General
Rev. Can. Asiimwe Feeds Spirit and Soul at 1st Joint Fellowship
For those who had never been to let alone heard of the St. Francis Students' Centre Upper Hall, the First Makerere University Joint Staff Christian Fellowship held on Thursday 31st October 2019 was the perfect opportunity to discover this venue. Located on the left of the first landing as you descend from the St. Francis Chapel parking lot to the Main Students’ Centre, this venue was hard to miss as the soothing songs from the St. Francis Choir drew and ushered brethren into the atmosphere of worship.
With hands lifted up and souls lost in worship and adoration of their God, staff from almost all Colleges, regardless of rank, staff association or denomination gathered as one to fellowship. The first gathering was organized by Joint Staff Christian Fellowship Steering Committee with the blessing of the Chaplain, St. Francis Chapel, Rev. Can. Onesimus Asiimwe.
Welcoming brethren, the Chairperson Steering Committee, Makerere University Joint Staff Christian Fellowship, Dr. Chris Tuhirirwe expressed gratitude to God for once again gathering the staff to fellowship as one, in addition to the more regular activities of their unit fellowships. He introduced other members of the Committee present namely; Mrs. Josephine Apolot Opolot (Vice Chairperson), Ms. Christine Ninsiima (Treasurer), Dr. Proscovia Katumba (General Secretary), Mr. Grace Musiime (Publicity Secretary), Mr. Samuel Kapasa and Dr. Barbara Nerima.
He thanked members for volunteering their time and energy to run affairs of the Committee and urged staff to continue praying for the filling of the vacant position of Vice General Secretary.
Ministering to the congregation, Rev. Can. Onesimus Asiimwe thanked staff for sparing time to attend the fellowship, noting that it is important for brethren to meet and break bread as one. He reassured the congregation that the Joint Staff Christian Fellowship was nondenominational and as such, all worshippers of God are welcome to attend.
Preaching from Luke 19:1-10; Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus, the Chaplain drew parallels between this man and Makerere University Staff, the former being Chief Tax Collector in Jericho on behalf of the Roman Empire and the latter being Civil Servants acting on behalf of the Government of Uganda.
Rev. Can. Asiimwe shared that whereas Zacchaeus was a man of great stature and wealth in Jericho, he was so moved by what he had heard about the miracles of Jesus that he abandoned his work and scaled a tree, just to catch a glimpse of Him. It was as a result of this act that Jesus spotted him and asked to dine at his house.
“The lesson here is that inconsiderate of our rank as staff of Makerere University, we should never miss our once in a lifetime opportunity to encounter Jesus. Had Zacchaeus missed this opportunity, he would never have found salvation. This was the last time that Jesus ever went to Jericho” he explained.
The Chaplain went on to share that it was because Zacchaeus found salvation that he immediately gave half of his possessions to the poor, and committed to pay back four times the amount to anybody that he had cheated out of anything.
“I want you to turn to your neighbor and ask them when was the last time that they ministered to someone about Jesus Christ…” challenged Rev. Can. Asiimwe.
He therefore urged staff to always be the salt and light in their spheres of influence and to always pray for their institution. “At yesterday’s midweek service, we prayed that the unrest on campus would cease in Jesus’ Name and we thank God that Heard our prayers.”
The Chaplain who confessed to have the gift of giving then invited the congregation to partake of a meal, for it is important for brethren to eat after they meet, especially if they are not fasting. He equally pledged to continue offering lunch to the monthly Joint Staff Christian Fellowship as his humble contribution to the brethren.
Article by Public Relations Office
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Utilise Your Authority Wisely – Archbishop Emeritus Orombi to Mak Staff
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on 20th April 2026 inaugurated the Second Makerere University Health User Committee (Mak-HUC). The Committee was established by the Vice Chancellor in 2022 as part of his strategic mandate to strengthen and oversee the University Hospital services delivery.
Chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Mak-HUC has as its members; Prof. Josaphat K. Byamugisha-Director Makerere University Health Services (MakHS) and Dr. Daniel Ronald Ruhweza-Department of Law and Jurisprudence, School of Law.
