General

March 2010 events

Published

15 years ago

January 25, 2011

March 2010

31st March 2010: Meeting with MPL Team:

The VC along with a team from Makerere University met with the Managing Director Monitor Publications Limited at their Namuwongo Headquarters. The move, according to the MPL Managing Director Dr Gitahi Githinji is aimed at creating awareness about the institution.

30th March 2010: Wireless Hotspots Launch:

Presided over by the Swedish Ambassador to Uganda H.E. Anders Johnson, the launch held in the Africa Hall Dining was a demonstration of a long mutual collaboration with Sida and its recognition of the importance of ICT as an integral facilitator for research, learning and instruction in higher institutions of learning.

27th March 2010: Gender Equality Awards Dinner:

The Gender Mainstreaming Division organized a dinner aimed at honoring female Professors from Makerere University held at the Sheraton Hotel Rwenzori Ballroom. The proceeds from the dinner will be used to enable female students from disadvantaged socio-economic background to access higher education. At the function attended by the VC, Professors Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, the Ag. deputy vice-chancellor of Academic Affairs, Makerere University, Joyce Kikafunda of the Department of Food Science and Technology, Makerere University, Harriet Mayanja of the Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere University, Grace Bantebya Kyomuhendo, the Department of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University, Ruth Mukama, Institute of Languages, Makerere University, Joy Constance Kwesiga, vice-chancellor of Kabale University, Josephine Namboze, Public Health, Makerere University, Mary Okwakol, the vice-chancellor, Busitema University, Victoria Mwaka, Makerere University, Maria Musoke, Makerere University Library and Florence Mirembe of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University were honored.

26th March 2010: Dr. Matthew Lukwiya & MUSPH-CDC Certificate Awards Ceremony

The Makerere University School of Public Health-Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (MUSPH-CDC) HIV/AIDS fellowship program embraces the multi-sectoral approach to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by taking on individuals from varied professional backgrounds and attaching them to organizations involved in crosscutting HIV/AIDS activities. This Program, one of a kind in the African region, emphasizes hands-on training through partnering with other institutions and providing a practical approach to program leadership and management training in Uganda.

24th March 2010: University of Zurich dinner:

A team from the University of Zurich alongside their counterparts from the College of Health Sciences met with the VC over dinner at Protea hotel.

22nd March 2010: IFIP Workshop:

The Faculty of Computing and Informatics Technology, Makerere University (CIT) and the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Technical Commission 9 organized the workshop under the theme “ICT and Development Research Voices from Africa” Professor Venansius Baryamureeba was the chief guest at this event.

22nd March 2010: Google Team Meeting:

The VC along with a team from CIT and DICTS met the Google team from the US and Switzerland and discussed issues relating to enabling students and Staff to access subsidized laptops and notebooks.

15th March 2010: DBSA DF Courtesy call on VC:

A team from the Development Bank of South Africa – Development fund, DBSA DF led by the Chairperson of the Board; Prof. Brian Figaji visited Makerere and met with Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza. The team was here to discuss matters relating to a Memorandum of Understanding between Makerere University and DBSA DF aimed at turning Makerere into a center of excellence for the delivery of the Executive Masters Programme in Water, Sanitation and Environmental Management.

12th March 2010: The Guild Presidential Debate:

The Makerere University Convocation in partnership with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung organized this debate under the theme “The Renaissance of Makerere's Intellectual Legacy; my contributions” The event was held at The Main hall, Main Administration Building, Makerere University.

5th March 2010: Mawazo (OSSREA) Edition & Launch:

The Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) is a regional membership-based and donor-supported research and capacity-building organization whose mission is to promote dialogue and interaction between researchers and policy-makers in Eastern and Southern Africa with a view to enhancing the impact of research on policy-making and development planning. The Mawazo (OSSREA) Special Edition, Vol 9 No 1 was launched at a ceremony officially presided over by The Academic Registrar, Mr. Alfred Masikye Namoah at the Oral History Documentation Center, in the History Department, Faculty of Arts.

