General
Mak-GMD Holds Sensitization Workshop on Sexual Harassment
The Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) on Friday 13th March, 2020 embarked on a series of workshops to sensitize staff on the Makerere University Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment (PRASH) of 2006, as amended in 2018 as well as the Gender Equality Policy (MUGEP) 2009. The first of four workshops brought together participants from the Colleges of; Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Education and External Studies (CEES), Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) and the School of Law (LAW).
Makerere University in 1998 took the lead among Higher Education Institutions in the region by establishing the Senate Committee on Gender Mainstreaming which did the preparatory work for the creation of the Gender Mainstreaming Programme (GMP). This was followed by the establishment of the Gender Mainstreaming Division (GMD) under the Academic Registrar’s Department in 2000 and subsequently, creation of an independent Directorate in 2009.
Setting the tone for the workshop, Ms. Susan Mbabazi, the Principal Gender Officer, GMD shared that the purpose of the training was to create awareness among members of the Makerere University community about mainstreaming gender in the core functions of: Teaching and Learning; Research and Innovations; Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and Networking as well as Support Services.
“The training is also aimed at enhancing staff capacities to mainstream gender in their respective functions as well as developing a common understanding about roles, responsibilities and obligations in implementing the Gender Equality Policy and the Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment” explained Ms. Mbabazi.
Taking participants through Complaints and Reporting Mechanisms with regard to the Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment (PRASH), the Deputy Director, GMD, Ms. Frances Nyachwo shared that the rules were applicable to Staff (Academic, Administrative and Support), Students as well as contractors, partners and visitors to university premises. In particular, she urged the staff or any persons in authority to always take steps to advance complaints reported to them in a timely and appropriate manner because failure to do so subjects them to disciplinary action under the PRASH.
“The complaint may be informal, in which case the victim wishes for immediate action to be taken; for instance, issuing a warning the harasser, but is not ready to lodge a formal complaint. A formal complaint on the other hand must be written and signed containing the: name, address and contact details of the complainant; date of the complaint; nature and details of the act or conduct complained about; and any other relevant details concerning the complaint” said Ms. Nyachwo.
The Deputy Director went on to share that all formal complaints received by GMD are then forwarded to the Vice Chancellor to appoint an Ad hoc Committee composed of a minimum of three and maximum seven members from the Roster of 100, to further investigate the complaint.
Prof. Grace Bantebya from the School of Women and Gender Studies is an experienced lecturer, researcher and advocate for gender equality and social transformation who has witnessed first-hand the plight of the girl child. Making her presentation on “Reporting and Investigating Sexual Harassment at Makerere University” she noted that the vice mainly draws on a culture that emphasizes the male identity and its connotations as well as power imbalance between the victim and harasser.
She noted that investigating committees were often challenged by resource constraints that hindered the launch of full-fledged investigations as well as fear by victims, survivors and bystanders to testify against abusers. “Additionally, the investigations at times take over six months to complete, which is too long for victims or survivors to receive justice.”
Prof. Bantebya however recommended for the reduction of spaces, situations that tilted the power balance towards abusers as well as additional budgetary support to GMD and its committees to carry out detailed investigations. “Finally, the reporting system should be separated from the teaching and learning processes and reported cases should be handled expeditiously.”
“Makerere University shall take all necessary steps to engender the curricula of all its academic programmes” reads the first policy resolution of the MUGEP. Making a presentation on “Mainstreaming Gender in Makerere University Curricula”, Acting Director GMD, Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine shared that the unit regularly conducts a gender audit of all proposed academic programmes before they are approved by Council.
Touching on research and innovations, Dr. Baine said it was important to holistically integrate gender dimensions in all research projects and programmes, including composition of research teams. “In our trainings, we always urge researchers not to simply add the gender component as an afterthought but incorporate gender analysis all through the research process. This starts right from generation of ideas, designing the research, methodology, data collection, data analysis and report writing and to dissemination of the findings.”
