General
Another Double win for African Film and Oral Literature
The month of October 2014 ended on a spectacular note when the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) held a double book launch for two of her enormous army of prolific academics and writers. The audience, most of who had to brave the afternoon downpour on 31st October 2014 to make it in time was kept entertained by Mengo Senior School students’ recitals of Kanemu Kanabiri, Mpenkoni and many other traditional play songs as derived from Dr. Aaron Mushengyezi’s Oral Literature for Children book. On the other hand Sr. Dr. Dominica Dipio’s book Gender Terrains in African Cinema left the audience more appreciative than ever of the power mothers wield over the African film industry and society in general.
In her enthusiastic welcome address Dr. Susan Kiguli, Head-Department of Literature, CHUSS commended everyone for sparing time to attend the launch, especially the Chief Guest Mr. James Tumusiime-Chairman of Fountain Group and her own aunt Mrs. Sheila Goa who at 86 years of age was still sharp and sprightly. She further thanked Mr. Tumusiime for not only accepting her invitation but also actually taking time to read the books, “Our unanimous response was we are going to have a Guest of Honour who has actually read the books” she said, much to the amusement of the audience, before hastening to add “Of course we did not expect less but we are also happy that our judgment was as our students say ‘spot on’.”
She thanked the African Humanities Program (AHP) supported by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) and Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY) for ensuring that Dr. Aaron Mushengyezi and Sr. Dr. Dominica Dipio published their books. “I want to welcome and warmly congratulate our authors for this landmark achievement and for ensuring that our Department’s name stays on the sparkling pedestal,” said Dr. Kiguli, directly addressing the authors. She also commended Prof. Austin Bukenya and Dr. Consolata Kabonesa for their moving reviews of Dr. Mushengyezi’s and Dr. Dipio’s books respectively, as published in the New Vision newspaper of 30th and 31st October 2014.
Associate Professor Aaron Mushengyezi is the Dean-School of Languages, Literature and Communication, CHUSS, a book author and editor who has won several awards from the International Scholarship Programme of the Ford Foundation, the African Humanities Program (AHP). His latest book Oral Literature for Children: Rethinking Orality, Literacy, Performance and Documentation Practices seeks to take the oldest form of communicating traditional cultural values and information to the next level.
“We have recognized the value that these texts for young people play. They embody the cherished cultural values of hard work, respect for each other, and charity as well as numeracy skills. These texts also have a role to play in promoting social relationships and sometimes even teaching children their gender roles and relationships, which help our children to stay focused on what society expects of them as mature men and women” shared Dr. Mushengyezi. He further intimated that the current uncertainty surrounding our sexuality and whom we should marry or not could be attributed to an extinction of cultural values which were previously handed down by traditional oral literature.
Dr. Mushengyezi emphasized the need to work more with culture-based industries so as to get the traditional texts to provide educational value in our schools. He commended Mr. James Tumusiime whose efforts through Fountain Publishers and Igongo Cultural Centre have gone a long way in promoting local cultural practice and conservation. He challenged the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to invest in the promotion of culture-based industries through support to cultural tourism and traditional resources marketing. He also challenged Mr. James Tumusiime to consider having local publications of the books done through Fountain Publishers so as to reduce on their cost and improve their availability. He paid special tribute to his wife, children, family and Makerere University for the support that had enabled him complete the book.
Dr. Okot Benge is a Lecturer in the Department of Literature, CHUSS whose writing also neatly straddles both gender and oral literature aspects. As the moderator for this particular session of the day, he sent the audience doubling over when he recollected Prof. Austin Bukenya’s experience, who when asked for his publications prior to promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer returned with a sack load of books, and even inquired if those would suffice! The evergreen Prof. Bukenya took it all smilingly and on assuming his position at the podium, and as has now become his pre-address tradition, started off with a recital of William Wordsworth’s 19th Century poem My Heart leaps when I behold.
He profusely thanked Dr. Aaron Mushengyezi for “bringing back his youth” through his book, whose review he had felt very privileged to write. Recollecting two childhood memories; i) Njabala – the last folktale his late mother shared with him before her passing and ii) Rosa Nyanzira – his first girlfriend whose storytelling charmed the then four year old Austin, Prof. Bukenya commended the author for exquisitely blending these special memories into one awe-inspiring publication.