4th March 2010: The Mak/UVRI Infection and Immunity Research Training Programme:

Makerere University/Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) Infection and Immunity Training Program held their Young Scientists' Symposium at the Food Science and Technology Conference Hall, Makerere University.

1st March 2010: 3rd Vice Chancellors Media briefing

The 3rd monthly media briefing featured the Faculty of Agriculture and the Institute of Environment and Natural Resources. The Vice Chancellor congratulated Advanced Level leavers upon the release of their results and encouraged the media to refrain from causing anxiety about the shortage of places for University Admission. He also informed the media that the Jinja Campus opened its doors on 1st March 2010 initially offering only BIT, the commencement of work by the Academic Programmes Restructuring Committee, and on infrastructural development, which would see library space double from 4,000sq meters to 8,000sq meters. The Vice Chancellor then presented on the improved accessibility through creation of a Western Gate into Sir Apollo Kaggwa road, measures undertaken by the university to keep in touch with the alumni, parents and former parents, and the encouragement to students to start on their undergraduate research early so as to improve on the quality of output.

March 2010

31st March 2010: Meeting with MPL Team:

30th March 2010: Wireless Hotspots Launch:

27th March 2010: Gender Equality Awards Dinner:

26th March 2010: Dr. Matthew Lukwiya & MUSPH-CDC Certificate Awards Ceremony

A team from the University of Zurich alongside their counterparts from the College of Health Sciences met with the VC over dinner at Protea hotel.

22nd March 2010: IFIP Workshop:

22nd March 2010: Google Team Meeting:

The VC along with a team from CIT and DICTS met the Google team from the US and Switzerland and discussed issues relating to enabling students and Staff to access subsidized laptops and notebooks.

15th March 2010: DBSA DF Courtesy call on VC:

12th March 2010: The Guild Presidential Debate:

5th March 2010: Mawazo (OSSREA) Edition & Launch:

4th March 2010: The Mak/UVRI Infection and Immunity Research Training Programme:

1st March 2010: 3rd Vice Chancellors Media briefing

General

Makerere Launches Upgraded Financial Management System and Roadmap

Published

1 day ago

June 17, 2026

Mark Wamai

Prof. Tumps Ireeta - Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance & Administration) launch the roadmap for upgrading the Mak FMS in Council Room on 17th June2026.

Makerere University on 17^th June 2026 launched the upgraded Financial Management System (Mak-FMS) and Implementation Roadmap aimed at ensuring paperless end-to-end transactions right from requisition to sign-off. Mak-FMS was initially launched on 10^th July 2024 to automate requisition initiation and approval. The upgraded system will ensure that the hitherto paper-based payment voucher generation, examination, digital clearance, and sign off are completed digitally.

Presiding over the launch on behalf of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the Principal, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta commended the Directorate of Finance and the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) on the strides made in digitalisation of financial processes at Makerere. He nevertheless called for the need to make approvals time bound at each stage of the process to ensure that requisitions are sanctioned or deferred for additional input promptly.

The University Bursar, Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha informed attendees at the launch that the objective of the Mak-FMS upgrade was to ensure paperless transactions by 1^st July 2026. He added that Champions had been appointed from colleges and administrative units, and will together with ICT Support Staff be trained by DICTS to support users during the transition.

Mr. Bainomugisha nevertheless noted that incorporation of Mak-FMS into Uganda’s Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) remains undone. He therefore called upon Finance Officers and Accountants to prudently ensure that the money committed on the Makerere system is charged to the appropriate Government code.

DICTS Chief, Mr. Samuel Mugabi reiterated that the upgraded system is not entirely new but is only aimed at further enhancing accountability and transparency of financial management for efficiency of Makerere’s business operations. He added that the upgraded Mak-FMS will be integrated with the recently rolled out Procurement System in a phased approach, especially as users increasingly get acquainted with the paperless working environment. He equally reiterated DICTS readiness to support the Directorate of Finance to ensure a holistic training of users.

