General
UBA Chairman Tony Elumelu Visits, Inspires and Challenges
Mr. Tony Elumelu is a visionary Pan-African entrepreneur and philanthropist founder of Heirs Holdings; an African Investment Holding Company and the beneficial owner of the United Bank for Africa (UBA). UBA is the 9th largest commercial bank on the African continent with a global presence in New York, London and Paris. The fact that his Heirs Holdings is also present in twenty African countries is a good signal that the Nigerian economist, entrepreneur and philanthropist is a busy man. Nevertheless, Makerere University remained top on the agenda of his four day visit to Uganda.
The endless drizzles that preceded Mr. Elumelu’s visit to Makerere University on 11th April 2018 could only be a sign of the blessings that were to follow. Upon arrival, he was received by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and ushered into the Council Room where he met with Members of Central Management and the leadership of the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS).
Accompanied by the Regional Executive Officer, UBA Eastern Africa Divisional Office, Nairobi-Mr. Manz Denga, UBA Uganda Managing Director-Mr. Johnson Agoreyo and other officials, Mr. Elumelu could not hide his elation at making his maiden visit to Makerere University.
“I am honoured, pleased and happy be with you this afternoon” remarked the gentle speaking Mr. Elumelu, “It is a wonderful experience to be in Makerere University; a well known and one of the foremost Universities in Africa” he added.
He thanked the Vice Chancellor for the warm welcome and commended all Makerere staff for helping to advance research and knowledge not only in Uganda but on the entire African continent. He also thanked the University Leadership for admitting UBA into the Makerere community, noting that “Makerere’s 45,000 student population is a tip that we can do more!”
After signing the visitors’ book and receiving souvenirs of the Makerere neck tie and diary from the Prof. Nawangwe, Mr. Elumelu proceeded to the Main Hall, where he was greeted by thunderous applause from the staff and students who had convened to listen to his talk. “I am greatly humbled and pleased to see that the hall is overflowing and some people are still standing” he remarked good naturedly ”I thank you all for coming and hope that our interaction will be enriching,” he added.
The event took the form of a question and answer session moderated by the day’s emcee, Mr. Peter Igaga. He shared with Mr. Elumelu that a sample of questions from the audience had revealed that capital was an outstanding issue of concern for budding entrepreneurs and asked the UBA Chairman share his views on the topic.
Mr. Elumelu firstly admitted that entrepreneurship is not a simple journey to embark on as it calls for patience and resilience. He then emphasised that; an idea of what one wanted to do and a proper definition of how one wanted to go about doing it formed the basis for attracting capital. “Most billionaires in the world today did not start out with a handful of money. While it is important, do not kill your good ideas just because you don’t have a handful of money to start with.”
He further opined that entrepreneurs need not start big and all that was needed was seed funding to prove one’s concept or idea, which money can be raised from family, friends and a few willing venture capitalists. “Banks should be your last option as you start up” he warned, before adding “Banks by their nature are highly structured organizations and will only give you money to scale up your idea once it is up and running.”
On the culture of saving, Mr. Elumelu noted that this was one of the most important attributes of any successful entrepreneur. He reemphasized the fact that entrepreneurship is a long journey and those who venture into it must be very disciplined and avoid any luxuries and unnecessary expenses that would deplete initial revenue.
“I also advise you to get good mentors” he continued “at the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), we see capital as only one of the factors necessary for one to succeed. We also see training and mentoring as extremely important aspects of entrepreneurship. During our 12week mentorship programme, we ensure that you understand the basics of things such as good bookkeeping so as to prepare yourself for the future.”
Mr. Elumelu added that it was only upon successfully completing the TEF training that entrepreneurs saw their first coin of seed capital, which also comes with mentors. “Our aim is to create entrepreneurs not grant seekers. We want to train people who will be able to support other entrepreneurs in the future.”
Since the setting of this discussion was at the region’s flagship University, the next topic sought clarity on the relevance of education to entrepreneurship, especially as a good number the world’s top billionaires had admitted to dropping out of school to focus on their ideas. Mr. Elumelu tackled this topic by first and foremost admitting that education, awareness and knowledge were all critical for entrepreneurship.
He however sought to create a distinction between two definitions of education; just to get a certificate and to gain a thorough understanding of subject matter, the former being the wrong one. He reaffirmed that education is a critical success factor in understanding ones trade, as it helps to sharpen the brain to better understand concepts. “Nevertheless, what is important is knowing what is critical for success. Discipline, hard work and thinking long term are extremely important factors for success” added Mr. Elumelu.
