General
Prof. John Muyonga Hands Over Office of Dean School of Food Technology
Prof. John Muyonga has handed over office to Dr. Abel Atukwase, the new Dean-elect School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering. The handover ceremony was held on Thursday, 17th January 2019 at the School’s Conference Hall.
Prof. Muyonga has served as Dean for two four-year terms since 2011 when the university turned collegiate. His term expired on 31st December 2018.
Presiding over the function, the Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Prof. Bernard Bashaasha commended Prof. Muyonga for running the School for eight years and doubling the graduate programmes in terms of curriculum design.
“In terms of research, your School has the second largest chunk of research resources in the College and some outstanding infrastructure. The Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre (FTBIC) is a flagship both at Makerere University and the East African region”, the Principal said.
Professor Bashaasha hailed the outgoing Dean for keeping the Human Resource Team united, conflict-free and maintaining a good working relationship with the Principals office. He congratulated the incoming Dean, Dr. Abel Atukwase upon his victory adding that he has some work to do in terms of harmonizing the school.
“Just be yourself, serve everybody regardless of who rallied behind you. Bear in mind that you are serving not because you are the best but because you were trusted to serve in this particular time and you will hand over the mantle to another person. Your mission is to add value to what Prof. Muyonga has done because the foundation has been set”, He advised.
The Principal also advised staff to treat pledges as ideas which can be picked, reshaped and achieved afterwards. He described pledges as promises, well thought ideas and good indications subject to assessment.
Prof. Bashaasha described leadership as God-given and welcomed Dr. Atukwase to the College management. He said the college works as a family and there is room for discussion.
Outgoing Dean, Prof John Muyonga described the handover as a happy moment and thanked college staff and university management for being supportive.
He said when the school begun, they came up with a mission, discussed it and came up with six goals to increase visibility.
He highlighted the achievements under his tenure including; an increased number of courses, acquisition of an additional building and equipment as well as upgrading the engineering workshop at MUARIK. Other achievements according to Prof. Muyonga include enhanced collaborations with national and international partners, improvement in research and acquisition of three motor vehicles.
Some of the challenges he said include limited space for lecture rooms and staff offices. He highlighted areas that the new Dean needs to look into including; follow up with NCHE on the new courses, renovations, letters of staff appointment, FTBIC contract staff, staffing gaps, evening programs for MSc and incubation programs and improving the level of laboratory productivity among others.
Based on his personal experience, Prof. Muyonga advised the incoming Dean on a number of issues pledging his continued support.
“As head, it is good to have a big project other than waiting for the Principal to take care of the things the center cannot. On enrolment figures, you need to attract numbers and quality.
We have reasonable equipment for food processing but you can do more by bringing the Private Sector on board. Ensure technicians can operate equipment and have relevant expertise”. Prof. Muyonga advised.
The incoming Dean, Dr. Abel Atukwase referred to the election process and handover as great days and a slightly new age for the school. He thanked the staff for choosing him as Dean and the Principal for facilitating all the processes in School.
Dr. Atukwase also appreciated the outgoing Dean for steering the team for the past 13 years both as Head of Department and Dean.
“I promise that through the support of colleagues, I will keep it a very active School. I am inheriting a firmly laid foundation and hopefully I will get it to better heights”, stated the new Dean.
Dr. Atukwase thanked Prof. Archileo Kaaya for mentoring him as his teacher and supervisor both at undergraduate and PhD levels and giving him the opportunity to act as Head of Department when he became Lecturer. This he said gave him the confidence and opportunity to meet people in management. Prof. Kaaya lectured and mentored both the incoming and outgoing deans.
“As we move forward, I count on your support. We have a strategic plan under development and I pledge that my School will work towards supporting the strategic plan of the College and University. I will be there to fulfill the objectives and keep activities moving to ensure we don’t backslide”. Dr. Atukwase said.
Atukwase pledged to work hard and together with staff, add value to the School. He reported that Prof. Muyonga had been mentoring him to better understand leadership issues.
“I am more energized now that I have been given the responsibility to steer the school and I won’t let down the School program down. I promise consensus to avoid crisis. My leadership ingredients are integrity, honesty and focus”. Dr. Atukwase pledged.
He appreciated his campaign team for the job well done and promised to serve everybody.
The representative of Director Internal Audit Makerere University, Mr. William Ssebanakitta described the outgoing Dean as a well-informed person and challenged the incoming dean to emulate Prof. Muyonga and to be cooperative.
