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84th Guild Swears In, Pledges Leadership Based on Consultation

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Students, staff, family friends and well-wishers convened in the Main Hall to witness their one and only Papa Were Salim being sworn in as the 84thGuild President of Makerere University for the Academic year 2018/2019. The President-elect was sworn in together with his Cabinet and GRCs on 22nd March 2018.

The colourful ceremony was overseen by the outgoing Guild Speaker Ms. Wagaba Brenda and was attended by the Acting Vice Chancellor-Dr. Eria Hisali, Dean of Students-Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe, Deputy Dean of Students-Mr. Stephen Kateega, Chairperson of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA)-Dr Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi, Chaplains and the Imam, Staff and an enthusiastic audience of students. Present also were members of the 83rd Guild Cabinet led by outgoing President H.E Kato Paul.

Some of the members of the 84th Guild Cabinet posing for a photo with the Acting Vice Chancellor Dr. Eria Hisali and the Dean of Students Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe.

Ms. Brenda Wagaba congratulated the new Cabinet upon their successful election and urged them to never forget their ethics as leaders. In the same spirit she commended the outgoing Guild Cabinet for the achievements attained during their term of office. She encouraged the new Cabinet to observe and respect the Makerere University Guild Constitution during their leadership tenure.

The outgoing Guild President H.E Kato Paul congratulated H.E Papa Were Salim upon being elected the Guild President of Makerere University for the year 2018/2019. He also congratulated the 84th Cabinetand GRCs upon assuming their respectiveoffices.
    
H.E Kato thanked the Makerere Community for cooperating with his cabinet during his tenure. He also thanked the University Management for the support extended to the Guild ever since they assumed leadership, by ensuring that students’ issues are taken as priority during the decision-making processes.

The outgoing Guild President H.E Kato Paul Handing over office to the Incoming Guild President H.E Papa Were Salim.

Talking about his leadership journey, Kato was happy to note the tremendous improvement in the Management-Students relationship that has led to more benefits on the side of the latter.  He described his tenure as one of the most peaceful, with few strikes and more roundtable talks and negotiations.

In the same spirit Kato appreciated the work of Wardens and Religious Leaders in nurturing students both spiritually and morally.In a special way, he thanked the Dean of Students and his team for the wonderful supervision.
 
He also thanked his Cabinet for the endurance and hard work exhibited during their tenure. “It has not been the powerful Vice Chancellor or leader who does not support violence; it is because we had responsible leaders who worked tirelessly to ensure that theimage of Makerere out there changes positively. We are grateful for all that transpired, for all that we have achieved and that we have left unfinished,” he said.

The newly appointed Vice Guild H.E Kokoi Phiona interacting with Dr. Eria Hisali and the Dean of Students.

Kato advised the Incoming Guild President to remain himself and always seek guidance before he takes action. “First inquire, dialogue, and never neglect students because there are many out there who are so smart and intelligent. Interact with them and seek guidance,” he said.

The Incoming Guild President H.E Were Salim thanked the students’ fraternity for putting their trust in him by electing him Guild President. He appreciated the students’ love and care as demonstrated during the campaign and promised to put their issues at the forefront during his tenure.

“Great power comes with great responsibility. This is my new role, I promise to deliver. I come as a humble servant who is ready to discuss problems and find solutions. I am optimistic that with my team, we are going to doour best,” he said.

H.E Papa Were congratulated all the Ministers and GRCs upon their new positions but warned his Cabinet against laziness and tasked them to deliver.He promised a reign of hard work and impact on both the students and the administration.

The Prime Minister of the 84th GuilD Mr. Ntamwesigwa Ian swearing in.

“We should know that this is not a ceremonial role, Ministers who think that it is just a matter of occupying a position, remember that I appoint and disappoint. The GRCs and other student leaders who are thinking of becoming a small stone in our shoes, we shall remove the shoes and buy new ones. Time for politicking is over, it is now time to serve our students,” he resolutely said.

“To the administration, you should hold students interests as a priority. We shall seek dialogue, but where dialogue fails we shall not waste time. Action will prevail,” he added.

He thanked his parents for grooming him as a God-fearing person, an aspect that has made him stand as a man of valour. In the same spirit he thanked his campaign team for emerging the best team that brought the Guild President to power. He appreciated the work of the Electoral Commission and his supporters and pledged a leadership based on consultation.

The Acting Vice Chancellor who is also the Principal of College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS)-Dr. Eria Hisali congratulated H.E Papa Were Salim and His Cabinet upon their election and also thanked the outgoing Cabinet for the tremendous work they have done.He appealed to the new leadership to work collectively with the Management through dialogue.

Some of the GRCs who swore in.

