General
Mak Hosts Inter-University Dialogue on Sexual Harassment
The Makerere University Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) in partnership with UN Women with financial support from Spotlight Initiative and the Government of Sweden organized a two-day exhibition and Inter-University Dialogue under the theme; Orange the World, Generation equality stands against rape. Stakeholders including; TASO, Mak Health Services, FIDA, among other Non-Government Organizations, that fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Uganda took part in the event. The exhibition was held on 27th and 28th November 2019 as part of the annual 16 Days of Activism, where countries from all over the world come out to sensitize and increase awareness against GBV.
Panelists at the dialogue held on 28th November 2019 were Guild Presidents from six Universities. These included; H.E. Kateregga Julius of Makerere University, Ms. Ninsiima Hellen-Vice Guild President Kyambogo University, H.E. Mboga Patrick of Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, H.E. Waywoma Moses of Ndejje University, H.E. Johnson Noowe of Gulu University and representative of the Guild President, Kampala International University Hon. Ayinamani Kizito
The Keynote Speaker Dr. Amon Ashaba Mwiine who is also a Lecturer at the School of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University said that 75% of the women suffer beatings and other forms of domestic violence which are perceived as normal in society. This is in actual sense against human rights and the Speaker called upon men to have respect for every human being regardless of their gender.
He noted that cases of sexual harassment have been registered not only in educational intuitions but other places as well. The Keynote Speaker added that a few cases have been handled so far and called upon everyone to take a stand and put an end to sexual harassment by following the policies and other guidelines against the immoral act.
“Sexual harassment exists but the challenge is the victims fear to come out and report the perpetrator. This is one reason why sexual harassment is increasing but my advice to all the victims is this, come out, break the silence and have the criminal punished,” said Dr. Mwiine
He condemned the act of gender imbalance among institutions and other places of work and commended Makerere University for promoting Gender equality as shown by recruitment of staff and admission of students to the university. Dr. Mwinne also thanked GMD for the efforts put place to ensure that the immoral act of sexual harassment is pushed out of the University through programmes such as the 2 for 1 challenge, peer trainers, among others.
The Director, GMD, Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine shared that all the 6 universities present at the dialogue were invited as participants running the Safer University project, which is aimed at promoting gender equality in higher institutions of learning.
She revealed that this year’s theme: “Orange the world, generation equality stands against rape,” takes into account all rape cases regardless of gender, although women suffer more than men. However, she noted that all measures have been put in place to respond to rape and all other cases of sexual violence.
Dr. Mugisha Baine further shared that Makerere University has a newly revised policy on sexual harassment and advised all institutions of higher learning to put in place policies to end sexual harassment and have monitoring mechanisms to see that their policies are working.
The Senior Gender Officer GMD, Mr. Eric Tumwesigye advised students to respect and treat each other as human beings as one way to end violence. He explained that Gender Based Violence causes not only physical but also emotional harm and advised people to fight against it.
“Gender Based Violence is a very abstract form of violence for people that have not come close to it. Don’t wait for it to come, use experiences that have been shared to put an end to sexual harassment,” echoed Mr. Tumwesigye.
The Vice Guild President Kyambogo University, Ms. Ninsiima Hellen defined Gender Based Violence as an injustice in community which affects the victim’s physical and psychological wellbeing and advised men to put aside their ego and speak out when offended.
According to the Guild President Gulu University, H.E. Johnson Noowe, Gender Based Violence or sexual harassment stems from people of power to those they lead as it’s those with authority that mishandle the reported cases. He added that this demoralizes the victim and also promotes the immoral act as the offender goes unpunished.
Addressing the dialogue, the 85th Guild President H.E. Kateregga Julius, thanked GMD for the way they are handling sexual harassment cases and also for the revised policies against the immoral act. These actions, he shared, include suspending the reported offender in order to avoid interferences with the investigations.
He also expressed gratitude with the way gender equity is promoted at Makerere University especially in admission of students. H.E. Katerega further revealed that Students Guild Leaders were given an opportunity to participate in the Vice Chancellor’s roster for 100; another initiative to end sexual harassment in the University.
