General
Mak Automated Vehicle Control System Project kicks off
Makerere University has contracted Kenya Airport Parking Services (KAPS) Limited to run commercial parking services at the Main Campus. KAPS is to introduce a 24-hour automated vehicle management system that will involve installation of CCTV cameras at all main entrances to Makerere University, and erecting of ticketing machines to bill external vehicles users who access the University. Installation works will start in mid May and allow for a testing period before the system becomes fully operational on 1st July 2014.
According to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Ddumba Ssentamu, “The procurement of these services was a Management decision to control traffic flow within the university and also generate income. Makerere University is currently used as a shortcut by many vehicles, and this increases the wear and tear on our roads.” Records show that 58% of the traffic entering and exiting the university has no business to conduct at the main campus.
How the system works and Provisions for Staff/Students
The vehicle control system will use cards and tickets. Staff members and students of Makerere University will be exempted from paying parking fees for a yet- to- be determined grace period. Special access cards will be issued for this purpose. Each member of staff will be required to register a maximum of two vehicles and will be given two cards. These cards are not transferable. The registration exercise will be conducted by the Estates and Works Department (EWD) at College level and at other central locations, in a scheduling to be shared out soon. The Estates Department will work in liaison with the Academic Registrar’s Department and the Office of the Dean of Students in verifying students who need cards.
A booth will be installed at each entrance and manned by KAPS officials. “We will use wireless network for the different gates to communicate to each other and coordinate the movement of vehicles. We will also provide monthly/seasonal cards to those who prefer to pay for longer periods,” explained Kuria Njenga, the KAPS Project Manager.
“Members of staff should expect minimum inconvenience as the installation of the equipment is ongoing at the three university gates. We are optimistic that they will appreciate the need for this system after familiarizing with it,” asserted the Estates and Works Director, Fred Nuwagaba.
Charges
External vehicles will pay an hourly charge depending on the vehicle type. Salon vehicles will pay 500/=, Pickups and 4-wheel drives will pay 700/=, Coasters and small trucks 1,000/=. Lorries and Buses will pay a higher fee of 1,500/=. Vehicles that park for more than 5 hours will be charged 1,000/= per extra hour.
The projected income from this venture is currently estimated at 50m shillings annually, which will form part of the internally generated funds.
External users will be issued a ticket reflecting the time they have accessed Makerere University. They will present the same ticket on exit and pay the charge to a KAPS official at the desired exit point, before the barriers are removed to allow them pass. Ambulances and other emergency vehicles will be granted free access.
Loss of a card/ticket
In case a card is lost, Members of Staff will have to first report to the Makerere University Police Station and also pay 15,000/= for replacement. Members of Staff will be expected to carry the access cards with them as opposed to leaving them in the car.
External users who will have lost/misplaced their tickets will equally be required to first report to the Police Station before they can be allowed to pay 3,000/= before retrieving their vehicles.
This, according to the Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Finance and Administration, Dr. Barnabas Nawangwe, will help curb the rampant car thefts since vehicle owners will be required to show their cards before they can be allowed to exit the university. “We have gone through a lengthy procurement process and finally we have signed a contract with an international firm to manage parking at our University. This is something the university community has been yearning for over some time. I call upon the University community to support and own this project,” he said. There will be periodic review of the system to address emerging gaps.
According to Johnson Mucunguzi, Chief Security Officer/OC Makerere University Police Station, “About 20 cars have been stolen from Makerere University over the last 6 months. Although we eventually recover them, we are glad that this system is here now to supplement our efforts.”
Motorcycles
The university policy prohibiting motorcycles from accessing the Main campus still stands. Members of staff/students who come in with motorcycles will be required to register with the Estates Department too, to get special access cards for this purpose.
About KAPS
KAPS installed the Entebbe Airport system and also supplied the Multiplex Parking equipment. They have also installed the parking system at the newly opened Acacia Mall in Kamokya.
Article by Marion Alina, Public Relations Office
By Moses Lutaaya
Makerere University has challenged its newly admitted PhD students to go beyond pursuing academic qualifications and become independent scholars capable of generating knowledge, solving societal problems and contributing to Africa’s transformation.
The call was made by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, during the orientation of the 2026/2027 PhD cohort at Makerere University’s Main Hall in the Main Building on 10th August 2026.
Prof. Ssali told the new scholars that a PhD marks a fundamental shift from previous levels of education, requiring students to take greater responsibility for their academic progress rather than depending entirely on lecturers and supervisors.
“You will have to push yourself and also push your supervisor to move with you,” Prof. Ssali said, urging the students to take ownership of their doctoral journey.
She acknowledged that many PhD students have to balance their studies with employment, family responsibilities and community leadership, making doctoral training demanding. However, she urged them to remain focused on completing their programmes within the prescribed three, four or five years.
Prof. Ssali said Makerere expects its doctoral training to produce scholars who can create knowledge, challenge existing ideas and develop solutions to societal problems.
She encouraged the students to embrace ambiguity and become comfortable questioning what they already know, noting that doctoral education requires scholars to identify important questions, investigate them and generate answers that advance knowledge.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor also urged the students to develop interdisciplinary collaborations and scholarly networks rather than confining their research to their individual disciplines.
She said the success of doctoral education should not be measured merely by the number of dissertations completed or papers published, but by the extent to which research contributes to society.
With Africa facing complex challenges, including climate change, disease, population growth and development pressures, Prof. Ssali said PhD scholars have a responsibility to generate evidence that can influence policy, strengthen institutions and advance innovation.
She challenged each scholar to continually ask what problem their research addresses, what solution it advances and whether that solution can create sustainable value.
