On behalf of Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH), I warmly welcome you to the celebrations of 25 years of our Master of Public Health (MPH) program. Our Program was among the first three MPH programs in sub-Saharan Africa.
This celebration comes as we mark 65 years since the establishment of the Department of Preventive Medicine in the Medical School, which eventually grew into the first Institute of Public Health in sub-Saharan Africa, and our current School of Public Health. Further, this event comes as we mark 52 years since the establishment of the post-graduate Diploma in Public Health, which preceded all our current 8 academic programs.
We are grateful to all of you that have joined us to celebrate this great milestone. This achievement has been realized with tremendous support from all our partners on the national and global scene, and from the private and public sectors, the civil society, Districts Local Governments, Ministry of Health and the wider Makerere University community, over the years. We also deeply appreciate the presence of delegates from the Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa who
have worked with us on various academic and research projects over the years.
We cannot talk about our achievements as a School without talking about the excellent institutional leadership at several levels within the School over the years. All our previous leaders have been diligent and visionary and they have had the growth of public health at the center of their work. We are excited to have our previous leadership present at this event. The School has also been privileged to attract a workforce that is focused and goal-oriented. This wonderful staff at the School of Public Health has upheld and supported the leadership through their focused and hard work and are the real engine behind our achievements.
The District Health Officers and leadership of various organisations and the Ministry of Health have played a big role in providing mentorship to our students during their field placements for experiential learning, and a critical component of our programs. We appreciate the alumni from our programs who have continued to work with us and to support our programs and students over the years.
This celebration under the theme "Twenty-Five Years of Public Health Training in Africa: Looking Back and Forward to Accelerate the Contribution of Schools of Public Health towards Universal Health Coverage in Africa" provides an opportunity for reflection and recognition of those who have contributed to our success. Presentations will examine what MakSPH has achieved in the last 25 years and what we hope to contribute especially, towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG3 on Health and well-being, in the next 25 years.
We appreciate and recognise our partners that have supported public health training right from its inception, including the Ministry of Health, US government, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization, Rockefeller Foundation, among others.
We celebrate this event with great excitement as look forward to your continued support and partnership to further improve public health training and research in Uganda and the sub-Saharan Africa region, towards realizing universal health coverage for all.
I thank you.
Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze Professor and Dean of Makerere University School of Public Health
Please see Downloads for full MPH@25 Information Pack
The Nottingham Trent University (NTU) Global Summer School will run from 7 July – 1 August 2025 in the heart of England.
Why join this summer?
A diverse range of credit-bearing courses The Global Summer School offers a variety of exciting courses, from cybersecurity to creative industries, and space science to entrepreneurship – truly something for everyone! With two distinct blocks of courses, students can either dive deeper into their passions or broaden their horizons by exploring new subjects.
A truly international experience Students will join peers from many countries across the world, creating a vibrant and multicultural learning environment that enhances the global student experience.
An exciting cultural and social programme Beyond the classroom NTU offers a full schedule of activities, including visits to iconic UK cities, sports and evening events ensuring that students make the most of their time in the UK.
A safe and welcoming destination Nottingham is a city renowned for its safety, having earned the prestigious Purple Flag award for its excellent night-time safety and vibrant atmosphere, ensuring your students feel at home both on and off campus.
Don’t miss out! This is the perfect chance for students to develop new skills, make new friends and experience the best of British culture. NTU looks forward to welcoming students this summer!
On behalf of Makerere University Management, I congratulate and thank you for the successful completion of Semester Two: 2024/2025.
2.End of the Second Semester
The second Semester holiday break will begin on 17th May, 2025 up to Saturday 9th August, 2025.
3. Resident Students
All resident students are expected to vacate the Halls of Residence by mid-day on Saturday, 17th May, 2025.
4. University Property
Please hand over all University property in your possession (such as: room keys, Sports & Games equipment, College property etc) before you leave the Hall of Residence.
5. Security of personal property
Please make sure that you carry with you all your property.
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.
One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall.
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.
Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale.
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.
Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL).
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.