Prof. Archileo Kaaya said both deans were his students and thanked Prof. Muyonga for steering the school along the right course.
“He has been transparent and this is a legacy he is leaving. Abel, you have seen. Administration is complicated.
You need to be very calm and transparent. Make the Dean’s office simple. Let us come to your office. Remain free and interact with all staff so as to forge togetherness.
You still need to grow academically. We need to see you above the rank of Senior lecturer and therefore this position needs balancing”, Prof. Kaaya who is also Head, Department of Food Technology and Nutrition advised.
Kaaya also advised that administration sometimes requires hands-on supervision. He told the incoming Dean not to think about those who never gave him the vote, but to serve above self.
Speaking on behalf of the technical team, Mr. Balamaze, who is currently undertaking a PhD, thanked the outgoing Dean for contributing to his MSc.
“Abel, you have been with us. You know all the potholes and I am sure you are going to do a good job. We would like to see labs become more vibrant”, he said
Report compiled by;
Jane Anyango
Principal Communication Officers, CAES
The Director of Makerere University Jinja Campus, Associate Professor Ronald Kakungulu-Mayambala, has urged students to familiarise themselves with the Safeguarding policy aimed at creating a safer and more inclusive learning environment.
Speaking during the safeguarding policy sensitization meeting held today Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at the Civil Service College, Jinja, Prof. Kakungulu-Mayambala, emphasized the importance of awareness and adherence to the policy, which seeks to protect students, staff, and other stakeholders from all forms of abuse, harassment, exploitation, and discrimination.
“As Management we want every student to enjoy their stay at the University without being tormented and that can only happen, if students know their rights by reading about different policies on our website. You are meant to be living in a safe environment. We do not want anybody’s dream to be shattered or somebody to drop out from University,” Prof. Kakungulu-Mayambala, said.
In his speech, Prof. Kakungulu-Mayambala, also called upon students who have complaints but do not know the reporting lines, to approach staff safeguarding champions to make sure that they live in a safe environment.
Addressing guests, Emmanuel Muchake, the Guild Administrator at Jinja Campus, pointed out that the launch of the safeguarding policy is timely because as a University, without creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning, they will not have students graduate.
On Friday, April 4,2025, the Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, Right Honourable Lukia Isanga Nakadama, officially launched the Safeguarding Policy and commended Makerere University for crafting a policy that lays out the University’s framework for embedding viable safeguarding measures into its ethos and all institutional activities and processes to: Identify, detect, and act swiftly on safeguarding risks.
The Safeguarding Policy was developed in response to the growing need for institutions of higher learning to implement proactive measures that address concerns related to student welfare, mental health, gender-based violence, and power imbalances in academic settings.
Some of potential safeguarding risks in Institutions of higher learning include emotional distress, Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH); material loss, financial exploitation, discrimination and neglect, unfair and illegitimate response to civic engagements, cyber security/threats, psychological and emotional harm, substance abuse and physical assault. Discrimination and neglect which are often high risks for students with disabilities and international students.
The safeguarding policy sensitization meeting in Jinja Campus brought together students and staff in a meaningful dialogue on safeguarding issues affecting learning.
The event was graced by Dr. Rodney Rugyema, from the Dean of Students Office, who emphasized the University’s commitment to the well-being of all its members. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of safeguarding policies in preventing abuse, harassment, exploitation, and other forms of misconduct within the Jinja Campus community.
“Safeguarding is not a one-time action, but a continuous culture of care and accountability. We all have a role to play in ensuring a safe and respectful space for learning and growth,” Dr Rugyema, said.
The sensitization session covered key topics including; recognizing signs of abuse, understanding reporting procedures on the MakSafeSpace and fostering mutual respect among peers.
Participants were encouraged to actively engage and reflect on their roles in upholding safety standards both on and off campus.
Students who attended the sensitization welcomed the initiative, with many expressing optimism that the policy would improve campus safety and encourage victims to come forward without fear of retaliation.
“We have seen issues go unreported in the past because students didn’t know where to turn. This policy provides clarity and assurance that the university is taking these matters seriously,” noted, a third-year student.
The University plans to conduct a series of sensitization workshops and distribute printed copies of the policy to ensure that every member of the campus community is well-informed. This initiative is part of Makerere University‘s broader strategy to reinforce its values of integrity, respect, and protection for all.
The Safeguarding Sensitization Meeting concluded with a collective pledge to uphold safety, dignity, and mutual respect within the University community.
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