General
49 Mak students receive MasterCard Foundation Scholarships
On Saturday 12th September 2015, anyone who dared to enter the Makerere University Senate Building Conference Hall in the afternoon hours, could not help but sense the exuberance that exuded from the 49 academically bright, but economically disadvantaged first year students who assembled to receive their Letters of Award. Appropriately named The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme at Makerere University, the scholarship was nothing short of music to the ears of this beaming group of freshmen and women.
The MasterCard Scholars programme at Makerere University started in the 2014/2015 academic year, with the 1st Cohort comprising 49 students who are currently in their second year of study. The 2nd Cohort also comprises 49 students admitted to Makerere University this academic year (2015/2016) to pursue different academic programmes.
Makerere University signed a contract worth approximately US$20.9million with the MasterCard Foundation to sponsor 1,000 academically bright but economically disadvantaged youth from Africa to study at Makerere University for the period 2013 to 2023. The contract was signed by Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu and Peggy Woo, Chief Financial Officer of MasterCard Foundation.
Upon arrival at the Award Ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu was treated to a standing ovation by the MasterCard Scholars, complete beaming smiles and some tears of gratitude. It was indeed a great and memorable day in the lives of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars at Makerere University!
The Programme Coordinator of the MCF Scholar Programme at Mak, Dr. Florence Nakayiwa officially introduced the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu and invited him to address the enthusiastic audience.
Blending with the warm audience, Prof. Ddumba-Ssentamu recalled his student days and quickly shared his love for Makerere University with the MasterCard Scholars.
“I am an old student of St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK). Indeed Makerere University was my first choice university. I attained my first degree and PhD from here and I am now the Vice Chancellor of this great institution. Makerere University has nurtured very many prominent alumni including Presidents who have served this country, Kenya, Tanzania and Africa in general, and Vice Chancellors- namely John Ddumba-Ssentamu. Makerere University has nurtured me to be the person that I am today and I am very proud to be associated with it,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor officially welcomed the new MCF Scholars to Makerere University, and congratulated them upon being selected for the scholarship programme.
“I welcome our new Cohort of Scholars who have been admitted to different programmes for the academic year 2015/2016. I congratulate you upon being selected to join Makerere University. I congratulate the second year Scholars upon the achievements this far. As MasterCard Foundation Scholars, you have a rare gift of resources, both financial and moral, at your disposal. The MasterCard Foundation Scholars programme will give you a wholesome experience that will open pathways to a bright future,” he said.
In appreciation of the comprehensive and extremely generous package provided under the MCF Scholarship, the Vice Chancellor emphasized the need for excellence.
“Dear Scholars, you have been given everything to enable you excel. Both Makerere University and our partner, The MasterCard Foundation, expect continued academic excellence from you. We are training you to be the next generation of achievers and leaders who will be committed to service and giving back to the community,” he said.
He advised both the 1st and 2nd Cohort of MCF Scholars to: Be grateful everyday for having received this comprehensive scholarship; be prayerful; associate with people who will add value to their life both academically and socially; participate in the leadership and take on leadership opportunities at the University. He also stressed that anyone who wishes to transform this nation, should start now-while still at Makerere University.
After sharing words of wisdom, the Vice Chancellor presented Award letters to the 2nd Cohort of the MCF Scholars at Makerere University amidst applause from the congregation comprising their colleagues from the 1st Cohort of Scholars, the MasterCard Foundation Project Implementation team, and invited guests.
The following members of staff witnessed the remarkable award ceremony where beaming smiles, jubilation and tears of gratitude as the MCF Scholars received their Letters of Award were commonplace: The Dean of Students, Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe; the Academic Registrar, Mr. Alfred Masikye-Namoah; the Deputy Principal of the College of Education and External Studies, Dr. Anthony Mugagga; the Manager-Counselling and Guidance Centre, Mr. Henry Nsubuga; and the Senior Public Relations Officer, Ms Ritah Namisango.
The Vice Chancellor thanked Dr. Florence Nakayiwa together with her Project Implementation team namely Ms. Jolly Okumu, Mr. John Osuna, Mr. Tito Okumu, Ms Harriet Nakiryowa and Ms Sharon Nabukalu for organizing the Award Ceremony. He also commended the University Management and the Steering Committee for supporting the programme’s implementation.
The Vice Chancellor reiterated his dedication to the success of the MCF Scholars Programme at Makerere University. “I commit myself to supporting the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme to be able to achieve both the vision and mission of Makerere University and that of the Programme,” he said.
