General
Mak Administrative Secretaries equipped with skills and knowledge
Over 40 Administrative Secretaries serving in the different Units of the University were equipped with valuable knowledge and skills on coping with the demanding nature and ever changing trends in the field of work.
During the Induction Workshop held on 5th and 6th April 2017 at School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-engineering Conference Hall, participants received training focusing on the changing role of an Administrative Secretary. The participants gained multiple skills in multi-tasking and prioritization; effective communication; professional ethics; dealing with multiple bosses, difficult personalities and conditions; customer care services; records keeping and management and time management.
The participants listened to presentations on how to effectively work with others/teamwork, personal development, practical problem solving, conflict resolution, decision making as well as managing pressure and stress.
Opening the workshop, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe emphasized the vital role played by Secretaries in the realization of the University Vision, Mission and Strategic Objectives. He thanked the Directorate of Human Resources for organizing the workshop and urged the Directorate to organize more of that kind for all categories of staff in the University.
According to the Director, Mrs. Mary K. Tizikara, the two days workshop focused on providing important information that would help Administrative Secretaries to align their duties and roles with the institution’s values and behavior. Mrs. Tizikara mentioned. She thanked Makerere University Appointments Board for the support rendered in the organization of the workshop.
Addressing the participants, Dr. Euzobia Baine Mugisha a Member of Makerere University Appointments Board who represented the Chairperson-Mr. Bruce B. Kabaasa said the induction workshop was the beginning of the holistic process of enhancing professionalism.
“I have listened to the participants and I am happy that this workshop has served the purpose. I encourage everyone to put into practice what you have learned. Let us try to socialize and work with everybody because you are at a work place. Avoid conflicts at work. Always remain conscious regarding your personal credibility. Credibility comes with experience and the professionalism you have on the job,” Dr. Baine Mugisha said.
Dr. Baine Mugisha, the representative of Makerere University Administrative Staff Association (MASA) in Council as well as the Appointments Board used the same occasion to appeal to Administrative Secretaries to join MASA.
In a captivating presentation titled, Dealing with Multiple Bosses, Ms Irene Tino from Uganda Management Institute informed the participants to always remember that there is no bad boss, but one could have a difficult boss. During the discussion, Ms. Tino said that Secretaries should learn how to manage, handle and balance the demands of multiple bosses. An Administrative Secretary with multiple bosses should manage time and prioritise tasks as well as sharing the list of tasks/assignments he/she is working on with the multiple bosses so as to understand his/her workload.
Focusing on Dealing with Pressure and Stress, Mrs. Tizikara said: “Pressure is something that drives you if it is not too much. If pressure is elevated and there is no time for recovery, then stress is felt. Long hours of work can affect your motivation and concentration. Once in a while, pressure is good since it can help one meet a few challenges and keeps the individual on track. Lack of pressure may lead to boredom since the job may become a routine.”
Presenting on Team Building and Management, Dr. Wilberforce Turyasingura, Dean-School of Business and Management at Uganda Management Institute said that the greatest outcomes are achieved as a result of teamwork. He said that with teamwork, individuals work together to accomplish more than what they could have done as individuals, but in an exciting, liberating, satisfying and enjoyable way. He mentioned that to build an effective team, the right people should be selected.
“Team building process involves gathering the right people and getting them to work interdependently to achieve high performance levels. If members share a common purpose and recognize that they need the efforts of everyone in the team, then it is teamwork. Working as a team comes with many benefits including: generating new ideas; providing support and help to team members; giving people a sense of belonging; helping them to learn from each other and develop, helping to achieve goals and objectives, experience and responsibility sharing, synergy development and common commitment to goals,” Dr. Turyasingura said.
He also highlighted the seven (7) steps involved in building an effective and cohesive team. These include; clarifying the team’s common goals and purposes, clarifying each person’s role in achieving the common purpose, clarifying the needs of the team’s internal and external clients, allowing conflicts to come to surface instead of stifling, working out effective ways to resolve conflicts based on the needs of the specific teams, not allowing individual interests to override those of the team and celebrating the milestones and success of the team.
