General
Mak-UPF toast to improved relationship at Oryema Memorial Lecture
As part of events to mark the Uganda Police Force (UPF) Centenary celebrations, on 16th September 2014 Makerere University hosted the Erinayo Oryema Memorial lecture in honour of Uganda’s first indigenous Inspector General of Police. Born on 1st January 1917, the late Lt. Col. Erinayo Wilson Oryema enlisted in the Uganda Police Force in 1939 and rose through the ranks to eventually serve as Inspector General of Police from 1964 to 1971.
By 2:00pm on the warm Tuesday afternoon that the Memorial Lecture was held, the Main Hall was abuzz with conversations as guests and members of the Makerere community were ushered to their seats; occasionally stopping to briefly greet and laugh with a few familiar faces in the midst of flashing green and blue strobes of light from the grand setup by the events company. With the Inspector General of Police, IGP-Gen. Kale Kayihura, Cabinet Ministers, UPF top brass and various dignitaries freely greeting and mingling with the audience, the security detail was obvious and meticulous in the execution of its duties. This was soon put to the test as several members of the audience had to be tactfully asked to take up seats in the gallery, as only the reserved seats were empty way before the talk could start.
Welcoming all present to the Memorial Lecture, the Chancellor Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera thanked the UPF for choosing Makerere University as the place of remembrance for an illustrious Ugandan. He thanked the IGP for closely relating with Makerere, noting that at one time the institution had the worst reputation with all armed forces in Uganda.
“The Makerere University community finds it wonderful to celebrate this marked improvement in our relationship as evidenced by the recent training of our students in crime prevention skills by the Uganda Police,” noted the Chancellor. “This is indeed remarkable progress as compared to situation in previous regimes where it was a serious offence to be identified as member of staff of Makerere University” added Prof. Kagonyera.
He noted that the late Lt. Col. Erinayo Oryema was a gentleman of perfect distinction and his death as well as that of Archbishop Janani Luwum and Mr. Charles Oboth Ofumbi was one of the biggest crimes of the Ugandan Government then, “I hope that this will never happen again in this country” reflected the Prof. Kagonyera, further adding “it is high time that the History of Uganda became a compulsory subject so as to educate our youth on the distinctive qualities of great leaders such as the late Oryema.”
The moderator of the day and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Vision Group Mr. Robert Kabushenga thanked the Uganda Police for the tremendous work done over their 100 years of existence, especially in line with the day’s theme “From Colonial Policing to Community Policing; A Century of Challenges, Achievements and Transformation”. He recommended that the audience reads Andrew Okello Lawoko’s The Dungeons of Nakasero and Henry Kyemba’s State of Blood to better appreciate how much policing had transformed in Uganda. He then asked Hon. Henry Kyemba who was also present in the audience to stand up for recognition of his authorship and contribution to the Nation’s transformation.
Prior to delivering his keynote address, Dr. Jude Kagoro a former Makerere University Lecturer currently serving at Bremen University, Germany took time to recognize his former colleagues in the Department of Religion and Peace Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) like Dr. Paddy Musana and thank Makerere for firmly establishing him in the field of Peace and Conflict studies. He applauded Dr. Simba Kayunga, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, CHUSS whose then rousing political science talks in the Main Hall set the pace for his own now busy speaking schedule.
Dr. Kagoro then delved into his address, which sought to give a sociological understanding of the Uganda Police, an often neglected area. He noted and appreciated the role of the Media and NGOs whose reports help to inform and educate the public on UPF performance but added that these often do not take into consideration the other aspects that affect the force. “You would be surprised to note that research the world over almost exactly mimics details on the social aspects of the police however an academic understanding of this is missing,” said Dr. Kagoro.
He observed that the UPF does a commendable job in the Ugandan communities putting into considerations that factors that would have favoured policing like National Identity Cards and proper physical addressing are almost nonexistent in Uganda. He however noted that despite these encumbrances and in comparison to other countries, the Ugandan people overwhelmingly report crime to the Police, which speaks of confidence in the force and an intimate relationship between the UPF and masses.
Commenting on the colonial versus the community policing model, Dr. Kagoro appreciated the noticeable difference in gender balance as evidenced by the increasing number of female Officers heading Directorates, Police Stations and various departments. He also noted the increased presence of police officers of all categories in even the most remote locations citing an example of the unexpected presence of traffic officers on remote country roads in Kotido and other locations he had visited. He also noted the marked improvement in the psychosocial value of the UPF in the communities, as shown by the willingness of music artistes to freely partner with the Police. He also observed this also played out in the form of elderly citizens especially in the Central region often visiting police stations to report suspicious patterns in the community that were yet to break out into criminal activity. He concluded his keynote address by emphasizing that the ordinary citizen is not only a consumer but a co-producer of order in partnership with security agencies and therefore must embrace their civic duty and responsibility to remain orderly.
