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Mak Annual Int Cultural Boma opens with record participation

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The annual international cultural ‘Boma’ has opened at the College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) with over 300 participants from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Germany, Canada, Italy and United States of America.

The 3-day event is a component of the Summer School program organized by CoVAB and her partners. It takes place every June with students from American and regional universities including Makerere University converging at CoVAB for an exciting program designed to equip them with knowledge and skills in animal production, disease surveillance and public health. The course also exposes the participants to experiential learning with field trips to Eastern and Western Uganda to learn about wildlife and eco-system health management while getting an insight into Ugandan culture and systems.

This year, the 19 participants of the Summer School program are from United States of America, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia involved in veterinary medicine, public health, laboratory diagnosis and related fields. Students undertaking the Masters of Infectious Diseases Management program at CoVAB are also among the Summer School participants.

Speaking at the opening of the ‘Boma’ held under the theme“Enhancing North-South Collaborative opportunities for training, Research and Outreach for Development, Prof. David Owiny, Dean School of Biosecurity, Biotechnical and Laboratory Sciences (CoVAB) said that the idea of a summer school started 8 years ago with the first one attracting 3 students compared to this year’s 19 participaticipants.

The Summer school runs for 3 weeks and usually concludes with an International Cultural ‘Boma’ and a scientific conference.

“The word ‘Boma’ is an African word meaningthe transfer of knowledge from elders to the young ones and it happens in a relaxed environment by a fireplacewhen the moon is bright”, explained Prof. Owiny.

True to its definition, this year’s ‘Boma’ is characterised by several enriching and exciting presentations from accomplished academicians, practitioners, researchers in various fields ranging from gender, business, communication, disease surveillance and investigations, among others.

All the partnering Universities had an opportunity to present on possible areas of collaborations in their respective universities. These included; University of Saskatchewan, University of Missouri, Michigan State University, Mississippi State University, Iowa State University, Washington State and Columbus State University as well as the regional Universities of Nairobi, Rwanda, Sokoine University of Agriculture and Mekelle University.

Prof. John David Kabasa, Principal CoVAB gave an enlightening presentation on opportunities for international collaborations within Africa and Makerere University with particular emphasis on CoVAB.

The participating universities are members of the Africa-United States Integrated Diseases Management (AFRUS-IDM) supported by Higher Education for Development. The AFRUS – IDM network is a strong collaboration of partner Higher Education (HE) institutions both in US and Africa that has been established to advance HED-led Development in Africa.

This network has been built over 4 years of programming and hard work that has borne a successful proposal for planning and now for Higher Education for Development in East and Central Africa funded through USAID.

Prof. Owiny thanked the funders and leading partner of the ‘Boma’; USAID-HED and Mississippi State University respectively for making it possible for the ‘Boma’ to take place at CoVAB. The Summer School will conclude with a 2 day scientific conference aimed at providing an opportunity for dissemination of research outputs in integrated diseases management.

Also present at the ‘Boma’ are local partners such us Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, Ministry of Health, National Livestock Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Organization, District Local Government officials and the Uganda National Council for Higher Education.

By Jovia Musubika-Kavulu, CoVAB

 

Mark Wamai

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Mature Age Scheme Exam Results for 2025/2026

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The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released full results for the Mature Age Entry Scheme Examinations for the Academic Year 2025/2026 held on Saturday 14th December, 2024.

The Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the examination and have been recommended by the Pre-Entry & Mature Age Committee to the University’s Admissions Board for Consideration.

The Aptitude Exam  Results for 2025/2026 Academic Year released in February 2025 can be found here.

Mak Editor

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Directorate of Graduate Training Completes Training of First Cohort Training of Supervisors

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By Moses Lutaaya

The Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) has in collaboration with Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors.

Participants were academic staff from two colleges namely, College of Engineering, Art and Design (CEDAT) and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).

The three-day training that took place at the Telepresence Centre, Senate Building ended on Friday 20thJune 2025.

In his closing remarks to the participants, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma said, “This is the first cohort we are working together with the Center for Teaching and Learning to put together continuous professional development Program so that we are able to enforce the new teaching and learning policy.”

He said that before lecturers are allocated students for supervision, they must first go through this form of formal teaching and learning training to equip them thoroughly with certification required of supervision of graduate students.

“We are coming up with process to ensure that the certificates earned by participants allow you to supervise graduate students. This is the direction of the university and we must ensure that such trainings are concluded and completed successfully by all participants”, Prof. Kikooma.

Prof. Julius Kikooma – Director of Graduate Training

“We can only have you certified upon completing all the exercises in the training process. This is when you will be eligible to receive the work load for supervision”, He added.

“This training of Supervisors is going to be continuous so that all academic staff in colleges and schools are equipped. This first cohort is going to be our building block to the future trainings in the colleges.”

With such capacity building trainings, Prof. Kikooma said that the university is on the right path to achieving its targets in the new strategic plan of increasing the number of graduate students while progressively reducing the under graduate students.

He further hinted that, “We are in the process of writing a curriculum on this, which will be presented for approval before it is rolled out.”

He echoed all participants to share the knowledge they have acquired adding, “Share all you have learnt, do not keep it. Be open minded, have proper communication channels and the sky will be the limit for you.” 

Dr. Robinah N. Kulabako, The Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at CEDAT welcomed the training adding, “This training is very pertinent. I have had the opportunity to supervise Masters and PhD students for over 15 years and I must say that the need to be subjected to this training cannot be over emphasized because there is need to learn, unlearn and relearn many aspects involved in the supervision process.”

She added, “We are moving towards knowledge-based supervision rather than experience-based supervision. This means we must be informed and equipped to be able to advise, guide and mentor to be able to lead a successful supervision journey for both supervisor and supervisee.”

Dr. Andrew Gilbert Were – a lecturer at CEDAT and a participant said, “It is important that all supervisors of graduate students receive this certification from Makerere University through a systematic training process that enables them to attain diverse skills to facilitate learning of graduate students from diverse cultures and with unique set of circumstances.”

“This training is long overdue. In fact, it was an oversight that we could be allowed to supervise students without undergoing supervisors’ training.”

Dr. Dorothy Ssebowa, The Director Centre for Teaching and Learning support- CEES said, “The training this time round has had a mix of early career professionals including Lecturers, Supervisors and Professors share experiences. We have learnt a lot more from experienced supervisors who have shared practices on how they have done supervision over the years.”

“The knowledge and experience-based approaches have made this collaboration very active, interactive and learner centered which has resulted into a collaborative learning from the interdisciplinarity of staff from CEDAT and CAES. The issue now is to continue with professional development across all levels.” She added.

The Makerere University Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors. This activity was supported by the iCARTA – Institutionalization of Advanced Research Training in Africa, a NORHED II Project at Makerere University.

Mak Editor

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CEDAT’s Department of Architecture to Undergo Major Studio Refurbishment with Industry Support

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R-L: Arch. Kenneth Ssemwogerere (Head of Department, Architecture), Dr. Kizito Maria Kasule (Deputy Principal, CEDAT), and Mr. Kayongo Daniel (Plascon Uganda National Sales Manager) during the official handover of a donation at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, on Tuesday, 25th June 2025.

The Department of Architecture at Makerere University’s College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) is set to begin a significant refurbishment of its design studios starting 1st July 2025. This initiative marks a pivotal step in enhancing the learning environment for architecture students and fostering innovation in design education.

The refurbishment project has received a significant boost from Kansai Placon Uganda Limited, which donated UGX 15 million worth of paint to support the transformation. This contribution highlights the growing partnership between academia and industry in shaping the future of architectural education in Uganda.

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Alex Isemaghendera

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