He urged all entrepreneurs never to let the fear of making mistakes prevent them from daring to try out their ideas. “You will make mistakes” assured Mr. Elumelu. “As a business, we have made some decisions that led us to venture into a partnership with a leading global company but in the end we had to write off US$200million after it didn’t take off as anticipated” he added, much to the hushed amazement of the audience.
Entrepreneurship without the right networks is a precarious journey to embark on. Tackling the question on the role of networks versus net worth, Mr. Elumelu shared that “Networks help you build net worth and net worth can help you extend your reach.” He stressed that it is important to have partnerships but these have to be matched with an alignment of interests. “Misalignment will not help you to build net worth or to succeed” added Mr. Elumelu.
“My net worth is not really important to me because it is just a figure; it is not about how much you have in the bank. What is important however is what you do with your net worth because at the end of the day you move from wanting to survive to changing lives and building a legacy” counseled Mr. Elumelu.
The day’s session would have been incomplete without a few testimonies from TEF beneficiaries. Mr. Joseph Ogwal is the Founder of Agro Supply Uganda Limited and a 2017 TEF Alumnus. His business was started with the aim of supplying smallholder farmers in the Acholi and Lango sub-regions with quality seeds. After completing his training with TEF, Joseph’s business is now able to supply 10,000 farmers with 30metric tonnes of quality planting seed and is projected to supply up to 50metric tonnes by the close of 2018. The company has additionally set its sights on supplying new markets in Rwanda and Tanzania.
Hon. Grace Oburu is the proprietor of Pakoi Mixed Farm in Tororo District and a 2017 TEF Alumna. The former legislator of the 8th Parliament admitted to initially being chastised by her children for applying to a youth entrepreneurship competition. She however persisted and today, does not regret having made that decision, especially as with the help of the seed capital she expects to house 800pigs at her farm by the close of 2018.
“The Operation Wealth Creation has booked all piglets from my farm because I am rearing a good breed, I have offered employment to the previously jobless youth and young men in the community are learning how to make biogas for cooking which is saving the environment” added Hon. Oburu.
Addressing the audience, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked Mr. Tony Elumelu for putting Makerere University especially the interaction with budding entrepreneurs at the top of his agenda. He noted that Mr. Elumelu was one of the most enterprising entrepreneurs in Africa.
“I want to thank you Mr. Tony Elumelu for being a very generous person by supporting youths in Africa, irrespective of where they come from, so as to emancipate Africa from poverty. We are now past the stage of political emancipation and now is the time for economic emancipation” said Prof. Nawangwe.
He noted that Makerere University has produced some of the region’s top leaders in all spheres of influence including former Presidents such as H.E. Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, H.E. Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, H.E. Milton Obote of Uganda, to mention but a few. Prof. Nawangwe also encouraged Mr. Elumelu to come back again and welcomed partnerships with UBA and TEF aimed at improving entrepreneurship skills among the students.
Article by Public Relations Office
At an orientation for Postgraduate students held at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium on 11th August 2025, the Academic Registrar and Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, reiterated Makerere University’s readiness to avail all the necessary support to ensure timely completion of various programmes. He underscored the contribution of research conducted by Makerere to national development priorities and urged Postgraduate students to play their role in making this influence more impactful.
Picking up from where Prof. Buyinza left off, the Director, Directorate of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma reassured students that “Makerere University has all the resources to facilitate you through the academic journey of your graduate studies.” He equally further advised that “The Graduate Handbook is your bible that will guide you through your academic programs,” given its comprehensive reference to policies, procedures, and resources that support students during their graduate journey.
In his remarks, the Director, Prof. Robert Wamala introduced the Directorate of Research, Innovations, and Partnerships (DRIP) and outlined its role in guiding students in research. He explained DRIP’s primary functions, which include promoting and coordinating research activities, innovation and technology transfer, and overseeing research ethics and integrity. The Directorate also enhances research capacity and infrastructure, secures funding, and manages partnerships. He stressed the importance of understanding and following key university policies such as the Research and Innovations Policy and the Intellectual Property Management Policy. Prof. Wamala explained that the Intellectual Property Policy ensures that “IP created by a student in the course of study at the university, will be owned by the student,” adding that, “whatever you develop through the course of your study belongs to you and not the university.” He further encouraged students to protect their ideas and innovations through proper registration and documentation.