Discussing the keynote address, Mr. Andrew Mwenda, CEO-The Independent started off by observing that our media today was awash with self-proclaimed commentators whose opinions are mostly based on hearsay and as such rely on stereotypes and prejudice to make comments. He appealed to journalists to conduct meticulous research by interviewing a representative sample of the various stakeholders so as to exercise a degree of objectivity in what they were reporting.
He also advised the UPF to constantly publish all the community outreach activities and positive strides made in order to stem the tide negative publicity, which threatens to overwhelm all the good work that the force is doing. He however advised all those intending to organize demonstrations to first of all be organized by restraining all participants from participating in any illegal activity such as looting and destruction of property. In concluding his remarks, he commended to the IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura for increasing the visibility of the Uganda Police through transforming the force from the colonial to the community policing model. He also thanked the IGP for maintaining public order and thereby enabling the force to be better facilitated to improve its other units.
The patient audience was then given a chance to participate in the lecture and members expressed opinions that ranged from the need to improve on the welfare of retired police officers to the need for UPF to take advantage of the academic specializations of their Senior Officers, some of whom had earned Masters and Doctoral degrees. Participating as a member of the audience The Minister in charge of General Duties, Office of the Prime Minister, Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere commended Dr. Kagoro for once again awakening the sociology in him and acknowledging the improvement in the relationship between the UPF and general public; a very important aspect of sociology.
“Many of us are getting focused on causative and forgetting these qualitative differences that occur in our lives. I wish that another type of debate on the causative differences between the UPF and the public over the years could be organized,” commented Prof. Kabwegyere.
The Woman Parliamentary representative-Kitgum District Hon. Beatrice Atim Anywar then took time to make her contribution, noting that as the police celebrated 100 years, it was important to also examine the other side. She observed the need to desensitize members of the rural population in some regions from only looking at the UPF an organ that quells riots. She also requested the IGP to oversee the welfare of female Police Officers, especially those who needed to fulfill their maternity obligations.
In his remarks, the IGP thanked all present especially the families of the late Erinayo Oryema and Janani Luwum for attending the inaugural memorial lecture. He also commended the Management of Makerere University and student leadership for cooperating with the UPF to peacefully resolve any standoffs. Commenting on the current reputation of the UPF as a “tear gas force” he noted that circumstances often dictated police responses and such means were only a last resort.
The Chief Guest at the Memorial Lecture the State Minister for Internal Affairs Hon. James Baba paid tribute to the late Lt. Col. Erinayo Oryema for his distinguished service to his nation and people both as IGP and Minister. He shared that Lt. Col. Oryema will be reburied with full honours at his ancestral home in Tangi village, Purongo Sub-county in Nwoya District on 18th September 2014.
At the conclusion of the Memorial Lecture, the UPF hosted all guests present including members of the late Lt. Col. Erinayo Oryema and Archbishop Janani Luwum families to a cocktail where members of the force freely interacted with the public.
Article by Public Relations Office
General
Minister Janet Museveni Lays Foundation Stone for School of Graduate Studies Building, Commissions the School of Law Building and the renovated Lumumba Hall
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, has laid the foundation stone for Makerere University’s School of Graduate Studies building, whose construction is now underway.
The Minister laid the foundation stone for the USD8 million project during a brief function held on Wednesday 18th December 2024 at the site opposite Makerere University’s Lumumba Hall. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, University Council Chairperson Mrs. Lorna Magara, and Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe.
Others in attendance included Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, Professor Henry Alinaitwe; Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Professor Buyinza Mukadasi; University Secretary Mr. Yusuf Kiranda; Dean of Students Winfred Kabumbuli; Guild President Vincent Lubega Nsamba; and the Vice Guild President, Joy Eve Serunjogi among others.
The building is a donation (in-kind) from the late Hasmukh Patel, an industrialist and former Chairman of Tororo Cement who passed away on August 29, 2024, after a short illness. The journey to this befitting donation to Makerere University started in December 2022, when Hasmukh Patel accompanied by some members of his family and friends visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe to declare his donation. From December 2022, a number of meetings were convened involving the Minister of Education and Sports, the University leadership, Mr. Hasmukh Patel, his family and Tororo Cement regarding this donation. Living true to his commitment during those meetings, his family and Tororo Cement are implementing his wishes to construct the building, which will house the School of Graduate Studies at Makerere University.