Briefing participants on Customer Care and Customer Service, Mr. Ben Mugerwa from Uganda Management Institute explained that good customer service is taking that extra step to help even without being asked. It’s all about attitude and skills. He urged the participants to always communicate with professionalism, be organized, understand their role in the team and be a team player.
“The level of customer service that a customer expects will depend upon the past experiences and the type of organization they are dealing with. In the public sector, it has been difficult to implement a customer service type in organizations that are typically very process-oriented and usually in non-competitive situation!” Mr. Mugerwa stated.
He said that when the customer care is good, there will be increased satisfaction and increased use of services by the customers since the satisfied customers will tell their fellows. He added that for exceptional customer care; the staff must be professional and knowledgeable, friendly and courteous even when under pressure. He advised the Administrative Secretaries to be helpful, listen to customers, take responsibility and respond promptly to enquiries and problems.
Tipping the participants on Records Keeping and Management, Mr. Henry Akra-Uganda Management Institute informed them that record keeping is a routine activity taken in handling records while record management is the effort taken to handle records. He said that the record content, context and structure should be in order to serve as evidence, should be kept complete and every employee is responsible for managing records.
“When records are created, they have values attached to them; some are short term administrative values while others are long term physical values. Therefore, these values should be known and the retention schedule should be understood, whether to be deleted or retained.” Mr. Akra concluded.
In a one-on-one interaction with the Mak Public Relations Office team, the participants appreciated the knowledge and skills acquired. Most of them were fascinated by the general slogan "There is no bad boss, but you can meet a difficult boss." They were inspired with the experiences shared on managing a difficult boss.
Delivering the closing remarks, the Director Human Resources, Mrs. Tizikara thanked the staff in the Training and Development Division for organizing the workshop. She equally applauded the team in the Directorate of Human Resources for facilitating the different sessions of the workshop. The facilitators included: Mrs Dorothy Senoga Zake; Mr. Richard Mugisha; Mr. Lawrence Ssanyu; Ms Marvis Kansiime; Mr. Joseph Kalema; and Ms Josephine Apolot Opolot.
The training climaxed with award of certificates and a group photo.
Written by: MAK Public Relations Office
On the evening of Friday, 13th February 2026, the Scholars of Mastercard Foundation embraced the new semester with enthusiasm and celebration, showcasing their rich cultural diversity at the annual cultural dinner. This event not only fostered a sense of community but also highlighted the importance of cultural exchange and understanding among the scholars. The purpose of the cultural dinner is to foster unity in diversity within the Scholars community and to enable young people to appreciate and respect each other’s cultural differences.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars community at Makerere University is a vibrant tapestry of countries, cultures, and backgrounds. In recognition of this richness, the Program team has proposed organising an annual cultural dinner to kick off each new semester. This event aims to achieve several important objectives:
- Promote mutual understanding and cross-cultural appreciation among Scholars.
- Celebrate and highlight the unique cultural identities within our community.
- Encourage confidence and creativity through a dynamic talent showcase.
- Foster a sense of unity and excitement as we embark on the new academic semester together.
During the event, the Scholars proudly showcased their diverse cultures through a vibrant display of traditional attire, engaging dances, delectable dishes, and meaningful expressions in their native languages. The event showcased a rich tapestry of cultures, including the Baganda from Central Uganda; the Banyankore, Bakiga, Batooro, and Banyoro from Western Uganda; the Acholi from the North; the Karamojong from the Northeast; and the Basoga and Bagisu from the Eastern region, among many other indigenous tribes in Uganda. Additionally, attendees enjoyed cultural performances from South Sudan, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, celebrating the unique heritage of each community.
The event also featured a vibrant showcase of cultural attire, accompanied by traditional songs and dances. Attendees enjoyed cultural dress modelling, engaging performances, art displays, and interactive quizzes, culminating in exciting prizes awarded to outstanding performers. This diverse array of activities contributed to a rich celebration of creativity and cultural exchange.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University is committed to fostering holistic development, community building, and leadership among Scholars. At the start of each semester, the Program Team hosts a cultural dinner to reconnect the Scholars community, share key Program updates, and create an inclusive space to strengthen belonging and engagement. The cultural dinner is a critical platform for raising awareness of the need to appreciate and respect cultural diversity.
