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Mak to Decentralise Review of Payments up to UGX50milllion to Colleges

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The Makerere University Directorate of Internal Audit has carried out a further phase out arrangement that will oversee the unit dropping the review of payments up to UGX50milllion effective 1st July 2017. This was revealed during a Stakeholders Workshop on Payment review Mechanism:Internal Controls, Risk Management, Compliance and Governance held on Friday 16th June 2017 in the Main Hall.

According to the Ag. Director, Internal Audit Mr Benson Barigye, the role of the review of payments shall be taken up by the professional accountants and Principals in the respective units at College level. Officially opened by the Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu, the Stakeholders Workshop also focused on addressing issues regarding compliance with procurement laws and regulations.

The Vice Chancellor thanked the Directorate of Internal Audit for preparing such an informative workshop when he said, “I am happy to be part of this workshop and I am sure that during its course, we shall be able to understand your take in exiting the pre-audit process and the benefits of the action.  I have hope that this system will yield successful result to the institution in terms of managing university finances and accountability.”
Ag. Director Internal Audit-Mr. Benson Barigye addresses stakehoders
Addressing the intent audience at the Stakeholders Workshop, Mr. Barigye said that the action undertaken by the Internal Audit to exit the pre-Payment review process and delegating it to colleges was aimed at creating time for the team in the Directorate to concentrate  more on risk-based auditing.

Citing the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF, 2013) and best practices, Mr. Barigye said that Internal Auditors are not permitted to engage in operational issues like pre-audit activities. According to him, this was also backed up by the Makerere University Council’s decision to phase out the pre-audit activities as passed on 1st June 2011.

“With the Council’s decision to phase out the pre-audit activities, we effectively dropped review of payment up to UGX2M, review of accountabilities up to UGX5M and deliveries up to UGX2M. On 1 July, 2014, the threshold of payment review and deliveries were revised to UGX5M. Effective 1 July, 2017, internal audit shall make a further phase out arrangement up to UGX50M,” said Mr. Barigye.
R-L: Ag. Director Internal Audit-Mr. Benson Barigye, Head Procurement and Disposal Unit-Mr. Paul Agaba (C) and Internal Auditor-Amos Dembe (L) at the Stakeholders Workshop
According to the Makerere University Bursar Mr. Augustine Tamale, decentralising payment review will mandate professional accountants together with the College Principals to manage the college/unit financial procedures, monitor their transactions as well as present thoroughly reviewed financial papers.

Mr. Tamale also said that the process will help the respective colleges to think critically and make an informed decision on their financial interests in relation to guidelines of the Internal Audit process, before presenting financial documents for any kind of transaction.

“The colleges must review their financial documents carefully and weed out any inequalities to avoid releasing documents when not sure of their accuracy,” he said

He mentioned that the decentralised review payment will also enable the Internal Audit to have a dual review mechanism. According to the University Bursar, the decentralised review payment will also reduce on the bureaucratic nature of the institution in terms of payment review without making losses.
University Bursar-Mr. Augustine Tamale said the decentralisation will reduce on bureaucratic nature of payment review
“We shall have a team of professional accountants who shall work hand in hand with the College Principals to have this work done before sending it to the internal audit. The advantage of this is that once the first reviewer misses out something, it could be easily be realised by the second reviewer,” he said.

In a presentation he made onMakerere University Payment Reviews”, Mr. Augustine Tamale advised participants on the importance of having a contractual obligations and following legal procedures at each every step of review. “You should also know that you have the mandate to advise the user on the proper management of these financial documents, provide technical support to all units and be sure of the arithmetic accuracy of the document,” he said.

The University Secretary Mr. Charles Barugahare presented the financial and accountability focus of Makerere University for the financial year 2017/2018. Discussing the budget and its reporting and accountability requirements, the University Secretary extended his gratitude to the Government and Parliament of Uganda on behalf of Makerere University for the approved favorable 2017/2018 budget of UGX248bn.
University Secretary-Mr. Charles Barugahare presented the institutional financial and accountability focus 2017/2018
“I am happy that this financial year 2017/2018, the government and the parliament of Uganda approved 248bn leading to an increment of the wage from UGX100.08bn to UGX116.89bn. This financial year the budget also indicates a figure of UGX3.85bn allocated towards arrears. In the last financial year, the university never received any arrears from the Government, I am really grateful for this,” he said.

“He however called upon the university to abide by the reporting and accountability requirements as proposed by the government. “Let us make sure that the Annual, half-yearly accounts and quarterly performance reports are prepared in accordance with the designated due dates, we prepare the Monthly Bank reconciliation for all accounts including projects by the 15th of the following month and get them signed by the responsible people,” he said.

Reiterating the need to manage risks in the auditing department, the head- Procurement and Disposal Unit Mr. Paul Agaba said that the Procurement and Disposal Unit together with the Directorate of Internal Audit should develop a tool on how to manage the financial risks that occur during the auditing process. Discussing the role of procurement in mitigating the risk in the post audit, Agaba said the Internal Audit can adopt the work plan to mitigate the increasing risks in the pre-audits
DVCFA-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (3rd L) officially closed the Workshop. L-R are Dr. Charles Ibingira-CHS, Dr. Gorettie Nabanoga-CAES, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe-CEDAT, Dr. Eria Hisali-CoBAMS, Prof. Bernard Bashaasha-CAES, Dr. Fred Masagazi Masaazi -CEES and Dr. Agnes Rwashana Semwanga-CoCIS
The workshop was officially closed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Professor Barnabas Nawangwe. In his closing remarks, Prof. Nawangwe called for several related workshops saying that they are professional development platforms that enable the working staff to gain more knowledge and skills.