Prof. Bukenya shared that he felt both gratified and shamed when he read the book, for in one shot, Dr. Mushengyezi had struck down the targets that he (Prof. Bukenya) had been taking aim at since 1968, when as a graduate student he was assigned the task of systemizing oral literature at Makerere under the guidance of Pio Zirimu. “You brought this process to a new level by showing us what can be done all the way from collection, from transcription, from translation to interpretation, and this starts a very useful scholarly discussion,” said Prof. Bukenya.
He shared that this book brought out the richness of our multilingual culture “This book really enables us to share and if you want to appreciate it, read it in the original text and only read the translated one thereafter” he said. He advised that reading the book this way, we would gain a greater appreciation of how much similarity our languages share. “You have given us a comparative approach of the various rhymes which we can find in our languages” added Prof. Bukenya. He thanked Ms. Emily Drani, Executive Director, Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda for promoting the Nation’s non-tangible culture. “The Arts that make us human are not useless and I will say that loudly and proudly” concluded Prof. Bukenya.
Associate Professor Dominica Dipio the second author of the day is a former Fulbright Research Fellowship and African Humanities Program Fellow who has initiated and coordinated a number of projects such as the Makerere-Bergen Folklore project. Dr. Dipio is a videographer with thirteen titles of both full and short length films to her credit. She has over thirty academic journals and book chapters to her name, her most recent publication being Gender Terrains in African Cinema.
“I came into contact with Film as a Graduate student at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1999. At that time it was being taken as a window into the African world; that is for the outsider and not for the Africa,” said Dr. Dipio in giving a brief background of her inspiration. She defended her choice of Francophone films dating from 1970-2000 for her research because France’s colonial policy supported cultural engagement, which led to a flourishing film industry. “However, a similar process as I have done could be undertaken by students and scholars in East Africa because filmmaking in the region is becoming a very serious engagement” she challenged.
In her analysis of the films, she took inspiration from one African filmmaker who observed that “Evolution is not possible without women’s active involvement and that is especially true of the Arab world. The Arab man has given all he can and his achievements aren’t great. Maybe the Arab woman can reinvent the world… when I look at my mother; I see that her intelligence is intact. She hasn’t had a chance to use it” she read in quoting. Dr. Dipio’s Gender Terrains in African Cinema offers a logical analysis of whether these filmmakers and critics actually “walk the talk” in their films. She was therefore happy to discover that the filmmakers made commendable efforts at representing women and gender issues in a way that challenged the status quo.
“Since political and administrative powers lay mostly in the hands of men, women’s emancipation can only be effective with the active participation of men alongside the women; men in this respect need to equally be the target of male and female discourses. The turnaround made by mainstream men to join the direction of struggle for women’s emancipation against gender based violence always led to very positive results“observed Dr. Dipio. She recognized Ms. Gorettie Bamwanga among many others in the audience for their exceptional role in mentoring young women. Ms. Bamwanga is the author of Footmarks – a book profiling 100 pioneering Ugandan women.
The moderator Dr. Okot Benge was at it once again while introducing Dr. Consolata Kabonesa, Dean-School of Women and Gender Studies (WGS) and reviewer of Gender Terrains in African Cinema. Describing her as the “most amiable scholar I know who is widely published on the subject of women and gender studies”, Dr. Benge managed to elicit that warmth from Dr. Kabonesa that literally made waves as it radiated across the room. “When I started reading the book, all I could keep saying to myself was wow! Dr. Dipio deserves to be in the School of Women and Gender Studies because she tackled gender issues so well” enthused Dr. Kabonesa in her opening statements.
Dr. Kabonesa commended Sister Dipio for making the often-silenced girl child talk speak out through her well scripted narratives in the book. “We don’t see this in the film but in Sr. Dipio’s analysis of the gender terrains in cinema” she observed. She commended Dr. Dipio for highlighting the vital role played by mothers in streamlining gender identities and leveling out gender inequalities in society, “it is we the mothers who actually make these young men who they are and so if we start early with them, we will be able to advance this cause.” She further noted that Sr. Dipio attains a number of goals by representing the various categories of women, engaging them in discourse and critiquing their positions through the lenses of class and age range. “This she attains by weaving in and out of this generation to the other, this class to the next which makes for very interesting reading. You need to read it” commended Dr. Kabonesa.
