General
Mak Unveils Units Quality Assurance Committees
According to the Makerere University Strategic Plan 2008/09 – 2018/19, Quality Assurance is one of three crosscutting issues; the other two being internationalisation and gender mainstreaming, that impact on the activities of the University. In addition to contributing to the global phenomenon that higher education has become, these three issues also form the basis for investment in higher education at all levels.
The Quality Assurance Directorate (QAD) was therefore created as the guarantor of Makerere University’s Quality Assurance Mission To promote confidence in the academic provision (teaching, research and outreach services) that the quality and the standards of awards of Makerere University are safeguarded, enhanced and effectively managed. In line with this mandate, QAD organized a half-day workshop on Tuesday 24th March 2015, where Quality Assurance Committees from Colleges, The Library and Administrative Units were officially inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu.
In his welcome remarks at the workshop held at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), the Director-Quality Assurance, Dr. Vincent Ssembatya thanked all participants for keeping time and turning up in large numbers for the historic first meeting of Units’ Quality Assurance Committees. He however pointed out the Quality Assurance Committees had always existed under the faculty-based system where they were tasked with overseeing the standards of teaching, timetabling, examinations-setting, invigilation and marking as well as a host of other functions.
He highlighted that the face of Quality Assurance was constantly evolving hence necessitating engrafting of IT-enabled systems in the daily processes that delivered services to both staff and students. In this regard, he highlighted the newly-developed Courses Website http://courses.mak.ac.ug and the Graduate Tracking website as two systems that are being deployed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the teaching and learning environment at Makerere University.
The Vice Chancellor Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu in his address to participants commended QAD for organizing the workshop and the Royal Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency-Sida for supporting University activities especially through the Quality Assurance sub-programme.
“Sida has supported the development of the following systems that will improve the Quality of processes within the University namely the: Graduate Tracking System; Courses Website; Equipment Database-under construction; and Research Management System-under construction. We have come a long way to this point and the fruits of our hard work can be seen already through increased visibility in terms of our services, notably research output and publications” said the Vice Chancellor.
Following a brief demonstration of Graduate Tracking and Courses Management Systems by Ms. Catherine Kuteesa and Ms. Rachael Nakirya respectively, the Vice Chancellor officially inaugurated the Makerere Quality Assurance, Gender and ICT Committees as well as launched the aforementioned IT Systems.
The Uganda National Council for Higher Education (UNCHE) as the regulator for higher education in Uganda is the chief custodian of Quality Assurance for all institutions of higher learning in the Nation. Providing an overview of Quality Assurance in Institutions of Higher Education at the workshop, Mr. Innocent Nkwasibwe-Senior Quality Assurance Official & Head Tertiary Institutions at UNCHE who represented Mr. Pius Achang said the Quality Assurance Framework of UNCHE is the basic guideline for discharging the Council’s roles.
He shared that whereas Public Institutions have well laid-out structures of governance, most Private Higher Education Institutions on the other hand had Governance as the biggest challenge despite faring well on the financial and infrastructural fronts. He commended Makerere University for being the only university to have conducted a Self-Assessment Study and produced a report as well as for guaranteeing that QAD is full established and adequately staffed.
“Any Higher Education Institution that does not have a Quality Assurance Directorate as well as a separate set of staff for this function will continue muddling through in as far as quality is concerned. Quality Assurance Officers are the watchdogs. They need to be agile, resilient and exemplary,” Mr. Nkwasibwe advised.
Mr. Nkwasibwe shared that indicators from UNCHE showed that staff development especially at Masters Level was on the decline in Higher Education Institutions and urged Makerere University continue implementing quality assurance procedures so as to be able to retain both students and staff.
Article by Public Relations Office
Makerere University and the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA (ND) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which opens opportunities for collaboration between the two historic and leading research institutions in the areas of staff and student exchange, joint research and training, joint supervision of graduate students, and others.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe signed on behalf of Makerere University and Rev. Robert A. Dowd, the 18th President signed on behalf of the University of Notre Dame. The ceremony, which was held at the University of Notre Dame campus at South Bend, Indiana was witnessed by Dr. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Council of Makerere University, who led the Mak delegation.
Dr. Magara appreciated the institutionalisation of the collaboration between the two universities and the very warm hospitality accorded to the Mak delegation.
General
Press Release: Government of Uganda and Partners Launch SAY Plus+ to Scale Youth Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) Impact in Underserved Regions
USD 50 million national programme moves into full implementation, strengthening
adolescent and youth rights, empowerment, protection and access to youth-responsive
services in 13 districts across five sub-regions
KAMPALA, 7 MAY 2026: The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Health, today officially launched the SAY Plus+ Programme, a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) initiative designed to strengthen adolescent and youth rights, empowerment, protection and access to quality services in Uganda’s underserved regions.
The launch, held at Makerere University‘s Freedom Square under the theme “My Voice Matters: Youth Voices for SAY Plus+” and the tagline “Nothing for us, without us”, marks the programme’s transition into full implementation.
SAY Plus+, formerly known as Strengthening Adolescents and Youth Rights and Empowerment: Scaling Impact, is led by the Ministry of Health, in coordination with other Ministries, with UNFPA Uganda serving as the Managing and Technical Agency.
Backed by a USD 50 million pooled fund from the Governments of Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, the initiative is scheduled to operate between 2024 and 2030. It is currently being rolled out across thirteen districts within five sub-regions, providing targeted assistance to regional referral hospitals in Jinja, Mbale, Moroto, Yumbe, Arua, and Gulu. Furthermore, the programme supports the Human Capital Development goals established in Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
“SAY Plus+ represents a shift from fragmented interventions to a coordinated national effort that meaningfully places young people at the centre of both design and delivery. Through our partnership with the Government of Uganda, development partners, and implementing partners, we are investing not only in services, but in the systems, communities, and environments that enable adolescents and young people to thrive not only today but also in the future,” said Ms. Kristine Blokhus, Representative – UNFPA Uganda.
Officially launched by the Minister of State for Health Hon. Margaret Muhanga, the SAY Plus+ programme targets adolescents and young people aged 10 to 24 years, with particular focus on adolescent girls and young women, refugees and host-community youth, out-of-school young people, those not in employment, education or training, adolescents with disabilities, and young people in humanitarian and post-conflict settings.
“For many of us, things like this one are designed without listening to what we go through every day, think or even feel. SAY Plus+ feels different because it starts with our voices and gives us a real role in shaping solutions. It is not just about information, it is about being supported to make decisions, access services, and build the future we want.” – Jovia Dranzoa, Young person.
SAY Plus+ operates through three pillars. First, it empowers youth to exercise their rights and make informed choices. Second, it engages families, communities, and leaders to address harmful social norms. Third, it strengthens youth-responsive SRHR, HIV, and gender-based violence services via health facilities and community platforms, aiming to reach over 2.3 million direct and indirect beneficiaries.
The SAY Plus+ initiative stands as a model of international cooperation and multi-sectoral synergy. Through the combined support of the Governments of Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, and the technical leadership of UNFPA, Uganda is now equipped to scale-up critical interventions in HIV prevention, gender-based violence response, and reproductive health. With implementation now in high gear through 2030, the programme is poised to make a lasting contribution to the nation’s human capital development goals.
— ENDS —
Photos from the event
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