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MakRun2018: The Push Towards a Centre that Reflects Dynamism of the 21st Century Student

Published

8 years ago

March 26, 2018

The Katikkiro of Buganda Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga flags off the 15km race of MakRun 2018 as L-R: Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, Prof. William Bazeyo and AIGP Andrew Sorowen applaud on 25th March 2018, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda. Runners took part in 5, 10 and 15km races aimed at raising funds for the construction of a Students Centre.

On Sunday, 25th March 2018, thousands of participants comprising staff, students, alumni, friends and well-wishers assembled in the Freedom Square for the Makerere University Endowment Fund Run (MakRun) 2018. The Second Edition of the MakRun started with aerobics by 6:00am and at exactly 7:00am, the Chief Runner, the Katikkiro of Buganda, Ow'ekitiibwa Charles Peter Mayiga who is also an alumnus of the University flagged off the 5km, 10km and 15km route runners.

Accompanied by the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi and Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Sorowen, Owe’kitiibwa Charles Peter Mayiga appealed to the public and private sector to support Makerere University’s efforts to construct a Students’ Centre.

L-R: The Katikkiro of Buganda Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Prof. William Bazeyo join runners in the dawn stretches before the MakRun2018 flag-off

“I call upon all those who have passed through Makerere University to embrace the cause so that we build for the future of our university. I am confident that together, we can set up a multipurpose facility for our students,” he said.

MakRun is geared towards mobilizing funds for the construction of a Students’ Centre worth UGX15billion, to enhance the quality of student life and experience.
The Centre will serve as a congregation point that reflects dynamism of the 21st century student in the digital age. It will be a one stop Student Information Centre with a 2,000 seater state-of-the-art Auditorium and Wall of Fame. The centre will also accommodate conference facilities, cafeterias, internet kiosks, memorabilia shops, bookshops, recreational sports arena as well as entertainment and social areas.

A student with disability shortly after crossing the finishing line. The proposed Students Centre will provide access for persons with disability

The Makerere University Endowment Fund (MakEF) selected the Students’ Centre as its inaugural project. The Centre reflects solid commitment to improving the students’ academic experience and the quality of life generated by the environment conducive for learning and networking while at the University. It will correct the imbalance in access to socio-cultural amenities that was created by the increase in student numbers.

Addressing participants in the Freedom Square, the MakEF Chairperson Dr. Martin Jerome Aliker expressed his joy at the massive turn-up for the MakRun 2018 when he said, “your participation is an affirmation that there is a spirit of togetherness for the benefit of Makerere University. We believe that bringing the staff, students, alumni, friends and well-wishers together to support a common cause is a key milestone in building the culture of philanthropy not only in Makerere University but perhaps as an example for other institutions in Uganda.
Let me hope that the seed we have sown will germinate to bear fruit.”

MakEF Board Chairperson Dr. Martin Aliker (C) flanked by Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (R) and Senior PRO-Ms. Ritah Namisango (L) addresses the press shortly after MakRun2018

According to Dr. Martin Aliker, the Student’s Centre in any university is a key landmark for students’ life. He therefore called upon all alumni, stakeholders and well-wishers to continue mobilizing support towards the Students Centre Project.

“The Centre will provide a platform for Makerere University Students to network, socialize and meet friends which is our priority number one. If every alumnus of Makerere University living in Uganda contributed UGX10,000/= towards the Mak Students’ Centre in addition to participating in the Mak Run every year, the project would be completed in 5 years,” he added.

Dr. Martin Aliker (2nd L) congratulates Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (2nd R) upon the successful MakRun2018 as Prof. William Bazeyo (L) and Dr. Florence Nakayiwa (R) witness

The Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked the Katikkiro of Buganda for officiating at the Second Edition of the Makerere University Endowment Fund Run 2018. “the Katikkiro has demonstrated that we each have a role to play in as far as building for the future is concerned, irrespective of age, societal or economic standing. No contribution is too big or too small. At the end of the day, the Students Centre will be built brick by brick. So bring your brick or two, ask your friends to bring theirs’ too and together we shall make this dream come true,” said the Vice Chancellor.