Other members include; Dr. Arthur Kwizera-Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, College of Health Sciences (CHS) and Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) Representative, Dr. Lillian Tukahirwa-Makerere University Administrative Staff Association (MASA) Representative, Mr. Godfrey Othieno- National Union of Educational Institutions (NUEI) Representative, and as Secretariat, Ms. Kevin M. Nabiryo-Directorate of Human Resources.
The 2nd Mak-HUC has been appointed for a period of four years effective 1st January 2026 with a mandate to: Guide, monitor and oversee delivery of health services by MakHS; Represent the interests and concerns of staff and students that use MakHS; Advise on alignment with sustainable health financing and insurance models; Strengthen systems for fraud prevention, digital transformation and access to specialized treatment, among other responsibilities.
The 1st Mak-HUC was chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi and had as members; Prof. Josaphat Byamugisha, Dr. Fred Mayambala, Dr. Zahara Nampewo, Mr. Othieno Godfrey, Mr. Apunyo Paul Okiria and Ms. Ikiriza Racheal. Milestones during the first era included; Outpatient Department visits growth from 4,802 (2022) to 7,388 (Nov 2025) for staff and 14,641 (2022) to 19,069 (Nov 2025) for students.
Others milestones included; Commissioning of a fully equipped Operating Theatre, Establishment of a modern Imaging Hub, Development of a fully functional Audiology Unit, Expansion of the Temporal Bone Laboratory, Launch of the Olink Proteomics Platform and Enhancement of the Dental Unit with 32 dental chairs and experienced personnel.
Related article: https://news.mak.ac.ug/2025/12/three-years-of-impact-makerere-university-health-user-committee-presents-status-report/
By Gerald Ochwo
On Monday, 20th April 2026, the Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi and his Senior Management Team (SMT) convened to witness the official handover of office within the Senate Division. The ceremony, attended by representatives from the Directorate of Internal Audit, marked an important moment of transition and continuity in the University’s academic administration. The outgoing Deputy Academic Registrar in charge of the Senate Division, Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi, formally handed over office to Ms. Gladys Khamili, who assumes the role in an acting capacity.
In his remarks, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi underscored the significance of the transition, situating it within a broader institutional context. He observed that the Department of the Academic Registrar has, over the years, experienced a steady wave of retirements, particularly among senior staff. He noted that this trend is expected to continue, with a considerable number of experienced personnel due to retire within the next two years.
While acknowledging the institutional gaps created by these departures, he reassured staff that the University is actively addressing the situation to ensure the continued efficiency of the Department.
“You will agree with me that the Department has, over the years, witnessed the retirement of many senior colleagues. Their departure leaves behind a significant institutional gap. However, the University is fully aware and will address it through targeted recruitment,” he stated.
In her detailed handover report, which she delivered verbatim, Mrs. Patience Mushengyezi reflected on her tenure with gratitude and a deep sense of fulfillment. She paid tribute to the Vice-Chancellor, in his capacity as Chairperson of the University Senate, for his steadfast guidance and support throughout her service. She also expressed sincere appreciation to the Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, for his pragmatic and results-oriented leadership.
“I remain deeply grateful for the support from the Vice-Chancellor and all members of Senate for the trust they accorded me. I equally thank the Academic Registrar, Prof. Buyinza, for his results-oriented approach to administration. His support enabled us to achieve remarkable progress under the DARP (Digitalization of Academic Records and Processes) Project, including the successful digitalization of Senate minutes, some dating as far back as the 1990s, which are now easily retrievable,” she noted.
Her remarks painted a picture of dedication, progress, and institutional strengthening, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to benefit the University.
In her acceptance remarks, Ms. Gladys Khamili expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Academic Registrar for the confidence placed in her. She acknowledged the weight of responsibility that comes with the role and pledged her commitment to upholding the standards and gains established by her predecessor.
She paid glowing tribute to Mrs. Mushengyezi’s exceptional service, noting that her impact within the Senate Division is both profound and enduring.
“I am truly honored by the trust bestowed upon me. I am committed to building on the strong foundation laid by Mrs. Mushengyezi, whose remarkable contribution and dedication will continue to inspire us all,” she said.
The ceremony not only marked the end of a distinguished era in the Department of the Academic Registrar, but also the beginning of a new phase, underscored by continuity, renewal, and a shared commitment to excellence in academic administration at Makerere University.
Gerald Ochwo is the Liaison and Communication Officer, Office of the Academic Registrar
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