Bernard Buteera is the Principal Communications Officer for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
More Photos from the Dinner
The degree of attentiveness was at its peak in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility (CTF) Auditorium as Ms. Janet Nabukeera addressed support staff during a Safeguarding and Inclusion training. Her words were firm, direct and reflective. Ms. Nabukeera, the Deputy Human Resource Officer in charge of Performance and Payroll, emphasized that a negative attitude in the workplace creates a toxic environment where colleagues feel hesitant to collaborate or share ideas.
“Avoid unnecessary confrontations with colleagues because jealousy and anger destroy more than they build. When you hold grudges at work, you slowly burden your own heart and mind. Stress can take a toll on your health and productivity. Safeguard yourself by choosing peace, love yourself first and extend that same grace and respect to others.” Ms Nabukeera, cautioned.
The training attracted over 300 Support Staff Members, including Security Personnel, Cleaners, Hall Attendants, Administrative Assistants, Librarians, and Laboratory Support Teams from across the University.
In his remarks, Dr. Rodney Rugyema, the Acting Principal Warden, urged staff to have a positive attitude towards their jobs and encouraged them to ensure that students, fellow staff and visitor’s feel safe, respected and protected.
“You are the eyes and ears of the University, while you may not deliver lectures, you are often the first to notice when something is wrong. So you have to promote an environment free from bullying, discrimination, neglect and intimidation. You have to ensure secure hostels, well-lit walkways, functioning locks and safe laboratory environments,” Dr Rugyema, said.
Makerere University has a duty of care to do no harm and promote the wellbeing of all students, staff, and other University community stakeholders. It seeks to enhance the learning environment to make it more secure, inclusive, and ethically sound for all stakeholders.
The Makerere University Safeguarding Policy lays out the University’s framework for embedding viable safeguarding measures into its ethos and all institutional activities and processes to: Identify, detect, and swiftly act on safeguarding risks; prevent the occurrence of harm; provide mechanisms for reporting all allegations or incidents that have occurred; respond appropriately to all reported incidences; and, continuously monitor, evaluate and learn from practices and experiences of managing safeguarding concerns.
“Safeguarding is not only for lecturers or University Management, it is everyone’s responsibility, If you have someone mistreating you, or you come across any risk, do not suffer in silence report through the MakSafeSpace,” Dr Rugyema, said.
The MakSafeSpace is the e-reporting platform complimenting the other University traditional reporting channels. It is an inclusive platform that provides for confidential modes of reporting safeguarding risks and incidences.
As the session concluded, there was a renewed understanding among participants that safeguarding is a collective duty. From the security guard at the gate to the cleaner in the Hall of Residence, it was clear that every staff member contributes to creating a safe and respectful learning environment.
To involve and create opportunities for students and staff members with disabilities, Light for the World Uganda trained the support staff to become inclusion champions.
Mr. Musa Mwambu, the Disability Inclusion Advisor at Light for the World Uganda, called upon staff to remove barriers limiting the full participation of students and colleagues with disabilities, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“Just like any other person, people with disabilities have the right to education, health, and protection. Society has the duty to remove barriers that block participation. When barriers are removed, disability no longer limits opportunity,” Mr. Mwambu noted.
Drawing from his own lived experience as a person with a disability, he shared how access to the right support systems enables him to communicate effectively and perform daily tasks.
“It is about putting the right conditions in place to participate fully in society. We need multi-stakeholder collaboration to remove barriers and achieve an inclusive society,” he said.
Justine Namuddu, the Support Staff representative on the Makerere University Council, thanked the organizers for the insightful workshop. She reminded fellow staff that Makerere University is a home for everyone and urged them to take care of it.
“Fellow members, as you carry out your duties, ensure that you observe both emotional and intellectual safety. Before sharing information, first verify whether it is true. Safety is being at peace with yourself and with others,” Namuddu emphasized.
She also encouraged younger staff members to take advantage of educational opportunities provided by the University, noting that those who wish to continue with their studies may apply for tuition waivers.
The training concluded with reminders on professionalism and accountability. Staff were encouraged to consistently use the Biometric Attendance Management System to capture attendance accurately. With biometric clock-in devices installed at reception areas across the Main and Satellite campuses, the Directorate of Human Resources can monitor attendance in real time, while staff can keep track of hours worked.
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