General
Nyabyeya Forestry College Hands Over 10hectares to Enhance Mak’s Practical Forestry Training
Nyabyeya Forest College (NFC) in Masindi has handed over ten (10) hectares of land to Makerere University to enhance practical forestry training. The land provided will be used for establishment of a training plantation forest which will help in enhancing practical training and research.
This follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and Nyabyeya Forestry College on 3rd July 2018.
The land was handed over by the Principal NFC Mr. Godfrey Akubonabona to the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on his maiden visit to NFC on 15th August 2018. The MoU between CAES and NFC was operationalised on the same day.
The hand over was witnessed by NFC staff including the Deputy Principal, Mr. Kisakye Richard, the Academic Registrar Mr. Swaib Gwanyi, the Assistant Academic Registrar Mr. Ambrose Ahimbisibwe and the Plantation Manager, Mr. Geofrey Sebahutu among others.
The Vice Chancellor was accompanied by the Director Legal Affairs Mr. Henry Mwebe, the Principal CAES Prof. Bernard Bashaasha, his deputy Dr. Gorettie Nabanoga, the Dean School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences Prof. Mnason Tweheyo, Deans and Heads of units from CAES.
Prof. Nawangwe described Nyabyeya Forestry College as a centre of excellence in training foresters and appreciated the college for the excellent work it has been doing to train Makerere University students.
“I must commend those who have been resilient to keep this place in difficult times. I also commend the Principal Nyabyeya Forest College for the transformations during his two years in office,” Nawangwe commended.
The Vice Chancellor noted that Mak and NFC provide the biggest opportunity in the country as the only university and college training foresters.
The Professor decried the declining forest cover in the country noting that unlike the past where permission would be sought to even cut a tree one owned in his or her land, today cutting of trees is not regulated leading to the disappearance forestry cover.
Citing Kenya as an example of an organized country where cutting a tree for charcoal is not allowed, Nawangwe implored educational institutions including Mak and NFC to take on the responsibility to ensure these standards come back.
“Government expects a lot from us the educational institutions. The most absurd thing is that someone from government should advise Makerere what to do. We can do a lot of research and that is extremely important.
The reason forests are disappearing is that we are producing very fast. Uganda is still among the fastest growing populations in Africa and therefore we must research into alternative ways of keeping our forests,” Nawangwe said.
The Vice Chancellor emphasized the importance of more practical training and learner-centered approach in promoting entrepreneurship and churning out graduates that can compete on the world market.
He observed that with two forests at their disposal, the two institutions can work together not only to do research and promote practical training but also generate resources to supplement government efforts.
“NFC has the land and expertise. Makerere has expertise. We should identify what we can do jointly so that we are able to relieve government from the burden of paying staff salaries.
There is a shortage of avocados on the world market. Israel with its problems is the biggest exporter of avocados to Europe but they can only supply one season. This is one thing we can look at, say if we plant 100 acres, we would be the biggest suppliers in East Africa”. Nawangwe advised.
The Professor thanked NFC for the support given to Makerere over the past 40 years and advised the two institutions to take advantage of the capacity built to offer sabbaticals and staff exchanges so that the relationship is mutually beneficial.
Nawangwe further implored the two institutions to take on responsibility of advising Government on matters of policy. He noted that since the 1998 Act, everyone in the country can do whatever they want irrespective of the repercussions.
“The Great lakes region is the worst affected. The Water war will begin from here, there is high population, climate change, all forms of degradation and we are heading for disaster.
We are the people who have the knowledge to avert these problems. You need to do research in these areas and give proper policy guidance to our government,” Nawangwe said.
The Principal CAES, Prof. Bernard Bashaasha said NFC and CAES have been enjoying an informal relationship for over 35years. Bashaasha expressed happiness that they were at Nyabyeya to consummate the marriage.
“The collaboration has been going on not properly anchored and I am happy that this is happening .
The MoU has three critical elements; facilities, recess term and staff exchange but we are here to add another aspect of the relationship of having land,” Bashaasha reported.
