Prof. Openjuru is the Vice Chancellor of Gulu University in Northern Uganda and a professor of education with a long-standing commitment to community-engaged higher education. He has held this role since 2018, following his tenure as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. A pioneer in lifelong learning, he was the founding Dean of the School of Distance and Lifelong Learning at Makerere University.

Prof. Openjuru’s research explores adult literacy, lifelong learning, community-university engagement and widening access to higher education. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to several transformative education initiatives, including the TESCEA project. His leadership helped shape Gulu University’s development strategies and strengthened its role in advancing sustainable development in Northern Uganda.

Nationally, he chairs Uganda’s National Curriculum Development Centre and is a former chair of the Uganda Vice Chancellors Forum. Internationally, he serves as Vice Chair of the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities and has collaborated with global leaders through the UNESCO Chairs programme, PRIA, and the University of Victoria.

Prof. Openjuru’s work has earned him recognition for advancing social justice, academic innovation, and community-based research, reinforcing his vision of universities as engines of inclusive development.