He also applauded Katikkiro for granting Makerere University access to all the Buganda Kingdom resources during the time of publicising the MakRun 2018. Prof. Nawangwe acknowledged that the support granted by the Katikkiro went a long way in garnering the support of Buganda Kingdom subjects and residents of Central Uganda to join the University in the Run.

University Secretary-Mr. Charles Barugahare (in white) receives a sticker from an official upon reaching the checkpoint at Mulago Roundabout during MakRun2018

“Thank you so much for not only displaying exceptional philanthropy but also running the talk. Makerere University takes cognisance of all Buganda Kingdom’s development projects aimed at improving the livelihood of all your subjects and residents. I therefore reiterate Makerere University’s commitment to partner with Buganda Kingdom in its development work, so that we can leverage all our human, intellectual and technical resources to improve the wellbeing of the communities that we exist to serve,” added Prof. Nawangwe.

In the same spirit, the Vice Chancellor applauded the MakEF Board of Trustees under the leadership of Dr. Aliker for initiating the idea of organising a Run to mobilize funds and construct a students’ Centre at Makerere University. He saluted the 5km, 10km and 5km route runners for the spirit of love shown towards the University.

Ethiopian and Namibian runners who took part in MakRun2018 fly their national flags shortly after completing their respective races

Prof. Nawangwe also acknowledged all the support received from stakeholders, funders and sponsors. On behalf of the University Management, he applauded the MakRun2018 Organising Committee; chaired by Dr. Florence Nakayiwa-Director, Planning and Development Department, for putting together a successful run.

Last year, Makerere University Endowment Fund organised the first-ever MakRun; officially flagged off by the Speaker of the Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, which raised a total sum of UGX 247,845,000 (two hundred forty seven million eight hundred forty five thousand Uganda Shillings) in cash and pledges. The MakRun 2018 ran concurrently with a blood donation drive organised by the Rotary Club of Kampala City Makerere in conjunction with the Nakasero Blood Bank.

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (6th R), Prof. William Bazeyo (4th R) and Dr. Florence Nakayiwa (3rd L) pose with medal recipients who included the University Secretary-Mr. Charles Barugahare (5th R) and Madam Nakayiza (5th L)

The Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)-Prof. William Bazeyo commended participants, champions, sponsors and partners for their contribution towards the success of MakRun 2018. This year’s event climaxed with an awards ceremony where the Vice Chancellor handed over medals to the winners of the 5km, 10km and 15km races, while Dr. Martin Aliker handed over certificates to the sponsors and partners.

The medal recipients at MakRun 2018 were; Madam Nakayiza and Mpende John William who emerged the best female and male runners respectively in the old age category, as well as University Secretary-Mr. Charles Barugahare, Ms. Namubiru Noeline, Mr. Kibadde Muhamed and Mr. Amanya Gilbert for the 5km race. For the 10km race, medal recipients were; the Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS)-Dr. Eria Hisali, Mr. Silver Saiga Alex, Mr. Abdul Zeid, Ms. Nakato Jennifer and Ms. Chamtei Fibia. For the 15km race, the winning team comprised Ms. Veronica Nasaka, Ms. Nabbumba Maayi, Mr. Ategeka Brian and Mr. Ssebbumba Gonzaga.

Mr. Mpende John William who was the MakRun2018 best male in the elders category, flanked by his grandchildren receives his medal from Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) as Prof. William Bazeyo (2nd L) and Ms. Ritah Namisango (R) witness. Mr. Mpende came all the way from Buwama to show his support for Makerere University

Article by Nabatte Proscovia, Public Relations Office.

General

Call for Applications: Admission to Postgraduate Programmes 2026/2027

Published

1 day ago

February 4, 2026

Mak Editor

SoL Graduands celebrate after being conferred upon their awards. 75th Graduation Ceremony, Day 1, CoCIS, CEES, CoVAB and School of Law. 13th January 2025, Freedom Square, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Academic Registrar, Makerere University invites applications for admission to Graduate Programmes (Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters and Doctoral Degree Programmes) for the 2026/2027 Academic Year. Applicants should have obtained at least a first or second class degree (or its equivalent) from a Chartered University at the time of completion. Applicants should also possess a Uganda Certificate of Education (or its equivalent) and a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (or its equivalent).