Dr. Patrick Mangeni is not only the Head-Department of Performing Arts and Film (PAF), CHUSS but also a recognized author of books, poetry and prose. As the country grappled with averting the rapid spread of the HIV scourge in the late 1980s, Fountain Publishers came up with the FFF (Fact, Fiction and Facilitation) project to reach out to the youth. To help develop the Fiction component, Fountain Publishers turned to Makerere University and Dr. Mangeni was one of the authors who tremendously contributed to this project.
Introducing the day’s Guest of Honour, Dr. Mangeni commended Mr. Tumusiime for not only supporting Ugandan and regional authors but also helping to revitalize the University Bookshop in 1996. “We appreciate the Guest of Honour for being innovative and not being afraid to take on challenges. You know what the publishing industry is like but I can proudly say that Fountain Publishers is the leading publisher in this country and it has not been by mistake but by effort, determination and being able to take on risky ventures,” extolled Dr. Mangeni.
The Guest of Honour Mr. James Tumusiime despite the praise heaped upon him managed to make to the podium and graciously thank the Literature Department for honoring him with the invitation. He chose not to bask in this limelight alone but rather chose to share it with his Publishing Manger-Dr. Tom Tibaijuka, and Wordsmith and Editor-Mr. Julius Ocwyino among other Fountain Group staff present. He expressed his delight at being associated with Makerere University Authors especially the day’s guests; Sr. Dr. Dominica Dipio-who has relentlessly contributes to Fountain Publishers’ Madi publications and Dr. Aaron Mushengyezi who co-edited the bilingual Runyankore/Rukiga-English Dictionary.
“I wish to thank you the two authors for elevating seemingly simple subjects of folktales and cinema to the intellectual realm of scholarly work and I hope they are going to trigger debate and discussion so that we see more and more books tackling these important subjects” remarked Mr. Tumusiime. To illustrate the important role played by mothers in African society, Mr. Tumusiime drew inspiration from Rwanda during the era of Kingdoms where a King never took to the throne without the presence of a mother. Similarly he reflected on the example of Ankole where the King was kept in check by a mother’s belt, which if used to sound the royal drum meant that the King had to commit suicide.
Commenting on the current Sciences versus Arts debate, Mr. Tumusiime labeled as “saddening” the current disinformation about the role played by humanities in societal development. He urged scholars to create a lobby group and work with the media to request for an audience with the leadership. “There is science that can develop and liberate our economies but we cannot neglect our own culture, thinking and humanities, and sacrifice them at this altar of science” counseled the Guest of Honour. “We all aspire to be like the developed countries but wherever you have Isaac Newton being celebrated, there is Shakespeare on the side and although science has advanced over the years, Shakespeare is still with us” he said to resounding applause. “And so let us contextualize this debate properly” added Mr. Tumusiime.
He commended Ms. Emily Drani and Artists from the Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts (MTSIFA), CEDAT for their contribution to the successful establishment of the Igongo Cultural Centre, Mbarara. “The museum (centre) was part of that expression of another form of delivering content. Museums and cultural tourism in the world have an annual turnover of 1trillion Dollars compared to Nature tourism. So culture, literature, cinematography and museums are very important assets for this country and we should nurture them” urged Mr. Tumusiime.
Dr. James Ocita a Lecturer in the Department of Literature moved the day’s vote of thanks and commended Fountain Publishers and Mr. James Tumusiime for improving the reading culture in Uganda. He also commended the Fountain Group for setting up the Fountain Living Youth Series which had mentored a number of young writers such as him and honed their writing skills. He thanked The New Vision, Makerere University, Mengo Senior School, FEMRITE and other entities and individuals for making the launch a success. The day’s proceedings were ably emceed by Dr. Danson Kahyana.
Article by Public Relations Office
By Ritah Namisango
“This initiative, funded by the Government of Uganda through Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, represents a significant step forward in our efforts to modernize and digitalize our academic processes. It’s therefore with great pleasure and pride that I launch the Digitalization of Academic Records and Processes project at Makerere University, and I commission the Registry of Students’ Records and the Archive of Students’ Records,” stated the Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni represented by the State Minister for Higher Education, Hon. John C. Muyingo.
