General
A winning team: Bernard Onyango (R.I.P) and Gershom Eyoku (R.I.P)
The two were part of the formidable team that oversaw the successful implementation of the affirmative action for more girls to attain University education in Uganda
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The Department of the Academic Registrar (AR) lost two former Academic Registrars, credited with laying a firm foundation for the Department. The late Bernard Onyango served in the Department from 1963 to 1992, first as a Deputy Registrar and later as Academic Registrar. He was laid to rest on Thursday 17th October 2013. The late Gershom Eyoku served in different capacities from August 1978 to Jan 1992, then as an Acting Academic Registrar until his retirement in June 1996. He was laid to rest on Friday 4th October 2013 in Asamuk, Amuria District.
Below is a tribute to them as told by a former workmate, Mr. James G. Okello, Deputy Registrar, Head of Senate Division. Mr. Okello had the privilege of working in the Academic Registrar’s Department under both men, who were a strong force; driving the Academic Registrar’s Department forward even throughout the turbulent political times of the 1970s.
One of the most outstanding contributions of the late Bernard Onyango was the initiation of the 1.5 scheme to enable more female students’ access University education. Mr. James Okello recalls how a speech was drafted for the President to read out at the Graduation ceremony in…. Part of this speech emphasized that Makerere University should initiate a mechanism to ensure that more girls are admitted without compromising the merit system. Bernard Onyango was the brain behind this speech.
“He came to me and asked me to initiate a draft which he improved. Everything happened so fast because the late Onyango knew how to lobby. The speech was sent to the President a week before graduation. He approved the idea and read it out during the Friday graduation; which was the only day reserved for this ceremony then. On Saturday morning, Onyango came to my house. He was happy that the President had read the speech with the female scheme idea in it. He suggested that we head to office and start drafting a proposal for Senate to consider in the coming week,” recalls a jovial Mr. Okello who was then serving as Personal Assistant to Onyango. After drafting the document for Senate, the two went for a drink to celebrate this partial achievement. “There were no posh bars by then. We just went to a pub in the vicinity of the University and had a beer each,” adds the nostalgic Okello.
By combining his excellent lobbying skills and powers as Secretary to Senate, Onyango managed to get Senate to accept the proposal for the 1.5 additional points to female students applying for the Government scholarship. Then University Senate then tasked the Academic Registrar’s Department to detail how the scheme would work. The late Prof. William Ssenteza Kajubi who was then Vice Chancellor and Chair of Senate complemented the efforts of this great team by ensuring that this scheme was successfully implemented after all parties had been brought on board regarding its dynamics.
In the Academic Department was another brilliant and highly committed person, the late Mr. Gershom Eyoku, who was tasked with coming up with the mathematical formula on how exactly the scheme would work. “Eyoku was initially hesitant because he feared that the scheme would compromise the merit system, but after Onyango explained the intention and merits, he (Eyoku) got started on the math. He came up with the 1.5 points which were discussed at other fora and thereafter adopted,” explains Okello.
The Scheme took effect in 1990 and continues to significantly contribute to the increased enrolment of female students. The graduation records show that only about 25% of the graduands were female compared to 75% of their male counterparts prior to the scheme’s introduction. The pattern has changed drastically courtesy of this policy and the private admission scheme; for example, during the last graduation held in January 2013, the figures were 46.7% of female students compared to 53.3% of male students. The successful implementation at Makerere attracted other countries to come to Uganda to benchmark with Makerere. These countries; Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, have lowered admission cut-off points for female candidates.
As Academic Registrar, Bernard Onyango did not tolerate any examination malpractice. Culprits of the same (both students and staff) were dismissed if found guilty and also publicized in the press. Okello recalls that before exams started, Onyango would issue a strongly worded letter to all faculties cautioning against examination malpractice and stating that names of culprits would be publicized in the press.
“Onyango had a policy that University affairs should not be managed in the press and any negative stories about Makerere University in the press were treated as a tip for internal investigations to start. But when it came to examination malpractice, Mr. Onyango besides getting them dismissed from the university would publicize the names of the culprits in the national newspapers. This served as a big deterrent for those who would have otherwise been involved. We sometimes referred to him as IGG because he did not tolerate any form of malpractice,” asserts Okello.
Onyango in an effort to ensure that persons in leadership in the Academic Units are accountable to staff Members in their units, initiated a policy of election of Deans and Heads of Department. This practice is now enshrined in the universities and other tertiary institutions act and resulted in many young academician taking up leadership positions in the university. Initially such positions fell vacant after the departure by retirement or death of the Office bearers.