Sponsorship:

All Graduate Programmes are PRIVATELY-SPONSORED. Therefore, applicants seeking sponsorship should have their applications endorsed by their respective sponsors where applicable. Applicants should note that the various fees payable to the University indicated for the various programmes EXCLUDE functional fees, accommodation, books, research and other expenses.

Makerere-Advert-for-Graduate-Programmes-2026-2027 Download

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Simon Mungudit: Mak’s Best Performing Male Science Student & Rising Star in Petroleum Geoscience

Published

2 days ago

February 3, 2026

Hasifa Kabejja

Simon Mungudit emerged the best performing male science student this year. He is set to graduate from Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa on 24th February 2026 in the Freedom Square.

At just 24 years old, Simon Mungudit from the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) has etched his name in the academic history of Makerere University, having emerged as the overall best male student in the Sciences, an achievement earned through perseverance, discipline, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence.

Mungudit is set to graduate during 76th graduation ceremony scheduled for 24^th to 27th February 2026, having attained a CGPA of 4.76 in the Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Geoscience and Production. His academic interests-Reservoir Engineering, Petrophysics, and Drilling-reflect a deep understanding of the subsurface sciences that power modern energy systems.

Early Life and Journey to Academic Excellence

Born to Mr. Owor Thomas, a Game Ranger with the Uganda Wildlife Authority at Murchison Falls National Park, and Ms. Lilly Obewun Grace of Akuru Bridge Village, Nyaravur Sub-County in Nebbi District, Mungudit’s journey to academic excellence began far from the lecture halls of Makerere. At Karuma Primary School, Mungudit scored 12 aggregates in the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), setting the pace for his future success. He proceeded to St. Daniel Comboni College, Nebbi, where he attained 14 aggregates in 8 subjects at O’ Level. He then joined Namilyango College, one of the best secondary schools in Uganda, where he studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) and scored 19 points, results that secured him government sponsorship to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Geoscience and Production at Makerere University.

Gratitude to his mentors and sponsors

Behind these milestones lies a story of humility, gratitude and opportunity. Mungudit credits his parents for supporting his primary and O’ Level education and expresses gratitude to TotalEnergies, which provided a full bursary for his A’ Level studies, covering tuition, upkeep, and medical care. He also acknowledges the Government of Uganda for sponsoring his university education, a factor he says motivated him to excel.

At Makerere, Mungudit thrived in an environment that blended rigorous academics with mentorship. He pays tribute to his lecturers, particularly Dr. Arthur Batte, Head, Department of Geology and Petroleum Studies, for their unwavering commitment to nurturing students and pushing them to excel.

“I always aimed to excel,” Mungudit says. “Together with a few colleagues, we formed a group and held discussions on a daily. This, coupled with a conducive study environment, prayer, and discipline, enabled us to attain excellent grades.”

Dr Arthur Batte describes Mungidit as a humble yet very intelligent student.

Achievements and Professional Experience

Beyond academics, Mungudit consistently demonstrated expertise in petroleum engineering. In 2024, he led a team that won the Reservoir Modelling Challenge, organized by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Makerere University Chapter, earning prize money and a sponsored field trip to the Tilenga Project courtesy of COSL. He was First Runner-Up in the Petro Bowl competitions of 2023 and 2025, a highly competitive petroleum knowledge quiz organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Uganda Section. He served as a Student Officer for the SPE Makerere University Chapter in 2023, and in 2024, he chaired the Organizing Committee of the SPE Annual Students’ Technical Conference and Exhibition, helping bridge the gap between academia and industry.

His learning extended beyond the classroom. During his internship, he worked with TotalEnergies, where he applied petrophysics skills to analyze gas-while-drilling data for formation evaluation, hands-on exposure that sharpened his professional competence. At Makerere University, he mastered PetroMod 2018, a critical software tool in oil and gas exploration. After completing his studies in June 2025, Mungudit trained with the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), participating in the 2D seismic acquisition in the Kasurubani Block in Buliisa and Hoima districts.

