General
Mak freshers orientation: students tipped on safety and health
At the beginning of each academic year, Makerere University organizes the Students Orientation Meeting which presents an opportunity to the University Administration to interact with new students. According to the Deputy Registrar, Undergraduate Admissions and Records Mr. Charles Ssentongo, during this meeting, students are given a comprehensive package that appeals to their academic and social wellbeing.
“They also receive relevant information and knowledge crucial to their stay at the university,” he mentioned.
The Freshers Orientation Meeting of the academic year 2019/2020 that was held on 5th August 2019, provided a glance to students of the youth related health issues such as sexual reproductive health; HIV/AIDs testing and counseling, health education, Vaccination/immunization among others. According to Dr. Josephat Byamugisha-the Director of Makerere University Hospital; a healthy body leads to a healthy mind. He therefore, urged students to take their health seriously and avoid circumstances that can affect their performances.
“Always ensure that you are in a clean environment. Be mindful of the health status of the relationships you are engaging in, take protective and preventative health measures, carry out regular health checkups; and engage in regular sports activities to stay both physically and mentally healthy,” he said.
He encouraged students to register with the university hospital in order to access health services.
According to Gene Tunney, to enjoy the glow of good health, one must exercise. The Head of Sports and Recreation Department Ms. Peninah Kabenge; therefore, called upon all freshers to join university sports activities to create and maintain close-knit human bonds and a social support network that will keep their bodies fresh and active. She rallied students to participate in the MakRun 2019 on 15th September 2019 to contribute to the construction of the Mak Student’s Centre.
In the same spirit, the Principal Public Relations Officer Ms. Ritah Namisango urged students to visit the various worshiping places found within the University to seek spiritual healing. She also encouraged students to actively participate in university programmes such as debates, exhibitions, seminars, competitions, community outreach, career guidance fairs, public lectures and sports.
Mr. Henry Nsubuga who is the Manager-Counselling and Guidance Centre also encouraged students to fully utilize the counseling and guidance services provided at the center to get solutions to challenges that may affect their studies.
The Freshers Orientation 2019, held in the Makerere University Freedom square on Monday 5th August, was attended by both national and international students. The Academic Registrar Mr. Alfred Namoah-Masikye, congratulated the freshers upon joining Uganda’s oldest institution of Higher Learning. In a special way, he welcomed the international students to Makerere University, the epitome of knowledge and academic excellence in Africa.
“On behalf of Makerere University Community, it brings me great joy to welcome you to Makerere University. we are proud you chose to pursue your university education with us, and we are excited to help nurture your academic strengths, encourage your personal growth and inspire your creativity,” he said.
“You have passed through different stages of your education and entered into a new level where you will be held accountable for all your actions. Therefore, what you will learn here will be necessary tools needed throughout your life. Learning at Makerere University extends far beyond the classroom and I encourage you to be full participants in the free and open exchange of ideas and viewpoints that characterizes our university,” he added.
At the Orientation, the Dean of Students, Mr.Cyriaco Kabagambe briefed the students on the University rules and regulations. He urged the students to take their studies seriously and encouraged them to engage in other productive activities in order to maximally benefit from their stay.
“We have so many activities going on at this institution, which include; sports, research and innovations, and religious activities. So many students have greatly benefited from these activities and I therefore, implore you to fully utilize them,” he said.
Representing the University Bursar, Mr. Everist. Bainomugisha, the Manager Accounts and Reporting Mr. Lubowa Javiira Sebiina advised the new students to enroll on AIMS (Academic Integrated Management System), generate a Payment Registration Number (PRN) and pay tuition on time. He called upon them to be aware of conmen and desist from gambling.
“Fees payment is due on your arrival at the university. Approach your college bursars to help you generate a PRN. You cannot make any payments without a PRN and endeavor to personally bank your tuition,” he said.
Reiterating the importance of registering, Dr. Ruth Nalumaga the Deputy University Librarian called upon students to register with the Makerere University Library and the College Libraries to be able to access Library services. Furthermore, she urged them to attend the Library orientation.
The Acting Director of Makerere University Gender and Mainstreaming, Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine urged the incoming students to openly defy the sexual harassment vice and stand strong for their academic rights.
She encouraged students to acquaint themselves with the Makerere University Policy and Regulations against Sexual Harassment when she said, “the Policy clearly defines sexual harassment and provides its various forms. It provides details on whom you should contact and where to go in case you are harassed. Please let someone know right away in case a person is engaging you in actions that you don’t feel comfortable with. The University appointed the Sexual Harassment Committee, some of the members are placed at the respective colleges, don’t hesitate to contact them.”
On behalf of the 85th Makerere University Guild, H.E Kateregga Julius, the Guild President tasked students to be cautious of conmen and encouraged them to participate in the Guild activities. He also advised them to always contact the Guild Office for assistance and guidance on different aspects.
The Chief Security Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Achaye Phillip cautioned students to be mindful of the company they keep. “Avoid strangers in your residences, they could survey and steal your valuables,” he said. He further warned them to abstain from unlawful activities like practicing and mobilizing strikes, demonstrations and riots.
