s long and lucky political journey and services to the nation. He served continuously at ministerial level in the Ministry of Works as deputy minister (1995-2000), then as full minister (2000- 2006); then in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development (2006-2008); Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries (2008-2010); and the Ministry of Works for a second time (2010-2015). These ministries and their incumbent during these year periods were publicly reckoned to be some of the most efficient, circumspect and corrupt-free zones in public service. Dr. Magufuli came to be one of rare UDSM’s alumni on record to have been elected three continuous times and appointed to a string of ministerial posts for a continuous period of 20 years from 1995 to 2015.
In between these years, he read, researched and completed the requirements for postgraduate degrees (MSc at UDSM/Salford in 1994 and a PhD at UDSM in 2009).
Since 2015, Dr. Magufuli has been President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Indeed the country and the UDSM Community has lost a Champion, May His Soul Rest In Peace.