Prof. Bashaasha was optimistic that with the acquisition and improvement of the existing facilities at NFC, forestry students would be able to spend more time on practical training.
“If we utilise the 10hectares of land well, we can train environmentalists and conservation managers and also make money. Environmental issues are important, climate change is here with us, when you see global patterns, that makes training in environmental conservation very important,” the CAES Principal stated.
The Dean School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences Prof. Mnason Tweheyo explained that as the most needy and user unit they labored to undertake the curriculum review to remove redundancies and duplications and ultimately found that Nyabyeya Forest College was the most practical area for training foresters.
Prof. Tweheyo said, since 1973 NFC has been training Makerere students undertaking forestry and related programs every year during recess term including use of the college facilities, staff exchange and collaborative research.
Tweheyo said at one time both institutions benefited from NORAD support. From 1973 to 1975, NORAD supported NFC and Makerere University to establish the Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation.
“Before, we used to time when NFC students were out and would bring Makerere students here. This year 2018, more than 400 students from 1st to 4th year have passed through NFC.
NFC offered space where Makerere can build a hostel to accommodate 45 students. In addition there is land identified next to the hostel allocated to Makerere that can be used to expand accommodation for staff and students.” The Dean said.
Prof. Tweheyo explained that for a long time stakeholders have been complaining about forestry graduates being more theoretical than practical. He said with the acquisition of the 10 hectares of land from NFC, the university will be in position to offer the best training in Africa.
“NFC sits on a Forest reserve. Those who work in forest reserves do not get titles but certificates. So NFC gave us user rights for training students.
We thought this would be very important and we shall be able to collect data from day one when the trees are planted, conduct research as well as training,” he said.
Prof. Tweheyo said the school will not plant indigenous trees but look at different species for recommendation to the industry.
“We shall use it for demonstration whereby students visit once a month, and rely on student labour as this is important for them to gain practical skills. Mak and NFC will do research together,” the don added.
“For the first 2 years, one hectare can consume 3million shillings. The next 2-6 years a hectare will consume 2million. 6-12 years, a hectare requires 2million and from 12-18 years a hectare will consume 1 million shillings” the Dean said.
Prof. Tweheyo pledged that school had earmarked 4million Uganda Shillings to kickstart the process and called upon the college and the university to lend a helping hand to make the project a success. The Dean also underscored the role played by Budongo Conservation Forest (BCF) in accommodating and training Makerere University staff and students although this association was yet to be formalised.
He said BCF by virtue of its being a tropical forest has attracted researchers from across the globe. He was optimistic that the BCF would become the Biological field station for Makerere since many of her units including CAES, the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) and the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) stand to benefit.
The Deputy Principal Dr. Gorettie Nabanoga thanked the Dean for articulating the issues affecting Forestry training. She observed that the field of forestry training has taken a turnaround, requiring modern and state-of-the-art equipment as opposed to the obsolete machines.
She also echoed the need to promote retooling of teaching staff in forestry so that what is given to students meets the current employers and stakeholders expectations.
Nabanoga proposed the need for Makerere and NFC to look at both long and quick maturing tree species so as to project the resources to be generated for the university and college. She also encouraged the two institutions to be gender sensitive during the enrolment of students and recruitment of staff in forestry.
The Deputy Principal thanked the Vice Chancellor for honouring the invitation to grace the occasion.
“We have never had the Vice Chancellor visiting this college. Pulling you out of the university Main Building to the forest is a signal that forestry training and natural resource management is dear to your heart,” Nabanoga said.
The day’s major events included, meeting between Mak and NFC staff punctuated by brief remarks, launching the implementation of the Mak- CAES & NFC MoU, exchange of appreciation gifts, touring NFC facilities, tree planting at the allocated site to signify the handover of the land and finally the visit to Budongo Conservation Field Station.