As the world continually evolves from manual and traditional methods of records management to modern and digitalized processes, Makerere University launched the Digitalization of Academic Records and Processes (DARP) project to ease the storage, retrieval and acquisition of academic documents by her stakeholders.
The project has digitalized records and implemented new processes as well as established a digital state-of-the-art storage facility at the Senate Building to securely store university academic documents. The digitization process comes along with a university policy that guides on how to record, manage, retrieve and dispose of records not in use. This project is designed to reduce on the substantial amount of space that paper storage systems occupy as well as safeguard records from disasters like fire.
Officiating at the launch of the DARP project on Friday 19th April, 2024 at Makerere University Freedom Square, Hon. John C. Muyingo, affirmed on behalf of Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni that the launch was a significant milestone in the history of Makerere University.
The Education and Sports Minister further noted that in today’s fast-paced world, universities must manage massive amounts of academic information, and efficient record keeping necessitates that the information is accurate, accessible and secure, benefiting both the institution and its stakeholders. She noted that the DARP system would streamline the processes of managing and accessing academic records, resulting in significant timesaving for students and other stakeholders at the university and beyond.
“Digitalization of academic records and processes is an innovation set to revolutionize the way records are managed by addressing pressing public concerns such as efficiency, security, integrity and accessibility as well as eliminating the unnecessary delays in the processes. The traditional manual approach, while effective in its time has become increasingly challenging to sustain in this digital world, therefore, digitalizing academic records and processes provide crucial responses to the monotonous questions that the outdated manual system never addressed,” stated the Minister’s speech.
Having outlined the challenges and risks that the traditional paper-based record keeping systems present such as the storage space factor, the risk of mixing active and inactive records, the high rate of wear and tear as well as vulnerability to manipulation of records, the Minister commended Makerere University on the enviable track record of efficiently managing and securely storing its academic documents, Senate minutes, curricula, examination results and students files for nearly a century, despite political upheavals and other challenges.
She observed that digitalized systems would make academic records more accessible to the students and eliminate the frustration of delays caused by bureaucratic inefficiencies and the outdated paper system, enabling them to timely take the necessary steps in academic and professional progression.
As the University embarked on its journey of digital transformation, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni equally applauded Makerere for continuously upholding its commitment to academic excellence, research and innovation. She advised the fraternity to stay committed to the principles of innovation and inclusiveness that define the University. As such, she urged them to embrace the digital transformation wholeheartedly so as to harness the power of technology and enable Makerere University to remain a beacon of excellence in the academic world.
“Since its establishment in 1922, Makerere University has been a beacon of knowledge and learning, shaping the minds of generations of students and contributing significantly to the development of our nation, Africa and the world at large. Thank you for these brains. Your hard work, expertise, and dedication were instrumental in building this DARP project to realization. I am confident that you will have a lasting and positive impact on this university and the entire education sector, not only in Uganda, but the entire world,” said Hon. Janet Museveni.
The First Lady expressed her gratitude for the partnership with Mastercard Foundation and the support it renders in advancing education and innovation at Makerere University.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted that the launch of the DARP project was not only a landmark achievement for Makerere University, but also a confirmation of the importance that the University Council and Management attach to the role that digitalization and e-services play in implementation of the University strategic plan that continually strives for a professionally managed university.
The Vice Chancellor revealed that the official launch of the DARP Project, undertaken in-house by a hardworking team of University staff, was a financial gain on the part of the University and an additional asset in the quest to improve efficiency and effectiveness as far as the University academic records and processes are concerned.
“Our current drive has been the continued digitalization of various business processes and services so as to be more responsive to the dynamic needs of our students, staff and stakeholders. We have been able to achieve this through intentional development of our in-house information systems development capacity, which has saved us a lot of funds in terms of initial purchase as well as annual license renewal costs,” said the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Nawangwe stated that the DARP project has greatly contributed to the timely and improved service delivery to students and clients. He added that the ultimate goal is to enable students download their own transcripts without need for elaborate physical processes at the university.