The final presentation on the day was by the Senior Gender Officer, GMD, Mr. Eric Tumwesigye on “Gender and Equity Budgeting Certification Process and Requirements”. He noted that it was important for units to be aware of the legal provisions in the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) 2015 in order for their budgets to be issued a gender and equity certification of compliance “by the Minister responsible for Finance in consultation with the Equal Opportunities Commission.”
In particular, Mr. Tumwesigye outlined key issues for the Education sector as; Sexual harassment, Gross imbalance in female participation among academic staff at all levels, Underrepresentation of women in higher level decision-making committees and senior administrative positions, Underrepresentation of women in science disciplines, Limited support and spaces for nursing female staff and Limited female representation in students’ politics.
The workshops continue on Monday 16th March, 2020 for the Colleges of; Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Natural Sciences (CoNAS) and Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security (CoVAB). Thursday 19th March, 2020 will be dedicated to the Colleges of; Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and Health Sciences (CHS). The fourth and final workshop will be held on Friday 20th March, 2020 for staff from non-teaching units.
The following are hotlines run by GMD officials as avenues for reporting Sexual Harassment: +256-755-797130, +256-784-609661, +256-758-540263 and +256-785-594931. The community may also make use of the SafePal Mobile App, available on the Google Play Store to confidentially report cases of sexual harassment. The App can be accessed at the link below https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.unfpa.safepal
Article by Public Relations Office.
General
Minister Janet Museveni Lays Foundation Stone for School of Graduate Studies Building, Commissions the School of Law Building and the renovated Lumumba Hall
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, has laid the foundation stone for Makerere University’s School of Graduate Studies building, whose construction is now underway.
The Minister laid the foundation stone for the USD8 million project during a brief function held on Wednesday 18th December 2024 at the site opposite Makerere University’s Lumumba Hall. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, University Council Chairperson Mrs. Lorna Magara, and Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe.
Others in attendance included Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, Professor Henry Alinaitwe; Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Professor Buyinza Mukadasi; University Secretary Mr. Yusuf Kiranda; Dean of Students Winfred Kabumbuli; Guild President Vincent Lubega Nsamba; and the Vice Guild President, Joy Eve Serunjogi among others.
The building is a donation (in-kind) from the late Hasmukh Patel, an industrialist and former Chairman of Tororo Cement who passed away on August 29, 2024, after a short illness. The journey to this befitting donation to Makerere University started in December 2022, when Hasmukh Patel accompanied by some members of his family and friends visited the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe to declare his donation. From December 2022, a number of meetings were convened involving the Minister of Education and Sports, the University leadership, Mr. Hasmukh Patel, his family and Tororo Cement regarding this donation. Living true to his commitment during those meetings, his family and Tororo Cement are implementing his wishes to construct the building, which will house the School of Graduate Studies at Makerere University.
Before laying the foundation stone for the School of Graduate Studies building, Hon. Janet Museveni first unveiled a plaque to officially open the new building for the School of Law. She then headed to Lumumba Hall, where she unveiled another plaque marking the completion of its renovation.
The First Lady, who had initially laid the foundation stone for the School of Law building on May 17, 2022, returned to the main campus to officially open the completed structure. Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 7.3 billion, the new three-storeyed building features lecture rooms, tutorial and seminar rooms, a library, a moot court, offices, a cafeteria, a lactation room, and other teaching and learning facilities. Construction was undertaken by M/S CK Associates, with Symbion serving as a consultant.
The renovation works for Lumumba Hall commenced in June 2023, with the site handed over to the contractor, National Enterprise Corporation (NEC). Funded by the Government of Uganda to the tune of UGX 9 billion, the project involved extensive renovations to restore Lumumba Hall to its original splendor. Lumumba Hall now accommodates about 725 students.
Lumumba Hall was the first hall of residence to undergo renovation, followed by Mary Stuart Hall, which has also been handed over to NEC for refurbishment. These renovations, which began last year, are a result of the Government of Uganda’s efforts to improve the nine (9) halls of residence at the main campus.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Janet Museveni thanked the University Council and management for their dedication to rebuilding the institution. She expressed confidence that the physical restoration efforts would also rebuild the character of young people.
