General
Mak Immortalises Prof. William Senteza Kajubi
The gathering had a definite aura of composure and respectability about it. Ladies and gentlemen, the majority of whom were well over their fifties gathered on this warm sunny afternoon of 20th December 2010 to witness the unveiling of a Bust of Professor William Senteza Kajubi.
The gathering had a definite aura of composure and respectability about it. Ladies and gentlemen, the majority of whom were well over their fifties gathered on this warm sunny afternoon of 20th December 2010 to witness the unveiling of a Bust of Professor William Senteza Kajubi.
This immortalization in the form of a Bust was done in honour of the good Professor’s contributions towards the development of Education in Uganda.
As true testimony to his influence on the lives of the many people he has interacted with, the entire lineup of speakers that afternoon consisted of either very great friends or former students of Prof. Senteza Kajubi.
In his keynote address, Prof. Lutalo-Bbosa, yet another seasoned and well known educationist gave a glowing tribute to his former Vice Chancellor and great friend. Having met him while still only a young man, Prof. Lutalo-Bbosa’s and Prof. Senteza Kajubi’s academic paths were to later cross at King’s College Budo, then Makerere University, where he rose from Lecturer to become Prof. Senteza Kajubi’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, and then at the Institute of Teachers Education Kyambogo (ITEK).
Some of the key milestones in Prof. Senteza Kajubi’s life were; in 1951 after reluctantly accepting his posting to teach at Kako Secondary School in Masaka, he was later to meet his late wife Princess Elsie Nabaloga and the couple tied the knot on 3rd May 1952. In August 1953, he was granted a scholarship as the first Fulbright Student from Africa, thanks to his late friend and mentor – Professor Emeritus Edwin Munger. Only the year before in 1952, frustrated by the inadequate access to higher education courtesy of a rigid Protectorate Government, he had embarked on a crusade to fight for expanded access to education at all levels in Uganda. In 1955, he returned to King’s College Budo as a Senior Geography Teacher, and later set a record in 1958 as the only teacher to have his entire class, save for one student, score distinctions in the Geography Cambridge School Certificate.
Prof. Senteza Kajubi’s personality and professionalism greatly aided his impact on the Education system in Uganda. As a member of the Castle Commission on Education of 1963 and the Education Review Commission (Kajubi Commission) of 1989, he authored/co-authored reports which have acted as the blueprint for the Education System in Uganda since Independence. The impact of this strong foundation is still felt today. Of all government sectors, Education has expanded the most in the last two decades; Primary School enrollment has expanded to over 8million, and University and Tertiary Institutions have thrived. His advocacy for the Biological Children’s Scheme for Makerere University staff enabled government sponsorship for biological children of staff members, a feat that enabled them to access higher education and motivated staff members. Today, the scheme is used in all public universities in the country.
Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza who represented the Vice Chancellor at the occasion recognized the importance of honoring the contributions of Prof. Senteza Kajubi to Uganda’s Education Sector,
“Honouring those who’ve gone before us gives us a chance to reflect on where we have come from, where we are, and where we wish to be as an institution in the next ten years.”
She reiterated Makerere University’s commitment to supporting government educational programmes like UPE, USE and most recently Universal Advanced Level Education through continuing to strategically position itself produce enough teachers especially science teachers, so as to support government policies like the compulsory sciences at ordinary level.
Speaking as a former student of Prof. Senteza Kajubi, the Right Honourable Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, while reminiscing about his times as a student praised his former Geography teacher
“He mastered the subject of Geography so well that we were able to understand it very well. His delivery skills were very good. He was, therefore, able to capture and sustain our attention,” he added.
Prof. Nsibambi who was later to join his former teacher as a colleague at Makerere University praised Prof. Senteza Kajubi for his dedicated and exemplary service to the East African Community and challenged him to write a book about his life.
In yet another glowing tribute to Prof. Senteza Kajubi, Dr. Martin Aliker, a fellow Budonian, thanked the Professor for his mentorship, which began in Budo and continued all the way to his Masters study in the University of Chicago, USA.
“Since then, we have been together as a family, we have shared in Senteza’s triumphs and trials, tragedies and successes, and I am probably the proudest person apart from his family to be here,” remarked Dr. Aliker.
