General
Mak Council Swears in NUEI Rep, Students Disciplinary Committee
The Chairperson, Makerere University Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara on Friday, 1st November 2019 witnessed the swearing in of the Representative of the National Union of Educational Institutions (NUEI) to Council and the Students Disciplinary Committee. Mr. Jackson Byamukama, Library Assistant, Makerere University Library will henceforth represent the support staff under their umbrella body NUEI on the University Council.
On the other hand, the Students Disciplinary Committee has been appointed by the University Council with members from the following constituencies:
(i) A member of the public at the level of a Judge;
(ii) Two representatives of Academic Staff;
(iii) A senior member of Administrative Staff; and,
(iv) A member from the public.
The following have therefore been appointed as members of the Students Disciplinary Committee;
(i) Mr. Precious Ngabirano (Chairperson)
(ii) Dr. Sylvia Atonia Nannyonga-Tamusuza (Representative of Academic Staff)
(iii) Dr. Akileng Godfrey (Representative of Academic Staff)
(iv) Sheik Muhammad Ssentongo (Representative of Administrative Staff)
(v) Hon. Beatrice Kiraso (Representative of the public)
The Students Disciplinary Committee will be guided by the following Terms of Reference:
(i) To handle disciplinary cases directly brought to it;
(ii) To handle cases referred to it by the Hall Disciplinary Committee;
(iii) To handle appeals from parties dissatisfied with the ruling by the Hall Disciplinary Committee; and
(iv) Any other functions assigned by Council.
Addressing the audience, the Acting University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda said that the Committee would help to handle related cases in light of the recent unrests at the Main Campus. He thanked the Chairperson and Members of Council, Members of Management and all staff for the engagements with various stakeholders both within and outside the university that helped to restore calm.
“I therefore congratulate Mr. Jackson Byamukama upon being elected to represent NUEI on Council and thank Members of the University Students Disciplinary Committee for honouring the clarion call to serve the University in these responsibilities” added Mr. Kiranda.
The appointed members present were administered the oath by the Director Legal Affairs and Commissioner of Oaths, Mr. Henry Mwebe. He was assisted by Legal Officer-Ms. Naome Kiconco and Assistant Legal Officer-Mr. Leon Amutuhaire. Present for the swearing in ceremony were; Mr. Jackson Byamukama, Dr. Sylvia Atonia Nannyonga-Tamusuza and Dr. Akileng Godfrey, while other members were absent with apology.
Representing the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe at the ceremony, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Dr. Umar Kakumba expressed gratitude on behalf of the University Management at finally having a fully constituted University Council and Students Disciplinary Committee in place. He added that these developments would go a long way in delivering the best of services to both Staff and Students.
“In particular, I congratulate the members of Academic Staff who have been recommended to serve on the Students Disciplinary Committee because this is recognition of additional leadership abilities beyond your teaching obligations” added Dr. Kakumba.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara congratulated Mr. Byamukama as well as the newly constituted Students Disciplinary Committee upon their respective appointments. She noted that the place of leadership in society is a call to service, “and the person who excels in leadership is the person who serves; one who goes beyond the call of duty.”
Mrs. Magara added that the call to service is double-edged; with a rough side that tests and another that makes the leader a better person. “Leadership gives you the opportunity to grow personally as your serve” she explained.
Addressing the newly sworn in officials directly, the Chairperson urged Mr. Byamukama to familiarize himself with the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act (UOITA) as well as the Makerere University Charter upon which Council business is conducted. In the same spirit, she urged Members of the Students Disciplinary Committee to get well acquainted with the Makerere University Charter as well as the University Students Rules and Regulations.
She noted that Members chosen to serve on the Students Disciplinary Committee are in an enviable position because they weren’t haphazardly chosen, but rather after careful and deliberate consideration. Mrs. Magara therefore urged them to reflect upon this as they serve on the Committee.
“Be fair but firm in handling cases brought before you,” advised Mrs. Magara, before urging the Committee to avoid delays in handling cases. “Sometimes delays in handling cases mean injustice to those affected. Handle matters expeditiously but be cautious. I thank you for accepting to serve your University and wish you the best during your term of office. God bless you” she concluded.