Report Compiled by
Jane Anyango,
Principal Communication Officer, CAES
The Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs (DVCAA), Prof. Sarah Ssali has made a strong case for good Minutes Writing, describing the process as “very important in respecting the integrity of the institution.” She made the remarks while officially opening a training workshop organised by the Makerere University Writing Centre (MakWC) for Executive and Administrative Staff on 4th August 2026.
And whereas it is important to consult long serving staff on institutional best practices, Prof. Ssali noted that good minute writing is the best way to preserve institutional memory, especially as staff come and go. She equally pointed out the importance of minutes in addressing issues of legality, as these accounts have since time immemorial been relied on to “help shape records and document the history of states”.
Away from setting the record straight, the DVCAA also stressed the importance of minutes in helping teams better prepare for their next meeting. Minutes, she noted, should help members develop an action matrix with quick turnaround times that empower the next meeting to address what was resolved.
The DVCAA equally underscored the importance of minutes in; helping institutions or their units comply with regulatory requirements, provide accountability in the event of tracking implementation of policies or programmes, and team alignment. “Minutes affect decisions and so they are good reference points for positions agreed upon by teams, especially where there was a lot of debate,” she said about the latter.
Prof. Ssali concluded by thanking executive and administrative staff present for sparing time to attend the training and urged them to uphold the highest degree of ethics and efficiency as they go about this noble task.
The Chairperson, MakWC, Prof. Fredrick Jones Muyodi in his remarks sincerely thanked the DVCAA for reiterating the importance of workshop in equipping staff to become better professionals. He, in the same breath, urged participants to do their best by putting into practice all the knowledge and skills that they acquire during the training.
Participants received specific training on Fundamentals and Roles of the Minute Taker by Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi and Minute Writing Techniques by Ms. Proscovia Nakayiki. The executive and administrative staff were equally tipped on; the Policy and Legal Environment for Minute Writing by Ms. Esther Kabinga, e-Meeting platforms by Dr. Godfrey Mayende, and Ethical and Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda.
About MakWC
Housed under the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnerships (DRIP), MakWC is a pivotal centre aimed at enhancing Makerere University’s strategic goal of becoming a research-led institution by 2030. The centre provides faculty, staff and students with assistance on their papers, projects, reports, multi-modal documents and other writerly needs across disciplines.
Makerere University has officially welcomed the 2026/2027 cohort of freshers, urging them to pursue academic excellence, uphold integrity, embrace diversity and make the most of the opportunities available throughout their university journey.
The opening of Orientation Week, held at the Freedom Square on Monday, 3rd August 2026, brought together University leaders, staff and thousands of newly admitted students. Throughout the event, speakers emphasized academic discipline, personal responsibility, leadership, student welfare and the values that have defined Makerere University for over a century.
Academic Registrar Welcomes Freshers
Delivering his remarks, the Academic Registrar, Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, congratulated the freshers upon their admission and welcomed them into Makerere University‘s long standing tradition of scholarship, research and innovation.
He reminded the students that joining Makerere University marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives; one in which they would take full responsibility for shaping their future.
“Your arrival at Makerere marks a new chapter in your own life. This chapter is different because now you have the opportunity to determine the direction of your own story.”
Prof. Buyinza encouraged students to actively participate in academic activities, complete assignments on time and uphold integrity throughout their studies.
He cautioned against examination malpractice, forgery and other forms of academic misconduct, emphasizing that such offences could lead to dismissal from the University.
The Academic Registrar also stressed the importance of completing registration within the prescribed period, reminding students that admission remains provisional until registration requirements have been fulfilled.
“Technically, you are not yet students until you register.”
He further guided students on programme changes, registration procedures, and tuition payment requirements and urged them to carefully read the University’s Joining Instructions.
Beyond academics, Prof. Buyinza advised students to exercise financial discipline, avoid online scams and make responsible personal decisions while adjusting to university life.
Dean of Students Highlights Student Welfare
The Dean of Students, Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, briefed freshers on accommodation, health services, feeding, spiritual welfare and leadership opportunities available at the University.
She advised students seeking off-campus accommodation to choose only accredited private hostels approved by the University.
“Please make sure you choose a hostel that is safe, comfortable and closer to campus.”