Onyango also worked hard to attract scholarships and would go to embassies and make a case for scholarships at Makerere. He was a leader who mentored some of the Vice Chancellors too and would encourage colleagues with leadership qualities to take up positions. He particularly encouraged all employees in the AR’s Department to read each and every document of the University, irrespective of its content or discipline. He emphasized that the team in AR’s Department had to be informed in order to ably contribute and give guidance to whatever was discussed in meetings.
“The pass mark was initially at 40%. He would encourage us to read what the situation was like in other universities and compare with Makerere. Eventually he initiated a policy that the pass mark be raised to 50% as was the practice in other first-class universities. He trained the late Eyoku to take up after him,” adds Okello.
With this continuity ball set rolling, the shift from Onyango to Eyoku was seamless. Onyango informed colleagues in the AR’s Department that he was going on leave but would not come back. That signaled his end of service, as he had clocked 60 and was due for retirement. It also paved way for the fruits he had sown in the Department to be tried and tested in the able leadership of Eyoku. “As a trained mathematician, Eyoku’s style of leadership was either a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No.’ He was highly principled,” explains Okello. “Mr Eyoku was actually approached by the Minister of Education by then to take up the mantle from Mr. Onyango but he declined explaining although he had amassed enough experience, he couldn’t fit in the big shoes Mr. Onyango left behind,” adds Okello.
The two men are remembered for having shown interest in all affairs of the University and were involved in almost all processes of the University right from admission of students, registration, graduation and teaching.
Mr. Alfred Namoah is the current Academic Registrar, having joined the Department in 2000 as a Senior Assistant Registrar. He confirms that the late Onyango and the late Eyoku’s records are impeccable.
“They worked at a time when record management was a purely manual process with no aid of ICTs and yet they had a highly organized system of tracking all records. What they did is admirable,” asserts Namoah. The AR’s Department now handles bigger numbers of students compared to the times then.
“Onyango highly stood out in terms of all University processes, where he emphasized integrity at all levels. Eyoku on the other hand had all the policies of the University on his finger tips. He knew the time a particular policy had come into effect and at what meeting of the Senate,” adds Namoah. This insight is also shared by Dr. Jessica Aguti, a senior lecturer in the College of Education and External Studies, who also doubles as a relative to the late Eyoku. ‘Eyoku is remembered for his sharp knowledge and memory of Senate minutes and was fondly referred to as the Senate encyclopedia,” she says. Eyoku is said to have guided senate by researching on various options and laying them before senate to make a decision. Most of the decisions were hardly challenged in the courts of law because they were well thought out and based on evidence.
The AR’s Department still upholds integrity as a core value. “You need people of high integrity to work here because we deal with very sensitive documents. There are students who will want to change their documents if they see a loophole in the system. I am glad that we have maintained our integrity. The team in the AR’s Department is highly professional, although there is need for improvement in customer care in some of our sections,” concludes Namoah.
Onyango and Eyoku certainly laid firm ground and set high standards.
Their legacies live on. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
By Marion Alina
Public Relations Office
Universities in the 21st century worldwide are increasingly being subject to a number of changes in their operating environment majorly due to rapid technological advancement, changing student demographics, intensifying financial pressures, and heightened accountability demands from governments, donors, and society. Makerere University, as Uganda’s oldest and flagship institution has not been spared the effects of these changes. As such, the increasing need to support national development priorities in the midst of evolving regulatory frameworks, increasing stakeholder scrutiny and expectations necessitates not just response but proactive transformation.
“While graduation numbers and publication counts remain important indicators, our reporting must illuminate Makerere’s transformative impact on Uganda’s development trajectory” remarked the Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara as she delivered her communication at the Top Management Capacity Building Training for Makerere University on 14th August 2025.
The training running from 13th to 15th August 2025 at Speke Resort Munyonyo is aimed at building excellence in 21st Century University Leadership at Makerere through two objectives namely; Strategic Budget Mastery and Implementation Excellence, and Comprehensive Management Excellence and Skills Enhancement. “We must explicitly demonstrate how our work advances Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV priorities, especially the four-way growth strategy,” rallied Mrs. Magara.
The Chairperson of Council was making reference to Government’s earmarking of Agro-industrialisation, Tourism development, Mining and minerals development, as well as Science, Technology and Innovation (ATMS) as priority areas to propel Uganda’s economy to a US$500billion one by 2040. Describing the workshop as timely in enabling Makerere appreciate her role in these national aspirations, Mrs. Magara who had in an earlier engagement met with College Principals called for increased collaboration across various disciplines.
“This afternoon’s conversations with our College Principals reaffirmed my confidence in the calibre of leadership we have; their energy, commitment – and we have made some commitments, and candid reflections demonstrate the openness and determination needed to keep Makerere at the forefront of higher education” she affirmed.