After unveiling the bust in his honour, Prof. Senteza Kajubi expressed his sincere gratitude at being immortally put on a pedestal and allowed to bask in the limelight of approval by colleagues and friends in the highest seat of learning in Uganda.
Having started out as a humble boy from Kireku village, Singo, 84 years ago, Prof. Senteza Kajubi attributed his love for and pride in whatever he was assigned to do, to the family work ethic. His late Father Yoweri Kajubi was a driver for the Public Works Department and Post Office, and on his retirement on 12th June 1958, after more than 40years of service; he was awarded “The Certificate of Honour” from Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, for his dedicated service to the Uganda Protectorate. His late Mother, Bulanina Namukomya on the other hand was an entrepreneur, who run a shop, tailored dresses and wedding gowns and baked confectionaries. All this was further emphasized by the family motto “OMULIMU LYE LINNYA LY’OMUNTU” (ONE’S WORK IS ONE’S NAME)
Prof. Kajubi’s first contact with higher education was in 1938 as a P.5 pupil, who after marching 7miles from Mackay Memorial School in Nateete with his schoolmates, was privileged to bear witness to the cutting of the first sod for the Main Administration Building (at the then Makerere College) by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester. The message from His Majesty King George VI on this occasion was
“The College will afford splendid opportunities for service and advancement especially for African men and women of which I am sure they will eagerly avail themselves”
Although he admitted to not having comprehended the message then, he is proud to have been one of those privileged men and women called for service and advancement in this country, and later on be recognized and immortalized with a bust in the oldest School of Education in Eastern and Central Africa.
In his words of wisdom to the gathering, Prof. Senteza Kajubi counseled, “If every man and woman in Uganda and the rest of Africa did his or her duty, we would be able to defeat the combined fleet of ignorance, poverty and disease in no time.”
We the members of the Makerere University Community congratulate Professor William Senteza Kajubi upon this worthy honour. As a multi-talented person of integrity with demonstrated commitment to duty, his ability to relate, entertain and socialize, combined with his inexhaustible sense of humour, not to mention his endless list of academic and service accolades impress upon our hearts and minds an unforgettable legacy. Professor William Senteza Kajubi – the “Friend-raiser” is the true embodiment of a mentor for us all.
Downloads
Rt. Hon. Prof. Apolo Nsibambi's Speech: PDF Version, Postscript Version
The Vice Chancellor's Speech: MS Word Version, PDF Version, Postscript Version
mwamai@admin.mak.ac.ug, Public Relations Office
College of Health Sciences Quality Assurance (QA) Training in Assessments, Pedagogy and Competence Based Curriculum Held 18–19 June 2026 at Esella Hotel.
Pedagogy, Assessment and Supervision Training Workshop
The College of Health Sciences has embarked on the journey to improve the teaching, assessment and preparation for the adoption of the competence-based curriculum.
The training was held on 18-19 June 2026, at Esella Hotel, Kira, the training targeted the teaching assistants, lecturers’ senior lecturers’ key administrators and some PhD fellows, generally the early career academic staff that are yet growing in the ranks.
Objectives
- Equip participants with modern pedagogical approaches for effective teaching and learning.
- Review and harmonize assessment strategies to ensure quality and fairness in academic evaluation.
- Enhance supervisory competencies for guiding graduate students in research and academic progress.
- Foster collaboration and shared experiences among facilitators, supervisors, and administrators.
The key focus areas for the training
- Guidelines in Assessment & Course Outlines- Dr. Cyprian Misinde -Chief Quality Assurance Officer.
- Competence Based Education and Assessment- Dr. Mike Kagawa
- Advancing continuous improvement in teaching, learning through teaching styles -Dr. Ssebowa Dorothy.
- Teaching methods Knowledge production and acquisition- Dr. Peter Ssenkusu
- Graduate Supervision Challenges and Opportunities- Prof. Grace Ndeezi.
- Competence Based Curriculum in line with the NCHE- Dr. Innocent Besigye.
- Feedback mechanisms in training- Dr. Irene Rebecca Namatende.
Key Outcomes for this training
- The participants gained the understanding of learner-centered teaching approaches and pedagogical principles.
- Acquired new skills supervisory skills, particularly in guiding research and addressing student challenges.
- Consensus on adopting standardized assessment tools across graduate programmes.
