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Mak Directorate of Human Resources celebrates Mrs. Mary K. Tizikara’s dedicated service
It was a moment of joy when the former Director of Human Resources-Mrs. Mary Kanyiginya Tizikara accompanied by her son and daughter joined staff from the Directorate of Human Resources, Members of Management and other invited guests to celebrate her dedicated service to Makerere University.
The colourful farewell party organised in her honour was held on Thursday 13th July 2017 in the Makerere University Guest House Gardens.
Appointed Director Human Resources on 1st May 2012, Mrs. Tizikara’s five year tenure ended on 30thApril 2017. Makerere University Appointments Board extended her contract for two months up to June 30, 2017.
Speaking on behalf of the staff in the Directorate of Human Resources, Mrs. Dorothy Sennoga-Zake, the Acting Director- Human Resources referred to Mrs. Tizikara as a hardworking and committed worker, whose resilience saw her rise through ranks to becoming the Director Human Resources.
“Mrs. Tizikara has been with us for a long time. During her career, she was able to rise from the position of Administrative Assistant through the ranks to the Director Human Resources. This a good testimony that all the young colleagues present can attest that hard work indeed pays,” Mrs. Sennoga-Zake remarked.
Mrs. Sennoga-Zake highlighted that Mrs. Tizikara spearheaded the migration of the Directorate records from the manual-based system to electronic records and recruitment of College Human Resource officers which has greatly improved the performance of the directorate. She praised Mrs. Tizikara for her role in the drafting of the Makerere University Human Resources Manual.
“Policies and procedures are very important to the functioning of any institution. They spell out the acceptable and unacceptable ways of conducting institutional businesses. This helps employees to know what is expected of them. The Human Resources Manual is one such policy and is very important in running Makerere University. With Mrs. Tizikara’s supervision and guidance, the Directorate was able to draft it,” the Ag. Director said.
The Acting Director mentioned that through her stay, Mrs. Tizikara had accumulated a wealth of experience in Human Resource practices. She is currently a chattered Human Resource Specialist and as a Directorate, they hope to continue tapping into her vast knowledge. She wished her the best of luck as she completes her PhD studies.
Mrs. Tizikara’s supervisor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration described her as a lady of principles who could hardly be compromised on unethical grounds.
“She has been exemplary and professional. I would like to urge you who have remained in the Directorate of Human Resources to emulate her,” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.
Prof. Nawangwe thanked the Directorate for organizing a farewell party for Mrs. Tizikara. He said this is a sign of appreciation to the people leaving and a good gesture of sending off colleagues with dignity.
Amidst applause from the audience, Prof. Nawangwe handed over a Certificate of Service signed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu to Mrs. Mary K. Tizikara in recognition of her dedicated service as Director Human Resources of Makerere University.
Touched by the love and best wishes, a plaque and gifts received from her supervisor, members of Management, College Principals present, staff and well wishers, the jovial Mrs. Tizikara remarked that her appointment to the position of Director Human Resources was a result of her selfless contribution to Makerere University. She revealed that working with the Department of the Academic Registrar and later with the Appointments Division opened many doors for her including acquiring the wealth of experience required for the position of Director of Human Resources.
“I encourage you to compete for a better future. When the chance comes, apply for positions. There are so many opportunities. Don’t be discouraged when you get hostile moments, the future ahead of you is always brighter. The support you give to others will be the same you will need from them,” Mrs. Tizikara advised.
She remarked that she greatly loved her work, but she had to accept the fact that her contract had come to an end. “There is life after work and I thank God for that. I have loved my work and have reached my climax. I thank God who has enabled me reach the end of my contract healthily,” she said with joy.
She advised junior colleagues to work hard to reach higher levels, adding that dedication and hard work can lead them to a better position.
She appreciated the staff in the Directorate of Human Resources for the team work and cooperation that has enabled the Directorate to implement human resource strategies, and to accomplish vital tasks. She promised to stay in touch with the Directorate and asked members to keep sharing with her their experiences.
Mrs. Tizikara thanked members of Management, the Directorate of Human Resources and her family for the support accorded to her during the execution of duties.
In a very special way, Mrs. Tizikara applauded her supervisor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe for the guidance and invaluable support accorded to her. Mrs. Tizikara congratulated Prof. Nawangwe for emerging the best in the race for Vice Chancellor. Mrs. Tizikara is optimistic that his able leadership will scale the Directorate to greater heights.
“I know I have had a cordial working relationship with you and I will carry that with me. I will always be available to share with you. I’m really humbled for appreciating me. Currently, I am doing my PhD and I will complete it soon. With the experience I have, the sky will be the limit,” Mrs. Tizikara said.
Article by: Rachael Kanyi and Esther Joyce Nakibombo-Interns-Mak Public Relations Office
General
Mak Environmental Economists Explore Uganda’s Albertine Oil Fields: Identifying Research and Collaboration Opportunities
A team of environmental economists from Makerere University recently visited the Albertine oil fields in Uganda to assess ongoing operations in terms of oil and gas exploration and uncover potential research and collaboration opportunities.
The field visit conducted from 17th-20th July 2024 by the EfD –Mak centre in the districts of Hoima, Buliisa and Kikuube aimed to bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications, focusing on the interaction between oil extraction activities and local communities, environmental management and sustainable development.
