General
FDRE Parliament Delegation Visits Mak, Advocates for Public Diplomacy Group
A delegation from the Parliament accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) on Wednesday 27th November 2019 visited Makerere University and held talks on the need to establish a Uganda Public Diplomacy Group among a wide range of other issues. The delegation led by Hon. Tesfaye Daba – Chairman, Peace and Foreign Relations Standing Committee of the House of Representatives of the FDRE was received by a special session of Management held in the Council Room. They were accompanied by the Ambassador of the FDRE to Uganda Her Excellency Alemtsehay Meseret Gelaw.
Welcoming the delegation, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked Hon. Daba for including Makerere University their Ugandan itinerary. He shared that Makerere was the alma mater of several distinguished African leaders and others such as Rt. Hon. Ralph Everard Gonsalves, 4th Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean.
Prof. Nawangwe added that Makerere remains a flagship university in health sciences research and is keen to become a research intensive University in the next ten years. “Makerere University and Addis Ababa University are both members of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and through this umbrella we are going to conduct more research and innovations so as to accelerate economic growth of not only our respective countries but Africa as a whole.”
The Vice Chancellor also spoke of the longstanding relationship between Makerere and Addis Ababa University as well as other Ethiopian Universities such as Mekelle University and the University of Gondar. “I hope that this visit will facilitate even greater collaborations especially in the area of staff and student exchanges.”
In his remarks, Hon. Tesfaye Daba thanked the Vice Chancellor and University Management for the warm reception and expressed his delegation’s happiness at visiting one of Africa’s oldest and most historic universities. He added that Uganda and Ethiopia have similar cultural values and historic ties and that the delegation’s visit would help to further cement diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Ethiopian Ambassador H.E. Alemtsehay Meseret Gelaw thanked both the Makerere University Management and visiting delegation for identifying culture as an important factor in collaboration. She noted that whereas various African leaders often promote the integration of various regional economic communities, this amalgamation would be difficult without the prior knowledge and appreciation of the various cultures involved.
“Ethiopia and Uganda have similar values and cultures which need to be explored and built up so that they can be shared with future generations. We need to come up with a way to network our various associations of theatre, music, poetry and film” recommended the Ambassador.
H.E. Gelaw therefore proposed that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Uganda and Ethiopia need to come up with a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) incorporating the ideas discussed in the meeting which can then be shared with various stakeholders on both sides. This draft MoU, she added, can then be used by the Vice Chancellor to pursue similar associations with his Ethiopian counterparts.
H.E. Daba then challenged Makerere University to start the Uganda Public Diplomacy Group, made up of stakeholders from various Ugandan bodies and associations, as a vehicle for inter-state collaborations. “From past experience the Ethiopian Public Diplomacy Group visited Sudan before any other groups could and the relationship established led to the formation of various diplomatic ties as well as return visits. We therefore look forward to receiving the newly established Uganda Public Diplomacy Group in Addis Ababa.”
Prof. Nawangwe in his concluding remarks agreed that all indicators show that Africa is the next growth frontier and this would be accelerated if African states collaborated with each other. “I pledge that we are going to start the Uganda Public Diplomacy Group and we look forward to engaging the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports in this endeavour.”
Article by Public Relations Office
Today, Monday 18th May 2026, most students will begin their End of Semester Two Examinations, and they have been encouraged to remain confident and calm during the examination season.
Data from the University Counselling and Guidance Centre shows that even the best-prepared students experience anxiety, pressure, fear of failure, sleep difficulties and emotional exhaustion during examinations.
Addressing students during a pre-examination mental health workshop organised by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University on 15th May 2026, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Academic Registrar, reminded students that their mental health is far more important than any grade.
“This workshop comes at the right time. I encourage all students to understand that your worth is not defined by a single examination or grade. Examinations are only one part of your educational journey. What matters equally is your ability to remain healthy, focused, ethical and hopeful throughout the process,” Prof Buyinza, said.
Prof. Buyinza shared practical tips to help students avoid fatigue and excessive stress during this period.
“Prepare a realistic reading timetable and avoid last-minute cramming. Take short breaks while studying to allow your mind to recover and improve concentration. Get adequate sleep and avoid excessive consumption of caffeine and energy drinks,” he noted.
During the session, he also encouraged students to engage in light physical activity, stretching or short walks to refresh their minds and reduce tension.
“Maintain a positive mindset and avoid comparing yourself excessively with others. Stay connected with supportive friends, family members, mentors or counsellors whenever you feel overwhelmed,” Prof. Buyinza advised.
He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to supporting students not only academically, but also in their mental and psychosocial wellbeing, encouraging learners to seek help from counsellors, lecturers, mentors, peers, family members and available support systems whenever necessary.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Prossy Nakayiki, the Deputy Academic Registrar in charge of Examinations and Transcripts warned students against examination malpractice and urged them to uphold academic integrity.
“Anxiety should never push anyone into examination malpractice, do not enter an examination room with a smart watch, phone or any hidden paper commonly known as bullets. Preparation, honesty, rest and self-belief remain the best approaches to success,” Ms. Nakayiki, said.
She also advised students who had not yet printed their examination cards to do so early, noting that delays at the last minute could cause unnecessary panic and disorganisation.
In her presentation about the reality of examination stress and coping strategies, Connie Evelyn Kharono, a Counselling Psychologist at the Counselling and Guidance Center, called upon students to adopt the 5, 4,3,2,1 Ground technique before an exam or intense study session.
The 5, 4,3,2,1 ground technique, is one of the easiest mindfulness strategies designed for managing stress and anxiety, as it can be done almost anywhere and at any time. You name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell and 1 you can taste.
She advised students to focus on what they can control.
“You can control your study schedule, your sleep and how kindly you speak yourself. You cannot control the exact questions that will be on the paper, so channel your energy only into the preparations you can influence,” Ms Kharono, said.
Ms Kharono encouraged students to maintain a regular sleep schedule and ensure that they are eating balanced meals and staying hydrated.
Ms Christine Nimusiima, a senior Psycho-Social Officer at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, called upon the students to practise positive self-talk and maintain a healthy mindset.
“During this examination season, avoid comparing your revision progress or predicted grades with your peers. Your only competition is who you were yesterday. Take a deep breath, trust in the work you have done and remember that you have the resilience to succeed. Best of luck with your preparations,” Ms. Nimusiima said.
By Dr. Racheal Ddungu Mugabi
The Alliance for African Partnership, Africa Office, today received a delegation from the University of Bergen (UiB)’s Division of Research and Innovation. The visiting team comprised Kristin Svartveit, Vivil Valvik Haraldsen, and Emmanuel Ovon Babatunde.
The delegation was officially introduced by Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga-Tamusuza, Head, Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU), together with Dr. Ronald Semyalo (Makerere University coordinator for UiB)
The visit aimed to strengthen institutional collaboration and promote research excellence through international partnerships. The key objectives of the meeting included:
- UiB team sharing information and experiences on enhancing success in EU grant acquisition and management.
- UiB application support process for Postdoc fellowships at Bergen up to a period of 2 years
- AAP Africa Office providing insights into the AAP consortium programs and activities in order to foster collaboration between the AAP consortium and UiB.
The engagement provided an important platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and exploring opportunities for future collaborative research initiatives between Makerere University, the AAP consortium, and the University of Bergen.
The Author is the Director of the AAP Africa Office
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