General
Mak Staff Appeals Tribunal 2015-2019 Takes Office
“Although the Makerere University Staff Appeals Tribunal is an important organ, I strongly advise the University Appointments Board to continue upholding the highest degree of integrity and professionalism in the execution of duty, maintain the standard of appointing employees on merit and follow documented procedure. Yes, when the Appointments Board does its work professionally, the Tribunal which provides a system of checks and balances on the decisions of the Appointments Board will have no work!” remarked the Chancellor, Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera at the handover ceremony of the Makerere University Staff Tribunal.
The outgoing Makerere University Staff Tribunal chaired by Mr. Didas Nkurunziza handed over to the incoming Tribunal on Friday 17th April 2015. The University Management, Principals, Representatives of academic, administrative and support staff, and the Students’ Guild attended the colorful ceremony held in the Makerere University Main Hall.
Rev. Canon Amos Turyahabwe Tindyebwa from St. Francis Chapel Makerere University who led the opening prayer at the handover thanked God for the accomplishments of the outgoing Tribunal and in the same spirit, prayed to God to bless and guide the new Tribunal during their four year tenure (2015-2019).
Evoking the powers entrusted to him, and further guided by Section 56 of the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, the Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera read the Instrument of Appointment.
“I appoint you George Omunyokol, a Member and Chairperson of the Makerere University Staff Tribunal for a period of four (4) years with effect from 20th March 2015.”
The Chancellor congratulated Mr. George Omunyokol-the Chairperson of the Makerere University Staff Appeals Tribunal. (2015-2019) and amidst applause from the audience, officially handed over the Instrument of Appointment to him. The overjoyed Omunyokol also received the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act from the Outgoing Chairperson of the Tribunal, Mr. Didas Nkurunziza.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu emphasized the role of the Makerere University Staff Appeals Tribunal-an organ that provides a forum for aggrieved members of staff to be heard by an independent team of persons, led by a qualified member of the Justice Department of Uganda.
“Through the Tribunal, aggrieved members of staff get a right to a fair hearing and appropriate re-dress, without hindrances from the University system. The Tribunal also serves as a system of checks and balances for the Appointments Board. While the employees get a readily available system of fair hearing, the University too benefits in terms of reduced court cases and legal costs,” highlighted Prof. Ddumba-Ssentamu.
The new Chairperson of the Makerere University Staff Appeals Tribunal, Mr. George Omunyokol accepted the appointment with gratitude and humility.
“I am ready and willing to serve this great institution, to the best of my ability, with all the fairness and impartiality it deserves, in accordance with the law. Together with the Tribunal members, we shall endeavour to ensure that the rights of every individual within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal, are not trampled upon by anyone. I will uphold integrity and dignity of the office to which you have appointed me,” he said.
The other newly appointed members are: Mr. Kiguli Herbert-Representative of the Ministry of Public Service; Dr. Rose Nakayi-Representative of MUASA, Prof. George W. Lubega-Representative of MUASA; Mr. Tom Otim-Representative of MASA; Ms Ruth Iteu Eyoku-Representative of MASA; Dr. Consolata Kabonesa-Representative of Senate; and a representative of the University Council to be nominated.
Mr. Omunyokol informed the audience that when he learnt that the outgoing Chairperson of the Tribunal was Dr. Nkurunziza, a respected Ugandan who has served Uganda and beyond with an impeccable record of upholding fairness and integrity was handing over, he felt humbled and yet inspired to take on the mantle. In a special way, Mr. Omunyokol, an alumnus of Makerere University, applauded his teacher and mentor-Prof. Fredrick Jjuuko (from the School of Law) whom he respectfully referred to as “the grandfather of law” for not only nurturing and training upcoming lawyers, but also selflessly serving the legal profession. He equally thanked the Law Council, Uganda Law Society and the Judicial Service Commission for considering his name for appointment.
Mr. Didas Nkurunziza was the inaugural Chairperson of the Makerere University Staff Tribunal. Reflecting on his two year term, Mr. Nkurunziza said: “In December 2006, the Chancellor issued an Instrument appointing me as the Chairperson of the Tribunal. Being a body that was not previously in existence getting the Tribunal to actually start its work was no easy feat but thanks to the Office of the University Secretary and other Members of the Tribunal, we were eventually able to have it up and receiving appeals on the decisions of the Appointments Board.”
Mr. Nkurunziza observed that although the first cases were few and far between, after Rulings of the Tribunal; some in favour of the Appellants and some not, more appeals were filed with increasing regularity.
“To the incoming Chairperson and Members of the Tribunal, I wish you all the best and I hope that a reasonably good foundation has been laid for you,” remarked Mr. Nkurunziza.
