General
Chairperson of Council inaugurates MAK Students Disciplinary Committee
In line with the Makerere University Students Regulations 2015 (The Uganda Gazette No.39, Volume CV111, and dated 16th July 2015), Makerere University has established a Student’s Disciplinary Committee.
Inaugurated by the Chairperson of Council, Eng. Dr. Charles Wana-Etyem on Wednesday 1st November 2017, the Makerere University Students Disciplinary Committee will be headed by Mr. Ngabirano Precious a former Chief Magistrate and a Senior practicing advocate at Pearl Advocates and Solicitors.
Other members of the Makerere University Students Disciplinary Committee appointed by the University Council include; Dr. Rose Nakayi, Dr. Umar Kakumba, Mr. Ahmed Ssentongo, Ms. Carolyne Nabaasa and Mrs. Prossy Katongole Kyazze.
According to the Acting Director of Legal Affairs, Makerere University Mr. Goddy Muhumuza, the committee is set to;
- To handle disciplinary cases directly brought to it;
- To handle cases referred to it by Hall Disciplinary Committee;
- To handle appeals from parties dissatisfied with the ruling by the Hall Disciplinary Committee; and
- Any other functions assigned by the University Council.
“The Dean of Students may refer a case of breach of the University Regulations to the University Students Disciplinary Committee directly without the same having been brought before the Hall Disciplinary Committee,” said Mr. Muhumuza.
The University Students Disciplinary Committee has powers to do any/ or several of the following:
- Uphold the decision made by the Hall Disciplinary Committee;
- Dismiss the case against the student;
- Reprimand the student;
- Demand an apology from the student;
- Ask the student to pay for the cost or part of the cost of damaged or lost University property;
- Ask the student to be a non-resident;
- Remove or recommend removal of the student leader from office;
- Suspend the student for a specified time;
- Recommend to the University Council that the student be dismissed;
- Suspend the student for a specified period of time not exceeding four months pending approval of the recommendation to Council that the student be dismissed; and
- Any other punishment that the Committee may deem to be appropriate.
The Committee’s decision shall be communicated to the student in writing within seven days of the day of conclusion of the hearing.
During the inauguration ceremony in the Makerere University Main Building Senior Common Room, the Chairperson of Council thanked the Committee Chairperson and his entire team for voluntarily accepting to take up the role to ensure that the University is safe and free from hooliganism and any other unnecessary behaviour.
He asked the Committee to be very firm but also fair when handling students’ matters. “We expect to give a fair hearing to each person coming to the committee. There is also room for appeal in case you feel dissatisfied with the committee’s ruling,” he said.
He thanked the Management and the entire University community for putting up a Committee whose background is governed by the law to ensure that peace, discipline and good conduct is reinstated at Makerere University.
He however, appealed to the University Management to always engage students in decision making and also leave room for the students to reach out to them. The Chairperson of Council also appealed to the students to focus on their studies and other constructive activities to create a better and admirable future. He encouraged them to use the social media and the technologies to reach out to fellow students positively as they build the University’s image and brand.
“We should know that whatever we are dong either builds the institution’s profile or tarnishes its image, I therefore call upon you to tell the University’s greatness in a positive way. Let us use the technologies constructively and seek pride from our own,” he explained.
Eng. Dr. Wana-Etyem highly encouraged the Guild Cabinet to use their offices in a rightful manner and work with the Committee to clean up the University. “We are not going to tolerate behaviour that creates problems to our people. You can strike if you feel your issues are not handled, but you should not be violent or infringe on other people’s rights. Those students engaging in such acts should be identified and be brought to book,” he vehemently said.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairperson of the Makerere University Students Disciplinary Committee Mr. Ngabirano Precious, proudly thanked the Makerere University community for entrusting his team with such a remarkable role. He vowed to take the responsibility seriously and fight against misconduct and hooliganism at Makerere University.
“We consider this as a great honour to be called back to serve our University. We are here to serve. I have taken note of the regulations providing the jurisdiction of this committee. We shall exercise our work judiciously in all fairness. We shall be fair to all parties through applying all the principles,” Mr. Ngabirano stated.
The Makerere University Vice chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe pledged to work hand in hand with the Committee to sieve out the few students who tarnish the institution’s image.“I have always told people that Makerere University is the top University. However, people have always wondered why Makerere University has failed to find a mechanism of sieving out the students tarnishing the image of the University. Here is the students Disciplinary Committee put in place to do that role,” said Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
The Dean of Students Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe welcomed the Chairperson of the Committee and thanked the University Management and entire Makerere University Community for making it possible to have the committee put in place.
“On behalf of my team, I pledge to closely cooperate with the Committee and other organs of the University to create a difference in the way our students conduct themselves,” he mentioned.
Written by: Proscovia Nabatte, Communication Volunteer-MAK Public Relations Office
General
Are We Giving Enough Attention to the People Around Us Who Quietly Influence Lives Every Day?
