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A Record 9 Mak Teams Qualify for Final Round of Big Ideas 2018 Contest

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Makerere University has once again set a record performance at this year’s Big Ideas 2018 Contest by sending nine student teams to the final round. Big Ideas is an annual contest orgainsed by the University of California, Berkeley and its partners, aimed at providing funding, support, and encouragement to interdisciplinary teams of students who have “big ideas.”

Breaking the news to ResilientAfrica Network (RAN), Makerere University; the contest’s coordinator in Uganda, the Director, Big Ideas Contest Phillip Denny shared that his organisation had notified the winning student teams on 18th April 2018 “and I can now report to you that students’ teams from Makerere University did exceptionally well!”

Reacting to the exciting news, RAN’s Communication Manager-Ms. Harriet Adong said, “I thank the RAN team for continuously supporting this Contest but most importantly serving as judges and mentors” “Our efforts have come to fruition and will continue to cause impact in the communities in which we serve and live” she added.

Of these nine teams, six; another record number, were selected as winners by the judges, and three of those six won top honors in their respective categories.

Here are the highlights:

  • TRAM Project – Enhancing financial freedom and food security to smallholder farmers in Uganda through providing quality food storage systems – won 1st Place in the Food Systems category.
  • LUMENDA – An affordable and portable device for rapid and accurate diagnosis of neonatal bacterial meningitis in low resource settings – won 1st Place in the Global Health category. LUMENDA has also been selected to participate (via Zoom video conference) at our Grand Prize Pitch Day event on April 25th, for the chance to win an additional $5000 for their project.
  • Early Preeclampsia Detection (EPED) Strip – A urine-based point-of-care early diagnostic test strip for preeclampsia enabling women to self-screen for the condition – won 1st Place in the Scaling Up category.
  • Ecosmart Pads – Locally sourced, high quality and affordable sanitary pads made from sugarcane residue – won 3rd Place in the Global Health Category.
  • Coordinated Emergency Response System (CERS) – Utilizing a combination of USSD for free communication and the proliferation of e-ridesharing services in Kampala to provide rapid and safe transportation in emergency situations – received an Honorable Mention in the Global Health category.
  • Livestock Disease Diagnosis Kit (LIDDIA Kit) – An affordable point-of-care diagnostic device base that enables farmers to conduct routine checkups on livestock for early and timely treatment – received an Honorable Mention in the Food Systems category.

Makerere University congratulates these nine student teams upon advancing to the final stage of the Big Ideas 2018 Contest and wishes them the best of luck at the penultimate stage. Furthermore, appreciation goes to the RAN staff, judges and mentors who offered invaluable assistance to the student teams.

For more information, please contact

Harriet Adong,
Communications Manager

ResilientAfrica Network (RAN)
Makerere University School of Public Health
P.O Box 7072 Kampala, Uganda
Tel. Off: +256-414 343 597
Email: hadong[at]ranlab.org
Website: www.ranlab.org
Skype: harriet.adong4

Mark Wamai

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National Merit Scholarship Undergraduate Admission List 2026/2027

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University Road. Photo taken on 1st April 2026.

The Office of the Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released admission lists for Government sponsored students for the Academic Year 2025/2026. The Office has also released Cut Off Points for Government Admissions.

Below are lists of candidates admitted to the respective courses tenable at Makerere University and Makerere University Business School:

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Makerere University Inaugurates 2nd Health User Committee

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Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (C) with L-R: Ms. Kevin Nabiryo, Mr. Godfrey Othieno, Dr. Allen Kabagenyi, Dr. Daniel Ruhweza, Dr. Lillian Tukahirwa and Prof. Josaphat Byamugisha after the inauguration on 20th April 2026. Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe inaugurates Second Makerere University Health User Committee (Mak-HUC) chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi, 20th April 2026, Main Building, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on 20th April 2026 inaugurated the Second Makerere University Health User Committee (Mak-HUC). The Committee was established by the Vice Chancellor in 2022 as part of his strategic mandate to strengthen and oversee the University Hospital services delivery.

Chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Mak-HUC has as its members; Prof. Josaphat K. Byamugisha-Director Makerere University Health Services (MakHS) and Dr. Daniel Ronald Ruhweza-Department of Law and Jurisprudence, School of Law.

Other members include; Dr. Arthur Kwizera-Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, College of Health Sciences (CHS) and Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) Representative, Dr. Lillian Tukahirwa-Makerere University Administrative Staff Association (MASA) Representative, Mr. Godfrey Othieno- National Union of Educational Institutions (NUEI) Representative, and as Secretariat, Ms. Kevin M. Nabiryo-Directorate of Human Resources.

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe inaugurates Second Makerere University Health User Committee (Mak-HUC) chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi, 20th April 2026, Main Building, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (C) interacts with members of the 2nd Mak-HUC.

The 2nd Mak-HUC has been appointed for a period of four years effective 1st January 2026 with a mandate to: Guide, monitor and oversee delivery of health services by MakHS; Represent the interests and concerns of staff and students that use MakHS; Advise on alignment with sustainable health financing and insurance models; Strengthen systems for fraud prevention, digital transformation and access to specialized treatment, among other responsibilities.

The 1st Mak-HUC was chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi and had as members; Prof. Josaphat Byamugisha, Dr. Fred Mayambala, Dr. Zahara Nampewo, Mr. Othieno Godfrey, Mr. Apunyo Paul Okiria and Ms. Ikiriza Racheal. Milestones during the first era included; Outpatient Department visits growth from 4,802 (2022) to 7,388 (Nov 2025) for staff and 14,641 (2022) to 19,069 (Nov 2025) for students.

Others milestones included; Commissioning of a fully equipped Operating Theatre, Establishment of a modern Imaging Hub, Development of a fully functional Audiology Unit, Expansion of the Temporal Bone Laboratory, Launch of the Olink Proteomics Platform and Enhancement of the Dental Unit with 32 dental chairs and experienced personnel.

Related article: https://news.mak.ac.ug/2025/12/three-years-of-impact-makerere-university-health-user-committee-presents-status-report/

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Makerere University Employment Opportunities: Academic, Administrative and Support Staff

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Participants pose for a group photo on Day Two of the staff induction ceremony for new recruits on 16th May 2025. Makerere University day two of induction exercise spearheaded by the Directorate of Human Resources for newly appointed staff, whose tenures commenced in the 2024/2025 financial year, 16th May 2025, School of Public Health (MakSPH) Auditorium, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for various academic, administrative, and support staff positions.

Detailed job profiles and the application link can be found at:
http://ehrms.mak.ac.ug/recruitment/jobs.

All applications must be submitted electronically via the Makerere University Electronic Human
Resource Management System through the above link (ehrms). Applicants will be required to
provide the necessary information on the ehrms and attach the following documents:

  1. An application letter clearly stating the job applied for and duly signed by the applicant.
  2. An up-to-date curriculum vitae. The curriculum must also state the names and addresses of
    at least three referees.
  3. Copies of academic certificates and transcripts.
  4. A minimum of three recommendation letters duly signed by the referees.

The application should be addressed to:

The Chief Human Resource Officer
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062
Kampala

Closing Date: 04th May 2026, 17:00HRS E.A.T

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