General
Mak DRGT Reviews Graduate Training Policies and Guidelines
For three days (23rd to 25th May 2018), members of Makerere University Management, Principals, Deputy Principals, Deans, researchers, staff from the Department of the Academic Registrar, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) and Public Relations Office convened at Royal Suites Bugolobi in a retreat aimed at reviewing policies and guidelines on graduate training. The retreat also sought to further align graduate training processes with the IUCEA and NCHE guidelines and recommend reviewed proposals to the Board of Research and Graduate Training.
Expected to end in June 2018, the review process will culminate in the production of the Makerere University Graduate Prospectus and an improved Graduate Handbook. It will also generate ideas and strategies aimed at strengthening graduate training and research at Makerere University.
“Graduate Training should form the pillar as we continue to advance the case for a research-led University. I am glad that we have convened here for three days to receive valuable input from stakeholders who drive the agenda at the University. The University has embarked on developing a Strategic Plan for the next 10 years (2019/20-2029/30) and Graduate Training and Research should be top on the agenda,” remarked Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, Director DRGT.
Officially opening the retreat, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang emphasized the need to improve the research culture at the University. He implored the participants to propose ideas where both the supervisors and students are committed to completion of PhDs within the stipulated years. “The review process should put in place mechanisms where each party namely the University authorities, supervisors and students is fully committed to playing his/her role.”
Providing a broad overview of Graduate Training at Makerere University, DRGT Deputy Director (Administration), Dr. David Owiny indicated that the review process accords all stakeholders the opportunity to come up with strategies of increasing the number of graduate students at Makerere University to at least 20%.
“In 2014/2015, the Makerere University Fact book indicated that 635 members of staff had attained PhDs and I am sure that the numbers of staff with PhDs has continued to rise. If each member of staff with PhD supervised One (1) student, Makerere University will be in position to graduate over 300 PhDs in a year,” revealed Dr. Owiny.
To set the pace, the Facilitator, Dr. Paul Kibwika invited Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi to present an overview of Policies and Guidelines of Graduate Training at Makerere University. She highlighted the policies that needed revision or rethinking, those that were difficult to implement, and some that had never been implemented. Mrs. Mushengyezi ended the informative presentation on an optimistic note.
“With the review of graduate training policies and enforcement of existing ones, we shall see graduate students completing on time and increased numbers of graduate applicants. Makerere University will then realize her dream of being a research-led University.”
During the retreat, participants pitched for the regularisation of crosscutting courses in the University. “Crosscutting courses should be mandatory. All students enrolled on the PhD programme should study these courses and Colleges should review their PhD Curricula to include crosscutting courses.”
Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza applauded the participants for realising that crosscutting courses such as Research Methods, Information Competence and Scholarly Writing equipped PhD students with the required knowledge and skills that significantly contribute to their competence. The Director disclosed that he had received a number of testimonies affirming this from those who had participated in the crosscutting courses.
Dr. Paul Birevu Muyinda, the Deputy Principal, College of Education and External Studies (CEES) informed the participants that he was one of the beneficiaries of crosscutting courses. “I tell you, you are empowered to do things differently,” he rallied.
Providing a solution to the scenario where only 40 out of 200 PhD student applicants are considered for the crosscutting courses, Dr. Muyinda appealed to DRGT to work with the Department of Open Distance and Distance Learning, CEES, to embrace e-learning so that the courses are put online. “With this approach, more applicants will be considered.”
Participants also advocated for strengthening of Doctoral Committees so that these eventually evolve into research teams at the respective units. Owing to the important role they play, consensus was reached that Doctoral Committees should be strongly encouraged and acknowledged in Theses/Dissertations.
Some of the pertinent recommendations arising out of discussions included: timely remuneration of external and internal examiners; upholding the supremacy of the external examiner; training staff in customer care; and expediting approved appointments in the Academic Registrar’s Department so as to dedicate special registrars to the management of graduate students.
During the retreat, participants listened to experiences on graduate training and supervision presented by Dr. Andrew E. State from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) while Dr. Stephen Wandera presented the CARTA model focusing on building vibrant, viable and sustainable multidisciplinary research hubs at African universities. Dr. Wandera’s presentation also covered creating networks of locally-trained internationally recognised scholars as well as enhancing the capacity of African universities to lead globally competitive research and training programs. Dr. Daudi Jjingo who represented Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal, College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), provided tips on how to enhance the quality of Graduate Training.
Mr. Richard Byarugaba, the Head of Examinations and Transcripts Division who represented the Academic Registrar, Mr. Alfred Masikye Namoah commended DRGT for organising the retreat and appealed to the members to discuss the modalities of funding graduate programmes. He noted that graduate programmes are privately sponsored, which affects concentration as well as the completion rate of students. He also advised the University authorities to conduct a fresh per unit cost analysis of training a graduate student.
The participants were grouped into critical thinking sessions focused on increasing the number of applicants at graduate level, financing Graduate Training, enhancing teaching and learning, thesis examinations and publications as well as institutionalization and internationalization of graduate training and research.
Cognizant of the required outputs, the participants constituted a Committee consisting of nine (9) members to synthesize the ideas raised during the retreat within a period of three (3) weeks. The Members include: Dr. Kakungulu Mayambala, Dr. Paul Kibwika, Dr. Yazidhi Bamutaze, Dr. Susan Kiwanuka, Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi, Dr. Vincent Bagire, Dr. Stephen Wandera, Mr. Patrick Feni and Dr. Ivan Muzira.
On receipt of the Report from the Committee, DRGT will organize a half-day engagement with stakeholders to review the proceedings.
Closing the retreat, the Convener, Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza said: “Personally, I feel empowered because I am carrying a voice from you stakeholders who have participated in this three day retreat, organized by DRGT with funding from Makerere University supplemented by CARTA. I thank my colleague, Dr. Owiny for ensuring that we access funds from CARTA. I also applaud the Facilitator-Dr. Paul Kibwika for the excellent moderation.”
Article by 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.
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