The swearing in ceremony was moderated by the Acting Manager, Communication and International Relations, Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke who thanked the Members of Management present and Representatives of Staff Associations for sparing time to attend the event. He equally thanked the Chairperson and Members of Council as well as University Management and colleagues for working hard to ensure that normalcy is restored at the campus.
Article by Public Relations Office.
The Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) has honored Ms. Gladys Khamili for her 12 years of service as Registrar, as she transitions to a senior role in the Senate Division of Makerere University.
During the School’s 239th Management Meeting, colleagues recognized her contribution to academic administration and formally handed over the office.
Ms. Khamili assumes the role of Deputy Academic Registrar in charge of the Senate Division, where she will oversee academic standards, policy, and governance at the University. She replaces Mrs. Patience Rubabinda Mushengyezi, who officially retires after 26 years of dedicated service.
At the ceremony, Dr. Rhoda Wanyenze, Professor and Dean, together with members of MakSPH management, presented Ms. Khamili with a plaque in recognition of her service, noting that she “served the School of Public Health with distinction, demonstrating exceptional dedication, professionalism, and commitment to excellence,” and that her contribution strengthened academic administration at the School.
Dr. Wanyenze described Ms. Khamili as a steady and dependable presence. “She’s been with us and supported us in many ways. We thought we should meet here together to see her off. And I wish her the very best… we shall continue to work with her. She will continue to serve us in a different capacity,” she said.
Ms. Khamili joined the School of Public Health on March 15, 2012, from the College of Computing and Information Sciences, where she served as an Assistant Registrar.
Over the years, she has been central to the School’s academic operations—coordinating student admissions, managing records, overseeing examinations, and serving as secretariat to key governance structures, including the Academic Board, Examinations and Results Committee, and Appointments and Promotions Committee. Her role also involved handling student matters and ensuring compliance with University policies and Senate decisions.
Reflecting on her tenure, Ms. Khamili pointed to improvements in registration systems, records management, and examination processes. “In my tenure, I have had some achievements that have improved efficiency in the students’ registration processes and strengthened records management and data accuracy… and coordinated successful university graduation ceremonies,” she said.
She also highlighted areas for further strengthening, including improving documentation and follow-up of pending tasks, enhancing coordination across departments, and decentralising selected services, including transcript issuance.
The handover process was overseen by Internal Auditor Amos Dembe, who emphasized the importance of continuity in such a critical office. “The office of the registrar is very sensitive… It is at the core of what we do and what we stand for as a school. It calls for integrity and professionalism,” he said, adding that Ms. Khamili’s handover report provides “a strong body of knowledge for Ms. Annet Khabuya to build on and to hit the ground running.”
Mr. Dembe also commended Ms. Khamili’s professional and ethical record. “We have not had student issues of marks, money, or related concerns as a School… Thank you for making my work easier. That is not always the case. Some people make it hard for us, but this has not been the case here,” he noted.
Colleagues described her as thorough and dependable in a role that often operates behind the scenes. Dr. Joan Mutyoba, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, said the incoming Registrar would be stepping into a demanding position. “The shoes you are stepping into are really big. I have seen her work… She is extremely professional, one of the most professional people I have worked with. She takes her work very seriously and goes beyond the line,” she said.
In her farewell remarks, Ms. Khamili spoke candidly about her experience at the School. “My work has been with everybody… everything here is different—the people, the work culture—it has been very, very worthwhile,” she said, thanking colleagues for their support.
“If I had a choice, I would stay… but I don’t have that choice. Thank you so much for the support and for the love,” she added, acknowledging the demands of her role. “In my line of work, like in any space where you work with people, you certainly step on some toes… I ask that you find it in your heart to forgive and forget where necessary.”
The meeting also marked the official handover to Ms. Annet Khabuya, who takes over as Registrar. She commended the School’s approach to transition and organization.
“I have seen the systems, I have seen the organization, and I can confidently say there is continuity. I look forward to building on this work and working with all of you,” she said.
Ms. Khabuya joins MakSPH from the Examinations and Transcripts Division of the Senate and brings experience from the College of Natural Sciences and the School of Statistics and Planning.