Before laying the foundation stone for the School of Graduate Studies building, Hon. Janet Museveni first unveiled a plaque to officially open the new building for the School of Law. She then headed to Lumumba Hall, where she unveiled another plaque marking the completion of its renovation.
The First Lady, who had initially laid the foundation stone for the School of Law building on May 17, 2022, returned to the main campus to officially open the completed structure. Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 7.3 billion, the new three-storeyed building features lecture rooms, tutorial and seminar rooms, a library, a moot court, offices, a cafeteria, a lactation room, and other teaching and learning facilities. Construction was undertaken by M/S CK Associates, with Symbion serving as a consultant.
The renovation works for Lumumba Hall commenced in June 2023, with the site handed over to the contractor, National Enterprise Corporation (NEC). Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 9 billion, the project involved extensive renovations to restore Lumumba Hall to its original splendor. Lumumba Hall now accommodates about 725 students.
Lumumba Hall was the first hall of residence to undergo renovation, followed by Mary Stuart Hall, which has also been handed over to NEC for refurbishment. These renovations, which began last year, are a result of the Government of Uganda’s efforts to improve the nine (9) halls of residence at the main campus.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Janet Museveni thanked the University Council and management for their dedication to rebuilding the institution. She expressed confidence that the physical restoration efforts would also rebuild the character of young people.
“There is a restoration of dignity that comes to an institution or a community when we choose to rebuild and it is not only physical, there is a spiritual restoration that comes as well. For Nehemiah, it was not just the rebuilding of a physical wall it was the rebuilding of broken lives and a broken covenant. It was the rolling away of the reproach they had suffered as a nation,” she said.
Adding; “I therefore salute the Council and the management of Makerere for your dedication to the rebuilding of this University. I am confident that as you rebuild physically, you are rebuilding the character of our young people. My prayer is that the physical restoration is translating into the spiritual restoration of this great institution.”
The first lady, Hon. Janet Museveni recalled her earlier visit to Makerere University, where she observed the dilapidated state of the halls of residence, which prompted her to initiate the renovation works.
“I remember taking a tour of the halls of residence in this University and Kyambogo University in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. My heart bled when I saw the state of the halls of residence. Like Nehemiah, I took my burden to the Lord and now see what the Lord has done! Commissioning of the refurbished Lumumba Hall today is a testament to the faithfulness of our God. It is even more gratifying to know that other projects are ongoing and these include: the renovation of Mary Stuart Hall, the construction of the Perimeter Wall, and improvements at the University Hospital, including setting up an operating theatre and ICU.” She said.
Hon. Janet Museveni also expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for his leadership, which facilitated the realization of the Tororo Cement project. “This Project would not have been possible without the guidance and leadership of the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Nawangwe, who drew my attention to this offer by Tororo Cement, and requested me to endorse this Project, which will be named after Mr. Hamukh Patel,” she said.
Adding: “I am informed that the construction of this building is estimated to cost 8 Million US dollars and will consist of: lecture and seminar rooms, smart classrooms, laboratories, an innovation space, a conference hall, offices and other facilities. We remain forever grateful for this donation, which will increase access and contribute to improving the quality of postgraduate education.”
Speaking at the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe commended Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the development of Makerere University, which has seen remarkable progress under her leadership. “Hon. Minister, from the time you took over the Office of Minister of Education and Sports and the Higher Education Sector, Makerere University in particular has transformed tremendously. Most notable is the infrastructure revolution at Makerere. On several occasions, you have come to Makerere to lay the foundations for new buildings and to open completed buildings, including our iconic Main Administration Building,” he said.
“When you inspected the halls of residence in 2021, I could see the frustration in your eyes, looking at the dilapidated state the halls were in, especially Lumumba, part of which had been condemned for 2 years,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
“Hon. Minister, I am sure that today, after seeing the glamorous new building for the School of Law and the glittering renovated Lumumba Hall, you are in a completely different mood compared to that visit in 2021. We are as delighted as you must be and your efforts are the reason for our happiness today. Our law students and professors can now comfortably study, work and conduct research in the best building for any school of law that I have seen,” Prof Nawangwe added.
