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Makerere Hospital now Reference Centre of Excellence for SMC

Published

12 years ago

December 13, 2012

Mark Wamai

L-R Mr. Musa Bungudu,Country Director-UNAIDS, H.E. Ambassador Scott DeLisi, U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe, Dean of Students, Makerere University at the SMC Launch, 11th December 2012, Makerere University Hospital,Kampala Uganda

It is a bright sunny afternoon on Tuesday, 11th December 2012 at the Makerere University Hospital and a few hours away from the official launch of the Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) services by the U.S. Ambassador to Uganda H.E. Scott DeLisi. Under a semi-permanent structure at the back of the facility, a few young men and adult males are gathered and listening intently to a facilitator as she briefs them about SMC and post-surgery care. At the end of her delivery, she invites questions and is met with silence. The looks on their faces are a mixture of emotions, while the younger lot seems to still be digesting what they just heard; the older ones seem to be in awe of her boldness and candid delivery.

This is the first stage of the SMC service conducted under a newly constructed iron-roof structure, recently erected to cater for the increased demand for SMC in the Makerere community. Prior to this, the handful of participants had to make use of a tent, as the service was yet to be fully embraced by the community. However, thanks to the social marketing strategy model, where the circumcised shared their experience and referred their colleagues to the University Hospital, the numbers have swelled to over 60 surgical operations a day!

All this has been made possible thanks to the Makerere University Hospital–Makerere University Joint AIDS Programme (MJAP) partnership, funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), with technical support from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). PEPFAR has directly supported over 450,000 circumcisions since April 2010 and increased investment in SMC in Uganda from over $1.6 million in 2009 to over $31 million in 2012.

In his address, the U.S. Ambassador graciously accepted the thanks from Makerere University, MJAP, Ministry of Health, Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) but strongly rallied stakeholders to each play their part in the fight against the spread of HIV. “Success in saving lives depends upon all of us—ambassadors, government ministers, health care workers, students, young and old alike—playing our part and sharing in the responsibility we each shoulder,” said Ambassador DeLisi. “As President Museveni has correctly said, circumcision does not make us metal. Nor does it mean we can be sexually irresponsible with no worries about the consequences,” he added.

Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe, The Dean of Students who represented Prof. Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) at the occasion commended the U.S. Government for helping Makerere achieve a multi-pronged approach in the fight against HIV/AIDS. He further noted that thanks to this support, the University Hospital had etched its mark on the SMC service delivery in Uganda. “The program has also trained and built 15 high performance circumcision teams that are able to circumcise over 20 clients per day per team,” he said. “These teams have spread out all over the country, a feat that has transformed the hospital into a reference centre of excellence for SMC,” added Mr. Kabagambe.

Following the launch of SMC services at the University Hospital, patients are now able to get linked to other services at this facility, or at the MJAP-supported treatment site at Mulago Hospital, and elsewhere, based on their preference.

Please see attachments for full speeches

General

NTU Global Summer School – A Unique UK Experience for Students

Published

18 hours ago

May 9, 2025

Mak Editor

The Nottingham Trent University (NTU) Global Summer School will run from 7 July – 1 August 2025 in the heart of England.

Why join this summer?

A diverse range of credit-bearing courses
The Global Summer School offers a variety of exciting courses, from cybersecurity to creative industries, and space science to entrepreneurship – truly something for everyone! With two distinct blocks of courses, students can either dive deeper into their passions or broaden their horizons by exploring new subjects.

Explore Courses

A truly international experience
Students will join peers from many countries across the world, creating a vibrant and multicultural learning environment that enhances the global student experience.

An exciting cultural and social programme
Beyond the classroom NTU offers a full schedule of activities, including visits to iconic UK cities, sports and evening events ensuring that students make the most of their time in the UK.

A safe and welcoming destination
Nottingham is a city renowned for its safety, having earned the prestigious Purple Flag award for its excellent night-time safety and vibrant atmosphere, ensuring your students feel at home both on and off campus.

Application Deadline: 1 June 2025

Apply Today!

Limited places available – apply soon!

Don’t miss out! This is the perfect chance for students to develop new skills, make new friends and experience the best of British culture. NTU looks forward to welcoming students this summer!

Have questions? Contact NTU here!

General

End of Semester Memo for Academic Year 2024/2025

Published

2 days ago

May 8, 2025

Mark Wamai

Africa, one of three On-Campus Halls of Residence for ladies, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

All Resident Students

1. Congratulatory Message

On behalf of Makerere University Management, I congratulate and thank you for the successful completion of Semester Two: 2024/2025.

2.End of the Second Semester

The second Semester holiday break will begin on 17^th May, 2025 up to Saturday 9^th August, 2025.

3. Resident Students

All resident students are expected to vacate the Halls of Residence by mid-day on Saturday, 17^th May, 2025.

4. University Property

Please hand over all University property in your possession (such as: room keys, Sports & Games equipment, College property etc) before you leave the Hall of Residence.

5. Security of personal property

Please make sure that you carry with you all your property.

Dean of Students
Makerere University

Makerere-Dean-of-Students-End-of-Academic-Year-2024-2025-MEMO Download

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Inter-college Debate 2025 Seeks to Nurture Confident, Articulate, and Visionary Leaders

Published

4 days ago

May 6, 2025

Mak Editor

Winners of the Inter-college debates Daphine Kemigisha and Jibiril Ssekandi (School of Law) pose for a photo with debaters and the GRCs of the Debate Union. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11^th and 12^th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.

The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.

One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall.***

Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21^st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.

On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale.***

Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.

After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.

Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL). Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL).***

The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91^st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.

Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.