General
Hall Launches Code of Conduct: Warns against drug abuse
Livingstone Hall has launched a code of conduct to guide student relations in the Halls of residence. This code, the first of its kind, is written in line with the University rules and regulations. It among other things prohibits students from crossing the Hall quadrangles in towels on any occasion, playing loud music and using drugs.
At the launch, on 26th Sept. 2014, a reformed student (names withheld) shared his experience with using drugs. This student was allegedly drawn to the practice by peer pressure but was lucky to have been rehabilitated. He is now pursuing his studies aggressively to make up for lost time. “Without rules and regulations on this, anyone can stray. It starts with a small puff, then another and another,” he shared in relation to smoking marijuana.
Students also shared experiences on being ‘exported’ when their roommates had female visitors, and were 
optimistic that the code of conduct will address this. Other halls of residence are welcome to adopt the code.
Dr. Allan Birabi-CEDAT, who represented the DVCFA Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe at the launch, encouraged students to stay focused amidst the many challenges. “Your generation stands in a challenging time when values have evaporated. Do the right thing, at the right time, in the right place and the right way. Narcotics have no value addition but rather subtract from you,” he said. “You are the future. You have the will power to make the right decisions and this is all up to you,” he added.
The Deputy Dean of students, Stephen Kateega called upon students to rise up to the challenge and abide by their own code of conduct. He was glad that the students have ably differentiated between their “rights and responsibilities by drafting the code of conduct.” This code was initiated by one of the students, Solomon Kalema Musisi who requested that the code be published annually to all freshmen. The Hall Warden, Amos Tukamushaba, pledged that Livingstone Hall will indeed abide by this code.
A visit to the Makerere University Counseling and Guidance Centre, located opposite Mary Stuart Hall, reveals that the number of students battling drug addiction is on the increase. According to the Centre’s Manager, Henry Nsubuga, the increase is partly as a result of increased awareness of this Centre’s presence. “Many of the cases of drug abuse are students whose icons are celebrities. These students think that if the big Jamaican musicians are taking drugs, then it is the way to becoming a star. But this is not true, there are many big musicians who are not on drugs,” he says.
The students take a variety of drugs including kuber, marijuana, mirra, injectables like cocaine and smoke shisha. All these are obtained from suppliers in neighbouring slums and other areas. “Many of these students have confessed that they started taking drugs while in secondary school and with the freedom at the university, they graduated in the practice. Some of them have as a result failed to finish their studies,” adds Nsubuga.
The centre has now started a special drug-support group to help students who are trying to get off drugs. “Drug and alcohol addiction is a disease, so you have to be treated over a long period of time. This is what we hope to achieve in the support group which runs between 3:00pm and 4:00pm every Thursday,” explains Nsubuga.
Nsubuga says drug addiction is now a national problem and the authorities are not doing enough to curb the 
vice. He is calling upon all those who know of colleagues, relatives and friends who are struggling with drug/alcohol addiction to bring them to the centre.
Monnie Lubega, a Senior Counselor at the Centre reveals that last semester, the centre handled about 10 cases of drug and alcohol abuse. She further reveals that students presenting with academic related concerns are equally many. “Some of these students have diverted their tuition into business ventures and failed to reap back the money in time to clear their tuition. Last semester, three students were threatening to commit suicide over the same but we counseled them against it. Others have accumulated a lot of retakes and a selected few are battling with love relationship issues,” she adds.
By Marion Alina, Public Relations Office
General
Makerere University and Xiangtan University Advance Strategic Partnership in Chemical Engineering
Makerere University and Xiangtan University are set to update their close to 20-year academic partnership, with a new focus on launching a joint Master’s degree program in Chemical Engineering and expanding student and staff exchange initiatives.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a recent visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University to Makerere University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in the company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively.
While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to diversify academic offerings and contribute to national development through training in Chemical Engineering. Through this new initiative, the University will better prepare graduates for the petrochemical industry and support the country’s industrial growth.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated that the proposed collaboration aims to address Uganda’s growing need for industrial expertise, particularly as the country develops its petroleum sector. The two universities here are working toward a 1+2 training model, which will enable Makerere students to gain practical experience and access advanced laboratory facilities at Xiangtan University.
Professor Nawangwe further reiterated that “our relationship with the people of China, not just for Makerere but also for a big part of Uganda, has been opened wider by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, considering that many other collaborations like one being discussed now have come through this collaboration.”
The head of the Xiangtan delegation, Professor Dingyu Ou, expressed appreciation for the meeting, and acknowledged the history between the institutions. “As mentioned, we have a very long relationship and a very stable friendship between our two universities.”
Professor Ou extended appreciation for the support provided to the Confucius Institute at Makerere, the care shown to his colleagues, and looked forward to the successful start of the Chemical Engineering collaboration.
Assuring the delegation of Makerere’s readiness for the collaboration, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba the Lead, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Makerere University Advancement Office, aligned with the Vice Chancellor’s emphasis of University goal to have both theory and practice imparted to the students.
She said “the curriculum of the university and Uganda as a whole is moving towards competence-based education training to ensure students are equipped to demonstrate those skills in the actual field, particularly regarding petroleum exploration.”
Ms. Ndagire Kajumba also emphasised a shift in strategy for the partnership office, saying, “we are moving away from just signing MOUs that collect dust, and moving towards those that are more collaborative to benefit our faculty and students, just like this one.”
Professor Gilbert Kumushabe aligned his remarks with those of the Vice Chancellor and Ms. Ndagire Kajumba, and described the method used at Xiangtan University as “actually competence-based teaching.”
Based on his recent visit, Prof. Gumoshabe shared that students in China are divided into groups with dedicated teachers to perform practical, hands-on work beyond the theoretical lecturers. He expressed gladness that the same was being adopted for the Ugandan context.
Both institutions are now working to finalise the specific agreements for the joint degree and exchange programs. Beyond academic training, the collaboration will advance cultural and professional exchange.
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