By Marion Apio
On March 21, 2026, I felt a strong urge to reconnect with a close colleague and passionate leader, Owekitinisa Sylas Ruhweza Atwooki. We had not spoken since I moved to the United States to pursue my dream of becoming a journalist. The following day, I learned that he had been quietly undergoing treatment in and out of the hospital. True to his character, he had chosen to keep his condition private. I was shocked and saddened, wishing I had known earlier so I could offer support.
At first, reports from family and friends were encouraging. He had been diagnosed with malaria and low blood platelet counts and was receiving treatment. Respecting his wish for confidentiality, members of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community at Makerere University rallied discreetly around him.
However, on April 29, his condition worsened. He was transferred between medical facilities and underwent extensive tests, including a biopsy, as doctors searched for answers. Sadly, on May 29, Sylas passed away.
His death sparked an extraordinary outpouring of love and solidarity. Friends, colleagues, and former scholars mobilised to support his family, settle medical expenses, organise virtual vigils, and plan a dignified farewell. Hundreds gathered at St. Augustine Chapel to pay their respects. Within three days, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community raised approximately UGX 11 million, a testament to Sylas’ impact on countless lives.
In the days that followed, I found myself wrestling with difficult questions. In a world where we spend so much time following people online, are we paying enough attention to those quietly transforming lives around us? Why do we invest so much emotional energy in distant personalities while overlooking the people God has placed right in front of us?
Sylas lived with humility and served with grace. His death left more than 1,500 Mastercard Foundation scholars and alumni grieving, alongside many others around the world who knew him. Yet his passing also exposed a contradiction in modern life.
We live in an age of unprecedented connectivity. Uganda has millions of internet users and WhatsApp subscribers, while globally, people spend hours each day on social media. We have more tools than ever to stay connected, yet many of us are becoming increasingly disconnected from the people who matter most.
Sylas resisted this trend. Through mentorship, service, and community-building, he remained deeply present in others’ lives. While many people retreat into individual pursuits, he consistently chose connection.
This challenge is especially relevant for Mastercard Foundation scholars and alumni. Every year, young Africans leave home to pursue education and professional opportunities abroad. Distance, time zones, visa restrictions, and rising travel costs make it difficult to maintain relationships and remain actively involved in the communities that helped shape us.
For Sylas, the answer was simple: show up. Celebrate others. Offer support. Stay connected.
He never allowed geographical or personal barriers to become excuses for disengagement. Even while facing his own struggles, he invested in others. He embodied the values the Mastercard Foundation seeks to cultivate—ethical leadership, service, and community empowerment.
Sylas did not wait for a perfect platform to create change. He simply served where he was. He helped build bridges between education, culture, and professional development while remaining grounded in his values. He dreamed of creating a stronger alumni ecosystem and brought both passion and compassion to every initiative he touched.
Since his passing, social media has been filled with memories of his infectious smile and unwavering commitment to others. Those tributes reveal an important truth: people gave generously because Sylas had first given himself generously to them. People from different backgrounds, generations, and communities showed up because he had spent his life showing up for them. His legacy now challenges all of us.
The greatest tribute we can offer is not simply to mourn his loss but to continue his work. That means supporting the causes he cared about, helping the children whose education he championed, strengthening alumni networks, and pursuing the dreams we discussed with him.
The tragedy of modern life is not that we follow people online. It is that too often our attention to distant lives comes at the expense of meaningful relationships nearby. Yet strong relationships are as essential to our well-being as physical health.
As Ugandans, we take pride in our faith, culture, and sense of community. We contribute to fundraisers, attend ceremonies, and support family members in times of need. But increasingly, genuine connection is being replaced by passive digital interaction. Families and communities cannot thrive on likes, retweets, and emojis alone.
They require presence—phone calls, visits, conversations, and the willingness to notice when someone is struggling.
Before spending another hour immersed in the lives of strangers online, look around. Call the friend you have not spoken to in years. Check on a family member. Reach out to a colleague who seems withdrawn. Communities are not built by algorithms or celebrities. They are built by ordinary people who choose, day after day, to care for those within their reach.
Uganda needs more people like Sylas. At just 32 years old, he achieved what many spend a lifetime striving for. He served as Minister of Information in the Toro Kingdom and as President of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Alumni Association in Uganda. More importantly, he dedicated himself to serving others.
While his death is deeply painful, his life remains a powerful example of how we should live. My prayers and condolences go to his family, friends, and the entire Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni community.
Rest in perfect peace, Owek. Sylas Ruhweza Atwooki.
The author is a Mastercard Foundation Alumna from Makerere University and the University of California, Berkeley. She is a journalist based in Southern California and the CEO of the Debunk Media Initiative.
-
Agriculture & Environment2 weeks agoTribute To Professor Abwoli Yabezi Banana (1951–2026)
-
General1 week agoFreshers’ Joining Instructions 2026/2027
-
General2 weeks agoSylas Ruhweza: A Brief Life Marked by Meaningful Accomplishments
-
General2 weeks agoMakerere University Pushes for Stronger Support for Research Ethics Committees amid Growing Research Demands
-
General2 weeks agoHundreds attend Sylas Ruhweza’s Requiem Mass