General
Nuffic Midterm Evaluation Team visits Makerere
Makerere University Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, is coordinating a project on “Strengthening ICT Training and Research Capacity in the four Public Universities in Uganda” with Kyambogo University, Gulu University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology as her Southern Partners.
Makerere University Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, is coordinating a project on “Strengthening ICT Training and Research Capacity in the four Public Universities in Uganda” with Kyambogo University, Gulu University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology as her Southern Partners.
The project started on 1st June 2007 and will end on 31st May 2011. This project is funded by The Netherlands Government through The Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation (Nuffic).
A three member team; Mr. Henk J. van Linde & Mrs. Franciska de Jong (from The Netherlands) and Dr. Khalid Mughal (from Norway) are in Uganda from 3rd – 12th August 2009 to carry out midterm evaluation of the above mentioned project.
During the meeting with the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. David J. Bakibinga held this morning, a number of ideas were raised on how Makerere could expand and strengthen her ICT capacity.The Head of the Team Mr. Henk J. van Linde (left) in his remarks appreciated the efforts made by Makerere University in promoting ICT and noted the progress made thus far as indicated by change in strategy from “building” to “strengthening”.
Mrs. Franciska de Jong (pictured) has been a full professor of language technology at the University of Twentesince 1992. She is also affiliated to the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, where she is managing director of the Erasmus Studio. She has a background in theoretical linguistics and started to work on language technology in 1985 at Philips Research where she worked on machine translation. Currently, her main research interest is in the field of multimedia indexing, text mining, semantic access, cross-language retrieval and the disclosure of cultural heritage collections (in particular spoken audio archives), and she coordinates the Human Media Interaction research group.
Khalid Mughal (pictured) an Associate Professor at the Department of Informatics at the University of Bergen, Norway, was a member of the team that carried out the initial pre-project evaluation and his findings were key in promoting facilitation for the project. At the University of Bergen, Professor Mughal is responsible for designing and implementing various courses, which use Java, at the Department of Informatics. Over the years, he has taught Programming Languages (Java, C/C++, Pascal), Software Engineering (Object-Oriented System Development), Data bases (Data Modeling and Database Management Systems), and Compiler Techniques. He has also given numerous courses and seminars at various levels in object-oriented programming and system development, using Java and Java-related technology, both at the University and for the IT industry.
Accompanying the Team, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba , Dean Faculty of Computer Science appreciated the contribution of Nuffic and other donor agencies in the promotion of ICT services in Makerere University. He also paid special tribute to Prof. Khalid Mughal for the role played during the formative stages of setting up the Institute of Computer Science and the numerous lectures and talks given. He then invited Prof Khalid to stay behind after the evaluation and give a series of lectures, which he gladly obliged to.
In conclusion the Ag. Vice Chancellor thanked the team for their courtesy call and wished them good luck as they traversed the country carrying out their evaluations. Furthermore, he encouraged Professor Khalid and Mrs. Franciska de Jong to share with the University’s e-learning department and Institute of Languages respectively, on ways to improve their teaching methods.
Makerere University staff have been urged to embrace servant leadership, integrity and compassion as they prepare to welcome students for the 2026/2027 Academic Year.
The call was made during the Makerere University Staff Prayer Breakfast held on 31st July 2026 at St. Francis Students Centre Upper Hall under the theme “Faithful Stewards: A Servant Heart with Integrity and Wisdom,” drawn from Colossians 3:23–24 and Mark 10:35–45.
The prayer breakfast brought together members of Council, University Management, academic, and administrative staff to dedicate the new academic year to God while reflecting on their responsibility of serving students with excellence, humility and integrity.
A Call to Seek God’s Wisdom
Host Rev. Dr. Lydia Nsaale Kitayimbwa reminded staff that no amount of professional experience or academic expertise can replace God’s guidance.
She noted that the University’s mission can only be fulfilled when staff continually seek God’s wisdom in serving students and one another.
“There is no amount of experience or expertise that can replace God’s wisdom.”
Rev. Dr. Kitayimbwa observed that students remain the reason universities exist and challenged staff to approach their work as a calling rather than merely employment.
