Higher Powers: Alcohol and After in Uganda’s capital city, a collaborative literary work on alcohol addiction and treatment giving the Ugandan context authored by Ugandan researchers Sarah Namirembe and George Mpanga, together with University of Virginia (UVA)’s Associate Professor China Scherz was officially launched on Friday 26^th April 2024. The event was held in the Conference Hall of the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering at Makerere University.

The convener, Henry Nsubuga, the Manager of the Counselling and Guidance Centre at Makerere University thanked the authors of the book for conducting research and bringing to the scholarly and practice world another perspective to treating those with alcohol use disorder (AUD). 

The book, a result of over four years of dedicated research, discusses therapeutic pathways to alcohol addiction recovery in Uganda, detailing how some victims mainly in Kampala have used these methods to completely recover from the vice.

According to George Mpanga one of the authors, “most of the work took place in Uganda’s capital city Kampala; given the number and variety of options, including the country’s two major rehabilitation programmes. Kampala provided us with an excellent location for exploring a range of treatment modalities available in Uganda.”

Higher Powers mainly focuses on four recovery approaches: Biological, Social, Clinical, and religious approaches. Under the religious approach, the authors write that some addicts find healing in church while others in the traditional shrines or through herbal medicines.

Assoc. Prof. China Scherz says through collaboration, they are bringing insights from Uganda and other parts of Africa about the ethics of interdependence into a rapidly expanding conversation about the need for more collaborative forms  and logical practice. She says collaborative writing has helped them come up with a book none would solely produce.

“We are bringing insights from Uganda and elsewhere in Africa, about the ethics of interdependence into a rapidly expanding conversation about the need for more collaborative forms and logical practice. And in the process, hoping to transform a long history of important but often invisible contributions made by assistants and translators, Pan Africanist anthropology, this process of writing together across a wide range of sites has ultimately transformed the project into something that none of us could have created independently of one another,” she said.

The book was launched by Dr. Hafsa Lukwata, the Assistant Commissioner for Health Mental Health and Center of Substance Abuse at the Ministry of Health, who the  Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine.

Dr. Lukwata thanked the authors of the book and all participants who accepted to be respondents during the research. She said the government of Uganda is tirelessly pushing for the alcohol control bill to mitigate alcohol misuse, and urged everyone to be part of the cause so that the bill is passed.

Prof. Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye, from the School of Public Health, said the book is rich with many educating stories and urged everyone to grab a copy and make good use of it.

“This work is very good and it has so many enriching stories. There are many things you can learn from this book and I wish everyone reads it,” he said.

Dr. David Basangwa, former head at Butabika Hospital Alcohol and Drug Unit said the title of the book was well selected and it contains a lot of meaning, especially in dealing with various challenges in life.

“The title given to this book: Higher Powers, I find it very interesting and well selected with a lot of meaning, especially when it comes to dealing with various challenges in life,” he said.

Basangwa noted that there is a need to deal with stigmatisation among alcohol addicts, pointing out language euphemisms as one of the best approaches. He said alcohol addicts feel more comfortable being called patients with alcoholic use disorders, but not alcohol or drug addicts.

The book launch was attended by policy makers, treatment specialists, people who have recovered from alcohol use disorder, members of Makerere University academic staff, and students.

Through an access contract with the University of California, a PDF version of the book has been availed at no cost.

To obtain a complimentary PDF copy, please click on the link provided below.

https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520396791/higher-powers.

The Academic Registrar Makerere University invites applications for the Special University Entry Examinations for admission to the Diploma in Performing Arts.

The examination will take place on Saturday 18^th May, 2024.

Application process is online for those intending to sit the examination. Kindly note that there is payment of a non-refundable application fee of Shs. 110,000/- excluding bank charges in any (Stanbic Bank Branch, Dfcu Post Bank, UBA and Centenary Bank). The application fees includes 2 Past Papers availed to you on completion of the online process.

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO SIT THE EXAMINATIONS, THE CANDIDATE MUST POSSESS AN O’LEVEL CERTIFICATE (UCE) WITH AT LEAST 5 PASSES.

The deadline for receiving the online applications is Thursday 16^th May 2024.

How to Apply

• Application is online for ALL applicants.
• Other relevant information can be obtained from Undergraduate Mature Age Office, Level 5 Senate Building, Makerere University or can be acceessed from https://see.mak.ac.ug
• A non refundable application fee of Shs. 110,000= for Ugandans, Easte Africans Applicants. Or US $ 75 or equivalent for internationalapplicants plus bank charges should be paid in any of the banks used by Uganda Revenue Authority.
• Apply through the application portal https://see.mak.ac.ug

Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza

ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

The Academic Registrar, Makerere University invites applications from Ugandan, East African, and international applicants for the undergraduate programmes under the private sponsorship scheme for the 2024/2025 Academic Year.

Each applicant should:

Have the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) with at least five passes, or its equivalent and at least two principal passes at Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) obtained at the same sitting. For day programmes only candidates who sat A’ Level in 2023, 2022 and 2020 are eligible to apply. For evening, afternoon, and external programmes, a candidate is not restricted on the year of sitting A’ Level. Detailed information on the weighting system can be accessed by following this link.

Other relevant information can be obtained from UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS OFFICE, LEVEL 3, SENATE BUILDING OR CAN BE found on the University Website https://www.mak.ac.ug. Effective Tuesday 30^th April, 2024.                                               

A non-refundable application fee of shs.50,000/= for Ugandans, East African and S. Sudan applicants or $75 or equivalent for internationals  plus bank charges should be paid in any of the banks used by Uganda Revenue Authority.                                           

 Candidates who hold grades X, Y, Z, 7 and 9 of ‘O’Level results should not apply because they are not eligible for admission.     

How to submit your application                                            

1. Applicants should access the Institution’s Admissions URL https://apply.mak.ac.ug/
2. Sign up by clicking on the REGISTER NOW. Use your full name, e-mail and Mobile No.  Please note that your name must be similar to the one on your supporting academic documents for your application to be considered valid.
3. A password will be sent to you on your mobile phone and email.                                      
4. The system will prompt you to change the password to the one you can easily remember.
5. To fill an application form, click on the APPLY NOW button displayed on the appropriate running scheme.                                              
6. Obtain a payment reference number by clicking on “Pay for Form” Button
7. Make a payment at any of the banks used by Uganda Revenue Authority                                            

MOBILE MONEY PAYMENT STEPS:                                                 

1. Dial *272*6# on either MTN or Airtel                                                             
2. Select option 3-Admission                                                     
3. Select option 3-Pay Fees
4. Enter reference number obtained from Application portal 
5. Details of Application form will be confirmed                                                              
6. Enter PIN to confirm payment                                                            

The closing date for receiving applications for undergraduate admissions is Wednesday 31st May 2024.                                                           

WARNING:                                                             

1. Applicants are strongly warned against presenting forged or other people’s academic documents to support their applications for admission.  The consequences, if discovered, are very grave indeed.
2. Do not buy any other documents not originating from the Academic Registrar’s Office.  Those who buy them do so at their own risk. 
3. The Academic Registrar has not appointed any agent to act on his behalf to solicit for additional funds other than the application fee stated above.    
4. Applicants are advised to use the right programme names and codes. the university will not be responsible for any wrong information entered in the system by applicants.                                               

Further details including fees structure can be accessed by following the link: Advert for Private Sponsorship Undergraduate Admissions 2024/25 Academic Year

Further information can be obtained by following the links below:

• Full Advert for undergraduate Admissions (Self Sponsorship Scheme) 2024/25 AY
• Weighting System and other Information

Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR