General
Confucius Institute Celebrates 4th Anniversary, Welcomes New Director
The Confucius Institute (CI) at Makerere University on Friday, 9th November 2018 celebrated four successful years of teaching and promoting Chinese language and culture at a colourful ceremony held in the Main Hall, Makerere University. The ceremony was presided over by the Minister for Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)-Hon. Beti Olive Kamya and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Uganda, H.E. Zheng ZhuQiang.
Earlier in the day, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe had chaired the CI Advisory Board meeting, which paved way for further collaboration between Makerere and Xiangtan University in several areas.
In his remarks at the fourth anniversary celebrations, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe noted that the Confucius Institute (CI) at Makerere University is growing by leaps and bounds and linking the people of Uganda and China. He congratulated the outgoing CI Director upon laying a firm foundation during his tenure.
“As we bid farewell to Prof. Hong Yonghong, we thank him for being the pioneer Director of the Confucius Institute at Makerere. At the same time I welcome Prof. Xia Zhuoqiong and wish her an enjoyable stay at Makerere University” said Prof. Nawangwe.
Established on 19th December 2014 at Makerere University, CI is the only established institute in Uganda to handle the teaching and learning of Chinese. CI’s vision is to be a dynamic, self-reliant and autonomous centre of excellence in provision of quality teaching and research in Chinese studies with emphasis on language and culture as well as service to the community.
Article by Public Relations Office
Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.
The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.
Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.
After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.
Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.
-
General1 week agoCall for Applications: Admission to Postgraduate Programmes 2025/2026
-
Humanities & Social Sciences1 week agoOver 2,000 Attend Makerere’s Dialogue on Traditional Spirituality, Herbal Medicine, Witchcraft and Questions of Truth
-
General4 days agoAccommodation during the Recess Term: 2024/2025
-
General2 weeks agoPhase 1 of e-Learning initiative at Makerere University registers remarkable achievements
-
General2 weeks agoARIPO, URSB Visit Mak, Discuss IP & Patenting