“Without students, there is no university,” she said, encouraging members of staff to remain united, avoid unhealthy competition and trust God as they begin another academic year.
She further urged staff to become faithful stewards who work together in harmony, which she summed up as, “United we stand; divided we fall.”
A Community, Not Just a Centre of Research
In her remarks, Dean of Students Dr. Winnie Kabumbuli welcomed the Council Chairperson, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and Members of Management to the breakfast, and reminded staff that a university’s value cannot be measured by research and innovation alone.
She described Makerere as a community held together by the spiritual as well as academic wellbeing of its people, and called on staff to renew their commitment to one another as much as to the institution they serve.
Draw Inspiration From Stewardship
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Prof. Sarah Ssali told staff that this year’s breakfast carried special significance.
“This is the first prayer breakfast we are having ever since we launched our strategic plan,” she said, referring to the University’s new Strategic Plan, launched on 2nd July 2026.
She encouraged staff to hold on to the morning’s reflections as a guide for implementing the plan over the next five years, describing Makerere as an institution many families choose above all others for the vision and training it offers their children. She urged staff to see themselves as stewards of that trust rather than simply employees carrying out a job.
Compassion and Discipline Must Go Together
Delivering her remarks, Makerere University Council Chairperson Dr. Lorna Magara challenged staff to strike a balance between compassion and discipline when dealing with students.
She observed that many students face different personal and academic challenges, making encouragement and timely support essential throughout their university journey.
“A word of encouragement can restore hope and prevent costly mistakes,” she noted.
Dr. Lorna encouraged lecturers and administrators to respond promptly to students’ concerns, explaining that delays, insensitive decisions and abuse of authority can discourage students and negatively affect their academic experience.
She reminded staff that students often remember how they were treated long after they have forgotten what was taught in class.
“Students may eventually forget what we teach them, but they will always remember how we treated them.”
She added that education goes beyond transferring knowledge.
“Education is more than knowledge. We communicate life, character and values.”
Quoting Mark 10, Dr. Lorna called upon staff to embrace servant leadership by exercising authority with humility, integrity and accountability.
She encouraged members of staff to ask themselves whether they would treat every student the same way ashey would treat their own child.
“We may not always have all the answers,” she said, “but we can communicate honestly, take responsibility and treat every student with dignity.”
She concluded by urging different colleges and administrative units to work together instead of operating in isolation, noting that unity strengthens the University community.
Referring to Galatians 6:2, she reminded staff to carry one another’s burdens and remain faithful stewards of the responsibility entrusted to them.
Servant Leadership Begins with Faithfulness
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. James Magara, husband to Dr. Lorna Magara, called on members of staff to embrace servant leadership grounded in humility, faithfulness and service to others.
Drawing from Mark 10:35–45, Dr. Magara reflected on the account in which James and John asked Jesus for positions of honour in His kingdom, prompting discontent among the other disciples. He observed that despite walking closely with Christ, the disciples continued to struggle with the desire for status and recognition. He noted that such competition remained evident even during the Last Supper, where concerns over positions and prominence persisted.
Dr. Magara said that Jesus responded to these human tendencies by redefining leadership through service rather than authority. He described Christ’s act of washing the disciples’ feet as the ultimate demonstration of servant leadership, explaining that genuine leaders are willing to undertake even the humblest responsibilities in service of others.
Referencing Philippians 2, he urged staff to emulate Christ’s humility and selflessness, contrasting it with the pride and self-exaltation illustrated in Isaiah 14. He emphasised that lasting influence and greatness are not measured by titles, positions or recognition, but by one’s willingness to serve faithfully and put the needs of others before personal ambition.
Drawing on his own leadership journey spanning several decades, Dr. Magara challenged leaders across the University to cultivate humility, integrity and a servant heart in the execution of their responsibilities. He cautioned that leadership driven by pride and personal ambition undermines both individual effectiveness and institutional progress, whereas servant leadership strengthens organisations and fosters lasting impact.
The prayer breakfast concluded with a call for unity and collective commitment as Makerere University prepares to begin a new academic year. Organisers noted that the reflections on stewardship, integrity and servant leadership would provide a strong foundation for the University community as it advances the implementation of the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
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