- Practical exposure to teaching models and interactive learning methods.
- Development of action plans for continuous professional development in pedagogy and supervision.
- The participants also acquired more skills in line with the competence-based curriculum as required by the National Council for Higher Education.
During the Discussion Key important Questions emerged as follows:
- Who supervises the supervisor?
- What is the difference between notion hours and contact hours?
- The 60/40 way of assessments—can it be independent for every course unit taught or allocated differently?
- How do we manage difficult supervisors?
- How do we Coerce PhD students to be fully involved in departmental activities without them feeling Coerced?
- How much time do we need to prepare for the review of the programmes in line with the competence-based curriculum as required by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) and the World Health Organization (WHO)?
We truly thank the facilitators and the participants who made this training very informative and enlightened. We also appreciate the Principal/Deputy CHS, the Chief QA Officer, Makerere University and the University Management for the enormous support and for making this activity possible.
Dr. Irene Rebecca Namatende
Quality Assurance 0ffice
College of Health Sciences,
Makerere University
The Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs (DVCAA) Prof. Sarah Ssali on 15th July 2026 commended the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU)’s Industrial Trainee Program, describing it as the perfect hands-on intervention for the future workforce. She made the comments while on a guided tour of RENU’s on-campus Lab facility where ten undergraduate students from Makerere and other Universities are undergoing a two-month practical training.
Origin of tour
The tour was prompted by a 24th June 2026 meeting with a RENU delegation led by CEO, Mr. Nicholas Mbonimpa, aimed at broadening the existing partnership with Makerere University beyond internet service provision to supporting teaching, learning and research activities. During the said meeting, Prof. Ssali expressed Makerere‘s desire to produce graduates that are not only academically grounded but also cognizant of the needs of the job market.
In his response then, Mr. Mbonimpa expressed RENU’s readiness to continue advancing digital transformation through advancing resilient connectivity, research infrastructure, and innovative initiatives that enhance teaching, learning, and research. He shared that the Senate Building’s computer network had been revamped in line with advancing resilient connectivity, and the initiative would be expanded to the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) buildings and other premises subsequently.
The RENU CEO further highlighted that resilient connectivity forms a good basis for the proposed Open Radio Access Network (RAN) Architecture deployment set to be done within six months, so as to boost training of students in 5G and other technologies. Other initiatives discussed included training staff and students on acquisition of Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) to improve visibility of their publications and research output.
Training Program Lauded
Addressing student interns during the 15th July guided tour, the DVCAA who was accompanied by the 92nd Guild Speaker Rt. Hon. Trevis Mutatiina Muhwezi urged beneficiaries to harness all the technical and social opportunities accorded by the Program. “Not all students in your respective academic programmes had the benefit of being exposed to this kind of training so please make the most of it and utilize skills gained here beyond the classroom setting”.
The 2026 Industrial Trainee Program is equipping students with skills on how to diagnose and repair ICT equipment based on old and disused stock.
Prof Ssali was also toured the makerspace where solar-powered routers are manufactured and deployed to extend internet connectivity to both rural and urban locations. In 2023, RENU partnered with Mesh++, a Chicago-based connectivity solutions manufacturer, to manufacture solar-powered internet routers in Uganda. Since inception, over 200 units have been manufactured and deployed across various sites in Uganda, while over 80 units have been shipped to various African countries such as Malawi, Rwanda and South Sudan under the RENUMESH Technologies joint venture.
Partnerships Inspiring New Prototypes
The RENU CEO nevertheless pointed to a long turnaround time for shipping parts from the U.S. as one of the drawbacks hindering the product’s rapid deployment. As a result, RENU, in response to the Ugandan Government’s call for import substitution and local capacity development is developing a solar-powered internet router with some of the components sourced from Ugandan companies Innovex and Chloride Excide.
“Innovex will supply the Internet of Things (IoT) component to help RENU remotely monitor and control the router while Chloride Excide will provide the batteries” Mr. Mbonimpa explained. He added that some of the current lot of trainees were already running simulations on the prototype and proposing how the device can be further refined so as to increase its portability and reduce its price.
A call for Expansion
At the conclusion of the tour, Prof. Ssali who commended the use of modular Ugandan components for the prototype thanked the RENU team to exposing students to real-world technological deployments. She nevertheless urged the CEO and his team to expand the program’s intake beyond ten trainees and duration beyond the current two months so as to give students a richer experience.