The Director of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma, said the new cohort was joining Makerere at a time when the University is implementing reforms aimed at strengthening graduate education and improving completion rates.
Prof. Kikooma revealed that Makerere received close to 12,000 applications across its master’s, postgraduate and PhD programmes but admitted about 6,000 students.
He said graduate education has been placed at the centre of the University’s efforts to strengthen research capacity and prepare scholars to contribute to knowledge production and innovation.
Under the reforms, PhD students will undertake compulsory cross-cutting courses designed to provide foundational knowledge and skills for doctoral research. They will also be required to undertake teaching in either their second or third year under the guidance of their supervisors.
In addition to completing their theses, students will be required to produce at least two publications before graduation, a requirement intended to prepare them to become the next generation of researchers, innovators, inventors and creators.
Makerere has also introduced a digital system to monitor the progress of every PhD student each semester. The system is intended to enable students, supervisors and university officials to identify challenges early and intervene in real time.
Prof. Kikooma urged the scholars to write regularly, think critically, maintain open and constructive relationships with their supervisors and protect their academic integrity and professional reputation.
He also encouraged them to build scholarly networks and remain resilient, noting that rejected papers, disappointing data and unexpected challenges are normal aspects of doctoral training.
The Director of Research, Innovations and Partnerships, Prof. Robert Wamala, challenged the scholars to ensure that the knowledge they produce is trustworthy, responsible and ethically sound.
Prof. Wamala emphasized the importance of respecting the dignity, rights, safety and autonomy of research participants, particularly where studies involve individuals, communities and personal information.
He highlighted informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, justice and accountability as critical principles of ethical research and urged students to maintain transparency throughout the research process, from developing research questions and collecting data to analyzing and reporting findings.
Prof. Wamala also cautioned the students on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in research.
He said although AI can assist researchers with activities such as language improvement, it does not remove the researcher’s responsibility for the final product.
Researchers, he said, must verify AI-generated information and remain accountable for inaccurate statements, misleading interpretations and incorrect references.
He further urged students involved in international and other research collaborations to establish clear agreements on roles, authorship, data ownership, access and intellectual property before commencing their research.
The Deputy University Librarian, Dr. Kizito Ongaya, meanwhile, urged the new scholars to make full use of Makerere’s library and information resources throughout their doctoral journey.
Dr. Ongaya said the University operates a hybrid library system combining physical and electronic resources, with more than 200,000 books, 45 e-journal databases and over 16,000 archival materials available to researchers.
He encouraged the students to participate in library training to learn how to access and effectively use electronic resources and to explore specialized libraries and information centers across the University’s colleges.
These include resources covering natural sciences, agriculture, veterinary medicine, health sciences, education and humanities, as well as museums, botanical gardens, specialized collections and other research facilities.
The newly admitted doctoral students were also addressed by Mr. Henry Nsubuga, the Manager Makerere University Counselling and Guidance Centre, Mr. George Mugabi Turyamureeba, the Deputy University Bursar and members of Makerere University Convocation.
Makerere University has once again cemented its place as a regional leader in academic excellence after successfully hosting the East African Universities Debate Championships (EAUDC) 2026, welcoming the continent’s brightest young minds for a week of intellectual competition, cultural exchange, and leadership development.
Held from 26th July to 1st August 2026, the championship brought together more than 200 student debaters, adjudicators and delegates from 25 universities across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and other invited institutions, transforming the Ivory Tower into East Africa’s premier arena for ideas, innovation and public discourse.
The week-long tournament featured rigorous British Parliamentary debate rounds, public speaking competitions, adjudication workshops and networking sessions designed to sharpen critical thinking, leadership and persuasive communication. Participants debated contemporary issues ranging from governance and economic transformation to technology, public health, climate change and Africa’s future.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Deputy Vice Chancellor welcomed delegates to Makerere University, emphasizing the institution’s enduring commitment to nurturing graduates who are not only academically accomplished but also capable of leading meaningful conversations that shape society. The championship reflected Makerere’s vision of producing graduates who are innovative, analytical and prepared to address regional and global challenges.
Beyond competition, EAUDC 2026 became a celebration of East African unity. Delegates experienced Uganda’s rich cultural heritage through social events, campus tours and cultural showcases that fostered friendships beyond national borders. The interactions reinforced the championship’s belief that dialogue remains one of the strongest foundations for regional integration and peaceful cooperation.
The tournament concluded with an electrifying Grand Finale witnessed by students, alumni, university leaders, invited guests and debate enthusiasts. The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Sports Hon. Eng. Cuthbert Abigaba represented the Speaker of Parliament as the Guest of Honour. In his remarks he congratulated Makerere University on the successful event and encouraged debate among students.
Prof Sarah Ssali the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs at Makerere University pledged continuous support from the administration towards Makerere Debate Union. Teams demonstrated exceptional research, analytical reasoning and eloquence before a distinguished panel of international adjudicators, bringing to a close one of the most competitive editions of the championship.
The successful hosting of EAUDC 2026 marks another milestone in Makerere University‘s growing reputation as a centre of excellence for debating and public speaking. The event builds on the university’s long-standing tradition of producing outstanding debaters while providing students with opportunities to engage with peers from across the region in meaningful intellectual exchange.
As the championship drew to a close, participants departed Kampala with new friendships, stronger networks and renewed inspiration to continue using debate as a tool for leadership, democratic participation and social transformation.
With the East African chapter successfully concluded, attention now turns to the Pan-African Universities Debating Championship (PAUDC) 2026, where Makerere University will once again represent East Africa on the continental stage.
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