Reflecting on the Graduate School Building, Prof. Nawangwe recalled when he received a proposal from Mr. Hasmukh Patel in 2022 who had initially intended to donate the Main Administration Building, which had been destroyed by fire, but opted to donate School of Graduate Studies Building after finding that the main building reconstruction had already started.
“Hon. Minister, in the morning of 13th December 2022, a miracle happened in my office in the Frank Kalimuzo Building. General David Muhoozi and Major General Apollo Gowa walked into my office with the Late Hasmukh Patel. Gen. Muhoozi introduced Mr. Hasmukh Patel as the Chairman of Tororo Cement, who after learning about the destruction by a fire of our Main Administration Building, expressed the wish to reconstruct that iconic building. On reaching Makerere, Mr. Hasmukh Patel found a contractor already on site, and he told us, that he would all the same donate a building to Makerere University as a gift on our 100th anniversary,” Prof Nawangwe said.
“He said it in such a simple way, that I thought I was dreaming. That evening, at the invitation of Mr. Patel, I visited the building that Mr. Patel had built for a school at Bukoto and I told him that a similar building for Makerere would be just what we needed for our School of Graduate Studies and Research that we needed. The University Council unanimously voted to thank Mr. Patel for his magnanimous offer and, you, Maama Janet graciously endorsed the project. I later visited Mr. Patel in Mombasa and was amazed at the humanitarian work he was doing among the communities. He was such a rare human being,” Professor revealed.
“Today we are here to witness the laying of the foundation stone for this, the largest academic building at Makerere University, and the first such donation I know by an African philanthropist to a university in Africa. The building will have lecture and seminar rooms, a conference hall, innovation spaces, PhD student rooms, computer and other laboratories, a restaurant, staff offices and other facilities. I thank Tororo Cement and the family of the Late Hasmukh Patel for honoring his wish and I wish to assure Mr. Patel, who must be in heaven smiling at us, that we will honor his legacy in this building and that we will put the building to its best use in the service of humanity, which is what Mr. Patel lived for,” Prof Nawangwe added.
On her part, the state Minister for Primary Education, Honorable Joyce Moriku Kaducu acknowledged Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the Education sector in her leadership, which has led to the tremendously development of the sector.
“On behalf of the education sector, we want to thank you as the mother of the nation, indeed you are a big gift and a blessing to the nation and education at large, all this achievement would not have been possible if it was not under your visionary leadership and the guidance you have offered,” Minister Kaducu said.
Hon. Kaducu also hailed Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model, which is intended to create wealth among citizens.
“As President Museveni is preaching the message of wealth creation, I want in a special way to thank Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model (PDM), and they have a committee that monitors and informs government. They are indeed part of the team promoting wealth creation in this country,” she said.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Makerere University Council said that the construction of the Graduate studies building speaks to the University’s mission of being a research-led institution because it comes as a dedicated building to house the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, which marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework
“At the heart of Makerere University’s current strategy is the promotion of a research-led institution, with a strong focus on graduate training. The establishment of a dedicated facility for the School of Graduate Studies, which also houses the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework. The late Patel’s timely and generous contribution will undoubtedly advance graduate training and research for generations to come. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional support,” she said.
Mr. Manish Varsani who represented the Patel family took the first lady through how Mr. Hasmukh Patel started the idea of donating the building to Makerere. He explained that, Mr. Patel intended to present a gift that was coming from the bottom of his heart, and he teamed up with General Muhoozi who led him to Prof. Nawangwe’s office.
He also recalled when Mr. Patel met H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Museveni in Bukoto where he (Patel) had donated a building to a school and told the President that he would want to donate the same building to Makerere University as a gift to the First Lady Janet Museveni because he loved her so much, and in response, the President said he would take the message back to the First Lady.
The Guild President Lubega Vincent Nsamba asked the First Lady to consider constructing another hall of residence for the female students to solve what he described as an accommodation imbalance.
“Maama Janet Museveni, allow me to report to you that we still have only three halls of residence gazetted for female students against the six halls of residence gazetted for male students. These halls of residences were built back in colonial and independent times when the female students were fewer compared to their male counterparts, and to me Maama, this accommodation imbalance is something that should be addressed,” he stated.
“To me Maama, this speaks to the sense of how there is a dire need to invest in another additional hall of residence for the girl child here at Makerere University, and Maama, without any fear of contradiction, we humbly request that you consider building an additional hall of residence named after you in recognition of the contribution and honor of the service you have made for this country as a mother and as an educator,” he said.
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