“Makerere University Management operates on an open door policy and it welcomes ideas and interactions. As management we value students and that is why the university is coming up with programsthat are geared towards helping them,” said Dr. Hisali.

He encouraged the Guild leadership to focus on upholding the good reputation of the University by engaging students in activities such as sports, blood donations, and debates.

The Dean of Students Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe condemned violence that plays out during election campaigns and called for peace and cooperation between camps.The Chairperson Electoral Commission Mr. Kenneth Isaac Isabirye thanked students for their participation in the Electoral process and urged the new leadership to reinforce civic education among students to enable their active participation in leadership activities such as voting.

At the same function, the outgoing Cabinet also handed over to the incoming Cabinet.

 
Article by Nabatte Proscovia; Public Relations Office

 

Proscovia Nabatte

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Admission Lists for Postgraduate Programmes 2025/26

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The Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT), Makerere University has released the admission lists for applicants successfully admitted for postgraduate programs for the 2025/26 Academic Year. The lists include postgraduate diplomas, PhD and Masters programmes.

Please see admission lists for the respective Colleges listed below:

Update 30th July 2025

Prof. Julius Kikooma
DIRECTOR DGT

Mak Editor

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IGAD Board Visits Mak, Reiterates Commitment to Promoting Academic Mobility

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Prof. Edward Bbaale (5th Left) with the delegation from IGAD after their courtesy visit on 29th July 2025. Chairperson and Members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Board of the Higher Education Council Courtesy Visit to Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa, Tuesday 29th July 2025.

The Chairperson and Members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Board of the Higher Education Council on Tuesday 29th July 2025 paid a courtesy visit to Makerere University following the 5th Meeting of the IGAD Universities Forum held in Kampala from 28th to 29th July. The delegation was received by the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Edward Bbaale in the presence of Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke, Makerere University’s representative to IGAD.

In his welcome remarks, Prof. Bbaale on behalf of the Vice Chancellor and the University Management thanked the delegation for including a visit to Makerere on their Kampala itinerary, “It is an honour and privilege to host you here today,” he remarked.  He equally thanked Dr. Kiggundu Musoke for representing the University on IGAD and facilitating the visit.

Prof. Bbaale acknowledged that IGAD continues to play a critical role in fostering regional cooperation, peacebuilding, and sustainable development in the Greater Horn of Africa. “The inclusion of higher education in IGAD’s strategic priorities speaks volumes about the importance you attach to knowledge, skills, and research as tools for transforming societies,” he supplemented.

Right to Left: Dr. Victoria Anib Majur, Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke, Prof. Edward Bbaale, Dr. Kebede Kassa Tsegaye and another IGAD official during the discussions. Chairperson and Members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Board of the Higher Education Council Courtesy Visit to Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa, Tuesday 29th July 2025.
Right to Left: Dr. Victoria Anib Majur, Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke, Prof. Edward Bbaale, Dr. Kebede Kassa Tsegaye and another IGAD official during the discussions.

The Acting DVCAA reiterated that Makerere University takes great pride in her IGAD membership, as well as the collaborative research partnerships, capacity-building initiatives, and policy dialogues that seek to harmonise and strengthen higher education in the region undertaken therein. He equally lauded the participation of regional Vice Chancellors and Senior Academic Leaders in IGAD’s activities, “Your presence affirms our collective resolve to build stronger institutions and knowledge systems that respond to the developmental needs of our communities.”

He noted that Makerere in pursuit of her strategic research-led agenda takes cognizance of the importance of partnerships at regional and international levels and urged the leaders present to nurture them. “We need to build a strong academic and research network so that we have seamless flow staff and students on the African continent,” adding that “We hope this visit will further deepen the bonds between our institutions and inspire new opportunities for collaboration in teaching, research, innovation, and regional integration.”

Prof. Edward Bbaale (Left) presents coffee grown, roasted and packaged by Makerere University to Dr. Victoria Anib Majur (Right) in appreciation of the delegation's visit. Chairperson and Members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Board of the Higher Education Council Courtesy Visit to Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa, Tuesday 29th July 2025.
Prof. Edward Bbaale (Left) presents coffee grown, roasted and packaged by Makerere University to Dr. Victoria Anib Majur (Right) in appreciation of the delegation’s visit.

Dr. Kebede Kassa Tsegaye, the IGAD Senior Coordinator of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Program expressed delight at visiting Makerere, noting that the University and Republic of Uganda are strategic and extremely valuable partners of the regional body.

In her remarks, Dr. Victoria Anib Majur the Head, IGAD Health and Social Development Division thanked Makerere and other regional universities for promoting mobility among learners by endorsing the implementation of the IGAD Regional Qualifications Framework (IGADQF). “It is our pleasure that your institution and all other partner institutions in the region are joining IGAD in fulfilling the mission of regional integration through skills development and through qualifications.”

