General

Mak ADB V HEST Infrastructure Development Project Kicks Off

Published

11 years ago

December 21, 2015

Mark Wamai

Mr. Robert Odok Oceng-Commissioner for Higher Education and Training (5th L), Vice Chancellor-Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu (4th L), Director PDD-Dr. Florence Nakayiwa (3rd L), Director EWD-Eng. Fred Nuwagaba (2nd L) with Excel Construction Officials and PDD Staff at the Site Handover Ceremony on 18th December 2015, School of Social Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda

The energy and passion that had built up over the past three years was fully evident on the morning of 18th December 2015 as officials from the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports led by Mr. Robert Odok Oceng-Commissioner for Higher Education and Training officially handed over the sites to the contractor; Excel Construction Limited delegation led by the Director-Satvinder Saini and Senior Contracts Manager-Eng. P. Murali Krishna. The beneficiary of this project; Makerere University led by none other than the Vice Chancellor, Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu was on hand to witness the handover.

The site handover was preceded by signing of a contract between the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports (MoESTS) and Excel Construction Limited in the presence of Makerere University Officials at the Ministry head offices.

This US$29.2m allocation to Makerere University is meant to fund the five year project that was approved as a loan from the African Development Bank to the Government of Uganda in 2013 to improve science and technology in Higher Education Institutions.

The US$12.8m infrastructure development project handed over to Excel Construction Ltd is anticipated to last eighteen months with effect from December 2015. It will comprise of two four-floor buildings; one located at the former UCB slab next to the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and another at the slab next to the School of Social Sciences. The facilities will Artistic Impression of the proposed building for the UCB slab (Pool road), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda have centralized teaching spaces, a 1,000 seater auditorium and an E-learning Centre. The construction of the two structures is meant to address the problem of limited teaching spaces especially in the Colleges with big student numbers (College of Humanities and Social Sciences-CHUSS, College of Education and External Studies-CEES and CoBAMS). Excel Construction Limited will also renovate the: Physiology Lab in the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Chemistry Lab and centralized Diagnostics Lab based in the College of Natural Sciences-CoNAS, centralized Biotechnology Lab based in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences-CAES, Science Labs in CEES, Materials and Hydraulics Lab in the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology-CEDAT and Diary Value Chain at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute (MUARIK).

The institutional allocation will also cover the setting up of the initial facility at MUARIK as well as commencing the movement of CAES to the MUARIK Campus. However, the construction of this initial facility at MUARIK is slated to commence at a later time due to delays experienced with one of the contractors resulting into bidding for works separately.

The Director Estates and Works Department (EWD), Eng. Fred Nuwagaba pointed out that due diligence carried out on the two sites had determined that while the Social Sciences Slab was more than capable of taking on the weight of a four floor building, the former UCB slab at CoBAMS would have to be fully demolished and works started from scratch. He also noted that a proper traffic flow design was going to be availed to inform the campus users on areas that will have to be hoarded off for safety reasons.

Eng. Murali informed the assembly that Excel Construction Limited was pleased to take on yet another project in Makerere University as this was a vote of confidence. He pointed out that the sites were located in busy areas but stringent measures would be taken to ensure that safety is guaranteed. He hoped that the community would bear with the construction works as the contractor would try to ensure that disruption was kept to a minimum.

Artistic Impression of the proposed building along the University Road, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda The Vice Chancellor Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu called for fast but dependable works as time had already been lost and yet there was urgent need for teaching space on campus. He expressed gratitude to the African Development Bank as well as the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports (MoESTS) for their efforts to strengthen higher education.

The Ministry’s representative, Mr. Oceng congratulated the contractor and pointed out that there was a steady increase of student numbers in universities hence the need for MoESTS to set up more public universities. This massification in higher education was likely to result in the number public universities rising to nine by February 2016. He therefore hoped that Excel Construction Limited would do credible work that would attract future interest from these growing institutions.

These buildings are expected to not only beautify Makerere University but also expansively address the longstanding problem of limited teaching facilities for the growing number of students. While students are currently utilizing former dining areas that were turned into lecture spaces in various halls of residence, the laboratories on the other hand can hardly accommodate the growing numbers of students.

Others distinguished members present at the site handover ceremony were Dr. Florence Nakayiwa (Director Planning and Development) and Laker Irene Kitara (TA and Quantity Surveyor of the ADB V-HEST). The implementation of this project at Makerere University is coordinated by the Planning and Development Department (PDD).

Article by Nancy Karunganwa, Planning and Development Department (PDD)

General

Revised Advertisement for Positions of Principal and Deputy Principal at Makerere University

Published

1 hour ago

June 22, 2026

Mak Editor

An aerial shot of the Main Building, as taken by a drone over the Freedom Square with Left to Right: CHUSS, St. Francis, St. Augustine and CAES Buildings and the Kikoni area (Background) in view. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University, Uganda’s premier institution of higher learning and one of Africa’s leading research universities, invites applications from suitably qualified and distinguished individuals for the positions of Principal and Deputy Principal in the Colleges listed below. The University seeks visionary leaders with demonstrated academic excellence, strategic leadership, and a commitment to institutional transformation. This advertisement is for the positions of:

Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES)
Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Education and External Studies (CEES)
Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS)
Principal and Deputy Principal, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB)
Principal, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS)
Deputy Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS).

