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Mak Unveils Official Main Building Restoration Fundraising Platforms

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The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on Thursday 1st October, 2020 unveiled the official platforms through which financial contributions to the restoration of the Makerere University Main Building may be sent. The ceremony held in the Central Teaching Facility 2 (CTF 2) Auditorium was attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge Academic Affairs (DVCAA)-Dr. Umar Kakumba, Dean of Students-Mr. Cyriaco Kabagambe and covered by a number of media houses.

Prof. Nawangwe shared that as the University awaits the report on the cause of the fire by the Intra-Agency Committee it was prudent to put in place platforms through which stakeholders may contribute to the restoration of the iconic Main Building.

“The biggest messages of sympathy and concern came from our alumni. We have an estimated 300,000 living alumni with as many as 40,000 in the United States and Canada and the majority residing here in Uganda. Apart from the institutions we have official collaborations with, we also have friends of Makerere who are organized into clubs all over the world. All these alumni and friends would like to see their icon restored to its previous condition.”

Delving into a brief history of the Main Building, the Vice Chancellor shared that the Duke of Gloucester laid the foundation stone for the iconic structure on 3rd November 1938 and it was completed in 1941 under the leadership of Mr. George C. Turner, Principal, Makerere College (1939-46). Most of the funds for the Main Building’s construction were drawn from an endowment capital set up by the Uganda’s Colonial Government, with additional contributions from the British, Tanganyika and Kenya Governments. The Regional Governments of Busoga, Buganda, Ankole, Kigezi, Bugisu and Teso also made financial contributions to the construction of the Main and other Buildings on campus.

He added that the Main Building’s top floor was originally a large open space, initially used as a school by the children of British expatriates until the end of the World War II. The space then housed the School of Law when it was founded as a Department under the Faculty of Social Sciences in 1968. “Later on in the 1970s a decision was taken to partition the top floor into office space.”

After this brief narrative the Vice Chancellor unveiled the official fundraising platforms through which contributions may be sent. These include;

  1. Stanbic Bank Account: 9030017778608 (USD)
  2. Stanbic Bank Account: 9030017778535 (UGX)
  3. MTN MoMo Pay Merchant Code: 542803

“The very first person to send money to my Mobile Money account was a Member of Staff from the School of Law; Dr. Busingye Kabumba, who said ‘we must rebuild our icon’. It is the first sum of money that has been deposited on this fundraising account” remarked the Vice Chancellor.

Prof. Nawangwe acknowledged the pledge of US$ 1million from the Mastercard Foundation as well as support from Stanbic Bank in the form of 32 desktop computers, 12 laptops and the accompanying furniture. He also acknowledged a pledge from the University of Bergen to support business continuity.

The Vice Chancellor concluded his address with an appeal to all stakeholders particularly the alumni to support efforts to restore the iconic Main Building in the shortest time possible, preferably before the celebrations to mark 100 years of existence in 2022.

The DVCAA then outlined the University’s business continuity strategies both during and following the easing of the lockdown. He noted that aspects such as research had to continue despite the lockdown albeit remotely. As a result, a number of findings had been made during the period, some of which contributed to the fight against COVID-19.

“We also continued with remote supervision of dissertations and theses as well as examination for graduate students, with as some defending their Masters and PhDs online during the lockdown” said Dr. Kakumba.

On the upcoming resumption of the academic calendar, he stated that final year students from the College of Health Sciences will report first on Saturday 3rd October 2020, subject to observation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the prevention of COVID-19 put in place by the Ministry of Health (MoH). “There are about 518 final year students in this college and arrangements have been made to ensure that they conduct their lectures and clinical visits starting on Monday 5th October.”

The announcement of the lockdown in March came at a time when ten of the seventeen weeks of the second semester had been covered. Final year students for the rest of the colleges will return on Saturday 17th October 2020, while continuing students will resume teaching and learning based on the Open Distance and eLearning (ODeL) model on Monday 5th October 2020 and conclude on 20th December 2020.

“We have created flexibility for the continuing students such that the ten weeks between resumption and closure will be ample to complete the syllabus, revise and sit for exams. Examinations will be done both online and physically on Campus in line with the SOPs” Dr. Kakumba further explained.