“There is a restoration of dignity that comes to an institution or a community when we choose to rebuild and it is not only physical, there is a spiritual restoration that comes as well. For Nehemiah, it was not just the rebuilding of a physical wall it was the rebuilding of broken lives and a broken covenant. It was the rolling away of the reproach they had suffered as a nation,” she said.
Adding; “I therefore salute the Council and the management of Makerere for your dedication to the rebuilding of this University. I am confident that as you rebuild physically, you are rebuilding the character of our young people. My prayer is that the physical restoration is translating into the spiritual restoration of this great institution.”
The first lady, Hon. Janet Museveni recalled her earlier visit to Makerere University, where she observed the dilapidated state of the halls of residence, which prompted her to initiate the renovation works.
“I remember taking a tour of the halls of residence in this University and Kyambogo University in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. My heart bled when I saw the state of the halls of residence. Like Nehemiah, I took my burden to the Lord and now see what the Lord has done! Commissioning of the refurbished Lumumba Hall today is a testament to the faithfulness of our God. It is even more gratifying to know that other projects are ongoing and these include: the renovation of Mary Stuart Hall, the construction of the Perimeter Wall, and improvements at the University Hospital, including setting up an operating theatre and ICU.” She said.
Hon. Janet Museveni also expressed gratitude to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, for his leadership, which facilitated the realization of the Tororo Cement project. “This Project would not have been possible without the guidance and leadership of the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Nawangwe, who drew my attention to this offer by Tororo Cement, and requested me to endorse this Project, which will be named after Mr. Hamukh Patel,” she said.
Adding: “I am informed that the construction of this building is estimated to cost 8 Million US dollars and will consist of: lecture and seminar rooms, smart classrooms, laboratories, an innovation space, a conference hall, offices and other facilities. We remain forever grateful for this donation, which will increase access and contribute to improving the quality of postgraduate education.”
Speaking at the event, Vice Chancellor Prof. Nawangwe commended Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the development of Makerere University, which has seen remarkable progress under her leadership. “Hon. Minister, from the time you took over the Office of Minister of Education and Sports and the Higher Education Sector, Makerere University in particular has transformed tremendously. Most notable is the infrastructure revolution at Makerere. On several occasions, you have come to Makerere to lay the foundations for new buildings and to open completed buildings, including our iconic Main Administration Building,” he said.
“When you inspected the halls of residence in 2021, I could see the frustration in your eyes, looking at the dilapidated state the halls were in, especially Lumumba, part of which had been condemned for 2 years,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
“Hon. Minister, I am sure that today, after seeing the glamorous new building for the School of Law and the glittering renovated Lumumba Hall, you are in a completely different mood compared to that visit in 2021. We are as delighted as you must be and your efforts are the reason for our happiness today. Our law students and professors can now comfortably study, work and conduct research in the best building for any school of law that I have seen,” Prof Nawangwe added.
Reflecting on the Graduate School Building, Prof. Nawangwe recalled when he received a proposal from Mr. Hasmukh Patel in 2022 who had initially intended to donate the Main Administration Building, which had been destroyed by fire, but opted to donate School of Graduate Studies Building after finding that the main building reconstruction had already started.
“Hon. Minister, in the morning of 13th December 2022, a miracle happened in my office in the Frank Kalimuzo Building. General David Muhoozi and Major General Apollo Gowa walked into my office with the Late Hasmukh Patel. Gen. Muhoozi introduced Mr. Hasmukh Patel as the Chairman of Tororo Cement, who after learning about the destruction by a fire of our Main Administration Building, expressed the wish to reconstruct that iconic building. On reaching Makerere, Mr. Hasmukh Patel found a contractor already on site, and he told us, that he would all the same donate a building to Makerere University as a gift on our 100th anniversary,” Prof Nawangwe said.
“He said it in such a simple way, that I thought I was dreaming. That evening, at the invitation of Mr. Patel, I visited the building that Mr. Patel had built for a school at Bukoto and I told him that a similar building for Makerere would be just what we needed for our School of Graduate Studies and Research that we needed. The University Council unanimously voted to thank Mr. Patel for his magnanimous offer and, you, Maama Janet graciously endorsed the project. I later visited Mr. Patel in Mombasa and was amazed at the humanitarian work he was doing among the communities. He was such a rare human being,” Professor revealed.