Mr. Nkurunziza thanked the Chancellor for giving him the opportunity to serve for not only one, but two terms and giving something back to Makerere University; the institution that taught and nurtured him.
He equally thanked the distinguished members of the Makerere University Tribunal who served during his tenure for their dedication, time, and input that enabled the Tribunal dispense justice between employer and employees. He further appreciated the support received from the Registry of the Tribunal namely Mr. Daniel Ruhweza and Mr. Kabumba Busingye from the School of Law. Mr. Kabumba Busingye replaced Mr. Daniel Ruhweza who went for further studies.
Subsequently, the Chancellor presented plaques to the Outgoing Chairperson and Members of the Tribunal in recognition of their selfless service in the dispensation of justice. The Members were: Prof. F.J. Juuko, Prof. G.W. Lubega, Dr. Sarah N. Ssali, Dr. Jane Bosa, Ms Shifrah Lukwago, Mr. Didace Agaba, Mr. J.J. Nanseera, Dr. Abasi Kiyimba, Dr. Consolata Kabonesa, Ms Ruth Eyoku Iteu, Mr. J.C. Ninsiima and Mr. Tom Otim.
On behalf of the Makerere University Council, Vice Chairperson of Council, Hon. Irene Ovonji Odida commended the Outgoing Tribunal for taking a bold stand to uphold justice, fairness, accountability, transparency and integrity for the good of Makerere University and Uganda in general. She pledged Mak Council’s readiness to cooperate in processes that facilitate the work of the Tribunal.
In the same spirit, the Chairperson of Makerere University Staff Association (MUASA), Dr. M. Kiggundu-Musoke appreciated the outgoing Tribunal for winning the trust of Makerere University staff and further pledged MUASA’s readiness to work and cooperate with the incoming Tribunal (2015-2019).
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ddumba-Ssentamu thanked the University Secretary, Mr. David Kahundha-Muhwezi and his team including the Makerere University Legal Office for the support rendered to the Makerere UniversityStaff Tribunal and for organizing the handover ceremony.
Article by: Ritah Namisango, Public Relations Office
Photos by: Elias Tuhereze, Public Relations Office
General
From Campus to Career: Makerere Advancement Office, 91st Guild and the DFCU Foundation Equip Students with Financial and Employability Skills
On 4th December, 2025, over 200 final-year students gathered at the School of Pharmacy Auditorium for the highly engaging Career & Financial Literacy Symposium, hosted by the 91st Students’ Guild, in partnership with the Makerere Advancement Office and the DFCU Foundation.
The symposium centred on student advancement through strategic partnership, convening students, administrators and development partners for a practical conversation on career readiness, financial literacy, employability, and personal development.
Advancement Through Partnerships
Speaking on behalf of the Makerere Advancement Office, Mr Awel Uwihanganye, Chief Advancement Officer, underscored the importance of partnerships such as the one with DFCU Foundation. He highlighted their importance in equipping students with marketplace skills and opportunities vital for individual growth after University.
He reflected on the university journey as a formative period for ideas, innovation, and lifelong relationships, noting that:
“University is where impressions are made, and future networks are born. The friendships, character, and collaborations you develop here become foundations for careers, enterprises and leadership later in life.”
Mr. Uwihanganye encouraged students to embrace entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, arguing that the emerging workforce is driven by technology, multi-tasking ability and idea generation rather than traditional single-path employment. He challenged students to build businesses, use digital platforms productively, and regard employment as only one income stream, not the only one.
The Student Perspective — Discipline, Skills and Trust
Speaking on student growth and personal development, Dr. Rodney Rugyema, Deputy Dean of Students, highlighted the realities facing new graduates, especially those entering the job market for the first time. With humour and honesty, he urged students to approach growth intentionally and responsibly.
He called for delayed gratification, financial discipline and long-term decision-making, reminding students that wealth is built, not wished for. He emphasised the importance of skills beyond academic papers, stating that students must be equipped to create value, adapt, learn continuously, and gain competence relevant to modern work demands.
Dr. Rugyema underscored that trust, integrity and reliability remain the most non-negotiable pillars of professional advancement.
“Let people trust you enough to lend you an opportunity. Be a person who delivers. Your reputation is currency; it travels to rooms you are not in.” He noted
Financial Literacy for the Next Generation
The keynote training session was delivered by Mr. Simon Omara, Business Advisor representing the DFCU Foundation, who walked students through a highly practical presentation on financial planning, savings culture, credit management, record-keeping, career positioning and entrepreneurship.