Mungudit currently works as the Special Projects Coordinator for the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Uganda Section Student Liaison Committee.

Future Plans

Mungudit hopes to work in the oil and gas industry in the upstream sector as a geoscientist. He also plans to pursue further studies in petroleum engineering.

From a village in Nebbi to the forefront of petroleum geoscience, Mungudit’s story is one of an opportunity seized and potential realized. It is a testament to what is possible when talent meets support, and when determination is guided by faith, mentorship, and service. As Uganda’s oil and gas sector continues to evolve, Mungudit stands as a symbol of the skilled, principled professionals poised to shape its future.

The CoNAS fraternity congratulates Mungudit on this noble achievement.

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Press Statement: Makerere 76th Graduation Ceremony

Published

1 week ago

January 28, 2026

Mak Editor

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (Centre) presents one of the printed batches of transcripts the Registrar College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS)-Ms. Ruth Iteu Eyoku (2nd Right) as Right to Left: DVCAA-Prof. Sarah Ssali, AR-Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi and Ms. Prossy Nakayiki witness on 28th January 2026. Vice Chancellor's Press Briefing on the 76th Graduation due to be held 24th-27th February 2026 at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University’s 76^th graduation ceremony will be held from February 24^th – 27^th, 2026, at the Makerere University Freedom Square, starting at 8.30am. During the 76^th graduation ceremony, we shall confer degrees and award certificates to 185 PhDs, 2034 Masters, 6,043 bachelors, 137 postgraduate diplomas and 33 diplomas.

I am proud to announce that in comparison to the 75^th graduation, we have registered a 30% growth in graduate student output. This is a result of our strategic decision to prioritize graduate education per our research-led agenda.

I also wish to announce that the transcripts have been finalized and are ready for pick up. Today, I am handing over the ready transcripts to the College principals and can be picked up from respective Colleges even before the graduation ceremony.

Important to Note:

In preparation for the graduation ceremony, the University wishes to note the following:

Pre-graduation clearances
Graduands are reminded to clear all necessary payments such as tuition and all graduation
fees. It is also important to check with your College to ensure your name is on the graduation
list and all mandatory clearances with university officials have been finalized. Note and
internalize the graduation schedule (attached) to know which day you are graduating.
Securing the graduation gowns
Graduation gowns will be issued starting from 2^nd February 2026 from the University Hall (Dinning Hall), Monday to Friday, from 9am to 4pm. To collect your gown, check and ensure your name appears on the Senate Graduation list, present your student number or National ID, and proof of payment for the gown.
Security requirements
- Attendance: For each day of graduation, entrance to the graduation ground will be by invitation only. Graduands will be issued with invitation cards which permits two guests per graduand. Do not come with more than two people or they will not be allowed access to the graduation venue. Graduands are encouraged to arrive to settle at the Freedom Square by 7am on graduation day to for a seamless flow of planned activities including the necessary security checks.
- Prohibited items: Prohibited items include firearms, sharp instruments like mirrors and knives, alcohol, cell or batteries and chemicals, canned food and drinks, laptops, flashes and hard disks, radios including pocket radios, bottled drinks, cameras, large bags or any other heavy items.
- Media: All media and journalists who wish to cover the ceremony must be pre-accredited by the Makerere University Public Relations office or they will not be allowed to access the ceremony venue. The access point for accredited media personnel will be the Senate Building.
- Parking: There will be two designated parking areas; Rugby Grounds for those coming through the Eastern and Main Gate; and the second one is the Makerere University Main Grounds at Makerere College School. For VVIPs, VIPs and procession parking will be at CTF1, Directorate of Legal parking, St Francis and St Augustine parking, JICA and Senate Building.
- Access Control: To ease traffic flow and management, the University has planned three access points to the graduation venue: the School of Social Sciences, Senate Building and the University Swimming Pool.
For help and inquiries
- Starting February 2, 2026, the Academic Registrar ’s Office and Graduation Committee will set up an information tent outside the Senate Building to provide guidance and handle all inquiries pertaining to graduation.