Article: Public Relations Office

Mark Wamai

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Celebrating Women in Science at Makerere University

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A female student conducts an experiement in one of the Science Labs, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda

Today, on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we celebrate the incredible women scientists at Makerere University who are driving innovation, advancing research, and shaping the future of science in Uganda and beyond.

Your dedication, resilience, and groundbreaking contributions continue to inspire generations. As you break barriers and push the frontiers of knowledge, remember that your work is not only transforming communities but also paving the way for more young women to embrace science.

We honor your achievements and reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where women in science can thrive. Keep leading, innovating, and inspiring!

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

Mak Editor

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91st Electoral Commission Promises a free and fair Electoral Process

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By Nickson Maberi

The swearing-in-ceremony for the 91st Students’ Guild Electoral Commission was held on Friday 31st January 2025.  Mr. Joseph Murungi, a commissioner from the College of Health Sciences (CHS) was unanimously chosen as the chairperson of the commision.

Mr. Murungi thanked the good Lord and students for entrusting him with the position and promised to deliver a free and fair electoral process and head a commission that is impartial.

The Dean of Students, Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli urged the new commission to execute its duties in line with the Guild statute and Constitution.

“You must execute your duties in line with the Guild statute and Constitution, anything outside that is invalid. I wish you the best and I am looking forward to working with you,” she said.

Ms. Ruth Iteu, the Head of the Online voting team, urged the commission to avoid being caught on the wrong side of the law as it will lead to severe consequences.

Rev. Fr. Josephat Ddungu, the Chaplain of Makerere University St. Augustine Chapel said they will continue to pray for the commission to have a peaceful and successful.

“The Electoral Commission is a very important body and the success of the electoral process depends on you. Please concentrate on doing what is right before the Lord. As your spiritual leaders, our duty is to pray. We are therefore praying for you to have a peaceful and successful election,” he said.

Administrator who urged the commission to always do the right at the right time.

Mr.  Nickson Maberi encouraged the new commission to follow the law and avoid tarnishing the image of the university.

Mr. Joseph Murungi, Commissioner from the College of Health Sciences (CHS) swearing in as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission for the 91st Guild Elections.

“Makerere University elections attract national attention. Please follow the law and be people of integrity to avoid tarnishing the image of the university,” he guided.

Mr. Aston Tayebwa from the College of Natural Sciences was elected as the commission’s General Secretary while Ms Sharon Nyonyozi from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences was elected as the commission’s Vice Chairperson.

Other commissioners include: Mr. Ijoot William from the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Mr. Ntambi Moses from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Mr. Perez William Mwesigwa from the School of Law (SoL), Alyosius Mutagubya from the College of Computing and Information Science (CoCIS) and Mr. Mugisha Hamidu from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).

Mak Editor

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KobWeb: RENU’s Community Magazine – 2024 Edition

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Cover page of KobWeb: RENU's Community Magazine, 2024 Edition. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) is a community-driven, non-profit organization with a major focus on nurturing collaboration among member institutions (i.e. research and education institutions), and global partners. Founded in 2006, RENU has grown from a small National Research and Education Network (NREN) that focused on just connectivity needs of universities and research organisations, to a fast-growing specialized ICT solutions provider for the entire Research and Education (R&E) community including schools, colleges, other tertiary institutions, hospitals, and their end users. RENU is located at House No. 31, The Edge, Makerere University and on Plot 6B, Mabua Road, Kololo, Kampala.

Highlights from the 2024 Edition featuring Makerere:

  • Universities Launch Global Coalition to Support Refugee Education at Scale
    • 16 universities from across the globe have come together to improve and increase access to higher education for refugees and their communities, where they reside. Universities based in Africa, Europe, and North America formed the Global University Academy (GUA) following a workshop hosted by the University of Oslo in June 2024.
    • The GUA is currently looking into the possibility to pilot the initiative in Uganda. Key partners in this work are Makerere University and Gulu University, who are already actively engaged in providing access to higher education for refugees, and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Uganda.
  • Advancing Child Welfare The AfriChild Centre’s Inter-University Programme
    • The Inter-University Programme, spearheaded by the Centre of Excellence for the Study of the African Child (AfriChild Centre), is a landmark initiative focused on equipping researchers with the essential skills needed to conduct high-quality child-focused research. The success of the Inter-University Programme is built on the strong partnerships the AfriChild Centre has established with universities including Makerere University.
  • Liberate your Mind from the Present and Dream Big to Provide Meaningful ICT Solutions for Research and Education!
    • At the 2024 RENU ICT Directors Forum, Dr. Francis F. “Tusu” Tusubira, the Chief Guest, delivered an electrifying address urging ICT leaders to dream beyond the present and shape the future of research and education. Reflecting on his time at Makerere University, he shared his philosophy of granting autonomy to team members and supporting them unconditionally. “Allow your team to make decisions and mistakes, especially in the current environment, which presents opportunities for learning. Protect them when they make mistakes. Once you do this, your team will build your dream.”
  • Advancing Open Science and Open Access in Africa, with a Focus on Uganda
    • Open Science and Open Access have emerged as transformative movements in the global academic and research community. Their principles—sharing knowledge freely, fostering collaboration, and driving practical solutions to societal challenges—are especially resonant in Africa, where equitable access to resources and innovative solutions are essential for sustainable development. Institutions like Makerere University are driving Open Science efforts by encouraging researchers to adopt open frameworks.

Visit RENU to download full edition

Mark Wamai

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