She reiterated IGAD’s commitment to push for; excellence in education, inclusivity of gender and persons with disabilities, and promotion of skills that will prepare learners, especially refugees, returnees, and those from host communities in the IGAD region for the marketplace. The IGAD Secretariat is hosted by the Republic of Djibouti and region covers the host country-Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

Mark Wamai

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Directorate of Graduate Training Concludes Training of Trainers in Advanced Research Methods

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By Moses Lutaaya

The Directorate of Graduate Training concluded a 3-day training of trainers in Advanced Research Methods for lecturers selected from different schools and colleges, including College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), College of Education and External Studies (CEES), College of Business and Management Sciences (COBAMS), College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) and College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB). The training took place between 16th-18th July 2025.

The training which was organized by the Directorate of Graduate Training and supported by CARTA, Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (TERID) Research Hub at Makerere University, took place at the Senate Building Conference Hall.

In his opening remarks, the acting Deputy Vice Chancellor –Academic Affairs Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi emphasized that each of the PhD cross cutting courses has got their unique role and importance that it adds to everyone including lecturers and other scholars.

He commended the wealth of experience of the trainers and thanked them for coming up with different core methods of teaching the Advanced Research Methods course.

“It takes courage to stand before PhD holders and train them. However, the more you listen, the more you understand that there is a lot you don’t know”, Prof. Buyinza added.

Prof. Buyinza emphasized that these PhD cross cutting course were approved by the Senate and that they are now regular programs of the University, adding that participants must now be assessed, sit examinations and avail certificates to the participants.

“We need the seriousness of the trainees while attending these courses. You are the crop that we look to in training and meeting the demands of the over 500 PhD students we admit each year.” He said.

He further said, “Once you have the skills we require of you in these courses, we will avail you with the course description to teach and train the PhD students. We need a multi- disciplinary team because Advanced Research Methods requires so.”

He called upon the Graduate Training Directorate to train many more to enable the university have a sizeable number of facilitators. “Train as many as you can. Give them the basic principles and we shall have a crop of facilitators that Makerere University needs.”

Prof. Buyinza also informed the participants that the package and course content of the training were very relevant and that even if one did not do research methods at Masters, then at PhD, with this course, it makes a lot of sense to such learners. “With Pedagogy, the learner is at the center of learning and this calls for special skills in addition to integration of technology.” He added.

Relatedly, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma challenged the participants to have great knowledge takeaways from the trainers, as these will be the building blocks of future trainings to doctoral students.

“You are our building blocks and we want to use this training to strengthen your ability to take on knowledge creation and dissemination to another level through facilitating graduate trainings, even after these trainers have left.” He added.

He further added, “I challenge you to be creative and innovative. We are now competence based. How prepared are you to handle students since the curriculum has been changed to competence based approach? Focus is now on competence based teaching.” 

Prof. Kikooma further added that the Advanced Research Methods training encourages and promotes competent capacity building for learners and that it is an opportunity for the university to prepare for the students who are going to join the university education after going through the new teaching curriculum that is competence based.

 Dr. Moses Okech, a participant from the Department of Extension and Innovation Studies at CAES said, “My hope is that this training is cascaded to all colleges and schools of the university to ensure uniformity. It is a training everyone needs to go through. It is broad knowledge in enhancing the quality of doctoral studies is unmatched.”

He added, “We need to implement this training to all doctoral students according to design and anticipated outcome because this Advanced Research Methods has the potential to transform our higher education system and provides more potential to produce students with transformative mindsets that can easily internalize and deliver government priority interventions like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyoga.

Dr. Okech added, “Great training in terms of offering opportunity for instructors to check the standards that are used to support graduate students during their masters and doctoral studies.”

Prof. Joseph Ntaayi, a trainer from the Department of Procurement and Logistics Management at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) said, “Traditionally we have been receiving students and they are given to doctoral committees. However, such students have not been going through trainings like Philosophy of Science, Advanced Research Methods and scholarly writing and publications, yet students are required to write and defend research proposals, design, implement and validate a research instrument and also be able to anticipate and deal with ethical issues, write a research thesis and at least publish two (2) papers before they defend the final thesis and graduate.”

He therefore added that this training will help improve on the PhD students’ proposals and thesis, as well as their scholarly publications and this will eventually improve on the completion rates of graduate studies.

On the National Development Plan, Prof. Ntaayi said that the Students’ research areas of focus will impact positively on the policy development and implementation.

“The selection of research topics by students has been mechanical because they lacked the competence to undertake research. This training hence focuses them to select topics that have issues of national importance.” He added.

Mak Editor

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