Highlighting the ten-day Implementation Roadmap, DICTS Deputy Chief, Mr. Juma Katongole noted that launch of the upgraded Mak-FMS marked Day 1, while Day 2 will be dedicated to training Finance Officers, Accountants and ICT Support Staff and Day 3 to training Champions and more ICT Support Staff. Days 4 and 5 will be dedicated to Hands-on Training Sessions for College Bursars, Accountants and Champions, while Day 6 will feature University-wide pilot implementation of the upgraded Mak-FMS.

Day 7 of the roadmap will handle user support clinics and help desk sessions, while Day 8 will feature refresher training and a workshop on frequently encountered issues. A University-wide simulation exercise covering the end-to-end payment lifecycle will be held on Day 9 and Day 10 will host the readiness assessment meeting and go-live sign-off.

In order to ensure a smooth transition to a digital Mak-FMS, a help desk will remain operational throughout the period and user manuals as well as quick-reference videos will be developed and distributed on the University Knowledge Base and DICTS Social Media platforms.

General

CHS Quality Assurance Guide Book

Published

1 week ago

June 8, 2026

Mak Editor

An aerial photo of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University showing Left to Right: The Sir Albert Cook Memorial Library, School of Biomedical Sciences, Davies Lecture Theatre, School of Public Health, Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital (MSWNH)-Background Left and Nakasero Hill-Background Right, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The College of Health Sciences (CHS) QA Guidebook streamlines academic excellence, outlining essential quality processes, committee structures, and regulations aligned with Makerere University Policy and the 2004 Graduate Guidebook. It details roles for staff and students, including examination management, committee terms of reference, and highlights staff/student achievements.

Key Components of the QA Guidebook

Committees & Structure: Defines roles for the Quality Assurance, Gender Mainstreaming, and ICT Committee, ensuring alignment with SDGs and university policies and NCHE
Examination QA Processes: Outlines procedures for setting, moderating, and marking exams, ensuring standards and ethical compliance.
Regulations & Guidelines: Based on the Makerere University Quality Assurance Policy Framework (2007) and Graduate Guidebook 2004 ensuring consistency across all programmes.
Roles & Responsibilities: Clearly defines the responsibilities of Deans, Heads of Departments, and Students in Internal Quality Assurance.
Key student information in academic processes.
Commitment to support graduate training.
Recognition & Faculty Development: Recognizes outstanding female professors and acknowledges staff who completed PhDs in 2024–2026

Makerere-CHS-Quality-Assurance-Guide-Book-FINAL Download

View on CHS

General

Are We Giving Enough Attention to the People Around Us Who Quietly Influence Lives Every Day?

Published

2 weeks ago

June 5, 2026

Mak Editor

Sylas Ruhweza and Marion Apio at one of the Girls Alive Uganda (GAU) outreaches.

_{By Marion Apio}

On March 21, 2026, I felt a strong urge to reconnect with a close colleague and passionate leader, Owekitinisa Sylas Ruhweza Atwooki. We had not spoken since I moved to the United States to pursue my dream of becoming a journalist. The following day, I learned that he had been quietly undergoing treatment in and out of the hospital. True to his character, he had chosen to keep his condition private. I was shocked and saddened, wishing I had known earlier so I could offer support.

At first, reports from family and friends were encouraging. He had been diagnosed with malaria and low blood platelet counts and was receiving treatment. Respecting his wish for confidentiality, members of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community at Makerere University rallied discreetly around him.

***An artistic impression of Sylas Ruhweza.***

However, on April 29, his condition worsened. He was transferred between medical facilities and underwent extensive tests, including a biopsy, as doctors searched for answers. Sadly, on May 29, Sylas passed away.

His death sparked an extraordinary outpouring of love and solidarity. Friends, colleagues, and former scholars mobilised to support his family, settle medical expenses, organise virtual vigils, and plan a dignified farewell. Hundreds gathered at St. Augustine Chapel to pay their respects. Within three days, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community raised approximately UGX 11 million, a testament to Sylas’ impact on countless lives.