Dr. Godfrey Kawooya Kubiriza, from the Department of Zoology, Entomology & Fisheries at the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), discussed the importance of aligning research with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure it remains current and impactful. He advised students to be cautious of peers who might negatively influence their studies and urged them to co-create with stakeholders to ensure their research has a clear impact. He also emphasized translating research evidence into policy briefs and building interdisciplinary and regional networks, encouraging connections with colleagues from East Africa, West Africa, and Europe for future collaborations and career development.
The Head ICT Division, Office of the Academic Registrar, Dr. Mike Barongo welcomed the students and underscored the importance of downloading admission letters from the portal, as these contain student numbers necessary to activate the student portal. He highlighted that enrolment is key to knowing the fees to be paid and to creating a Makerere University email address. In case of challenges, students were encouraged to seek help from college registrars or the Directorate of ICT Support. “The College of Computing has a support center at the basement of Block A, where students can get assistance,” he said.
The Deputy University Librarian, Dr. Kizito Ongaya, provided an overview of library services, noting significant changes compared to the 1990s and early 2000s. He outlined various training programs, including Reference Management Tools and Plagiarism Detection, and stressed the importance of using the available resources. “There are over 40 online libraries that we pay for. We pay over 1 billion shillings per annum to subscribe to these libraries, and you need special training so that you are able to access these,” he said. He also shared the library website, https://mulib.mak.ac.ug/ as a valuable resource.
Mr. Henry Nsubuga the Head of Counselling and Guidance Services addressed mental health and well-being, especially for PhD and Masters students, noting the significant mental toll of such programs. He pointed out that over 40% of graduate students experience depression, anxiety, and stress, and urged them to seek help early. He advised against internalizing negative feedback, suggesting instead that criticism be reframed as external rather than personal. He also encouraged positive self-talk to maintain motivation.
Ms. Diana Nabikolo, the Safeguarding Liaison Officer, briefed students on the Safeguarding Policy launched in April, which complements 11 other safeguarding policies available on the university policies website. She explained that the policy addresses various forms of abuse—physical, emotional, and neglect—as well as infrastructure-related concerns. She mentioned the presence of Safeguarding Champions in each college, both staff and students, who may assist in logging cases into the Makerere Safe Space and determining whether an issue qualifies as a safeguarding concern.
The Registrar at the Directorate of Graduate Training Ms. Caroline Nannono Jjingo explained the Directorate’s presence at all colleges and its coordination role with college and school registrars. She clarified the difference between enrolment and registration, noting that enrolment signifies acceptance of the study offer and triggers billing, while registration must follow enrolment. She also outlined the official withdrawal process, which can be prompted by financial challenges, illness, or job opportunities. Students were advised to formally notify the university to avoid being marked absent. “Withdrawal can only occur after registration,” she said, adding that students should inform the university if they plan to return.
The event was moderated by the Managing Editor Makerere University Press Dr. William Tayeebwa, who also doubles as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS). It follows a similar orientation session for undergraduate students held on 4th August 2025.
As the new academic year begins, our dedicated staff and student Safeguarding Champions are stepping up to ensure that all freshers feel welcomed, safe, and supported. These committed individuals are here to guide New University Students through their university journey, offering resources, advice, and a listening ear. Together, we’re creating a vibrant and secure campus community where everyone can thrive!
Safeguarding Measures at Makerere University
“At Makerere University, we prioritise the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and the surrounding community. Our safeguarding measures include a range of policies and practices designed to prevent harm and create a secure environment. We are committed to fostering a supportive atmosphere where everyone feels safe and valued,” remarked Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.
Safeguarding is about protecting people’s health, well-being and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. Specific to Makerere University, it is the measures put in place to promote the safety and well-being of all Students, Staff and other stakeholders.
As part of the University Initiative to Improve the Safety and Wellbeing of Students and Staff, 25 Staff and 68 Student Safeguarding Champions attended an intensive refresher training on Safeguarding at Makerere University. They received information materials and planned their engagements during the University Orientation, which took place from 4th to 8th August 2025.
Orientation week is always a lively blend of excitement and nervousness for the new students. Thousands of fresh students arrive from all corners of Uganda and beyond, carrying dreams and sometimes unspoken worries.