Quoting world-renowned Management Consultant Peter Drucker who said “What gets measured gets managed” she added, “However, at Makerere, we elevate this principle and say, ‘what creates impact gets sustained’.” In this, she drew attention to the fact that budget execution is a shared responsibility of all leaders who beyond ensuring accountability for funds allocated ought to adopt results-oriented management.
“Traditional reporting that merely chronicles expenditure and activities is insufficient” said Mrs. Magara, adding that “we require evidence of tangible impact.” She further noted that every leader invited to take part in the training by virtue of their position holds a critical multiplier effect that ought to be felt by those they lead. “Everything rises and falls on leadership” she reminded, citing John Maxwell’s 21 irrefutable laws of leadership.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe who officially opened the training noted that Makerere is already fulfilling her part in terms of producing quality human resource for the region and increasing her research output in partnership with leading institutions globally. He nevertheless underscored the need for the training, which is aimed at nurturing transformational excellence in leadership and strategic management. This excellence, according to the training objective, ought to be demonstrated through strategic budgeting and budget execution, human resource management, statutory reporting and compliance, procurement optimisation, and comprehensive legal compliance frameworks.
Prof. Nawangwe who appreciated the good work currently done by staff in line with achieving institutional and national objectives nevertheless encouraged participants to continue working with diligence. “Continue loving Makerere, continue working well for Uganda, for Africa, so that we can move our people out of poverty in the shortest time possible.”
Subsequent sessions following the official opening covered; Key issues and lessons from the Financial Year (FY) 2024/2025 budget execution, Highlights of the approved Budget for FY 2025/26, Budget execution guidelines for FY 2025/26, and focus on key budget outputs and reporting.
Tackling key issues and lessons from the recently concluded Financial Year, the University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda outlined technical challenges such as: Budget transitions that moved funds for allowances from teaching units, Budget credibility in relation to cashflow planning, Adherence to approved budgets and workplans, Accountability for funds disbursed versus quarterly deadlines, Budget reporting in line with approved workplans, and Responsiveness to audits, and the need to do better in the present financial year.
Highlighting key issues from the approved budget for FY 2025/2026, the University Bursar, Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha noted that Makerere’s allocations are aligned with NDP IV and are aimed at fostering growth in the four priority areas (ATMS). “How do we ensure that we support these areas as Makerere University?” he prompted.
Delving into a few specifics, the University Bursar noted that Government allocated approximately 33.9billion shillings to the Development budget. This, he noted will cover; the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) Infrastructure Expansion, Acquisition of Computers for Colleges, Administrative Units and Smart classrooms, Furniture for Colleges and Administrative Units, E-resources for the Library, Renovation of CCE Hall, Office Equipment, Renovation of selected Halls or Residence, Repairs at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resourses and Biosecurity (CoVAB) Building, ICT Equipment, Digitalisation of Financial Management, Extension of Street lighting and Automation of switching system, among other undertakings.
Sharing Budget execution guidelines for the current financial year, the Deputy University Secretary, Mr. Simon Kizito outlined the need for Units to adhere to policy directives regarding; fiscal consolidation in terms of following workplans to the letter and ensuring timely collection of non-tax revenue (NTR) such as payment of tuition. Also emphasized was the need for units to honour timely payment of taxes and statutory deductions such as pay as you earn (PAYE), value-added tax (VAT) and withholding tax (WHT).
In line with administrative guidelines, Mr. Kizito urged colleges to ensure that their finance committees meet before any expenditure is approved. He equally urged units to avoid getting into situations that necessitate virement and change of workplans, noting that this was heavily discouraged by the line Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
Handling the day’s final topic; focus on key budget outputs and reporting, the Acting Deputy Chief, Planning and Development, Mr. Emmanuel Kitamirike emphasized the need for units to quantify what they seek to achieve, the budgets required to achieve expected results, and at the end of the budgeting period, a report on what was done, and the reasons for variation of expected performance, if any. On how this can be achieved, Mr. Kitamirike proposed; the need for University Secretary’s Office to share copies of final approved planning, reporting and budget documents with the implementing units, as well as the need for unit heads to examine workplans and begin the reporting process early, and where necessary revise workplans for upcoming quarters.
The highlight of the day’s sessions was an opportunity for Mrs. Lorna Magara to bask in the limelight as participants sung Happy Birthday to their Chairperson of Council. Council Member and Head of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies (IGDS), Prof. Sarah Ssali who moved a vote of thanks appreciated Mrs. Lorna Magara for choosing to spend a significant amount of time on her special day speaking to Principals and staff.