With more than 10,000 graduates annually and less than 35% securing employment within the first year, Mr. Omara challenged students to practice financial and career ownership early. His presentation explored:
Key Competencies Students Must Build
- Financial management with a focus on budgeting, saving, and investing early
- Career readiness, CV development, interview skills, and personal branding
- Entrepreneurship and income diversification
- Record keeping and credit management
- Professional conduct and workplace preparation
He reminded students that the future belongs to those who are financially literate, skilled, trusted and entrepreneurial. Through relatable examples and actionable frameworks such as the 70–20–10 rule, the 7-second CV scan, and the 90-day post-graduation growth plan, Mr. Omara equipped participants with practical knowledge they could act upon immediately.
Why This Symposium Matters
This event stands as a testament to the power of partnership-driven student advancement, a core mandate of the Makerere Advancement Office. By convening industry partners like DFCU Foundation, the University continues to ensure that students graduate not only with knowledge, but with tools and readiness for opportunity.
The symposium strengthened linkages between academia and the labour market, expanded students’ perspective on financial independence, and emphasised the value of entrepreneurship, networks and character in shaping future leadership
The Makerere Advancement Office remains committed to facilitating opportunities that empower students to thrive beyond the gates of the University, through partnerships, mentorship, capacity-building, and exposure to real-world skillsets.
“ A degree alone is no longer enough. With partnership, preparation and purpose, our students can build futures anchored in knowledge, opportunity and resilience.” Mr Awel Uwihanganye noted during his remarks.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Makerere Advancement Office
Makerere University on 3rd December, 2025 hosted the Tumusiime Mutebile Annual Lecture, a tradition established to honour the life and legacy of the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, an outstanding alumnus and former Governor of the Bank of Uganda who passed away in 2022. The lecture not only reflects on his remarkable contribution to Uganda’s economic leadership, but also highlights how innovation, resilience, and intergenerational vision can shape Africa’s future.
This year’s edition was anchored on three key pillars—intergenerational leadership, economic resilience, and the power of innovation—themes that defined Prof. Mutebile’s career and continue to influence national development. Through this annual series, the University upholds his memory while also celebrating other African leaders whose work has left a lasting mark on the continent, using their legacies to inspire thoughtful dialogue, policy reflection, and the next generation of transformative thinkers.
Celebrating an Enduring Legacy
In her remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sarah Ssali, reflected on Prof. Mutebile’s lifelong commitment to excellence, integrity, and the transformative power of education. She highlighted his journey from a student leader at Makerere to one of the country’s most influential economic thinkers, noting how his leadership in monetary policy, fiscal reform, and economic stabilization reshaped Uganda’s economic trajectory.
Prof. Ssali emphasized that this public lecture series not only honours Mutebile’s legacy but also bridges academia and practice—challenging students, scholars, and national leaders to pursue knowledge that serves the public good. She expressed gratitude to the Bank of Uganda under Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego, dfcu Bank, the GRO Foundation, the Mutebile family, and the Advancement Office for their continued support in sustaining a platform that nurtures economic thought leadership and inspires future generations.
Rt. Hon. Emeritus Amama Mbabazi, a lifelong friend and contemporary of the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, delivered a deeply personal reflection during the lecture. He recalled their shared beginnings as young student leaders at Makerere, their early political activism, and the historical moments that shaped both their lives and the nation. Speaking as both confidant and colleague, he emphasized Mutebile’s disciplined approach to economic policy, his unwavering belief in strong, accountable institutions, and his commitment to evidence-based, long-term decision making. Mbabazi outlined three pillars of Mutebile’s legacy—policy integrity, institutional strength, and leadership that prepares the next generation—values he affirmed are central to the work of the Tumusiime Foundation, which he now chairs.
He underscored the critical role of the private sector in Africa’s transformation, stressing the need for productivity-driven economies, skilled young people, and policy ecosystems that encourage innovation. He further called for intergenerational leadership that deliberately transfers knowledge, builds enduring institutions, and creates real opportunities for young Africans to lead. In closing, he urged academia, policymakers, and industry to work in partnership, noting that Africa’s progress depends on disciplined leadership, investment in human capital, and a shared commitment to building a future stronger than the present.
Fiscal Policies that have stood the test of time
The Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego, honored the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile with a heartfelt tribute, praising him as “a great tree whose roots ran deep beneath the soil of this nation, nourishing all who followed.” He noted that Uganda continues to benefit from the “shade” of the policies Mutebile planted during his 21-year tenure—policies that stabilized the economy, strengthened institutions, and protected the financial system through multiple crises. He highlighted Mutebile’s role in restoring price stability through cash budgeting, bringing inflation down from triple digits to single digits, guiding the country through the 2008 global financial crisis with disciplined monetary policy, and maintaining public trust during the 2011 inflation spike through clear and transparent communication.
