Students attend a practical session in the Food Technology and Business Incubation Centre (FTBIC), College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda. Date taken: 12th August 2010
Despite the nutritional potential of Syzygium cumini, commonly known as black plum,there has been limited utilisation of the fruits (pulp and seeds) and yet it has capacity to significantly contribute to food and nutrition security. The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility of utilizing S. cumini fruits in the production of a nutritious and acceptable juice. Ripe S. cumini fruits were randomly sampled from Nakasero Market, Kampla. The fruits were bulked and processed to obtain pulp and seeds. The seeds were separated from pulp, dried and milled into powder while the pulp was processed into juice. The seed powder was used in the formulation of the ready-to-drink juice at 0, 1.25 and 5%. The sensory evaluation was carried out to ascertain the acceptability of juice in which the seeds of S. cumini have been added. The pulp contained total phenolic concentrations in the order of 27.7±2.06 mg 100 g-1; while dried seed powderand juice contained 57.2±4 and 10.6±1.25 mg ml-1, respectively. The levels of flavonoidswere less in juice (5.7±1.0 mg 100 -1 g) compared to pulp (36.00±5.95) and seeds (457.2±31.44 mg 100 -1 g). The total antioxidant activity (TAA) in terms of 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DHHP) percentage inhibition for pulp, seed powder and ready-to-drink juice were 85.75±0.54, 93.94±0.43 and 25.30±6.07%, respectively. Sensory acceptance reduced with increased levels of dried seed powder incorporated into the juice. On the other hand, the amounts of antioxidants increased in the different juice samples with increase in amounts of dried seed powder.
The Office of the Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released the admission lists for Bachelor of Laws for the Academic Year 2025/2026.
Please note that the list includes Government Sponsorship for Bachelor of Laws i.e A-Level (Direct Entry), Bachelor of Laws-Day – (LAW) and Bachelor of Laws-Afternoon – (LAA)
Makerere University has received 700 digital tablets from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), aimed at enhancing statistical research, teaching, and data-driven decision-making across the institution.
The donation was made on June 30, 2025, as part of UBOS’ broader initiative to distribute a total of 3,025 tablets to ten government-funded institutions of higher learning. The handover ceremony was attended by Makerere’s Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi and Mr. Simon Kizito, the Deputy University Secretary among other Vice Chancellors and accounting officers.
Vice Chancellors from government-funded institutions of higher learning that received the donation of tablets from UBOS.
Dr. Allen Kabagenyi, a UBOS Board Director, who coordinated the distribution of the tablets to the respective 10 Public universities, underscored the significance of inter-institutional collaboration in fostering a data-literate and innovative generation. “This initiative is a testament to the power of partnerships between public institutions. In a country like Uganda, with one of the youngest populations globally, equipping our future leaders with the right tools is critical to achieving both national and global development goals,” she remarked.
The tablets had initially been procured and deployed during the recently concluded National Population and Housing Census. UBOS Executive Director Dr. Chris Mukiza explained that their redistribution marks the beginning of the Bureau’s post-census utilization strategy.
Dr. Chris Mukiza (L) flanked by his Board Director Dr. Allen Kabagenyi (R) addressing the meeting.
“We acquired 120,000 tablets to conduct the census, and as we committed earlier, we are ensuring that these resources continue to serve the country even after the census,” said Dr. Mukiza. “Our expectation is that these tablets will strengthen data collection, teaching, and research in universities and higher institutions. We want to see a culture where statistics are not only produced but also actively used to influence development outcomes.”
Dr. Mukiza encouraged academic institutions to take full advantage of the extensive data available at UBOS, emphasizing that greater use of statistical resources will translate into more impactful research and policy interventions.
Some of the accounting officers who attended the handover ceremony.
During the same event – cultural institutions also received tablets.
With this donation, Makerere University is well-positioned to further empower students and researchers in statistical analysis, evidence-based planning, and innovation-driven teaching.