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
General
Prof. Nawangwe urges young people to take up leadership in innovation for the transformation of Africa
By the Program Communication Team
On Sunday, February 2, 2025, Makerere University hosted the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council Representatives meeting, which brings together young people from around 45 partner universities of the Mastercard Foundation.
During the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe urged young people to prepare for leadership roles in innovation, especially starting with their communities, if they wish to see the positive transformation they desire in Africa.
“I urge you to connect and network with your peers and discuss how you can form inter-university teams to innovate solutions that will address the development challenges in our communities for the transformation of the African continent.” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.
Prof. Nawangwe applauded the Mastercard Foundation for its partnership with Makerere University and Uganda in general, which has uplifting effects on many young people.
“Makerere University and Uganda have made remarkable strides in providing Higher Education to Young People, thanks to the generous support of the Mastercard Foundation, which has contributed significantly to educating the next generation of African leaders. Through valuable initiatives and partnerships, such as the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Makerere University is poised to continue educating young individuals who will significantly impact Uganda’s and Africa’s economic growth.” Prof. Nawangwe noted.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nawangwe, further urged young people to seize the opportunities the Mastercard Foundation and other like-minded development partners presented to improve their lives and communities.
“The Mastercard Foundation has given you the platform and opportunity to be leaders and beacons of change. Embrace this responsibility with courage. Let the core values of the Scholars Program—humility, listening, kindness and respect, co-creation, and impact—guide your actions,” Prof. Nawangwe emphasized.
While speaking at the same event, the Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, Prof. Justine Namaalwa, enumerated high-level achievements the Program had accomplished for the last decade at Makerere University. She pointed out that in terms of scholarship enrolment, the Program had recruited 1,032 Scholars, of which 76% were Females, 7% were Internationals, 4% were Refugees, and about 1% were Youth with Disabilities.
Prof. Namaalwa further pointed out other post-graduation achievements, including a 94% completion rate of the total number of Scholars enrolled in the Scholars Program. She pointed out that between 2018 and 2025, the Program had graduated 964 Scholars, of which 37% were employed, mainly in the private sector.
Prof. Namaalwa revealed that beyond the Scholars Program, the Mastercard Foundation had put other initiatives supporting the university in numerous ways. She pointed out other initiatives such as the e-learning initiative, a COVID-19 Response measure to ensure continuity of Teaching and Learning at Makerere University and the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Collaborative: Makerere University, in collaboration with the University of Ghana, the University of Cape Town, and the University of Cambridge, is implementing a new initiative that addresses one of the world’s most significant challenges in recent times—climate change.
Prof. Namaalwa revealed that the Research Collaborative would provide opportunities for MSc and PhD scholarships to African students and encourage young people to enrol as graduate students starting in the academic year 2025/2026.
The event was punctuated with fireside chats, during which young people had an opportunity to discuss a number of topical issues related to entrepreneurship and Transformative leadership. Thereafter, the visiting students were taken on a guided tour around Makerere University.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council comprises student leaders from partner Universities. Each Partner University has one Council Representative. They represent the needs of Scholars and work with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program teams at each institution, the Mastercard Foundation, and Alumni.
On Monday 3rd February 2025, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe handed over three (3) university buses to the respective leadership in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), the College of Health Sciences (CHS), and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB).
The new buses mark a significant improvement in mobility and learning for Makerere University students and staff, furthering the institution’s commitment to practical education and community service.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the University’s Freedom Square, Prof. Nawangwe highlighted the significance of the new buses in enhancing teaching and learning. “These buses will play a crucial role in improving students’ practical learning experiences by ensuring reliable transportation for fieldwork and community outreach,” he said.
Prof. Nawangwe expressed gratitude to the Parliament and the Government of Uganda for providing the resources for the new buses, emphasizing their importance in replacing the old fleet, which frequently breaks down. The new 2023 model buses, with a 67-seater capacity, were secured at a cost of UGX 626million each and are expected to save the university significant maintenance costs and improve the learning experience for students.
Principals from the respective colleges expressed their appreciation for the new buses. Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine, Principal of CoVAB, emphasized the importance of the buses for practical training at locations such as Lake Mburo National Park. Associate Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, Principal of CAES, and Associate Prof. Bruce Kirenga, Principal of CHS, highlighted the buses’ role in facilitating community engagement and outreach.
He explained that the decision to purchase Isuzu buses instead of those manufactured by Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) a Makerere University partner, was based on prior engagement with the former, as well as the need to utilize the allocated funds promptly within the Financial Year, which couldn’t be accomplished at KMC due to their high demand.
-
General2 weeks agoCelebrating Dr. Irene Rebecca Namatende
-
General6 days agoCall for Applications: Masters Student Mobility to Norway 2025
-
Education2 weeks agoOver 40 UBTEB Students Graduate from the Centre for Life-Long Learning at CEES
-
Health9 hours agoMeet Laura Silovsky, a Makerere University Graduate with Refugee Roots Bridging Continents
-
Computing & IS5 days agoCoCIS CIPSD Short Courses Jan-Mar 2025