As the new academic year begins, our dedicated staff and student Safeguarding Champions are stepping up to ensure that all freshers feel welcomed, safe, and supported. These committed individuals are here to guide New University Students through their university journey, offering resources, advice, and a listening ear. Together, we’re creating a vibrant and secure campus community where everyone can thrive!

Safeguarding Measures at Makerere University

“At Makerere University, we prioritise the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and the surrounding community. Our safeguarding measures include a range of policies and practices designed to prevent harm and create a secure environment. We are committed to fostering a supportive atmosphere where everyone feels safe and valued,” remarked Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.

Safeguarding is about protecting people’s health, well-being and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. Specific to Makerere University, it is the measures put in place to promote the safety and well-being of all Students, Staff and other stakeholders.

As part of the University Initiative to Improve the Safety and Wellbeing of Students and Staff, 25 Staff  and 68 Student Safeguarding Champions attended an intensive refresher training on Safeguarding at Makerere University. They received information materials and planned their engagements during the University Orientation, which took place from 4^th to 8th August 2025.

Orientation week is always a lively blend of excitement and nervousness for the new students. Thousands of fresh students arrive from all corners of Uganda and beyond, carrying dreams and sometimes unspoken worries.

During the 2025 Freshers’ Orientation, an Information Tent was set up at the Senate Building to assist new students, parents, and guardians with various types of information and guidance. The well-trained Student Champions, representing the 9 Colleges and 3 Schools at both the main campus and the Jinja Campus, wore white “Safeguarding Champion” T-shirts. They actively helped welcome the new students and familiarise them with the university environment.

A key emphasis was on increasing awareness of Safety and Well-being at Makerere University. In each college, the Student Safeguarding Champions were supported and guided by the Staff Safeguarding Champions. Others moved between groups of freshers, providing peer-to-peer guidance and distributing brochures with simple messages: ‘Your safety matters.’

Speaking during Orientation, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and University Academic Registrar, emphasised that the University was committed to the Safety and well-being of all University Students and Staff.

 “When students know their rights and have the support systems in place, they are better positioned to thrive academically and socially. This is the kind of environment that nurtures both learning and personal growth,” Prof. Buyinza noted.

In her speech, Dr. Winfred Kabumbuli, the Dean of Students, pointed out that the Safeguarding policy included provisions for Students, Staff, and other Stakeholders, as well as the accredited Hostels and their owners.

Talking about the Champions, she mentioned that “These young leaders have taken it upon themselves to be the first line of support for their peers. Their presence is a reminder that at Makerere University, safety, respect, and inclusivity are everyone’s responsibility.”

As the semester begins, the Safeguarding Champions will continue their work by organising peer-support circles, awareness drives, and training sessions in various colleges. The University Management is urging all students and staff to have a personal responsibility of ensuring a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all.

When discussing with the Champions, she highlighted, “These young leaders have made it their mission to be the first line of support for their peers. Their presence serves as a reminder that at Makerere University, safety, respect, and inclusivity are the responsibility of everyone.”

Addressing the student champions, Prof. Justine Namaalwa Jjumba, a member of the Safeguarding Implementation Team, urged them to lead by example in their behaviour, willingness to support other Students to identify any safeguarding risks, prevent any form of harm or abuse, report in case of any incident and support during case management.

“Let us be champions of inclusive language. We do not refer to them as ‘blind people’; we say ‘visually impaired.’ As champions, you need to be keen on identifying risks and possible causes of safeguarding concerns, report promptly, and support each other,” Prof. Namaalwa said.

The Safeguarding Liaison Officer, Ms. Diane Nabikolo Osiru, who supports monitoring the implementation and review of the Makerere University Safeguarding policy as well as coordinating activities of awareness creation and enhancement among students, staff, and partners, was at the forefront of championing awareness creation during orientation week.

Student Safeguarding Champions speak out

Mary Agnes Atim, a third-year Fine Art student, described orientation week as a valuable experience that provided a well-rounded introduction to university life for her peers.

“I have really enjoyed the orientation. As an advocate, I appreciated the opportunity to talk to fellow students about the safeguarding initiative. I’m confident that by now they know the ‘dark spots’ and will be better protected from fraudsters,” Atim said.

Edinah Kamurasi, a second-year Bachelor of Arts in Economics student, expressed gratitude for the in-depth two-day training, admitting that she had not been fully aware of the University’s safeguarding policy before.

“I am really grateful for the in-depth training we had as champions. Before this, I wasn’t even sure about the safeguarding policy, but now I can confidently explain it to others and interact with students every day, explaining the same thing. I also learnt a lot,” Kamurasi said.