The CEO RENUMESH Technologies Mr. Brian Masiga thanked the DVCAA for following up their 24th June meeting with the visit, which demonstrates that the University Management values students’ development of practical skills. He equally thanked Prof. Ssali for Management’s support to RENU activities and pledged to further refine the prototype to produce a cheaper and more portable proudly Ugandan product.
General
Makerere University Launches First Writing Summer School to Strengthen Professional Writing Skills.
KAMPALA, UGANDA, EAST AFRICA| July 6, 2026.
Makerere University has officially launched its inaugural writing summer school, a week long professional development program aimed at equipping students, graduates, researchers and staff with practical writing skills required for academic excellence and success in today’s competitive job market. The program jointly organized by the Makerere University Writing Centre and Makerere University Press (MakPress), reflects the University’s commitment to nurturing graduates with not only academic knowledge but also the communication skills needed to thrive professionally.
Held virtually, the launch attracted more than 280 participants from Makerere University and other higher education institutions, demonstrating the growing demand for structured writing support beyond the classroom.
Building the Next Generation of Writers.
Speaking at the launch, the Director of Makerere Writing Press, Prof. William Tayeebwa, said the summer school represents an important investment in developing writers before their work reaches publication.
“The press has traditionally focused on publishing books, journals and scholarly work. Today, we are expanding that mission by helping and develop the writers who will produce tomorrow’s publication.
He noted that MakPress continues to support the publication of books and scholarly works produced by members of the Makerere Community. Using recently published books authored by a member of staff and a student as examples, he encouraged participants to submit manuscripts for publishing support rather than relying solely on self publication.
Writing as a Foundation for Academic and Professional Success.
Chairperson of the Makerere University Writing Centre, Prof. Frederick Muyodi, said the center was established to strengthen the writing competences among students, researchers and university staff.
” The Writers Center is here to support every stage of the writing process from CVs and application letters to research manuscripts, grant proposals, reports and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in writing.”
He explained that the Centre supports writing across multiple disciplines and professional contexts, adding that its long term vision is to extend writing support beyond Makerere University to institutions across Uganda and the East African region.
Equipping Graduates for the Labour Market.
Officially launching the summer school, the First Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, described the initiative as a strategic investment in preparing graduates for an increasingly competitive labour market.
She observed that while universities successfully impart disciplinary knowledge, many graduates leave campus without the practical writing skills required to secure employment and other professional opportunities.
“We teach content very, but many students are never taught how to write an effective CV, application letter, motivation statement or scholarly essay. Yet these are the documents that often determine whether someone secures an opportunity.”
Prof. Ssali said the writing summer school would bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice by equipping participants with market ready communication skills.
Reaffirming her office’s commitment to the initiative, she added:
“My office is pleased to support this initiative as we institutionalize the Writing Summer School to ensure that Makerere graduates leave not only with degrees but also with practical competencies needed to thrive professionally,”
She officially declared the inaugural Writing Summer School open and expressed optimism that future editions would attract even more participants and resources.
Participants Gain Practical CV Writing Skills.
The first technical session was facilitated by Mr. Abdul Noor Luttamaguzi, a PhD student in the Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences within the School of Bio sciences at Makerere University, a Senior Fisheries Officer with Luweero District Local Government, and the founder and director of the ANL Foundation, an organization that supports youth employment and capacity building.
During the session, he guided participants on developing competitive CVs tailored to specific professionals and employer expectations. He emphasized that applicants should customize their CVs to suit each opportunity instead of submitting the same document for every application. Participants also learned how effectively present their education, work experience, leadership roles technical competencies and professional achievements, while avoiding unnecessary personal information. Practical demonstrations using professional specific CVs provided participants with hands on examples of preparing competitive job application documents.
Looking Ahead.
The Writing Summer School continues throughout the week sessions on application letter writing, responsible use of artificial intelligence, professional communication and other essential writing skills aimed at improving academic productivity and employablity.
Through initiatives such as the Writing Summer School, Makerere University continues to strengthen its commitment to producing graduates who are not academically accomplished but also equipped with practical communication skills that enable them to compete and lead in today’s global workplace.
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