“During the 74th graduation ceremony, Makerere University was able to issue academic transcripts to qualifying students before graduation. I am pleased to inform you that we succeeded in issuing of academic transcripts before the graduation date because of the DARP project, which we are launching today. With the digitalization of students’ academic records, the University is now in a better position to provide the required information and data on time,” said the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Nawangwe elaborated that Makerere, being Uganda’s Premier University has been a major beneficiary of several initiatives aimed at improving ICT infrastructure and connectivity. He added that the University has been able to achieve this largely due to the generous donations of the Government of Uganda and other development partners. He thanked His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of Uganda whose support led to the creation of the Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) in the 2019/2020 financial year with initial funding of UGX 30 Billion.
He revealed that the funding has continued to be availed throughout the last five financial years, which is clear demonstration that the Government of Uganda esteems Research and Innovation as catalysts to Uganda’s continued march from a peasant to a modern and prosperous country.
“I am proud to say that Mak-RIF has transformed Makerere’s academic and research landscape tremendously. Over the last five Financial Years, we have worked with other key stakeholders including Government ministries, institutions, agencies, organizations, and the private sector. Together, we have continued to increase the local generation of translatable research and scalable innovations that address key gaps required to drive Uganda’s development agenda, especially the un-funded priorities” stated Prof. Nawangwe.
In the same spirit, the Vice Chancellor applauded the Principal Investigator and Team Leader DARP, Mrs. Patience Rubabinda Mushengyezi and all the Team Members for the hard work that has improved the status of academic records and processes from manual processes to e-services. The DARP project is a collaboration between the Academic Registrar’s Department, College of Education and Externals Studies (CEES), College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) and the Directorate of Information and Communication Technology Support (DICTS). The DARP Project team includes: Prof. Betty Ezati, Dr. Peace Tumuheki, Dr. David Luyombya, Dr. Joyce Bukirwa, Ms. Ruth Iteu Eyoku, Mr. Juma Katongole, Mr. Joshua Muhumuza and Mr. Lubowa Gyaviira.
The Vice Chancellor also thanked the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) and the Mastercard Foundation for supporting different phases of the DARP Project.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of Makerere University Council acknowledged that launching the DARP project at Makerere University marked a significant step forward in digitalizing higher education services. She underscored that the transformational power of digitalization could not be overstated. She stated that by implementing an Academic Records Management System, the University would streamline the tracking and retrieval of academic files and establish a robust platform for digital certification and record verification.
“In an era where credential fraud poses a significant challenge, the DARP Project reinforces transparency, trust, and confidence in our academic processes. It is testament to our commitment to excellence. The DARP Project heralds a new era; one where our certificates and transcripts are shielded against increasingly sophisticated forgeries. By providing digitally verifiable academic documents, we empower employers worldwide to expedite verification procedures,” she articulated.
The Chairperson stated that Makerere University aims to create a dynamic and integrated learning environment with a goal to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an ever-evolving world. She emphasized the need to prioritize student-centeredness and adaptability which vision perfectly aligns with the DARP Project to ensure that the most deserving students can compete fairly in the job market alongside genuinely qualified candidates.
She advised that a system’s effectiveness hinges on the quality of input it receives, therefore, meticulous attention to detail is essential to ensure that the necessary information is accurately fed into the system to yield the expected outcomes. She recommended that vigilant effort has to be invested in ensuring quality processes in how the information is gathered and fed into the system, and the quality of persons tasked to do the work.
Mrs. Magara praised the DARP Principal Investigator for initiating the project in support of the University’s efforts to; address the critical element of maintaining integrity of academic records, significantly contributing to the University’s commitment to digitizing systems, and upgrading the process of archiving of records for ease in verification, certification, and retrieval.
She also extended appreciation to the Government of Uganda for the provision of funds through Mak-RIF, and to Mastercard Foundation for the provision of equipment and other support that will facilitate safe processing and storage of the academic documents.
The Principal Investigator and Team Leader, DARP project, Mrs. Patience Rubabinda Mushengyezi proclaimed that the launch of the project was the birth of a new era in records management at Makerere University.
To enable the audience to understand and appreciate the situation before the DARP project, Mrs. Mushengyezi shared a documentary that highlighted the transformation from a purely manual process to a digital one. She added that the digitalization of student records from the 1980s changes the narrative of delays and long queues to fast, timely and friendly services to the students.
