Operation Uganda

A student-led humanitarian effort to support independence and promote education in Africa

By Rowan University

October 26^th, 2023

Years before Glassboro State College was the focus of international intrigue for a historic summit between the leaders of the world’s two superpowers, students put the institution on the global stage in 1962 when they supported—and celebrated—Uganda’s independence from British colonial rule.

It started when a Soviet Union official taunted GSC students attending a United Nations conference, declaring that America was a decadent nation, incapable of inspiring underdeveloped countries. The students—members of the college International Relations Club— determined to disprove his judgment.

Betty Bowe Castor, who traveled and taught in Uganda, became an ambassador for the humanitarian effort.

Students founded Operation Uganda, a humanitarian effort to provide books, educational supplies and teachers to the newly formed nation. Altogether, students collected more than 50,000 books and educational equipment for Ugandan schools. They also pledged to teach in Ugandan schools—for free—as the new nation gained independence.

On Oct. 9, 1962, GSC hosted a grand celebration marking Ugandan independence attended by the governor, senators, congressmen, 15 African ambassadors, and, of course, students.

On October 8, 1962, Hunt Brothers Circus performed two shows behind the Glassboro Theatre on High St. with proceeds supporting Operation Uganda. That evening, circus staff and students moved the tent to campus for the next day's celebration.

GSC President Robinson excused students from class to attend the celebration.

As part of the celebration, Castor and Milton Obote, the first president of the newly independent nation, made a transoceanic call from Uganda to Glassboro.

Ultimately, due to funding challenges and political red tape, not all of the supplies reached Uganda. Moreover, the Ugandan government eschewed students’ offers to teach. Still, 20,000 books, all collected by GSC students, were delivered to Uganda by the U.S. Navy.

Operation Uganda demonstrated that, even in smalltown Glassboro, a group of dedicated students could impact the world.

Footnotes

Above archives from Betty Bowe Castor, Oak yearbooks, The Whit and donations from alumni & friends. To read more exciting, related news visit https://today.rowan.edu/news/2023/10/operation-uganda.html for Global impact: Alumna’s gift to preserve history, legacy of 1962’s Operation Uganda.