The final day of the training will cover Human Resource Matters, with special communication from the Chairperson Appointments Board, Mr. Edwin Karugire. Also set to be covered are the procurement function of public entities and key legal matters in university operations.
At an orientation for Postgraduate students held at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium on 11th August 2025, the Academic Registrar and Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, reiterated Makerere University’s readiness to avail all the necessary support to ensure timely completion of various programmes. He underscored the contribution of research conducted by Makerere to national development priorities and urged Postgraduate students to play their role in making this influence more impactful.
Picking up from where Prof. Buyinza left off, the Director, Directorate of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma reassured students that “Makerere University has all the resources to facilitate you through the academic journey of your graduate studies.” He equally further advised that “The Graduate Handbook is your bible that will guide you through your academic programs,” given its comprehensive reference to policies, procedures, and resources that support students during their graduate journey.
In his remarks, the Director, Prof. Robert Wamala introduced the Directorate of Research, Innovations, and Partnerships (DRIP) and outlined its role in guiding students in research. He explained DRIP’s primary functions, which include promoting and coordinating research activities, innovation and technology transfer, and overseeing research ethics and integrity. The Directorate also enhances research capacity and infrastructure, secures funding, and manages partnerships. He stressed the importance of understanding and following key university policies such as the Research and Innovations Policy and the Intellectual Property Management Policy. Prof. Wamala explained that the Intellectual Property Policy ensures that “IP created by a student in the course of study at the university, will be owned by the student,” adding that, “whatever you develop through the course of your study belongs to you and not the university.” He further encouraged students to protect their ideas and innovations through proper registration and documentation.
Dr. Godfrey Kawooya Kubiriza, from the Department of Zoology, Entomology & Fisheries at the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), discussed the importance of aligning research with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure it remains current and impactful. He advised students to be cautious of peers who might negatively influence their studies and urged them to co-create with stakeholders to ensure their research has a clear impact. He also emphasized translating research evidence into policy briefs and building interdisciplinary and regional networks, encouraging connections with colleagues from East Africa, West Africa, and Europe for future collaborations and career development.
The Head ICT Division, Office of the Academic Registrar, Dr. Mike Barongo welcomed the students and underscored the importance of downloading admission letters from the portal, as these contain student numbers necessary to activate the student portal. He highlighted that enrolment is key to knowing the fees to be paid and to creating a Makerere University email address. In case of challenges, students were encouraged to seek help from college registrars or the Directorate of ICT Support. “The College of Computing has a support center at the basement of Block A, where students can get assistance,” he said.
The Deputy University Librarian, Dr. Kizito Ongaya, provided an overview of library services, noting significant changes compared to the 1990s and early 2000s. He outlined various training programs, including Reference Management Tools and Plagiarism Detection, and stressed the importance of using the available resources. “There are over 40 online libraries that we pay for. We pay over 1 billion shillings per annum to subscribe to these libraries, and you need special training so that you are able to access these,” he said. He also shared the library website, https://mulib.mak.ac.ug/ as a valuable resource.
Mr. Henry Nsubuga the Head of Counselling and Guidance Services addressed mental health and well-being, especially for PhD and Masters students, noting the significant mental toll of such programs. He pointed out that over 40% of graduate students experience depression, anxiety, and stress, and urged them to seek help early. He advised against internalizing negative feedback, suggesting instead that criticism be reframed as external rather than personal. He also encouraged positive self-talk to maintain motivation.
Ms. Diana Nabikolo, the Safeguarding Liaison Officer, briefed students on the Safeguarding Policy launched in April, which complements 11 other safeguarding policies available on the university policies website. She explained that the policy addresses various forms of abuse—physical, emotional, and neglect—as well as infrastructure-related concerns. She mentioned the presence of Safeguarding Champions in each college, both staff and students, who may assist in logging cases into the Makerere Safe Space and determining whether an issue qualifies as a safeguarding concern.
The Registrar at the Directorate of Graduate Training Ms. Caroline Nannono Jjingo explained the Directorate’s presence at all colleges and its coordination role with college and school registrars. She clarified the difference between enrolment and registration, noting that enrolment signifies acceptance of the study offer and triggers billing, while registration must follow enrolment. She also outlined the official withdrawal process, which can be prompted by financial challenges, illness, or job opportunities. Students were advised to formally notify the university to avoid being marked absent. “Withdrawal can only occur after registration,” she said, adding that students should inform the university if they plan to return.
The event was moderated by the Managing Editor Makerere University Press Dr. William Tayeebwa, who also doubles as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS). It follows a similar orientation session for undergraduate students held on 4th August 2025.
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