General
Makerere inaugurates Endowment Fund Board of Trustees
The Makerere University Chancellor, Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera inaugurated the first Board of Trustees in charge of the Makerere University Endowment Fund (MakEF) at a ceremony held on Thursday, 17th July 2014 in the Senior Common Room, Main Administration Building. The inauguration ceremony involved the Chancellor adorning each Board Member with a lapel pin engraved with the wording ‘Makerere University Endowment Fund Board of Trustees.’
“This Endowment Fund is a great step forward. I am glad that Makerere University is increasingly getting innovative on how to raise money because the Government subvention and students’ tuition is insufficient. Taking the example of Harvard University with an Endowment Fund worth US$ 32billion, Makerere University is on the right path to financial sustainability,” said the Chancellor Prof. Kagonyera.
The Board whose main objective will be to mobilize resources from Makerere University Alumni and well wishers, is comprised of 7 members headed by Dr. Martin Jerome Okec Aliker. The others are: the Vice Chancellor, Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu; Ambassador Edith Sempala; Mr. Barnabas R. Tumusingize; Mr. Grace Isabirye; Mr. Martin Owiny; and Hon. Gerald Karuhanga.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Aliker promised to serve diligently. “I wrote to the Vice Chancellor 15 years ago suggesting that Makerere University need not to be poor if it uses its own initiative to raise funds. As a Board, we think we know what we want to do and we ask for your support in fulfilling our mandate. We shall deliver,” he emphasized amidst applause.
The Board of Trustees inauguration comes at a time Makerere University is financially constrained. “Makerere University is taking a bold step to walk the talk. We are embarking on a strategic journey focused on delivering 
a financially stable Makerere University. Since a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, today’s inauguration is an indicator that we have started on the long term plan of exploring several strategies, all aimed at making Makerere University financially stable. The Makerere University Endowment fund therefore provides Makerere University and her Alunmni the perfect opportunity to build a firm foundation for future generations,” explained Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ddumba-Ssentamu.
In his remarks, the Chairperson, Makerere University Council-Eng. Dr. Charles Wana Etyem urged the audience recognise the value that the Board of Trustees is bringing to Makerere University. “These people are not coming here to look for allowances or to make a name for themselves. They already have these. They are coming here to help Makerere University raise money. We have now opened a new chapter. The Board of trustees that we are inaugurating today will receive and or 
mobilize funds for the benefit of University operations,” asserted the Chairperson, Makerere University Council.
The Chairperson further explained that the Fund’s long term goal is to fund scholarships, research, infrastructure, high quality teaching and learning services as well as all other activities aligned to the realisation of the University’s vision to be the leading institution for academic excellence and innovations in Africa.
After the inauguration, the Board of Trustees held its first meeting in the Council Room to agree on how best to advance this long-awaited initiative. The Board will serve for a four year term with members eligible for re-appointment for one more term only.
Note:
All alumni, staff, students and well wishers are welcome to contribute to the Endowment Fund. Details on how to contribute may be obtained from the Planning and Development Department (PDD) at the address below.
Planning and Development Department (PDD)
Block C – Lincoln Flats
Makerere University
P. O. Box 7062
Kampala – Uganda
E-mail: info@pdd.mak.ac.ug
By Marion Alina, Public Relations Office
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.
“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.
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