Article by Nakibombo Esther Joyce- Volunteer, Mak Public Relations Office
The Senior Program Director, Higher Education and Research in Africa, International Program, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Prof. Omotade Akin Aina on 23rd May 2025 visited Makerere University during his short trip to Kampala. Prof. Aina was received on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe by Prof. Tony Oyana, Principal of the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).
During his visit, Prof. Aina met with the Project Implementation Committee, representatives from the Consolidating Early Career Academics Programme (CECAP) phase I Fellowship Cohort, and current Fellows of phase II. The meeting discussed the progress of CECAP II, which focuses on fostering academic development and research among early-career academics.
CECAP II is being implemented by Makerere University in collaboration with four other Ugandan public universities, including; Busitema University, Gulu University, Kyambogo University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, the Project Principal Investigator was represented at the meeting by the Director of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma.
By Moses Lutaaya
The Directorate of Graduate Training at Makerere University has equipped several Senior ranking lecturers with expert knowledge in a Training of Trainers’ workshop on “Philosophy of Methods”.
In his remarks at the opening of a 3-day training workshop at Level4 Conference Hall – Senate Building, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma said, “The teaching of Philosophy of Methods gives all participants the fundamentals to extend knowledge to other learners, hence its importance in upholding the Makerere University values.”
Kikooma urged and challenged the participants to also attend and actively participate in the follow up of learners’ training of students, stating that the PhD students need support as the directorate continues to coordinate the curriculum of PhD by-research that was approved by the senate recently.
“To holistically implement the senate approved PhD curriculum, we are coordinating capacity building trainings of all stake holders in a structured approach with the different units of the University. Many more trainings including Training of Trainers in advanced research methods course are on the way.”
He further urged the participants to be intentional in their teaching profession and in whatever they were doing, adding “Apart from focusing on practices as teachers and researchers, we can engage in wider philosophical debates in our research areas so that we are relevant in the society and in the empowerment of PhD research students.”
The participants for the Philosophy of Methods training were from College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University Business School among others.
During the same training, Dr. Dickson Kanakulya stressed the need to train senior lecturers in the Philosophy of Methods, saying, “The biggest connection is that societal problems require concrete research to find solutions. Our challenge in Africa is that we employ a short barrow approach to find solutions to problems. This cannot work. We need consistent researchers to solve problems. Lasting solutions to societal issues can only be got through training such as Philosophy of Methods, where researchers come up with new models for societal solutions.”
Dr. Kanakulya said that Makerere University remains the biggest research University in Africa and philosophy of Methods helps to come up with good research tools that produce good research outputs. “Research has shown that the higher the number of PhD researchers in any given country, the higher the levels of development of that country e.g. the USA, China etc., adding that research is not limited to only medicinal or agricultural related issues.”
He said philosophy of methods, encourages philosophical creativity in research, “It is meant to bring out philosophical generation of concepts, theories and ideas. It is meant to encourage students to question the existing philosophical assumptions and status quo in a given field of knowledge such that new philosophical concepts are created.”
For successful rollout of government programs like the National Development Plan 4, Dr. Kanakulya said that Philosophy of Methods training needs to be integrated into such systems. “Philosophy of Methods focuses on ethical thinking aspects. For example, for a better rollout of the Parish Development Model, we need implementers to be ethical.” He added.
Prof. Sulait Tumwiine, the associate Dean of Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at MUBS said, “This is a discussion where new ideas are shared to guide and gauge applicability in the current knowledge diversity coupled with lots of technological development including Artificial Intelligence and Chat GPT.”
He added, “As professors of Universities, we need to understand how we leverage on what comes up so that it does not take our space, but also appreciate how we can support growth of knowledge. The Philosophy of Methods training is the answer.”
Dr. Jim Spire Ssentongo highlighted that Philosophy uses more of the critical mind than Science. He added that philosophy is more of speculation of the mind.
“Sustainability of philosophy Education encourages us to continue training. Philosophy being the oldest discipline retained special status in the academia as a pinnacle of pursuit of knowledge. All disciplines have major elements of philosophy citing examples in the philosophy of Mathematics and Physics.
Dr. Spire added, “If you do not understand philosophy, you cannot deeply investigate anything because philosophy is the reality of understanding everything. Philosophy is the basis of understanding what knowledge is and how it is arrived at.”
Also participating in the workshop was Prof. Joseph Ntaayi from MUBS, in his remarks he said PhD students need the philosophy of methods training to understand how to best to create knowledge. He added that ontological and epistemological questions that lead to good research design methods can only be answered by this training.
Dr. Robert Kakuru, a Lecturer in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences said that the Philosophy of Methods training is needed by every graduate student as well as supervisors to critically determine the choice of methods to use in academic research. For example, “If one wants to use a questionnaire as an interview approach, one should understand, why that approach and yet without this training, the why cannot be answered.” He added.
The Philosophy of Methods training was organized by Directorate of Graduate Training with funding support from the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA).
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