General
Chancellor Inaugurates Mak Holdings Company Board of Directors
The Chancellor Makerere University, Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera inaugurated the first Board of Directors for the Makerere University Holdings Company on 22nd August 2014 in the Senior Common Room, Main Administration Building. The 7- board member team, led by illustrious businessman, entrepreneur and industrialist; Charles Mbire, will be charged with laying further strategies for improving Makerere University’s finances. The other members include:
- Mr. Charles Ocici, Executive Director of Enterprise Uganda
- Dr. William Bazeyo, an Associate Professor and the Dean, School of Public Health, CHS, Makerere University.
- Ms. Ruth Biyinzika Musoke, Director, Member Services at the Private Sector Foundation Uganda.
- Mr. Dan Kasirye, Country Investment Officer promoting IFC investments in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi for the World Bank Group
- Dr. Winifred Tarinyeba-Kiryabwire, Lecturer, School of Law, Makerere University, and
- Dr. Gorrettie Nsubuga Nabanoga, Deputy Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University.
In his acceptance speech, Charles Mbire pledged that the Board will give its very best towards improving Makerere University’s finances and requested that the bureaucratic tendencies synonymous with public institutions be minimized to allow the Board work faster and smoothly.
The Chancellor called upon the inaugural Board of Directors to take up the task wholesomely. “The task ahead may seem challenging. However, through creativity and innovation you have the opportunity to tap into your individual wealth of experience to collectively make little work of seemingly impossible tasks,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu, emphasized that this University has vast resources for the Board to work with. “Makerere University has a wealth of land resources located in the most strategic locations of this city right from the up-market suburbs of Kololo and Makindye to the less affluent but more dynamically evolving areas such as Katanga. We need to evolve with the times so as to make the most of our own resources and influence,” he said.
In a related development, the Chancellor inaugurated the Endowment fund Board of trustees last month. This Board is responsible for mobilising resources from Makerere University Alumni and well-wishers (http://news.mak.ac.ug/2014/07/makerere-inaugurates-endowment-fund-board-trustees).
In relation to both the Board of Directors for the Makerere University Holdings Company and the Board of Trustees for the Endowment fund, the Chairperson of Makerere University Council, Eng. Dr. Charles Wana Etyem observed that, “The confidence that we have placed in both the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors is firmly rooted in the ethos that have shaped Makerere University over the past 92 years. In addition to our vast land resources, Makerere University also has vast human resources. People are our greatest resource, and you ladies and gentlemen of the board are an embodiment of this adage. Therefore as we continue to place the best qualified people in the right places, we are destined to achieve our objective of a financially stable Makerere University.”
Article by Marion Alina, PUblic Relations Office
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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