Mode of application

Interested individuals for the positions of Principal and Deputy Principal should submit the following documents sealed in an envelope addressed to the University Secretary;

A signed letter of application;
Certified copies of academic certificates and transcripts;
The curriculum vitae of the candidate;
Three (3) letters of recommendation;
Copies of the required minimum number of publications;
Copies of letters of appointment to leadership positions at the level of Head of Department and/or its equivalent or higher in a recognised institution comparable to Makerere University;
A copy of the applicant’s national ID or passport; and
A copy of the last letter of clearance from the Inspectorate of Government or other equivalent national body.

The deadline for applications is 6^th July 2026 at 5:00 p.m. East African Time.

Applications should be hand-delivered to:

The University Secretary
Makerere University
Main Administration Building,
Level 2, University Secretary’s Office

Or submitted via email at search.principal@mak.ac.ug

Makerere is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, disability, or other legally protected status. The University is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion and excellence in all its activities.

THIS ADVERT CANCELS THE EARLIER ISSUED ADVERT DATED 17^TH JUNE 2026

REVISED MAK ADVERT-PRINCIPALS AND DEPUTY PRINCIPALS Download

General

Makerere Launches Upgraded Financial Management System and Roadmap

Published

5 days ago

June 17, 2026

Mark Wamai

Prof. Tumps Ireeta - Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance & Administration) launch the roadmap for upgrading the Mak FMS in Council Room on 17th June2026.

Makerere University on 17^th June 2026 launched the upgraded Financial Management System (Mak-FMS) and Implementation Roadmap aimed at ensuring paperless end-to-end transactions right from requisition to sign-off. Mak-FMS was initially launched on 10^th July 2024 to automate requisition initiation and approval. The upgraded system will ensure that the hitherto paper-based payment voucher generation, examination, digital clearance, and sign off are completed digitally.

Presiding over the launch on behalf of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the Principal, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta commended the Directorate of Finance and the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) on the strides made in digitalisation of financial processes at Makerere. He nevertheless called for the need to make approvals time bound at each stage of the process to ensure that requisitions are sanctioned or deferred for additional input promptly.

The University Bursar, Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha informed attendees at the launch that the objective of the Mak-FMS upgrade was to ensure paperless transactions by 1^st July 2026. He added that Champions had been appointed from colleges and administrative units, and will together with ICT Support Staff be trained by DICTS to support users during the transition.

Mr. Bainomugisha nevertheless noted that incorporation of Mak-FMS into Uganda’s Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) remains undone. He therefore called upon Finance Officers and Accountants to prudently ensure that the money committed on the Makerere system is charged to the appropriate Government code.

DICTS Chief, Mr. Samuel Mugabi reiterated that the upgraded system is not entirely new but is only aimed at further enhancing accountability and transparency of financial management for efficiency of Makerere’s business operations. He added that the upgraded Mak-FMS will be integrated with the recently rolled out Procurement System in a phased approach, especially as users increasingly get acquainted with the paperless working environment. He equally reiterated DICTS readiness to support the Directorate of Finance to ensure a holistic training of users.

Highlighting the ten-day Implementation Roadmap, DICTS Deputy Chief, Mr. Juma Katongole noted that launch of the upgraded Mak-FMS marked Day 1, while Day 2 will be dedicated to training Finance Officers, Accountants and ICT Support Staff and Day 3 to training Champions and more ICT Support Staff. Days 4 and 5 will be dedicated to Hands-on Training Sessions for College Bursars, Accountants and Champions, while Day 6 will feature University-wide pilot implementation of the upgraded Mak-FMS.

Day 7 of the roadmap will handle user support clinics and help desk sessions, while Day 8 will feature refresher training and a workshop on frequently encountered issues. A University-wide simulation exercise covering the end-to-end payment lifecycle will be held on Day 9 and Day 10 will host the readiness assessment meeting and go-live sign-off.

In order to ensure a smooth transition to a digital Mak-FMS, a help desk will remain operational throughout the period and user manuals as well as quick-reference videos will be developed and distributed on the University Knowledge Base and DICTS Social Media platforms.

General

CHS Quality Assurance Guide Book

Published

2 weeks ago

June 8, 2026

Mak Editor

An aerial photo of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University showing Left to Right: The Sir Albert Cook Memorial Library, School of Biomedical Sciences, Davies Lecture Theatre, School of Public Health, Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital (MSWNH)-Background Left and Nakasero Hill-Background Right, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The College of Health Sciences (CHS) QA Guidebook streamlines academic excellence, outlining essential quality processes, committee structures, and regulations aligned with Makerere University Policy and the 2004 Graduate Guidebook. It details roles for staff and students, including examination management, committee terms of reference, and highlights staff/student achievements.

Key Components of the QA Guidebook

Committees & Structure: Defines roles for the Quality Assurance, Gender Mainstreaming, and ICT Committee, ensuring alignment with SDGs and university policies and NCHE
Examination QA Processes: Outlines procedures for setting, moderating, and marking exams, ensuring standards and ethical compliance.
Regulations & Guidelines: Based on the Makerere University Quality Assurance Policy Framework (2007) and Graduate Guidebook 2004 ensuring consistency across all programmes.
Roles & Responsibilities: Clearly defines the responsibilities of Deans, Heads of Departments, and Students in Internal Quality Assurance.
Key student information in academic processes.
Commitment to support graduate training.
Recognition & Faculty Development: Recognizes outstanding female professors and acknowledges staff who completed PhDs in 2024–2026