Giving advice on how to end sexual harassment, the Guild President Uganda Martyrs University Nkoozi H.E. Mboga Patrick, tipped fellow students to speak out whenever offended. He also cautioned the university stakeholders to implement whatever they propose and discuss.
The Guild Represntative Council (GRC) Ndejje University, said that Ndejje has joined hands with Reproductive Health Uganda to kick the vice out of the university.
Representing the Guild President Kampala International University, Hon. Ayinamani Kizito urged fellow students to report the case to the persons responsible and tasked the people in charge to take immediate action.
The panel was moderated by Ms. Prosscovia Nabatte from the Public Relations Office, Makerere University and Mr. Nicholas Kamwesigye, Head of Peer Trainers at Makerere University.
Article by Rachael Kanyi, Volunteer, Mak Public Relations Office
Makerere University on 1st August 2025, the eve of the first year students’ arrival on Campus, held the 2nd Prayer Breakfast aimed at reiterating that staff service at the institution is a calling to pursue excellence and purpose under God.. Hosted in the St. Francis Chapel gardens, the meeting was presided over by Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta who represented both the Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. The day’s message “Integrating Faith, Learning and Service” was delivered by Rev. Canon Dr. John Senyonyi, former Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University who also served as Makerere staff member between 1978 and 1987.
“This is a very good initiative” remarked Prof. Ireeta as he began his remarks, noting that the University’s enjoyment of a strike-free academic year 2024/2025 could perhaps be attributed to having commenced it with prayer. He expressed the Chairperson of Council’s and Vice Chancellor’s apologies, whom he noted would have loved to attend the 2nd Prayer Breakfast as they did the 1st but were unfortunately caught up in other meetings and official travel respectively.
“As we gather today, let us reflect on our shared purpose and values in this University and may this time of prayer and fellowship inspire us to make a positive impact in our work and community” Prof. Ireeta urged, noting that it was important to exercise compassion, wisdom and kindness as staff worked with the youth who are constantly bombarded with information from social media and other sources.
Prof. Ireeta therefore urged staff to always listen to diverse perspectives and work together to achieve the institution’s goals. He reiterated the University Management’s support to the Dean of Students, Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli and the Chaplains who report to her, “We shall continue supporting you in all you do”.
“We are weak but God is strong” remarked the Chaplain St. Francis, Rev. Dr. Lydia Nsaale Kitayimbwa as a rejoinder to Prof. Ireeta’s remarks. “This is a demonstration that truly we need the strength of God – we cannot start this academic year without the divine hand of God.”
She went on to say that when we do not pray, we boldly declare that we do not need God’s divine guidance, “but in coming here today, we are boldly proclaiming that we need divine guidance, so thank you all for coming.”
Introducing the day’s speaker, Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi, the Chaplain admitted that she did not know any speaker who was better placed to address the topic, given his vast experience as an academician, theologian and university administrator. She added that the speaker in his exemplary style had come along with his wife, Canon Dr. Ruth Senyonyi, a lay Canon of the Diocese of Kampala, under whose jurisdiction St. Francis Chapel falls.
Commencing his address, Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi shared that he had an issue with the framing of the day’s topic, particularly the word “integrating” for it made it seem as if God, the author of faith and creator of heaven and earth was separate from the quest to “learn” about the very things he created and “service”, the act of people providing stewardship over the God-given talents, abilities and His creation. Referring to the theme scripture, Ephesians 4:10-12, he singled out three important conclusions to dwell on.
“And those are simply; 1) the sovereignty of the ascended Jesus Christ, 2) Jesus is the giver of every ability, talent, skill, gift, whatever you may call it, even your education, and 3) Jesus equips whosoever He calls for service to others” he remarked.
Rev. Canon. Dr. Senyonyi further broke the conclusions down by noting that 1) Jesus is placed above all things and as such is sovereign over everything as further illustrated by scriptures; Mathew 28:18 – all authority in heaven and on earth (including academia) has been given to Him, John 1:1-5 – all things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made that was made, and Colossians 1:15-19 – by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth and for Him (including education and work). “If Jesus is sovereign, then our work in the universe, our education enterprise is a mission and that mission must be submissive to the mission of our sovereign.”