Dr. Kabumbuli also encouraged students to open medical files at the University Hospital instead of self-medicating whenever they fall ill.
“Don’t ignore illness. Don’t self-prescribe. Go for proper medical attention through the University Hospital.”
She urged students to participate in spiritual fellowship through the University’s places of worship and to embrace leadership opportunities available at class, hall and college levels.
Welcoming international students, Dr. Kabumbuli noted that Makerere University has admitted more than 800 international students from 55 countries across five continents, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to providing an inclusive learning environment.
Former Guild President Shares His Makerere Journey
Hon. Lawrence Alionzi (Dangote), inspired the freshers through his personal story, recalling how he joined Makerere University in 2019 as a young student from Arua “with an empty pocket and a bag full of dreams.”
He described Makerere as “the hill of endless possibilities” and challenged students to maximize every opportunity available during their university life.
“The answer to whether you reach the top of the hill lies in what you do between now and the day you graduate.”
Drawing lessons from his own experience, Dangote cautioned students against peer pressure, financial recklessness and online investment scams, encouraging them to choose friends wisely and remain focused on their academic goals.
“Hard work beats talent if talent does not learn to work hard.”
Academic Registrar Clarifies Registration Process
Returning to the podium, Prof. Buyinza clarified registration procedures, programme change guidelines and admission requirements.
He reminded students that failure to register within the stipulated period would result in forfeiture of admission.
“Registration is the most important step that will determine whether you become a university student or not.”
He also advised students seeking programme changes to ensure they meet the required cut-off points and available vacancies before submitting applications.
Prof. Sarah Ssali Calls for Excellence and Integrity
Closing the orientation, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, officially welcomed the freshers to Makerere University.
Beginning her remarks, Prof. Ssali asked students admitted to the Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences to identify themselves before revealing that she too had studied the same programme.
Using her own experience, she reminded students that every academic programme offered by the University is valuable.
“Every course matters. Whatever you have been given, do it as if your life depends on it.”
She congratulated the incoming students, describing their admission as the beginning of a transformative journey that would prepare them to become responsible citizens and future leaders.
“Your achievement reflects your hard work, determination and potential, and we are delighted that you have chosen Makerere University as the next step in your academic journey.”
Prof. Ssali reminded students that every academic programme matters and encouraged them to pursue excellence regardless of the course they had been admitted to.
She reassured students that Makerere remains committed to providing a supportive and inclusive learning environment through academic staff, the Dean of Students’ Office, counselling services, student leaders and other support units.
She particularly encouraged students facing personal or academic challenges to seek help whenever necessary.
Prof. Ssali reaffirmed the University’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment and exploitation.
“Do not suffer silently. Raise your voice. We have zero tolerance for sexual harassment and exploitation of students.”
Encouraging students to engage beyond the classroom, she urged them to participate in research, innovation, sports, leadership, community engagement and international programmes that complement academic learning.
She also called upon students to reject examination malpractice, plagiarism, violence, substance abuse and all forms of misconduct that undermine the University’s values.
“University education is not only about earning a degree; it is about developing the knowledge, character, values and competences required to make a meaningful contribution to society.”
As she concluded, Prof. Ssali challenged the freshers to think about the legacy they wished to leave behind at Makerere University.
“Pursue a life of excellence. Take ownership of your learning, build strong networks and make the most of every opportunity the University offers.”
The 2026/2027 Orientation Week continues with college based sessions that will introduce freshers to academic programmes, registration processes, student support services and university life before the commencement of the new academic year.
-
General1 day agoUndergraduate Admission Lists 2026/2027
-
General10 hours agoAdmission Lists for Postgraduate Programmes 2026/27
-
General2 weeks agoGulu University Benchmarks Makerere University’s Management of Mature Age Entry Examinations
-
General6 days agoCall for Erasmus+ Mobility Exchanges between Makerere University and University of Perugia
-
General2 weeks agoMakerere, Southwest Minzu University and NARO Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Livestock Research and Innovation