The centre has established two layers of policy engagement by registering key policy actors both at national and subnational levels. This year’s centre theme is “Energy Efficiency”. The theme was selected following the need for transformation from biomass dependence to cleaner energy sources at household level, but also the need for cleaner energies in manufacturing, transport among others.
The reliance on biomass is a key global challenge towards environmental protection and reversing climate change effects. In Uganda, over 85% and 13% of the population use firewood and charcoal for cooking respectively.
Established in 2018 and inaugurated at Makerere University in 2019, the EfD Mak centre strives to foster transdisciplinary research, knowledge transfer, and research-to-policy engagement and community interventions in environmental economics.
In view of the above, the centre organized a three day outreach in three districts and held her inaugural Annual General Meeting and launched a policy dialogue on 18th July 2024 at Glory Summit Hotel in Hoima which attracted over 60 people including district leadership, community based organisations, civil servants, private sector and academia.
For the last two days, the researchers led by the Centre Deputy Director Prof Johnny Mugisha visited the Uganda Petroleum Authority in Hoima, visited oil wells including the Central Processing Facility, King fisher, Tilenga Industrial Park, Kasemene site 1, the Luwero Industries Ltd Oil waste treatment plant and the Kabalega International Airport.
“The objective of visiting the oil and gas sites and companies is to enable our research fellows familiarize with activities and operations in Uganda’s oil and gas with a view of fostering researchable projects, constructive dialogue and policy developments on critical issues related to sustainable development, environmental stewardship, environmental risk management and responsible oil and gas operations in the sensitive ecosystem of Lake Albert and Murchison Falls National park”, team leader, Prof. Mugisha explained.
The centre’s areas of interest included the environmental impact assessment and monitoring, petroleum waste management practices, integration of biodiversity conservation, community engagement and socio economic impacts.
Other areas of interest were regulatory framework and compliance, water resource management and protection, climate change resilience and adaptation strategies, corporate social responsibility initiatives, long term environmental management plans and how Makerere University can collaborate effectively with the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, CNOOC, UNOC and Total Uganda to enhance research and knowledge sharing on sustainable practices, environmental conservation and petroleum management.
EfD Researchers Gain Critical Insights from Oil and Gas Community Visits
Researchers concluded a three-day visit to oil and gas communities, gaining firsthand insights into the sector’s impact and future prospects. The visit emphasized the need for informed research and sustainable planning to maximize the benefits of Uganda’s oil and gas resources and prepare for future challenges.
Firsthand Observations Critical: Dr. Madina Mwagale Guloba, Senior Research Fellow at EfD Mak, emphasized the value of seeing conditions on the ground to counteract misinformation about oil and gas exploration. “Seeing is believing, and seeing also learning from a point of view is very critical,” she stated. Dr. Guloba dispelled what she termed “corridor talk,” noting that community members affected by oil projects appeared happier and saw more opportunities. She stressed the importance of sustainable planning, saying, “In the next 30 years, people would have gotten even more opportunities.”
Cross-Cutting Research Needed: Prof. Johnny Mugisha, Deputy Centre Director, emphasized the necessity of interdisciplinary research, noting the interdependence of the petroleum sector and farming communities. He underscored that Makerere University needs to boost its research and outreach efforts to aid policy development. “From interactions in Hoima, Bulisa, and with people in the oil sector, the lessons learned indicate that Makerere University has much more to contribute, especially in research, outreach, and grassroots stakeholder engagement. We often view the petroleum and gas sector as separate from farming communities, but our experiences show a significant relationship and interaction between them. Therefore, research should not be limited to one entity but should be cross-cutting,” stated Mugisha.
On-the-Ground Engagement: Dr. Alex Tatwangire, Research Fellow and Lecturer, emphasized the value of direct stakeholder interaction, noting effective environmental mitigation plans and agricultural integration in restoring livelihoods for project-affected persons. He called for continued research to address policy gaps. The visit highlighted the importance of informed research and sustainable planning in maximizing the benefits of Uganda’s oil and gas resources while preparing for future opportunities.
Reflecting on his experience, Dr. Tatwangire remarked, “This engagement with stakeholders on the policy of energy utilization in Hoima has been incredibly useful. We’ve had the chance to observe the oil extraction process firsthand. Reading about it and hearing about it is one thing, but going on the ground and interacting with everyone involved provides a much richer understanding.”
He continued, “Seeing the wells, well pads, regulations, infrastructure, and the oil pipeline being laid, and being assured that oil will flow within a year, has been enlightening. We’ve learned a lot about the connections between the environment and how plans are in place to mitigate environmental damage. We also saw how agriculture is integrated into livelihood restoration for project-affected persons, with strategies to strengthen these livelihoods through training, seeds, and advanced technologies.”
Dr. Tatwangire concluded, “I return with a great appreciation for the progress being made. As researchers, our role is to identify gaps, explore research questions, and provide the evidence policymakers need to improve policy planning. I am grateful to EfD, our financiers, and Makerere University for these opportunities, and I hope for more such engagements to enhance our relevance in policy debates and development.”
Jane Anyango is the Communication Officer EfD Uganda
More photos from the Field Visit
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