Ms. Khamili’s transition marks a shift from School-level administration to University-wide academic governance, extending her impact beyond MakSPH to the broader Makerere system.
General
Makerere’s CHUSS Embraces Digital Future as RIMS Training Sparks Push for Faster Graduate Completion
By Moses Lutaaya
KAMPALA, April 17, 2026 — The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) at Makerere University has taken a decisive step toward strengthening graduate training and accountability following a comprehensive hands-on Research Information Management System (RIMS) training by a team from the Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) and Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) held yesterday, April 16, in the CHUSS Smart Room.
Opening the session, the Director of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma, underscored CHUSS’s central role in producing graduate students and contributing to Uganda’s development agenda. He cautioned that the college’s leading position could easily be overtaken if vigilance wanes.
“I’m glad we are back here to focus on something that can propel CHUSS to its rightful position,” Prof. Kikooma said. “Your contribution to graduate student production is highly envied across the university, but if you sleep even briefly, that position can be taken.”
He emphasized that beyond competition, the real goal is national transformation. According to Prof. Kikooma, increased graduate output directly supports Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which prioritizes building relevant human capital.
“More than ever before, the country needs human resources from the humanities and social sciences,” he noted.
Prof. Kikooma explained that the RIMS platform builds on CHUSS’ pioneering cohort-based PhD model by introducing a digital solution to track student progress, enhance supervision, and improve completion rates. The system, developed in collaboration with the Directorate for ICT Support, allows both supervisors and students to log and monitor academic activities in real time.
“This is not optional,” he stressed. “By the end of this month, we must report on who is using the system. It is a strategic priority of the University Council.”
Welcoming participants, the Deputy Principal of CHUSS, Assoc. Prof. Eric Awich Ochen, described the training as timely and necessary in a rapidly digitizing academic environment.
“Makerere today is very different from the Makerere of 15 or 20 years ago,” he said. “We are moving from an analogue past to a digital future.”
He noted that while the college has improved its graduate output in recent years, gaps in tracking student progress remain a concern.
“We celebrate the numbers we graduate, but we may still have many students in the pipeline whom we cannot fully account for,” he said. “This system will help us track supervision and improve accountability.”
The training drew participation from the CHUSS Principal and Deputy Principal, senior lecturers, lecturers, and registrars from the School of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, School of Liberal and Performing Arts, and the School of Languages, Literature and Communication.
In an interview after the session, Dr. Jim Spire Ssentongo offered a more reflective perspective, welcoming RIMS as a timely innovation while highlighting key realities in graduate training.
“I think RIMS is a good idea with strong potential,” he said, noting that the system could help address long-standing supervision gaps by ensuring that interactions between students and supervisors are tracked and visible.
However, he pointed out that delays in graduate completion are not solely the fault of supervisors. According to him, student-related factors—particularly lack of consistency and self-discipline during the research phase—play a significant role.
“At the coursework level, students are guided by timetables and structured assessments, which keeps them active,” he explained. “But once they transition to research, much depends on their own discipline. Some students simply become unresponsive.”
Dr. Ssentongo observed that RIMS could help counter this by introducing a level of accountability on both sides. If properly used, the platform would enable students to track feedback from supervisors while also making it clear when they themselves have delayed progress.
He also noted that the system’s monitoring aspect could encourage improved completion rates, as both supervisors and students become more conscious of timelines and expectations.
At the same time, he cautioned that implementation would be key. He explained that while systems that enhance accountability are beneficial, they must be introduced in a way that supports rather than intimidates users.
“There is an element of monitoring, which is good,” he said, “but it should be balanced so that it does not create an environment where people feel over-policed.”
Dr. Ssentongo further emphasized that RIMS should be seen as part of a broader strategy to strengthen research culture at the university. Beyond improving completion rates, he said, there is need to encourage publication, collaboration between students and supervisors, and greater visibility of research outputs.
“If it is implemented well and supported by other initiatives, it can contribute not just to completion, but also to improving research productivity and impact,” he added.
The RIMS training marks a significant step in Makerere University’s efforts to modernize graduate education, improve accountability, and align academic output with national development priorities.
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