General
Mak Team No Sexual Harassment to lead Students’ Campaign
Makerere University students have formed an Anti-Sexual Harassment body to fight against sexual harassment among staff and students.
This was during the Students’ Sensitization and Feedback workshop on the Makerere University Policy and Regulations against Sexual Harassment held on Tuesday 19th April 2016.
Addressing the students, the Acting Director, Gender and Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD), Ms. Frances Nyachwo said the Students’ Sensitization and Feedback Workshop aimed at sensitizing students on the Makerere University Policy and Regulations against Sexual Harassment and to re-align the policy to the Makerere University Collegiate System.
The Team No Sexual Harassment at Makerere University will be a proactive platform for students to actively engage in creating awareness, sensitizing fellow students on the policy and regulations on sexual harassment well as fighting against sexual harassment actions.
“With this body, it will be easy for us to monitor the activities of the Anti-Sexual Committees, participate in outreach programmes to sensitize our fellow students on the anti-sexual harassment policy. It is an umbrella which will bind us together as students and empower us for a common cause of fighting for our rights,” said Sharon Barigye, a student of Makerere University Business School (MUBS).
One of the facilitators, Prof. Sylvia Tamale from Makerere University School of Law reiterated the fact that women have always been more vulnerable to sexual harassment/sexual abuses compared to men. Prof. Tamale revealed that 98% victims of sexual harassment are female. She attributed this to the societal segregation which creates power imbalances among male and female as well as the patriarchal systems.
Prof. Tamale advised students to ensure that sexual harassment cases are backed by evidence. Sharing case studies and day-to-day incidents, Prof. Tamale equipped students with knowledge and tactics of gathering/documenting evidence on sexual harassment tendencies/incidents/cases.
Sharing her experience in handling sexual harassment cases, Prof. Tamale said the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committees face a challenge of bringing the harassers to book due to lack of evidence and unwillingness of some people to appear as witnesses.
“Justice delayed is justice denied. Timely decisions are very crucial. Therefore students should always report cases of sexual harassment to the concerned individuals in time. Avoid anonymous complaints because we will not have a complaint. Always tell the truth, equip yourself with evidence, be bold, clear and ready to fight for your rights,” she advised.
During this interactive workshop, students proposed approaches and mechanisms they could use to fight against sexual harassment. In the session facilitated by Mak Senior Public Relations Officer-Ms Ritah Namisango, the students noted that their active engagement in the Anti-Sexual Harassment Drive would empower them to fight against sexual abuses. Some of the ideas suggested included;
- Continuous sensitization of students and staff on the Makerere University Policy and Regulations on Sexual Harassment
- A proposal to include a Religious leader on the College/Unit Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee
- In Units/Colleges where Anti-Sexual Harassment Committees are non-existent, the students (Team No Sexual Harassment at Makerere University) will use official channels to demand for the formation of such Committees.
- To revitalize the Gender Mainstreaming Student Peer Trainers’ programme to support the Anti-Sexual Harassment agenda University wide.
- Students from the College of Computing and Information Sciences together with the Quality Assurance Directorate to develop an Application to sensitize staff and students on sexual harassment.
- Use of the social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter to sensitize students, staff and the wider University community on the Makerere University Policy and Regulations on Sexual Harassment.
- GMD in conjunction with Colleges/Schools should organize/ conduct debates against Sexual Harassment at School/ College Level.
- The Gender Mainstreaming Directorate to involve students (Team No Sexual Harassment and Makerere University) to develop messages against Sexual Harassment that would be circulated to Colleges/Units.
The Manager of Academic Affairs, at Quality Assurance Directorate-Makerere University Dr. Euzobia Baine encouraged students to read and understand the policy and regulations on Sexual Harassment to fully understand the approaches/processes of seeking help and/or helping those who are sexually harassed. She informed students that each College should have a functional Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee, and encouraged students to liaise with the College leadership to ensure that they prioritize the Anti-Sexual Harassment Agenda in the University.
Dr. Baine also advised students to remain bold, say NO to sexual harassment and report cases to the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committees. “Have confidence that when you lodge a complaint, it will be listened to. Do not be intimidated and do not allow the harasser to take advantage of you. Carefully document the acts of the harasser. The Anti-Sexual Harassment Committees will always handle cases backed by evidence. Always avoid false accusations in your complaint because they will fail you and destroy your life totally,” she said.
Closing the workshop on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu, the Acting Director, Gender and Mainstreaming Directorate Ms. Frances Nyachwo, called for a close collaboration between students and the Gender and Mainstreaming Directorate to seriously fight against sexual harassment in the University. 
The Senior Public Relations Officer of Makerere University, Ms Ritah Namisango who facilitated the Session that culminated in the Way/Forward/Action Points thanked the students for the roactive and constructive idea of creating an Anti-Sexual Harassment Body which she said would be a driving tool to kick sexual harassment out of Makerere University.
Important notes: In 2015, Makerere University Gender Mainstreaming Directorate organized a related Sensitization and Feedback workshop for staff.
Article: Mak Public Relations Office
General
Makerere University and Xiangtan University Advance Strategic Partnership in Chemical Engineering
Makerere University and Xiangtan University are set to update their close to 20-year academic partnership, with a new focus on launching a joint Master’s degree program in Chemical Engineering and expanding student and staff exchange initiatives.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a recent visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University to Makerere University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in the company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively.
While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to diversify academic offerings and contribute to national development through training in Chemical Engineering. Through this new initiative, the University will better prepare graduates for the petrochemical industry and support the country’s industrial growth.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated that the proposed collaboration aims to address Uganda’s growing need for industrial expertise, particularly as the country develops its petroleum sector. The two universities here are working toward a 1+2 training model, which will enable Makerere students to gain practical experience and access advanced laboratory facilities at Xiangtan University.
Professor Nawangwe further reiterated that “our relationship with the people of China, not just for Makerere but also for a big part of Uganda, has been opened wider by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, considering that many other collaborations like one being discussed now have come through this collaboration.”
The head of the Xiangtan delegation, Professor Dingyu Ou, expressed appreciation for the meeting, and acknowledged the history between the institutions. “As mentioned, we have a very long relationship and a very stable friendship between our two universities.”
Professor Ou extended appreciation for the support provided to the Confucius Institute at Makerere, the care shown to his colleagues, and looked forward to the successful start of the Chemical Engineering collaboration.
Assuring the delegation of Makerere’s readiness for the collaboration, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba the Lead, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Makerere University Advancement Office, aligned with the Vice Chancellor’s emphasis of University goal to have both theory and practice imparted to the students.
She said “the curriculum of the university and Uganda as a whole is moving towards competence-based education training to ensure students are equipped to demonstrate those skills in the actual field, particularly regarding petroleum exploration.”
Ms. Ndagire Kajumba also emphasised a shift in strategy for the partnership office, saying, “we are moving away from just signing MOUs that collect dust, and moving towards those that are more collaborative to benefit our faculty and students, just like this one.”
Professor Gilbert Kumushabe aligned his remarks with those of the Vice Chancellor and Ms. Ndagire Kajumba, and described the method used at Xiangtan University as “actually competence-based teaching.”
Based on his recent visit, Prof. Gumoshabe shared that students in China are divided into groups with dedicated teachers to perform practical, hands-on work beyond the theoretical lecturers. He expressed gladness that the same was being adopted for the Ugandan context.
Both institutions are now working to finalise the specific agreements for the joint degree and exchange programs. Beyond academic training, the collaboration will advance cultural and professional exchange.
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