General
Dark Spots a Priority in Mak-SHARP Lighting
The Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Finance and Administration (DVC F/A), Dr. Barnabas Nawangwe, officially handed over the site to SHARP Electronics; the company that will install solar street lighting around the Makerere University Main Campus. Priority will be given to the key streets, like University Road and dark spots around CoVAB, CEES, MTSIFA and the Chemistry Department, CoNAS before rolling out to other parts of the University. “Violent attacks on our students have been a major concern especially in these dark spots. Some of our students leave campus late in the night after lectures or using the Library facility. We are grateful to SHARP Electronics for this initiative and believe that our collaboration will be of mutual benefit since you will run adverts on the LED screens to be installed along with the lights,” said the DVC F/A.
A total of 120 lights will be installed under this project. The MD, SHARP Electronics, Mr. Patrick Katto clarified that some of the tree branches in areas where light poles are to be installed will be pruned to prevent shadows from obstructing the solar powered lights. These high-tech lights from the U.S.A cost approximately 15m shillings each, inclusive of installation costs and insurance. They have a life-span of 20years, 10 of which are under warranty.
According to the Director Estates and Works Eng. Fred Nuwagaba, the lights will be professionally installed. “One such light (Pictured Right) was installed outside the Main building for demonstration purposes and has been working seamlessly since May 2012. As you drive along University Road at night, you cannot miss how brightly it illuminates the area,” he emphasized.
SHARP Electronics will start preparatory works for erection of the first batch of lights within two weeks.
The light boxes to be installed on these lights will carry adverts and various messages including those from the University Management, the Students’ Guild, and facts about Makerere University. In addition, up to 10 LED screens will be strategically positioned on campus to carry the same information as the light boxes. These efforts will be coordinated by the Estates and Works Department and the Public Relations Office.
By Marion Alina, Public Relations Office
Related story:
http://vc.mak.ac.ug/events/240-mak-sharp-partnership-set-to-light-up-main-campus.html
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. 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.
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 21st 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.
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.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st 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.
-
General1 week agoCall for Applications: Admission to Postgraduate Programmes 2025/2026
-
Humanities & Social Sciences1 week agoOver 2,000 Attend Makerere’s Dialogue on Traditional Spirituality, Herbal Medicine, Witchcraft and Questions of Truth
-
General5 days agoAccommodation during the Recess Term: 2024/2025
-
General2 weeks agoPhase 1 of e-Learning initiative at Makerere University registers remarkable achievements
-
General2 weeks agoARIPO, URSB Visit Mak, Discuss IP & Patenting