L-R: Mr. Yoshiie Sakurai-Ashinaga ED, VC-Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu, Mr. Yoshiomi Tamai and Prof. Peter K. Baguma-Dean, School of Psychology, CHUSS at the Courtesy Call, 12th Dec 2014, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.
Throughout the courtesy call held in the Office of the Vice Chancellor, President Yoshiomi Tamai-the Founder and President of Ashinaga-Japan spoke with a lot of optimism about Africa. With his rich and generous heart, his love for Africa and the African people stands out. He would like to see a happy, free and empowered African people.
On Friday 12th December 2014, the 79 year old, President Yoshiomi Tamai who is credited with having supported over 800 orphans in Africa to access education, and engaging the youth to play their role in the realization of poverty eradication in Africa, shared Ashinaga’s 100 year plan for Africa with the Vice Chancellor, Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu.
To date, Ashinaga has provided $1 billion in educational aid to some 90,000 orphaned students in Japan, and its activities have extended to 21 countries and regions. Sharing the Ashinaga 100 year plan, President Yoshiomi Tamai informed the Vice Chancellor that the plan for Africa prioritizes access to education. It entails supporting orphans to access higher education in Africa and abroad. It is envisaged that with this support, poverty eradication and leadership development will be realized. Ashinaga is planning to support 49 students from sub-Saharan Africa to access higher education with Makerere University playing a central role.
“Mr. Vice Chancellor, I come to you with a proposal. Four days ago I met the Vice Chancellor of Oxford University in UK who has accepted to partner with Ashinaga. I propose that we collaborate with Oxford in UK, Ashinaga in Japan and Makerere University in Uganda and put our efforts together to enable orphans access education and contribute to poverty eradication in Africa. With Makerere University, we want the African people involved,” said the President Yoshiomi Tamai.
Reiterating the fact that education is the key to development, the Vice Chancellor- Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu welcomed the proposal with utmost humility.
“I have no objection. We thank you for developing Africa and for choosing Makerere University as a partner. Makerere recognizes partnership as a strategic goal and is ready to strengthen the partner with Ashinaga to contribute to the transformation of Africa and the realization of the Ashinaga 100 year plan for Africa,” remarked Professor Ddumba-Ssentamu.
Giving a highlight on the relationship between Makerere University School of Psychology and Ashinaga, Professor Peter K. Baguma reported that the collaboration, which started in 2010, has continued to grow and benefitted people in Uganda and beyond.
“Mr. Vice Chancellor, the staff in the School of Psychology continue to provide professional services to Ashinaga. The students from the School of Psychology have accessed internship placement in Ashinaga, which has been very crucial to their academic growth. Currently, 10 students from 10 sub-Saharan counties are being trained to ensure that they get the required grades to access the university education. In 2015, we hope to enroll these 10 students in the best universities worldwide,” said Professor Baguma, Dean-School of Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University.
As a way of reaching out to the young people/future leaders, President Yoshiomi Tamai on Thursday 11th December 2014 delivered a public lecture titled: Poverty Eradication in Sub-Saharan Africa: Creating Global Leaders through Higher Education. With the Ambassador of Japan to Uganda, H.E Junzo Fujita as Guest of Honour, President Yoshiomi Tamai shared the Ashinaga Perspective with over 270 students who convened in the Senate Conference Hall, Makerere University. Professor Livingstone S. Luboobi, Former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University was the discussant at the Public Lecture.
Story by: Ritah Namisango, Public Relations Office
Photos by: Elias Tuhereze, Public Relations Office
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released full results for the Mature Age Entry Scheme Examinations for the Academic Year 2025/2026 held on Saturday 14th December, 2024.
The Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the examination and have been recommended by the Pre-Entry & Mature Age Committee to the University’s Admissions Board for Consideration.
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.
Prof. Julius Kikooma – Director of Graduate Training
“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.
R-L: Arch. Kenneth Ssemwogerere (Head of Department, Architecture), Dr. Kizito Maria Kasule (Deputy Principal, CEDAT), and Mr. Kayongo Daniel (Plascon Uganda National Sales Manager) during the official handover of a donation at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, on Tuesday, 25th June 2025.
The Department of Architecture at Makerere University’s College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) is set to begin a significant refurbishment of its design studios starting 1st July 2025. This initiative marks a pivotal step in enhancing the learning environment for architecture students and fostering innovation in design education.
The refurbishment project has received a significant boost from Kansai Placon Uganda Limited, which donated UGX 15 million worth of paint to support the transformation. This contribution highlights the growing partnership between academia and industry in shaping the future of architectural education in Uganda.