***Sylas Ruhweza addressing his fellow alumni on 5th April 2025.***

In the days that followed, I found myself wrestling with difficult questions. In a world where we spend so much time following people online, are we paying enough attention to those quietly transforming lives around us? Why do we invest so much emotional energy in distant personalities while overlooking the people God has placed right in front of us?

Sylas lived with humility and served with grace. His death left more than 1,500 Mastercard Foundation scholars and alumni grieving, alongside many others around the world who knew him. Yet his passing also exposed a contradiction in modern life.

We live in an age of unprecedented connectivity. Uganda has millions of internet users and WhatsApp subscribers, while globally, people spend hours each day on social media. We have more tools than ever to stay connected, yet many of us are becoming increasingly disconnected from the people who matter most.

***Selfie time: Marion Apio and Sylas Ruhweza.***

Sylas resisted this trend. Through mentorship, service, and community-building, he remained deeply present in others’ lives. While many people retreat into individual pursuits, he consistently chose connection.

This challenge is especially relevant for Mastercard Foundation scholars and alumni. Every year, young Africans leave home to pursue education and professional opportunities abroad. Distance, time zones, visa restrictions, and rising travel costs make it difficult to maintain relationships and remain actively involved in the communities that helped shape us.

For Sylas, the answer was simple: show up. Celebrate others. Offer support. Stay connected.

***Sylas with some of the Girls Alive Uganda (GAU) beneficiaries.***

He never allowed geographical or personal barriers to become excuses for disengagement. Even while facing his own struggles, he invested in others. He embodied the values the Mastercard Foundation seeks to cultivate—ethical leadership, service, and community empowerment.

Sylas did not wait for a perfect platform to create change. He simply served where he was. He helped build bridges between education, culture, and professional development while remaining grounded in his values. He dreamed of creating a stronger alumni ecosystem and brought both passion and compassion to every initiative he touched.

Since his passing, social media has been filled with memories of his infectious smile and unwavering commitment to others. Those tributes reveal an important truth: people gave generously because Sylas had first given himself generously to them. People from different backgrounds, generations, and communities showed up because he had spent his life showing up for them. His legacy now challenges all of us.

***Sylas with friends at a Birthday Celebration.***

The greatest tribute we can offer is not simply to mourn his loss but to continue his work. That means supporting the causes he cared about, helping the children whose education he championed, strengthening alumni networks, and pursuing the dreams we discussed with him.

The tragedy of modern life is not that we follow people online. It is that too often our attention to distant lives comes at the expense of meaningful relationships nearby. Yet strong relationships are as essential to our well-being as physical health.

As Ugandans, we take pride in our faith, culture, and sense of community. We contribute to fundraisers, attend ceremonies, and support family members in times of need. But increasingly, genuine connection is being replaced by passive digital interaction. Families and communities cannot thrive on likes, retweets, and emojis alone.

They require presence—phone calls, visits, conversations, and the willingness to notice when someone is struggling.

Sylas Ruhweza with friends at the Third Edition of the MakRun in 2019. — ***Sylas with friends at the Third Edition of the MakRun in 2019.***

Before spending another hour immersed in the lives of strangers online, look around. Call the friend you have not spoken to in years. Check on a family member. Reach out to a colleague who seems withdrawn. Communities are not built by algorithms or celebrities. They are built by ordinary people who choose, day after day, to care for those within their reach.

Uganda needs more people like Sylas. At just 32 years old, he achieved what many spend a lifetime striving for. He served as Minister of Information in the Toro Kingdom and as President of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Alumni Association in Uganda. More importantly, he dedicated himself to serving others.

While his death is deeply painful, his life remains a powerful example of how we should live. My prayers and condolences go to his family, friends, and the entire Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community.

Rest in perfect peace, Owek. Sylas Ruhweza Atwooki.

The author is a Mastercard Foundation Alumna from Makerere University and the University of California, Berkeley. She is a journalist based in Southern California and the CEO of the Debunk Media Initiative.