“Today we are here to witness the laying of the foundation stone for this, the largest academic building at Makerere University, and the first such donation I know by an African philanthropist to a university in Africa. The building will have lecture and seminar rooms, a conference hall, innovation spaces, PhD student rooms, computer and other laboratories, a restaurant, staff offices and other facilities. I thank Tororo Cement and the family of the Late Hasmukh Patel for honoring his wish and I wish to assure Mr. Patel, who must be in heaven smiling at us, that we will honor his legacy in this building and that we will put the building to its best use in the service of humanity, which is what Mr. Patel lived for,” Prof Nawangwe added.
On her part, the state Minister for Primary Education, Honorable Joyce Moriku Kaducu acknowledged Hon. Janet Museveni for prioritizing the Education sector in her leadership, which has led to the tremendously development of the sector.
“On behalf of the education sector, we want to thank you as the mother of the nation, indeed you are a big gift and a blessing to the nation and education at large, all this achievement would not have been possible if it was not under your visionary leadership and the guidance you have offered,” Minister Kaducu said.
Hon. Kaducu also hailed Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model, which is intended to create wealth among citizens.
“As President Museveni is preaching the message of wealth creation, I want in a special way to thank Makerere University for playing a very critical role in sensitizing, disseminating knowledge, and raising awareness to the public on the message of the Parish Development Model (PDM), and they have a committee that monitors and informs government. They are indeed part of the team promoting wealth creation in this country,” she said.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Makerere University Council said that the construction of the Graduate studies building speaks to the University’s mission of being a research-led institution because it comes as a dedicated building to house the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, which marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework
“At the heart of Makerere University’s current strategy is the promotion of a research-led institution, with a strong focus on graduate training. The establishment of a dedicated facility for the School of Graduate Studies, which also houses the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, marks the resolution of a critical gap in our institutional framework. The late Patel’s timely and generous contribution will undoubtedly advance graduate training and research for generations to come. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional support,” she said.
Mr. Manish Varsani who represented the Patel family took the first lady through how Mr. Hasmukh Patel started the idea of donating the building to Makerere. He explained that, Mr. Patel intended to present a gift that was coming from the bottom of his heart, and he teamed up with General Muhoozi who led him to Prof. Nawangwe’s office.
He also recalled when Mr. Patel met H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Museveni in Bukoto where he (Patel) had donated a building to a school and told the President that he would want to donate the same building to Makerere University as a gift to the First Lady Janet Museveni because he loved her so much, and in response, the President said he would take the message back to the First Lady.
The Guild President Lubega Vincent Nsamba asked the First Lady to consider constructing another hall of residence for the female students to solve what he described as an accommodation imbalance.
“Maama Janet Museveni, allow me to report to you that we still have only three halls of residence gazetted for female students against the six halls of residence gazetted for male students. These halls of residences were built back in colonial and independent times when the female students were fewer compared to their male counterparts, and to me Maama, this accommodation imbalance is something that should be addressed,” he stated.
“To me Maama, this speaks to the sense of how there is a dire need to invest in another additional hall of residence for the girl child here at Makerere University, and Maama, without any fear of contradiction, we humbly request that you consider building an additional hall of residence named after you in recognition of the contribution and honor of the service you have made for this country as a mother and as an educator,” he said.
-
Health1 week agoCertificate in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 2025
-
General1 week agoMinister Janet Museveni Lays Foundation Stone for School of Graduate Studies Building, Commissions the School of Law Building and the renovated Lumumba Hall
-
Research1 week agoThe Uganda Higher Education Review Vol. 12, Issue 1
-
Education1 week agoLove Binti: 240 Graduate with Certificates and Diplomas
-
General1 week agoPress Release: Hon. Janet Museveni to Officially Open SoL, Lumumba and Lay Foundation Stone for SGS Building