General
Mak beats odds to emerge Second Runner Up in Inaugural Insurance Quiz
Makerere University Bachelor of Commerce Students beat all odds to emerge as second runners up in the inaugural Inter-University Insurance Quiz held on Friday 20th October 2017 at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala. The students who only learned of the competition on the eve of the event through their mentor Dr. Godfrey Akileng-Head, Department of Accounting, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), however took the last minute preparations to heart and emerged triumphant.
“There is no module on insurance under the Bachelor of Commerce (B.COM) programme but our students did well, despite my initial hesitation owing to the short notice. We are very proud of them as a College” said Dr. Akileng. He however added that in future, insurance would be taught as a core course under the new curriculum currently under review. “This will equip our students with the basics of underwriting” he added.
The inaugural quiz was jointly organised by the Uganda Insurers Association and the Insurance Institute of Uganda (IIU) and the Makerere University team took home a trophy, certificates of participation and recognition and a brand new Tecno Spark smart phone for each of the five participants. Additionally, one of the team members Ms. Ankunda Nisa won herself a fully sponsored Certificate of Proficiency in Insurance from IIU in recognition of her excellent oral performance during the quiz. Other members of the team were; Katungi Andrew, Namutebi Zurah, Kirumira Julius and Ndekezi Bernadine.
Commenting on the selection criteria for participation in the quiz, Dr. Akileng said “Owing to the demanding preparation schedules for the quizzes coupled with other academic demands, we choose 3rd Year students with the highest CGPAs in the B.COM class to participate. This year, we selected the top 15 students and split them into teams of five to prepare for the: Ethics Challenge and the CFA Institute Research Challenge both organised by the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute of Uganda and the recently concluded Insurance Quiz.”
In Dr. Akileng, the students have found a supportive and knowledgeable mentor. He personally participated in the CFA Institute Research Challenge of 2009 and his team emerged as global runners up. “For my efforts, I won a cash prize, trophy, certificate and books that I still use to teach my students. I also had the opportunity to meet CEOs of top global brands like Apple’s late Steve Jobs.”
The next CFA Institute Research Challenge for the East African local chapter is scheduled to take place in February 2018 and the team is confident that they will do well. “The Insurance Quiz was a way to build up your question approach and answering skills for the next level. Participation gives you the opportunity to open yourself up and meet people you have never met and gain experience you never had. I received heartwarming report from the IIU CEO-Mr. Saul Sseremba that Makerere had the most decent students in the competition. I encourage you to uphold this” lauded Dr. Akileng.
Other teams that participated in the inaugural Insurance Quiz were drawn from Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Bugema University, Kyambogo University, Mutesa I Royal University and Buganda Royal Institute.
Article by Public Relations Office
The Director of Makerere University Jinja Campus, Associate Professor Ronald Kakungulu-Mayambala, has urged students to familiarise themselves with the Safeguarding policy aimed at creating a safer and more inclusive learning environment.
Speaking during the safeguarding policy sensitization meeting held today Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at the Civil Service College, Jinja, Prof. Kakungulu-Mayambala, emphasized the importance of awareness and adherence to the policy, which seeks to protect students, staff, and other stakeholders from all forms of abuse, harassment, exploitation, and discrimination.
“As Management we want every student to enjoy their stay at the University without being tormented and that can only happen, if students know their rights by reading about different policies on our website. You are meant to be living in a safe environment. We do not want anybody’s dream to be shattered or somebody to drop out from University,” Prof. Kakungulu-Mayambala, said.
In his speech, Prof. Kakungulu-Mayambala, also called upon students who have complaints but do not know the reporting lines, to approach staff safeguarding champions to make sure that they live in a safe environment.
Addressing guests, Emmanuel Muchake, the Guild Administrator at Jinja Campus, pointed out that the launch of the safeguarding policy is timely because as a University, without creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning, they will not have students graduate.
On Friday, April 4,2025, the Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, Right Honourable Lukia Isanga Nakadama, officially launched the Safeguarding Policy and commended Makerere University for crafting a policy that lays out the University’s framework for embedding viable safeguarding measures into its ethos and all institutional activities and processes to: Identify, detect, and act swiftly on safeguarding risks.
The Safeguarding Policy was developed in response to the growing need for institutions of higher learning to implement proactive measures that address concerns related to student welfare, mental health, gender-based violence, and power imbalances in academic settings.
Some of potential safeguarding risks in Institutions of higher learning include emotional distress, Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH); material loss, financial exploitation, discrimination and neglect, unfair and illegitimate response to civic engagements, cyber security/threats, psychological and emotional harm, substance abuse and physical assault. Discrimination and neglect which are often high risks for students with disabilities and international students.
The safeguarding policy sensitization meeting in Jinja Campus brought together students and staff in a meaningful dialogue on safeguarding issues affecting learning.
The event was graced by Dr. Rodney Rugyema, from the Dean of Students Office, who emphasized the University’s commitment to the well-being of all its members. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of safeguarding policies in preventing abuse, harassment, exploitation, and other forms of misconduct within the Jinja Campus community.
“Safeguarding is not a one-time action, but a continuous culture of care and accountability. We all have a role to play in ensuring a safe and respectful space for learning and growth,” Dr Rugyema, said.
The sensitization session covered key topics including; recognizing signs of abuse, understanding reporting procedures on the MakSafeSpace and fostering mutual respect among peers.
Participants were encouraged to actively engage and reflect on their roles in upholding safety standards both on and off campus.
Students who attended the sensitization welcomed the initiative, with many expressing optimism that the policy would improve campus safety and encourage victims to come forward without fear of retaliation.
“We have seen issues go unreported in the past because students didn’t know where to turn. This policy provides clarity and assurance that the university is taking these matters seriously,” noted, a third-year student.
The University plans to conduct a series of sensitization workshops and distribute printed copies of the policy to ensure that every member of the campus community is well-informed. This initiative is part of Makerere University‘s broader strategy to reinforce its values of integrity, respect, and protection for all.
The Safeguarding Sensitization Meeting concluded with a collective pledge to uphold safety, dignity, and mutual respect within the University community.
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