The Principal investigator disclosed that the DARP project team’s aspiration was to have the digitalization of students’ records rolled out in all the schools and colleges of the University. She observed that because of the hard work of the DARP team, they now have clear and well organized documents and the ‘ugly’ records shall never be seen again since they no longer exist. She expressed gladness that what started as a vision had become reality, culminating in the launch of the DARP project.
“Today, Makerere University is launching a new era of digital transformation in the management of students’ records and service delivery. We are changing the narrative of long queues, lengthy processes and we are now moving to efficient and digital services. We are here also to commission the registry of the students’ records and archive. The registry has been fitted with modern shelves with the capacity of storing over 30,000 students files but as we have seen, there is room for improvement and expansion. The archive has been fitted with modern shelves that have a capacity of storing over 100,000 students’ files and 21 wagons will store 170,000 students’ files,” Mrs. Mushengyezi declared.
Recalling the genesis of the DARP Project, Mrs. Mushengyezi shared that when the Government allocated support to the university’s research and innovations fund in 2019, she approached her colleagues and together, they submitted a project proposal. The project identified several challenges which were affecting records management at Makerere University namely; manual records handling, inadequate storage space, inadequate security for records, inexistent policy on records management, and lack of a system to streamline records management. The DARP project therefore set out to address these gaps with the ultimate goal of operating e-services.
“The objectives of DARP Project were to digitalize academic processes including students’ files and examination results and other documents like senate minutes. We wished to establish a students’ records verification and certification Centre. We also wanted to use ICT to improve efficiency in conducting senate meetings and to archive existing manual documents into properly bound and referenced files. It has been a lot of hard work by the project team, but we have seen God’s hand in this transformational journey. I wish to say that we have achieved 95% of our objectives,” Mrs. Mushengyezi stated.
The Principal Investigator noted that the DARP project had created efficiency in the academic Registrar’s department with ability to generate reports on number of students by categories such as course, graduation cohort, academic disciplines i.e. Medicine, Law, Engineering etc., current enrolment and progression, as well as policies passed by the University Senate per year, and so on.
She thanked the Government of Uganda for funding the entire process by providing laptops, access control systems, CCTV cameras, printers, furniture, archival boxes, the 21 shelves, the wagons, stationery and facilitation of the entire team. She also thanked Mastercard Foundation for the support through the relief fund.
She appreciated the entire Makerere University Council and Management for the support rendered towards the establishment of the DARP project and for prioritizing the Project as a university programme. In a very special way, she acknowledged Prof. William Bazeyo, the former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Fred Masagazi Masaazi-Chairperson of Mak-RIF Grants Management Committee (GMC), Prof. Umar Kakumba, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Mr. Alfred Masikye Namoah, former Academic Registrar and the Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, Deputy Registrars namely Mr. Charles Ssentongo and Mr. Tom Otim, for providing tireless support.
In addition, she recognized the supervisors in the Directorate of Research and Graduate namely Prof. Edward Bbaale and Ms. Prossie Nakayiki.
The Principal Investigator, Mrs. Mushengyezi also appreciated the members of staff whom she referred to as DARP Foot Soldiers for organizing, sorting and scanning the records.
In recognition of her selfless service and leadership, the DARP project team members through the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe presented Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi with a plaque and bouquet of flowers.
The DARP project launch was graced by the Chancellor Emeritus, Prof. Ezra Suruma, Members of Parliament, Vice Chancellors of other Universities, former Vice Chancellors, former Deputy Vice Chancellors in charge of Finance and Administration, the Makerere University Students’ Guild, and Mrs. Mushengyezi’s family. The Chaplain, St. Francis Chapel, Rev. Dr. Lydia Nsaale Kitayimbwa led the opening prayer while the event was moderated by Dr. Zahara Nampewo, the Deputy Principal of the School of Law and Ms. Ritah Namisango, Principal Public Relations Officer and Chairperson of the Protocol, Publicity and Media Sub-Committee for the launch. The Department of Performing Arts and Film was on hand to lead the anthems and keep the guests entertained.
By Betty Nabisubi
On Friday 12th April 2024, over 100 international students convened at Makerere University to participate in the Mental Health Awareness Campaign organized by the International Students Union in partnership with the Counselling and Guidance Centre, International Office and Office of the Dean of Students.
