General
South Korean Ambassador Pays Courtesy Call-Donates Books to Mak
The Republic of South Korea on 31st March 2016 donated an assortment of books to Makerere University in the interest of promoting the Korean language and culture in the Institution. The books were handed over to the Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Ezra Suruma by the South Korean Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Park Jong Dae, during his courtesy call. The books will be freely accessible to all staff and students interested in learning Korean Language and culture.
The donated books are to be housed in the Korea Corner, which was established on 6th August 2014 in the Makerere University Main Library. The Korea Corner was as a result of long term relationship between Makerere University and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Uganda. H.E Park Jong Dae, hailed Makerere University for spearheading the promotion of Korean language and culture in Uganda. “I would like to thank you for this opportunity to spread Korean language and culture. We are happy that we have started to fulfill this interest here and soon we shall be able to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Makerere University and prominent Universities in South Korea,” said the Ambassador.
“We want Korean culture to be shared in Uganda and of course Makerere University as the most prominent University in the country and is the best option. We would like to use this vicinity to introduce our language and culture in Uganda. We have started with the donation of books which are mostly to be used to teach the Korean language.” H.E Park Jong Dae explained.
He further shared that Uganda as the Perl of Africa has all that it takes to become the agricultural and possibly economic hub of Africa. Commenting on the friendly people and diverse cultures of Uganda, the Ambassador noted that Ugandans have what it takes to turn the challenges they have faced in the past into opportunities for the future.
The Makerere University Chancellor, Prof. Ezra Suruma appreciated the donation of books, the good relationship South Korea has with the Institution and the interest expressed to further cementing this close relationship.
“We welcome you Your Excellency and appreciate your interest in Makerere University as well as advancing the relationship between Uganda and South Korea. I believe that there exists a close mutually beneficial relationship between Uganda and South Korea. There is no doubt that we can greatly benefit from South Korea’s development, especially as we consider exchange of human and other resources” Prof. Ezra Suruma said.
The Chancellor appreciated the warm hospitality accorded to delegations from Makerere University whenever they visit the South Korean Embassy in Uganda and looked forward to receiving the Ambassador whenever he visited Makerere.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Dr. Ernest Okello-Ogwang thanked the South Korean Government for the donation of books and the great collaboration with Makerere University. He encouraged scholars from Korea to come and join Makerere University for courses at various levels of qualification “Prof. Bernard Bashaasha, the Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) holds a Master of Agricultural Economics from the Seoul National University,” he said. He noted that such exchanges would further promote interrelations between Ugandan and South Korean people.
In her remarks, the Acting University Librarian Dr. Hellen Byamugisha, expressed her appreciation to the Ambassador for facilitating continued cordial relations between Makerere University and South Korea. “As the Makerere University Library, we are blessed to collaborate with South Korea. I have seen a number of people including Library staff taking keen interest in learning the Korean Language and today’s book donation shall give more people access to these learning resources,” she said.
Article by Charles Iga, Intern, Public Relations Office
By Agnes Namaganda
On July 22nd 2022, Makerere University–Child Health and Development Centre (Mak–CHDC) launched a draft manual for the National Parenting Standards. The Centre has been working together with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) with funding from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund), to develop standards that are agreeable to all organisations in the country that are involved in parenting work. The draft manual was being presented to members of a consortium that brings together all these organisations together, called the Parenting Agenda Consortium.
“We produce many documents and they are shelved,” Irene Ayot Chono, who was speaking on behalf of UNICEF said. “We hope that this document will not be one of them,” she emphasized.
Dr. Godfrey Siu, the Principal Investigator from Mak-CHDC who presented the draft manual to participants, emphasized that if any organization is doing parenting work, there should be a minimum package that they should offer.
Draft Manual Content
The manual which will have several modules. These modules will be delivered face-to-face in 1.5 hour sessions. Some of these include; Module 6 which will focus on “understanding responsible masculinity and fatherhood” and on “understanding the concept of head of family.”The draft manual also proposed that Module 11 focuses on Parenting in the 21st Century. Some of the sessions in this module will include Children and Technology, Contemporary Influence on Children and Modernity, Culture and Morality.Module 9 will focus on Parenting for Adolescents and some of the suggested sessions within this module are Needs for Adolescents and The Art of Communicating with Adolescents. Module 5 will focus on Preventing Violent Parenting and Promoting Alternative Discipline Strategies while Module 10 will be about Parenting to Address the Mental Health for Children and Adults.
Participants’ suggestions
After the presentation, participants raised several suggestions for discussion and consideration. These included whether there should be a module on spirituality since Uganda is a strongly religious nation. There was also the concern of how children in remand homes should be parented. Another concern raised by a participant was as to whether teachers who make an undeniable contribution to parenting, should be taken through the parenting manual.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Juliana Naumo Akoryo, the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) said that the manual is for the parenting organisations to utilize and not for MGLSD.
Ms. Chono also adjured the team behind the manual to use picture illustrations in the manual that can be relatable by the Ugandan parents.
Contact: Agnes Namaganda – agnesvioletnamaganda@gmail.com
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