General
Contractor Hands Over Completed St Francis Extension Works to Chaplain
On Thursday 8th June 2017, the Chaplain Makerere University St. Francis Chapel, Rev. Canon Amos Turyahabwe received keys and architectural designs from Excel Construction Company Ltd, a company that was contracted to manage the extension of the chapel from a sitting capacity of 300 to 1,200.
The handover ceremony of the Chapel grounds from the Contractor to the Chaplain, paves way for the official opening of the “new” chapel scheduled to take place on 9th July 2017. The Archbishop of Uganda, Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali is expected to officiate at the grand opening.
Touring the completed construction works amidst hymns of praise from the Choir and believers, the overjoyed Chaplain confirmed that the expanded Chapel can accommodate 1200 people. The Chaplain remarked that the extension of the chapel was a community achievement and applauded members for supporting the fulfillment of the work of God.
Makerere University Dean of Students, Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe who represented the Vice Chancellor-Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu requested the Church to involve students in all activities and programmes of the Chapel.
“I request that you deliberately involve students in the activities of the Church. Let them be number one in all the programmes and make them feel the presence of God,” he said.
Mr. Satvinder Saini, the Site Engineer of Excel Construction Company Ltd attributed the timely completion of the extension project to the maximum cooperation with the Chaplain, the University Management, the Chapel Council and the community at large. He revealed that Excel Construction Company Ltd did everything possible to retain the originality of the Chapel.
“We tried our level best to maintain the original designs of the Chapel. The designs inside and outside remained the same. The monuments we came up with were extracted from the art that was in the church,” he said. Mr. Saini stated that appealed to the church users to preserve and protect the facility.
According to Mr. Jesse Tukacungurwa, the Project Manager, the completion of the extension was a great achievement. He said, “This is a great day and we must rejoice for this achievement. “Everyone has contributed in their own way. The project has taken us almost a year, but finally here we are! We thank God for guiding us and all those who have contributed towards the success of this project.”
The Chairperson of the Project Technical Committee, Eng. Paul Alex Ekirikubinza said that the accomplishment was a collective effort. They worked with a number of teams who faithfully dedicated time towards the great cause.
“We recognize all those who have worked tirelessly towards this project. I applaud the voluntary spirit. What we are seeing here today is evidence to us that there is no limit on what God can do. This is the culmination of the work God is doing,” Eng. Ekirikubinza said.
He thanked the Chaplain, Church Council, University Management, Project Manager, Contractor and the community at large for fully backing the extension project and urged them to continue supporting the work of God.
The handover of the Chapel site to the Chaplain was also witnessed by Eng. Fred Nuwagaba-Director, Makerere University Estates and Works; Makerere University Directorate of Legal Affairs; Makerere University Public Relations office; St. Francis Chapel Council; representative members of St. Francis Community and well-wishers.
Article: Mak Public Relations Office
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on 20th April 2026 inaugurated the Second Makerere University Health User Committee (Mak-HUC). The Committee was established by the Vice Chancellor in 2022 as part of his strategic mandate to strengthen and oversee the University Hospital services delivery.
Chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Mak-HUC has as its members; Prof. Josaphat K. Byamugisha-Director Makerere University Health Services (MakHS) and Dr. Daniel Ronald Ruhweza-Department of Law and Jurisprudence, School of Law.
Other members include; Dr. Arthur Kwizera-Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, College of Health Sciences (CHS) and Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) Representative, Dr. Lillian Tukahirwa-Makerere University Administrative Staff Association (MASA) Representative, Mr. Godfrey Othieno- National Union of Educational Institutions (NUEI) Representative, and as Secretariat, Ms. Kevin M. Nabiryo-Directorate of Human Resources.
The 2nd Mak-HUC has been appointed for a period of four years effective 1st January 2026 with a mandate to: Guide, monitor and oversee delivery of health services by MakHS; Represent the interests and concerns of staff and students that use MakHS; Advise on alignment with sustainable health financing and insurance models; Strengthen systems for fraud prevention, digital transformation and access to specialized treatment, among other responsibilities.
The 1st Mak-HUC was chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi and had as members; Prof. Josaphat Byamugisha, Dr. Fred Mayambala, Dr. Zahara Nampewo, Mr. Othieno Godfrey, Mr. Apunyo Paul Okiria and Ms. Ikiriza Racheal. Milestones during the first era included; Outpatient Department visits growth from 4,802 (2022) to 7,388 (Nov 2025) for staff and 14,641 (2022) to 19,069 (Nov 2025) for students.
Others milestones included; Commissioning of a fully equipped Operating Theatre, Establishment of a modern Imaging Hub, Development of a fully functional Audiology Unit, Expansion of the Temporal Bone Laboratory, Launch of the Olink Proteomics Platform and Enhancement of the Dental Unit with 32 dental chairs and experienced personnel.
Related article: https://news.mak.ac.ug/2025/12/three-years-of-impact-makerere-university-health-user-committee-presents-status-report/
By Gerald Ochwo
On Monday, 20th April 2026, the Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi and his Senior Management Team (SMT) convened to witness the official handover of office within the Senate Division. The ceremony, attended by representatives from the Directorate of Internal Audit, marked an important moment of transition and continuity in the University’s academic administration. The outgoing Deputy Academic Registrar in charge of the Senate Division, Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi, formally handed over office to Ms. Gladys Khamili, who assumes the role in an acting capacity.
In his remarks, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi underscored the significance of the transition, situating it within a broader institutional context. He observed that the Department of the Academic Registrar has, over the years, experienced a steady wave of retirements, particularly among senior staff. He noted that this trend is expected to continue, with a considerable number of experienced personnel due to retire within the next two years.
While acknowledging the institutional gaps created by these departures, he reassured staff that the University is actively addressing the situation to ensure the continued efficiency of the Department.
“You will agree with me that the Department has, over the years, witnessed the retirement of many senior colleagues. Their departure leaves behind a significant institutional gap. However, the University is fully aware and will address it through targeted recruitment,” he stated.
In her detailed handover report, which she delivered verbatim, Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi reflected on her tenure with gratitude and a deep sense of fulfillment. She paid tribute to the Vice-Chancellor, in his capacity as Chairperson of the University Senate, for his steadfast guidance and support throughout her service. She also expressed sincere appreciation to the Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, for his pragmatic and results-oriented leadership.
“I remain deeply grateful for the support from the Vice-Chancellor and all members of Senate for the trust they accorded me. I equally thank the Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza, for his results-oriented approach to administration. His support enabled us to achieve remarkable progress under the DARP (Digitalization of Academic Records and Processes) Project, including the successful digitalization of Senate minutes, some dating as far back as the 1990s, which are now easily retrievable,” she noted.
Her remarks painted a picture of dedication, progress, and institutional strengthening, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to benefit the University.
In her acceptance remarks, Ms. Gladys Khamili expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Academic Registrar for the confidence placed in her. She acknowledged the weight of responsibility that comes with the role and pledged her commitment to upholding the standards and gains established by her predecessor.
She paid glowing tribute to Mrs. Mushengyezi’s exceptional service, noting that her impact within the Senate Division is both profound and enduring.
“I am truly honored by the trust bestowed upon me. I am committed to building on the strong foundation laid by Mrs. Mushengyezi, whose remarkable contribution and dedication will continue to inspire us all,” she said.
The ceremony not only marked the end of a distinguished era in the Department of the Academic Registrar, but also the beginning of a new phase, underscored by continuity, renewal, and a shared commitment to excellence in academic administration at Makerere University.
Gerald Ochwo is the Liaison and Communication Officer, Office of the Academic Registrar
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