Written by: Ritah Namisango, Mak Public Relations Office
Photos by: John Osuna, MCF Project Implementation Team
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The College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) on Thursday 17th June, 2021 commenced celebrations to mark 50 Years of Veterinary Higher Education, Science, Technology, Innovation and Services (HESTIS) in Uganda. The blended event held at the Industrial Livestock Research, Incubation and Skilling (ILRIS) Center at Nakyesasa, Namulonge as well as online was presided over by the Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma and First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports (MoES), Hon. Janet Museveni both represented by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
The event, held as part of Makerere University Centenary Celebrations (1922-2022) was a moment of celebration for 1,930 skilled livestock agribusiness entrepreneurs who were awarded certificates in recognition of completion of their respective courses. Owing to the strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) instituted by the Ministry of Health (MoH) to curb the spread of COVID-19, the students from Incubation Hubs in Atiak, Butaleja, Mubende, Nakyesasa, Sheema and Wakiso were awarded their certificates virtually.
In her remarks read by Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Hon. Janet Museveni thanked Makerere University for supporting grassroots level development through groundbreaking innovations under the Africa Institute for Strategic Services and Development-Skills for Production Enterprise Development and Accreditation (AFRISA-SPEDA) model.
“I am extremely pleased that Makerere University, through those innovative approaches, has developed and launched the alternative approach to building human capital and transferring knowledge to enterprises in communities.
“I would like to encourage all those involved in skills development to adopt methodologies that transform those trainees that go through these programs in ways that enable them also transform the societies they live in” read the Minister’s remarks.
She further noted that commissioning of the CoVAB@50 celebrations was both timely and rewarding. “The commissioning of the college innovations indeed has made meaning. This is a true path to growth of an Academic and Development College of the University, and we congratulate you again.”
Addressing the congregation as Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe congratulated CoVAB alumna and incoming Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MoSTI) under the Office of the President, Dr. Monica Musenero upon her recent appointment. “We thank His Excellency the President for identifying you. Science is in good hands.”
Prof. Nawangwe urged Dr. Musenero to address the structures of managing research and innovation in Uganda, “including the role of the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology and the apparent need to establish a Research Council for Uganda.”
In the same breath he thanked the outgoing and pioneer Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumuwesigye, for his role in ensuring that the ministry is empowered to carry out its mandate.
The Chancellor congratulated CoVAB upon training the bulk of Veterinary Doctors in Uganda over the last 50 years and more recently, Laboratory Technologists at the highest level. He recognised Makerere University‘s obligation to contribute to the economic self-determination of Uganda and thanked CoVAB for conducting research that addresses hindrances to national development, especially in the livestock industry.
“The anti-tick vaccine is one of such innovations which will solve the huge problem of tick-borne diseases that have caused enormous losses to our farmers. There are many other problems on which the college is researching and we thank you for the enthusiasm” he added.
The Chancellor commended CoVAB for being the vanguard of transformation of the grassroots communities through the SPEDA model. “I urge Government to fund this important initiative so that it can more meaningfully contribute to solving the big problem of youth unemployment.”
In her remarks, Dr. Monica Musenero commended the Principal, CoVAB, Prof. John David Kabasa for fulfilling the College’s dream of enabling the masses who drop out of the education value chain as well as those who complete education but have no skills for livelihood, to attain certification in agribusiness entrepreneurship.
“Many people attain academic success and write papers, publish and they become professors but without demonstrable impact on their nation. You have shown by the thousands that you have touched nationwide that indeed you are a professor of national transformation. Congratulations,” remarked Dr. Musenero.
She therefore congratulated the teams at CoVAB and AFRISA upon successfully conceiving and executing a model that is non-traditional, informal, not easily understood and not documented in any textbooks.
As Minister, Dr. Musenero noted that witnessing thousands of individuals from across the country whose skills had been honed through a university programme receiving certificates gave her a lot of hope and material to embark on her tenure with. “I will be looking forward to harnessing these resources as we initiate work on the next leg of Science, Technology and Innovation in the country under the President’s Office.”
The invitation to the Principal, CoVAB to present students for the award of the ordinary diplomas, ordinary certificates and artisan certificates was given by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Dr. Umar Kakumba. He congratulated the awardees upon successfully completing their respective courses and graduating with evidence on an enterprise.
Prof. Kabasa clarified that the approach used to train the day’s awardees was not simply a vocational skilling. “The combination of action research with knowledge transfer, skilling, plus assessment and accreditation processes done by organs like the DIT (Directorate of Industrial Training, MoES) has given us this result, for the University to provide true leadership and transformation of the community.”
Present at the celebrations were the Director, DIT, MoES-Mr. Byakatonda Patrick and the Deputy Commissioner Social Services Development, MoES Madam Elizabeth Bateme who have worked through the Academic-Community-Public-Private-Partnership model to ensure that students graduate as entrepreneurs with micro enterprises.
Prior to presiding over the ceremony, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, on behalf of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports officially commissioned the SPEDA Training, Incubation and Research Centre – Nakyesasa.
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