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RUFORUM Thought Piece on COVID-19: Students Connecting Globally to Visualise and Re-engineer Universties

Published

6 years ago

October 23, 2020

Mark Wamai

RUFORUM Thought piece on COVID-19 by Professor Teresa Akenga, Vice Chancellor, University of Eldoret, Kenya

Students connecting globally to visualise and re-engineer universities for a better world post COVID-19

Overview

Since its emergence in December 2019 in Wuhan China, COVID-19 has evolved into a pandemic, affecting billions of lives across the globe, causing deaths, illnesses and economic downturn, with Africa and Asia’s economies being affected the most. This virus has caused global poverty and education inequalities. Evidence reveals that Covid-19 will likely cause another increase in global poverty since 1998 (Daniel et al, 2020). Estimates further suggest that 49 million people will be pushed to extreme poverty as a result of this pandemic in the current year alone. Out of these estimates, studies indicated that despite Africa and Asia having been hit relatively less by the virus, over 23 million people from Sub-Saharan Africa and 16 million people in South Asia are projected to be pushed into poverty (Daniel et al, 2020).

COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on Education

Education is one of the sectors heavily affected by the pandemic. The closure of learning institutions across the globe has negatively affected education standards in terms of access, quality, equity and investments. About 258 million children both of Primary and Secondary school age were out of school before the pandemic. However, due to the prevailing status of Covid-19 pandemic, over 1.725 billion children worldwide have been forced to stay at home (UNESCO, 2020). Data from the World Food Programme shows that over 310 million children in low and middle income countries benefited from feeding programmes at school, which boosted enrolment more so for girls, which was vital in alleviating financial strain to poor families and also improved the nutritional standards of children (World Food Programme, 2013). Since the start of the pandemic, increased malnourishment and hunger has been witnessed and this has increased poverty levels across the globe.

Regardless of the challenges witnessed in the education sector, many governments and education stakeholders have instituted measures to promote continuity of education in the face of this pandemic. However, these measures can only be achieved if student-to-student and teacher-to student connectivity can be re-engineered to meet the new-normal.

Related Topics:COVID-19 RUFORUM students Thought piece

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National Merit Scholarship Undergraduate Admission List 2026/2027

Published

1 day ago

April 24, 2026

Mak Editor

University Road. Photo taken on 1st April 2026.

The Office of the Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released admission lists for Government sponsored students for the Academic Year 2025/2026. The Office has also released Cut Off Points for Government Admissions.

Below are lists of candidates admitted to the respective courses tenable at Makerere University and Makerere University Business School:

Makerere-University-NATIONAL-MERIT-SCHOLARSHIP-Admission-List-2026-2027 Download

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Makerere University Inaugurates 2nd Health User Committee

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2026

Mak Editor

Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (C) with L-R: Ms. Kevin Nabiryo, Mr. Godfrey Othieno, Dr. Allen Kabagenyi, Dr. Daniel Ruhweza, Dr. Lillian Tukahirwa and Prof. Josaphat Byamugisha after the inauguration on 20th April 2026. Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe inaugurates Second Makerere University Health User Committee (Mak-HUC) chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi, 20th April 2026, Main Building, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on 20^th April 2026 inaugurated the Second Makerere University Health User Committee (Mak-HUC). The Committee was established by the Vice Chancellor in 2022 as part of his strategic mandate to strengthen and oversee the University Hospital services delivery.

Chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Mak-HUC has as its members; Prof. Josaphat K. Byamugisha-Director Makerere University Health Services (MakHS) and Dr. Daniel Ronald Ruhweza-Department of Law and Jurisprudence, School of Law.

Other members include; Dr. Arthur Kwizera-Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, College of Health Sciences (CHS) and Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA) Representative, Dr. Lillian Tukahirwa-Makerere University Administrative Staff Association (MASA) Representative, Mr. Godfrey Othieno- National Union of Educational Institutions (NUEI) Representative, and as Secretariat, Ms. Kevin M. Nabiryo-Directorate of Human Resources.

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe inaugurates Second Makerere University Health User Committee (Mak-HUC) chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi, 20th April 2026, Main Building, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. — ***Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (C) interacts with members of the 2nd Mak-HUC.***

The 2^nd Mak-HUC has been appointed for a period of four years effective 1^st January 2026 with a mandate to: Guide, monitor and oversee delivery of health services by MakHS; Represent the interests and concerns of staff and students that use MakHS; Advise on alignment with sustainable health financing and insurance models; Strengthen systems for fraud prevention, digital transformation and access to specialized treatment, among other responsibilities.

The 1^st Mak-HUC was chaired by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi and had as members; Prof. Josaphat Byamugisha, Dr. Fred Mayambala, Dr. Zahara Nampewo, Mr. Othieno Godfrey, Mr. Apunyo Paul Okiria and Ms. Ikiriza Racheal. Milestones during the first era included; Outpatient Department visits growth from 4,802 (2022) to 7,388 (Nov 2025) for staff and 14,641 (2022) to 19,069 (Nov 2025) for students.

Others milestones included; Commissioning of a fully equipped Operating Theatre, Establishment of a modern Imaging Hub, Development of a fully functional Audiology Unit, Expansion of the Temporal Bone Laboratory, Launch of the Olink Proteomics Platform and Enhancement of the Dental Unit with 32 dental chairs and experienced personnel.

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Makerere University Employment Opportunities: Academic, Administrative and Support Staff

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2026

Mak Editor

Participants pose for a group photo on Day Two of the staff induction ceremony for new recruits on 16th May 2025. Makerere University day two of induction exercise spearheaded by the Directorate of Human Resources for newly appointed staff, whose tenures commenced in the 2024/2025 financial year, 16th May 2025, School of Public Health (MakSPH) Auditorium, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for various academic, administrative, and support staff positions.

Detailed job profiles and the application link can be found at:
http://ehrms.mak.ac.ug/recruitment/jobs.

All applications must be submitted electronically via the Makerere University Electronic Human
Resource Management System through the above link (ehrms). Applicants will be required to
provide the necessary information on the ehrms and attach the following documents:

An application letter clearly stating the job applied for and duly signed by the applicant.
An up-to-date curriculum vitae. The curriculum must also state the names and addresses of
at least three referees.
Copies of academic certificates and transcripts.
A minimum of three recommendation letters duly signed by the referees.

The application should be addressed to:

The Chief Human Resource Officer
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062
Kampala

Closing Date: 04^th May 2026, 17:00HRS E.A.T

Makerere-Employment-Opportunities-Academic-Administrative-Support-Staff-20thApr2026 Download