General
Mak Students Win Accountability Sector Debate
Makerere University students have emerged winners in the Accountability Sector Debate that attracted participants from both public and private universities in Uganda.
Eight (8) Universities presented candidates to compete in the Accountability Sector Debate, which was aimed at promoting dialogue among the youth on matters of accountability, and interesting them in advocating for accountability.
The following Universities participated in the debate: Makerere University, Makerere University Business School, Kyambogo University, Nkumba University, Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, Islamic University in Uganda and Uganda Christian University Mukono.
Makerere University received an award for winning the debate held under the theme: “Accountability, a shared responsibility for effective service delivery.” Three (3) judges with expertise in the subject area and the Accountability sector evaluated the debate and selected the winning debaters for the award.
The Makerere University winning team comprised Mr. Luyombu Abbasi and Ms. Awino Mercy, who are studying Bachelor of Laws degree at Makerere University. Each winner received a gold medal. The Makerere University winning team also received a cash prize of 1.5million Uganda shillings.
The Accountability Sector debate held on Monday 27th August 2018 at City Hall, Kampala was organised by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development as part of the activities to launch the Accountability Week running from 27th to 31st August 2018. Over 250 students from both public and private universities in Uganda participated in the debate.
Receiving the good news, Makerere University Principal Public Relations Officer, Ms Ritah Namisango saluted the winning team for effectively representing the University. “I commend our students for putting up a spirited fight. Through this competition, our students have continued to re-affirm that Makerere University is the leading institution for academic excellence. I commend them for the excellent analytical and communication skills and a good command of the English language. Congratulations!” Ms Namisango remarked.
Ms Namisango also applauded the Makerere University Students Guild particularly the Guild President, H.E Papa Were Salim and the Guild Information Minister, Hon. Kato Martins for working together with Makerere University Public Relations Office to identify the students who effectively represented the University in the Accountability sector debate.
Speaking on behalf of Makerere University Students Guild, Hon. Kato Martins thanked the winners for making Makerere University a victor in the accountability debate.
“I extend our sincere appreciation to the winners. We are so humbled that you are making Makerere University proud when we participate in debates focusing on pertinent topical issues,” he said.
Hon. Kato called upon all Makerere University students to always make Makerere University proud when they participate in national and international competitions.
Article by: Nakibombo Esther Joyce, Communication Volunteer, Mak PR Office
By Agnes Namaganda
On July 22nd 2022, Makerere University–Child Health and Development Centre (Mak–CHDC) launched a draft manual for the National Parenting Standards. The Centre has been working together with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) with funding from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund), to develop standards that are agreeable to all organisations in the country that are involved in parenting work. The draft manual was being presented to members of a consortium that brings together all these organisations together, called the Parenting Agenda Consortium.
“We produce many documents and they are shelved,” Irene Ayot Chono, who was speaking on behalf of UNICEF said. “We hope that this document will not be one of them,” she emphasized.
Dr. Godfrey Siu, the Principal Investigator from Mak-CHDC who presented the draft manual to participants, emphasized that if any organization is doing parenting work, there should be a minimum package that they should offer.
Draft Manual Content
The manual which will have several modules. These modules will be delivered face-to-face in 1.5 hour sessions. Some of these include; Module 6 which will focus on “understanding responsible masculinity and fatherhood” and on “understanding the concept of head of family.”The draft manual also proposed that Module 11 focuses on Parenting in the 21st Century. Some of the sessions in this module will include Children and Technology, Contemporary Influence on Children and Modernity, Culture and Morality.Module 9 will focus on Parenting for Adolescents and some of the suggested sessions within this module are Needs for Adolescents and The Art of Communicating with Adolescents. Module 5 will focus on Preventing Violent Parenting and Promoting Alternative Discipline Strategies while Module 10 will be about Parenting to Address the Mental Health for Children and Adults.
Participants’ suggestions
After the presentation, participants raised several suggestions for discussion and consideration. These included whether there should be a module on spirituality since Uganda is a strongly religious nation. There was also the concern of how children in remand homes should be parented. Another concern raised by a participant was as to whether teachers who make an undeniable contribution to parenting, should be taken through the parenting manual.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Juliana Naumo Akoryo, the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) said that the manual is for the parenting organisations to utilize and not for MGLSD.
Ms. Chono also adjured the team behind the manual to use picture illustrations in the manual that can be relatable by the Ugandan parents.
Contact: Agnes Namaganda – agnesvioletnamaganda@gmail.com
-
General2 weeks agoUganda’s policymakers implored to address forest loss, plastic & water pollution
-
General1 week agoLaunch of Mak-RIF Round 4 Awards & PhD Call for Proposals
-
Veterinary & Biosecurity4 days agoDissemination & stakeholder engagements on Paratuberculosis Research findings held
-
Health4 days agoBoy Children Report More Physical & Emotional Abuse
-
Education2 weeks agoGone but still lives on: Makerere University celebrates Prof. Kajubi’s legacy