During the 2025 Freshers’ Orientation, an Information Tent was set up at the Senate Building to assist new students, parents, and guardians with various types of information and guidance. The well-trained Student Champions, representing the 9 Colleges and 3 Schools at both the main campus and the Jinja Campus, wore white “Safeguarding Champion” T-shirts. They actively helped welcome the new students and familiarise them with the university environment.
A key emphasis was on increasing awareness of Safety and Well-being at Makerere University. In each college, the Student Safeguarding Champions were supported and guided by the Staff Safeguarding Champions. Others moved between groups of freshers, providing peer-to-peer guidance and distributing brochures with simple messages: ‘Your safety matters.’
Speaking during Orientation, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and University Academic Registrar, emphasised that the University was committed to the Safety and well-being of all University Students and Staff.
“When students know their rights and have the support systems in place, they are better positioned to thrive academically and socially. This is the kind of environment that nurtures both learning and personal growth,” Prof. Buyinza noted.
In her speech, Dr. Winfred Kabumbuli, the Dean of Students, pointed out that the Safeguarding policy included provisions for Students, Staff, and other Stakeholders, as well as the accredited Hostels and their owners.
Talking about the Champions, she mentioned that “These young leaders have taken it upon themselves to be the first line of support for their peers. Their presence is a reminder that at Makerere University, safety, respect, and inclusivity are everyone’s responsibility.”
As the semester begins, the Safeguarding Champions will continue their work by organising peer-support circles, awareness drives, and training sessions in various colleges. The University Management is urging all students and staff to have a personal responsibility of ensuring a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all.
When discussing with the Champions, she highlighted, “These young leaders have made it their mission to be the first line of support for their peers. Their presence serves as a reminder that at Makerere University, safety, respect, and inclusivity are the responsibility of everyone.”
Addressing the student champions, Prof. Justine Namaalwa Jjumba, a member of the Safeguarding Implementation Team, urged them to lead by example in their behaviour, willingness to support other Students to identify any safeguarding risks, prevent any form of harm or abuse, report in case of any incident and support during case management.
“Let us be champions of inclusive language. We do not refer to them as ‘blind people’; we say ‘visually impaired.’ As champions, you need to be keen on identifying risks and possible causes of safeguarding concerns, report promptly, and support each other,” Prof. Namaalwa said.
The Safeguarding Liaison Officer, Ms. Diane Nabikolo Osiru, who supports monitoring the implementation and review of the Makerere University Safeguarding policy as well as coordinating activities of awareness creation and enhancement among students, staff, and partners, was at the forefront of championing awareness creation during orientation week.
Student Safeguarding Champions speak out
Mary Agnes Atim, a third-year Fine Art student, described orientation week as a valuable experience that provided a well-rounded introduction to university life for her peers.
“I have really enjoyed the orientation. As an advocate, I appreciated the opportunity to talk to fellow students about the safeguarding initiative. I’m confident that by now they know the ‘dark spots’ and will be better protected from fraudsters,” Atim said.
Edinah Kamurasi, a second-year Bachelor of Arts in Economics student, expressed gratitude for the in-depth two-day training, admitting that she had not been fully aware of the University’s safeguarding policy before.
“I am really grateful for the in-depth training we had as champions. Before this, I wasn’t even sure about the safeguarding policy, but now I can confidently explain it to others and interact with students every day, explaining the same thing. I also learnt a lot,” Kamurasi said.
Jenkins Okidi, a third-year Bachelor of Animal Production student, shared that many of the students he interacted with were enthusiastic about the MakSafeSpace, the University’s confidential e-reporting platform.
“Most freshers were excited to learn they have a safe, private way to report any concerns,” Okidi, said.
Sharifah Nalubembe, a second-year Library and Information Science student, noted that during the orientation week, she was able to guide fellow students to the appropriate offices for support.
“It felt very satisfying to help and ensure that no one ended up in the wrong hands,” Nalubembe said.
Fahad Kiyimba, a second-year Software Engineering student, described the training as highly informative in promoting the safety and wellness of students across campus.
“After the training we received as champions, I gained valuable knowledge and skills. It gave me the confidence to engage first-year students about our comprehensive safeguarding policy, and that is exactly what I did during orientation week,” Kiyimba said.
Ms. Carol Kasujja Adii is the Senior Communication Officer in charge of Safeguarding and Crisis communication at Makerere University.
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