General
Postgrad Students receive Info Competence and Management Training
26 students have been awarded certificates after a successful two-week (1st-14 June 2015) training in Information Competence and Management. The training was organized by Makerere University Library in conjunction with the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) to equip postgraduate students; mainly PhD and Second year Masters Students, with skills on how to use research and manage information in their research projects, as well as professional careers.
Speaking at the award ceremony on Friday 12th June 2015, the Acting Librarian Dr. Helen Byamugisha said that participants were equipped with knowledge and skills on the various ways of; conducting research, referencing their work, drafting proposals, as well as packaging and disseminating information.
“We have given you skills to boost your competencies in conducting literature reviews, organizing your information and making the best use of information in your research project,” said the Acting Librarian.
She then applauded participants for exhibiting incredible discipline during the two-week course. “The information I have received from the facilitators, shows that you have been very exemplary participants who were always on time as well as very keen and eager to learn. I commend you and request that you continue to uphold that spirit.”
The Information Competence and Management is a cross-cutting course designed to equip post graduate students with skills and knowledge on research information gathering, organization, usage and dissemination.
The course offers a range of skills in
• Introduction to research process, including elements of research proposal writing
• introduction to bibliographic searches for literature review
• Searching Makerere University in-house databases (MakULA, MaKIR and AIM)
• Searching specific databases (E-brary, Sage, OUP, EBESCO, Jstor, HINARI, OARE, AGORA TEEL, ARDI, Cochrane, Emerald, Wiley)
• Document Delivery Services (DDS)
• Management of multiple electronic files
• Professional citing and quotations
• Reference management using Endnote and Medely
• Scholarly writing and communication skills and
• Presentation of research work
According to Ms. Faith Akiteng, College Librarian – College of Education and External Studies (CEES), today’s digital and technological changes, necessitate that students should equally gain aptitude in information search and management.
“This is the 21st century where technology changes everything. You should therefore have information searching skills compatible with technological evolution in order to get the information you want. You should know the database that can give you that information, and how to filter that relevant results from the lots of resources we have. The internet is a global village which requires that you manage and use information ethically,” Ms. Akiteng advised.
On behalf of participants, Mr. Omany Andrew Komakechi, thanked the facilitating team for the great job they did in exposing participants to invaluable ideas and knowledge with visible benefits in their research and professional careers.
“The training has taught us what we are supposed to do as scholarly people. And as a teacher, it has taught me how to gather the information I would like to pass on to my students as well as equipped me with the best dissemination skills,” he said.
“The facilitators have done a great job. They are proficient in what they are doing, and I urge them to also open up this course to undergraduate students, in addition to the existing intakes of postgraduate students. I also ask that this course be held on a periodical basis that is to say after every two months, so as to refresh every one,” Mr. Omany added.
Article by Nabatte Prossy, Intern-Public Relations Office
Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.
The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.
Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.
After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.
Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.
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