Jenkins Okidi, a third-year Bachelor of Animal Production student, shared that many of the students he interacted with were enthusiastic about the MakSafeSpace, the University’s confidential e-reporting platform.

“Most freshers were excited to learn they have a safe, private way to report any concerns,” Okidi, said.

Sharifah Nalubembe, a second-year Library and Information Science student, noted that during the orientation week, she was able to guide fellow students to the appropriate offices for support.

“It felt very satisfying to help and ensure that no one ended up in the wrong hands,” Nalubembe said.

Fahad Kiyimba, a second-year Software Engineering student, described the training as highly informative in promoting the safety and wellness of students across campus.

“After the training we received as champions, I gained valuable knowledge and skills. It gave me the confidence to engage first-year students about our comprehensive safeguarding policy, and that is exactly what I did during orientation week,” Kiyimba said.

Ms. Carol Kasujja Adii is the Senior Communication Officer in charge of Safeguarding and Crisis communication at Makerere University.

In a strategic move to enhance academic leadership and institutional efficiency, Makerere University conducted a comprehensive capacity-building and retooling workshop for all Heads of Department (HoDs) on August 5, 2025. The workshop, held at the Senate Conference Hall, brought together HoDs from various academic units to deepen their understanding of university academic policies, graduate training guidelines, and intellectual property management.

The training was organized under the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs. The session aimed at aligning departmental leadership with the University’s strategic goals, policies, and operational frameworks, particularly in relation to graduate education and research governance.

Opening the workshop, Prof. Buyinza Bukadasi, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), underscored the importance of strong departmental leadership in driving the University’s vision:

“The Head of Department is not merely an administrator; they are the academic engine of their unit. By equipping our HoDs with up-to-date policy knowledge, research management skills, and leadership tools, we are investing in the core structures that sustain academic excellence and innovation at Makerere.”

Emphasis on Graduate Policy and Structured PhD Training

Dr. Julius Kikooma, Director of the Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT), led an engaging presentation on the Makerere University Graduate Policies, Guidelines, and Procedures. His session unpacked critical updates in the revised 2024 Graduate Handbook, including:

• Removal of provisional admission for PhD by Research.
• A structured PhD framework requiring a minimum of three years and 40 credit units.
• Strengthened supervision standards and doctoral mentorship structures.
• Cohort-based admissions to improve program coherence and tracking.
• Integration of cross-cutting courses such as Scholarly Writing, Advanced Research Methods, and Teaching Assistantship into PhD training.

The new framework, supported by the Research Information Management System (RIMS), enhances monitoring of student progress and ensures timely completion of graduate programs. Dr. Kikooma emphasized the importance of departmental roles in guiding and supporting students, noting that departments serve as the primary disciplinary homes for graduate students and are key in fostering research cultures.

Understanding and Applying Intellectual Property Policies

The session also featured a detailed presentation on the Makerere University Intellectual Property Management Policy (2008, as amended), delivered by Counsel Esther Kabinga, Ag. Manager of the Intellectual Property Management Office (IPMO). Participants were guided through the obligations and rights related to IP created by staff, students, and visitors.

The presentation highlighted:

• Ownership structures for IP generated at the University.
• Procedures for disclosing, protecting, and commercializing IP.
• Roles of departments in supporting creators and liaising with IPMO.
• Revenue-sharing mechanisms and the inclusion of IP outputs in staff promotion criteria.

Counsel Kabinga encouraged HoDs to promote awareness of IP rights and responsibilities within their units, especially given the increasing volume of research outputs and innovations emerging from the University.

Strategic Alignment with the University’s Research Agenda

The workshop is part of broader efforts to implement the Makerere University Research Agenda 2025/26 – 2029/30, which prioritizes talent development, research visibility, and knowledge transfer. According to Dr. Robert Wamala, Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnerships (DRIP), strengthening administrative and academic capacity at departmental level is critical for sustaining Makerere’s status as a leading research institution.

The Research Agenda also supports the operationalization of structures like the IP Management Committee and GAMSU (Grants Administration and Support Unit), both of which are instrumental in streamlining research support services.

The training reaffirmed Makerere University‘s commitment to continuous professional development and the strategic empowerment of academic leaders. With a renewed understanding of policies and tools, Heads of Department are now better equipped to foster academic excellence, supervise graduate research, and steward innovation at the departmental level.

The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released the admission lists for candidates for those whose appeals have been successful for the 2025/26 Academic Year.

Kindly follow the links below to access the lists respectively:-

• Direct Entry Scheme
• Diploma/Degree Scheme
• Internationals (Direct Entry Scheme)
• Internationals (Diploma/Degree Scheme)