Dr. Atingi-Ego also credited him for steering Uganda safely through the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing liquidity support for banks, credit relief for borrowers, and targeted foreign exchange interventions. Reflecting on Mutebile’s long-term impact, the Governor remarked, “These are the ideas he planted—he never lived to enjoy the shade of the tree, but today, the country rests under it.” He further celebrated Mutebile’s commitment to innovation, citing the 2016 amendments to the Financial Institutions Act that unlocked agency banking, bancassurance, and Islamic banking—reforms that today anchor Uganda’s impressive financial inclusion gains.
Intergenerational Leadership blends agility and emotional intelligence
Eng. Dr. F. F. Tusubira delivered a compelling and deeply reflective keynote, grounding the theme “Intergenerational Leadership, Economic Resilience and the Power of Innovation” in both history and lived institutional experience. He expressed serious concern that although Africa is the world’s youngest continent—with over 65% of its population below 35—its systems continue to sideline young people from leadership and national decision-making, even as they are repeatedly called “leaders of tomorrow.” He argued that this generational exclusion is not merely unfair but dangerous, warning that nations cannot secure economic resilience while locking out the very demographic best equipped to navigate a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.
Drawing on African proverbs, global case studies, and personal anecdotes from Makerere and national institutions, he demonstrated how younger generations bring idealism, agility, innovation, and risk-taking—qualities essential for competitiveness—while older generations contribute emotional intelligence, institutional memory and a heightened sense of danger. He emphasized that progress requires blending these strengths through deliberate structures: fair representation of youth in boards and executive spaces, shared decision-making, reverse mentorship, and an institutional culture that values every generational perspective.
Dr. Tusubira also highlighted the urgent need for education reform, criticizing the continent’s entrenched “learning to pass exams” culture and calling for systems that cultivate creativity, problem-solving, and technical capability. He cautioned that without investing in human capital, digital literacy, and inclusive innovation ecosystems, Africa risks losing the very foundation of future competitiveness. His message was clear and powerful: intergenerational leadership is not optional—it is a survival strategy for institutions, businesses, and nations, especially in an era where, as he quoted, “it is not the strongest who survive, but those most responsive to change.”
The lecture was further enriched by an engaging panel discussion, which was moderated by Prof. Edward Bbaale, the Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences. He opened the discussion by deliberately centering today’s students and emerging leaders, framing the session as an intellectual reflection on the life, values and legacy of the late Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile. He positioned the lecture’s theme — Shaping Africa’s Future: Intergenerational Leadership, Economic Resilience and the Power of Innovation — as urgent and practical, and introduced a cross-disciplinary panel whose expertise mirrors that urgency: Eng. Dr. F. F. Tusubira, Mr. Charles Mudiwa the Managing Director Dfcu Bank, and Prof. Faisal Buyinza the Ag. Dean, School of Economics.
Prof. Bbaale’s moderation enabled panelists to offer guidance on structural and cultural barriers to youth inclusion, the role of institutions in building resilience, and how academia, industry and policy can work together to turn innovation into jobs and scalable solutions — all the while reserving time for direct audience engagement and practical policy takeaways. Collectively, the panelists urged dismantling age-biased barriers and credential rigidities, creating new entry points and “tables” for youth leadership, scaling finance and training for startups and agribusiness, reforming pedagogy to prioritise skills and creativity, and deepening public-private-academic partnerships so innovation becomes inclusive growth rather than isolated experimentation.
The Family’s heartfelt appreciation
Mrs. Betty Tumusiime-Mutebile delivered heartfelt closing remarks, offering gratitude on behalf of the family and the Tumusiime-Mutebile Foundation. Speaking with deep emotion, she reflected on the late Professor’s character—his honesty, humility, hard work, and unwavering commitment to service above self. She thanked Makerere University, the Bank of Uganda, the Foundation’s leadership, and the many friends and colleagues who have continued to uphold his legacy, noting that although nearly four years have passed since his departure, his memory remains vivid and powerful for the family.
She recalled his devotion to both his public duty and his home, sharing personal stories of his leadership within the family and his steadfast faith that shaped their daily lives. Mrs. Tumusiime-Mutebile also highlighted the Foundation’s ongoing work in youth skilling, ethical governance, and private-sector development—initiatives rooted in his own vision. She concluded by inviting continued partnership to sustain the legacy he built, and led the gathering in singing his favourite chorus, a tender tribute to a man whose influence, she said, endures through the lives he touched.
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