The Dean of Students while spelling out the accommodation arrangements for on-campus residents said that five halls with a capacity of approximately 2,300 beds had been earmarked to house the students. These he said had been chosen for both security and logistical reasons such as preparation of meals.

The earmarked halls include; Africa, Mary Stuart, Nkrumah, Nsibirwa and University Hall with capacities to house 380, 560, 465, 454 and 434 students respectively. However, in line with the MoH SOPs, the students will not be accommodated according to the halls’ total capacities. As such, Africa and Mary Stuart will only accommodate 169 and 223 ladies respectively, while Nkrumah, Nsibirwa and University Hall will house only 300, 246 and 243 gentlemen respectively.

In terms of allocation, residents of Mitchell will move to University Hall and those of Livingstone will move to Nkrumah while Lumumba residents will move to Nsibirwa. One half the ladies from CCE will move to Africa while the other half will move to Mary Stuart Hall. Room allocation will be on a first come, first served basis, with special consideration only for student leaders.

Whereas the Wardens are working hard to ensure that hand sanitizers at are placed at entry points along with numerous handwashing facilities within the halls, Mr. Kabagambe appealed to members of the press to help spread the message to students to ensure that they each report with personal sanitization materials. He also appealed to the students to vigilantly guard against the spread of COVID-19 by avoiding unnecessary congregation and movements.

Regarding the Guild Elections, the Dean of Students informed the audience that a committee appointed to look into the matter had produced a preliminary report on how to transform the electoral process from a physical to an electronic system. “Now that the students are coming back, we shall work with the Electoral Commission and the Student Leaders to have an agreed position on how we shall move forward.”

Article by Public Relations Office

Mark Wamai

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NTU Global Summer School – A Unique UK Experience for Students

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NTU Global Summer School 2025

The Nottingham Trent University (NTU) Global Summer School will run from 7 July – 1 August 2025 in the heart of England.

Why join this summer?

A diverse range of credit-bearing courses
The Global Summer School offers a variety of exciting courses, from cybersecurity to creative industries, and space science to entrepreneurship – truly something for everyone! With two distinct blocks of courses, students can either dive deeper into their passions or broaden their horizons by exploring new subjects.

Explore Courses

A truly international experience
Students will join peers from many countries across the world, creating a vibrant and multicultural learning environment that enhances the global student experience.

An exciting cultural and social programme
Beyond the classroom NTU offers a full schedule of activities, including visits to iconic UK cities, sports and evening events ensuring that students make the most of their time in the UK.

A safe and welcoming destination
Nottingham is a city renowned for its safety, having earned the prestigious Purple Flag award for its excellent night-time safety and vibrant atmosphere, ensuring your students feel at home both on and off campus.

Application Deadline: 1 June 2025

Apply Today!

Limited places available – apply soon!

Don’t miss out! This is the perfect chance for students to develop new skills, make new friends and experience the best of British culture. NTU looks forward to welcoming students this summer!

Have questions? Contact NTU here! 

Mak Editor

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End of Semester Memo for Academic Year 2024/2025

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Africa, one of three On-Campus Halls of Residence for ladies, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

All Resident Students

1. Congratulatory Message

On behalf of Makerere University Management, I congratulate and thank you for the successful completion of Semester Two: 2024/2025.

2.End of the Second Semester

The second Semester holiday break will begin on 17th May, 2025 up to Saturday 9th August, 2025.

3. Resident Students

All resident students are expected to vacate the Halls of Residence by mid-day on Saturday, 17th May, 2025.

4. University Property

Please hand over all University property in your possession (such as: room keys, Sports & Games equipment, College property etc) before you leave the Hall of Residence.

5. Security of personal property

Please make sure that you carry with you all your property.

Dean of Students
Makerere University

Mark Wamai

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Inter-college Debate 2025 Seeks to Nurture Confident, Articulate, and Visionary Leaders

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Winners of the Inter-college debates Daphine Kemigisha and Jibiril Ssekandi (School of Law) pose for a photo with debaters and the GRCs of the Debate Union. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.

The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.

One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall.

Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.

On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale.

Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.

After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.

Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL). Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL).

The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.

Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.

Mak Editor

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