The campaign, which included both physical and virtual participants, rallied international students to always ask for help. The annual event enables students to participate in engaging discussions, and provides a platform for them to openly share and address personal and academic challenges, both on and off campus.
The aim of holding a mental health awareness campaign for international students in the university is to promote mental well-being and provide support and resources for students facing mental health challenges. Furthermore, it seeks to raise awareness about common mental health issues, reduce stigma surrounding mental illness, and educate students on available mental health services and support networks. Additionally, it aims to empower students to recognize signs of distress, encourage help-seeking behavior, and foster a supportive and inclusive campus community where students feel comfortable discussing mental health concerns.
In line with the Mental Health Awareness Campaign theme; It is ok to ask for help, each Official urged the international students to seek guidance and support from the right offices and entities within the Makerere University system.
The Office of the Dean of Students represented by Mr. Peter Mwanja, Warden of University Hall emphasized the importance of students seeking help rather than isolating themselves in their hostels when faced with problems. He urged students to refrain from complaining about lack of assistance, but instead take action by speaking up when faced with challenges. Mr. Mwanja pledged to stand with the students throughout their academic journey so as to ensure that they have a fruitful stay at Makerere University.
In the same spirit, the Manager of the Makerere University Counselling and Guidance Centre, Mr. Henry Nsubuga called upon international students to utilize their services. He appealed to students to seek for help whenever they feel distressed.
“Please come to the Centre when you need help. The Centre is ready to provide assistance upon any distress signal. I assure you that nobody will judge you for not being okay. We have professional counsellors who are willing to help,” remarked Mr. Nsubuga. The Makerere University Counselling and Guidance Centre is conveniently located at Plot 106, Mary Stuart Road, opposite Mary Stuart Hall.
Dr. Gardner Herbert from the Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre at Makerere University emphasized the importance of emotional intelligence, which encompasses the ability to understand, manage, and express one’s own emotions effectively, as well as to recognize and respond appropriately to the emotions of others. He highlighted the significance of students possessing skills such as self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management.
Self-awareness, he emphasized, serves as the foundation of emotional intelligence. This involves recognizing and understanding one’s own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations. Dr. Gardner explained that ndividuals with high self-awareness are better equipped to comprehend how their emotions influence their thoughts and behaviors, leading to more informed decision-making and greater self-control.
Mr. Gerald Ochwo on behalf of the Makerere University International Office encouraged the audience to visit the premises on Flat A5, Block A, Lincoln Flats for their mandate is anchored on ensuring that International students’ university experience is enriching. Furthermore, he emphasised the importance of students managing their visas proactively, instead of rushing to renew them either at the last minute or upon expiry. He pledged to organize more events to foster relationships among students.
Focusing on nurturing a supportive environment for students away from home, the International Office invited Ms. Olivia Mwanje, a student of Makerere University pursuing a Master’s degree in Climate Change and Development at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to share a lived experience.
Ms. Mwanje was one of the beneficiaries of the exchange students’ programme to Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Her testimony served to demonstrate to international students that with dedication and sacrifice, it is possible to leave one’s home country, study abroad, and excel both academically and personally. She encouraged students to remain focused on their academic programmes despite the allure of other pursuits.
“I urge you, fellow students, to remain steadfast in your educational aspirations while exploring the opportunities available. Prioritize your academic goals over non-academic pursuits,” said Ms. Mwanje. She stressed that deviating from the primary objective leads to unintended consequences. For instance, she shared stories of students who abandoned their academic pursuits for menial jobs upon arrival abroad. Ms. Mwanje advised students to stay committed to their studies and, upon completion, pursue other non-academic endeavors if they so desire.
The Guild President, H.E. Vincent Lubega Nsamba expressed the Guild Leadership’s strong commitment to ensuring that international students have a comfortable stay at Makerere University. He encouraged international students to seek counselling whenever they feel distressed and emphasized the importance of talking to peers for support.
One of the international student leaders, Mr. Harrison Igwe expressed enthusiasm for organizing activities that promote unity within the international student community at Makerere University. The goal of the activities, he said, is to enhance camaraderie and strengthen support networks among international students.
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