Proceeding to no 2) Jesus is the giver of every ability, and citing his personal experience, Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi said, “I left the teaching with this University because God was calling me to be an evangelist but I cannot say God gave me the gift of evangelism, that’s a mistake; that’s not how the scripture reads.” He added that the problem facing most people today is the tendency to think that everything is about them, and not recognizing that Jesus is the giver of the very things they call their own.
Turning to scriptures, Exodus 36:1 and Exodus 28:3 he explained that the craftsmen that Moses relied on to build the tabernacle and furnishings for His Temple were only able to excel because they were equipped by God. “In other words, what they had was a talent that God Himself gave… when we focus elsewhere, we forget what God has given us to… and your training is intended to be a gift to others.”
Rev. Canon Dr. Senyonyi then concluded with no 3) Jesus equips whosoever He calls for service to others, emphasizing the latter bit, the need to use all we are and have for the benefit of others. “If students are reporting tomorrow what are we going to do?” he challenged. “Are we going to facilitate soft landing or are we going to facilitate anger in their hearts?” he further pondered.
“If all of us are giving, if all of us are taking our faith where it should be, if all of us are showing the way, if all of us are ambassadors of Christ where we are, then everybody receives” the day’s speaker encouraged. “So your work is to equip the students until they graduate” he summed up, adding that one of the greatest joys is encountering former students whose faces light up with excitement when they see you.
The 2nd Prayer Breakfast would have been incomplete without prayer sessions, some of which were led by the Heads of the Joint Staff Fellowship Dr. Eve Nabulya and Mr. Moses Oluka. The final blessing was delivered by the day’s speaker Rev. Canon Dr. John Senyonyi.
The Chairperson and Members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Board of the Higher Education Council on Tuesday 29th July 2025 paid a courtesy visit to Makerere University following the 5th Meeting of the IGAD Universities Forum held in Kampala from 28th to 29th July. The delegation was received by the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Edward Bbaale in the presence of Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke, Makerere University’s representative to IGAD.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Bbaale on behalf of the Vice Chancellor and the University Management thanked the delegation for including a visit to Makerere on their Kampala itinerary, “It is an honour and privilege to host you here today,” he remarked. He equally thanked Dr. Kiggundu Musoke for representing the University on IGAD and facilitating the visit.
Prof. Bbaale acknowledged that IGAD continues to play a critical role in fostering regional cooperation, peacebuilding, and sustainable development in the Greater Horn of Africa. “The inclusion of higher education in IGAD’s strategic priorities speaks volumes about the importance you attach to knowledge, skills, and research as tools for transforming societies,” he supplemented.
The Acting DVCAA reiterated that Makerere University takes great pride in her IGAD membership, as well as the collaborative research partnerships, capacity-building initiatives, and policy dialogues that seek to harmonise and strengthen higher education in the region undertaken therein. He equally lauded the participation of regional Vice Chancellors and Senior Academic Leaders in IGAD’s activities, “Your presence affirms our collective resolve to build stronger institutions and knowledge systems that respond to the developmental needs of our communities.”
He noted that Makerere in pursuit of her strategic research-led agenda takes cognizance of the importance of partnerships at regional and international levels and urged the leaders present to nurture them. “We need to build a strong academic and research network so that we have seamless flow staff and students on the African continent,” adding that “We hope this visit will further deepen the bonds between our institutions and inspire new opportunities for collaboration in teaching, research, innovation, and regional integration.”
Dr. Kebede Kassa Tsegaye, the IGAD Senior Coordinator of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Program expressed delight at visiting Makerere, noting that the University and Republic of Uganda are strategic and extremely valuable partners of the regional body.
In her remarks, Dr. Victoria Anib Majur the Head, IGAD Health and Social Development Division thanked Makerere and other regional universities for promoting mobility among learners by endorsing the implementation of the IGAD Regional Qualifications Framework (IGADQF). “It is our pleasure that your institution and all other partner institutions in the region are joining IGAD in fulfilling the mission of regional integration through skills development and through qualifications.”
She reiterated IGAD’s commitment to push for; excellence in education, inclusivity of gender and persons with disabilities, and promotion of skills that will prepare learners, especially refugees, returnees, and those from host communities in the IGAD region for the marketplace. The IGAD Secretariat is hosted by the Republic of Djibouti and region covers the host country-Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
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