Dean of Students-Mrs. Winifred Namuwonge Kabumbuli (4th R), Head, International Office-Ms. Martha Muwanguzi (4th L), Student Guild Representative-Hon. Ahmed Abdirahman (3rd L) and International Students who attended the orientation on 18th March 2021 at CTF2, Makerere University.
Makerere University on Thursday 18th March, 2021 held an orientation meeting for International Students in the Central Teaching Facility 2 (CTF2) at the College of Business and Management Sciences. Hosted by the Head, International Office, Ms. Martha Muwanguzi, the event was presided over by Acting (Ag.) Dean of Students, Mrs. Winifred Namuwonge Kabumbuli.
According to the latest Self-Assessment report, Makerere University is home to students from over 40 nationalities; up from 34 in 2020. At 17.8%, students from South Sudan make up the largest percentage of the University’s 895 international student population. The College of Health Sciences (CHS) is a popular choice for international students, who make up 9% of the student population therein.
This is followed by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) with 4% of its student population being international. The Colleges of; Engineering Design Art and Technology (CEDAT), Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Natural Sciences (CoNAS) and Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) each have 3% of their student populations being international .
The College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) has 2% of its student population as international, while the Colleges of; Education and External Studies (CEES) and Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) as well as the School of Law have 1% international student population.
Welcoming the students, Mrs. Martha Muwanguzi said that they would not only be rewarded with the best education and world class qualifications, but will also be enriched with the cultural diversity and experience.
Mr. Arthur Opio-DICTS (L) briefs students on Mak Online Services as Mrs. Martha Muwanguzi (2nd L), Mrs. Winifred Namuwonge Kabumbuli (2nd R) and Hon. Ahmed Abdirahman (R) listen.
“You are taking on a special challenge of studying in a foreign country with a foreign culture. This takes courage and a great deal of commitment! These are of course anxious times for all of us and particularly for you as international students. We are keenly aware of the hardships many of you have had to overcome in order to get where you are today and applaud the determination that you have shown.” she commended.
The Head, International Office further informed the students that Makerere in addition to students receives international scholars and researchers. “Many of our successful research projects are based on international collaborations. Your presence in our programmes and activities strengthens internationalization of our university. We see internationalization as both an opportunity and a mark of quality.”
She pledged together with the Office of the Dean of Students and all Administrative Units to accord them all the necessary support, respond to their concerns as and when they arise, and provide up-to-date information on various situations.
“Do not be quiet or shy if you are facing hardships. We are here to help you. Always observe the health precautions of wearing your face mask, sanitizing your hands regularly and observing social distance. Together, we will emerge stronger beyond the pandemic.” she concluded.
The students were also tipped on how to create their own email addresses using the self-service portal https://sso.mak.ac.ug by Mr. Arthur Opio who represented the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS). With a personal University email, students are able to sign up on the Makerere University E-Learning Environment (MUELE) and access other services.
On Saturday 2nd December 2023, all roads led to Achukudu Community Primary School in Napak District, Karamoja sub-region, as the Scholars and Alumni of Mastercard Foundation at Makerere University commemorated their Scholars’ Annual Day of Community Service (Giveback). The 2023 Scholars Annual Day of Community Service was held at Achukudu Community Primary School, Napak District in the Karamoja sub-region. Established in 2013, Achukudu Community School serves two ethnic communities—The Iteso and Karamojong.
With a total population of 1,907 pupils only three government-paid teachers, and nine community-paid teachers, the School faces a plethora of challenges. Key among the challenges is the lack of Classrooms, decent Ventilated Pit Latrines, and Desks. Therefore when the Scholars identified the School as one that deserved to be given a gift of a classroom block, it was a befitting choice!
The Scholars with support from the alumni, the Program Team, Members of the Steering Committee, and partners of the Scholars Program at Makerere University intervened by constructing a two-classroom block, which was supervised by one of the alumni who is an Engineer. Alongside the classroom block, the Scholars also provided 40 desks, helping the school meet UNEB Center eligibility criteria.
Hon. John Bosco Ngoya, the area MP (Right) who was the chief guest, addressing the gathering.
While presiding over the event, the area member of Parliament, Hon. John Bosco Ngoya, thanked the Scholars and alumni community at Makerere University for supporting the young pupils of Achukudu Primary School and the entire community by gifting them with a two-classroom block.
“Thank you Scholars and alumni of Mastercard Foundation at Makerere University for the Christmas gift of a classroom block to the young people and the entire community of Achukudu. This classroom block will go a long way in improving the learning environment of the young children of Achukudu primary school.” Hon. Ngoya pointed out.
Hon. Ngoya called upon other people to emulate the Scholars and alumni of the Mastercard Foundation in embracing the spirit of giving back to the vulnerable people in the community. On his part, he donated One Million Five hundred shillings (1,500,000/=) to help the School purchase more desks, and he had earlier contributed One million shillings (1,000,000/=) towards the construction of the classroom block.
Ms. Joyce Nakoya, the District Education Officer, Napak District.
The District Education Officer (DEO) for Napak District, Ms. Joyce Nakoya, praised the Scholars Community for embracing and practicing the spirit of giving back to other people at an early age.
“Thank you Scholars and alumni of the Mastercard Foundation at Makerere for embracing the spirit of giving back to other people at such an early age. If all people gave back to the less privileged in our communities, we would have a better world for everyone.” Ms. Nakoya pointed out.
Ms. Nakoya further pointed out every child deserves to study in a decent environment, therefore it was a befitting cause for the Scholars to construct a classroom block for the young pupils of Achukudu community primary school, who were studying in open grass thatched classrooms.
Ms. Jolly Okumu, the Program Coordinator of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
The Program Manager of, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, Ms. Jolly Okumu who led the team of Scholars, alumni, and staff to Karamoja thanked the community of Achukudu for supporting the Scholars to deliver the class block by contributing to the construction sand.
“We come here today to join with you as a community driven by a shared commitment to education, empowerment, and ethos of giving back. Today is a historic occasion as we celebrate the completion and commissioning of the classroom block, which is a remarkable testament to the transformative power of education and our unwavering spirit of community service.” Ms. Jolly remarked.
The President of the Scholars Association, Mr. Godfrey Okello, thanked all the Scholars and alumni, and all stakeholders who contributed to the construction of the classroom block, which was a dream that became a reality.
The new classroom block and desks that were donated by the Scholars and Alumni of Mastercard Foundation.
“I would like to thank my colleagues and people of goodwill who supported us to realize our dream of constructing this classroom for our young brothers and sisters of Achukudu Primary School. Together we can make a difference in the lives of our fellow young people in Uganda and Africa as a whole.” Mr. Okello remarked.
The Headteacher of the School, Mr. Eryebu Raymond, who was visibly very excited was full of praises for Scholars and alumni of the Mastercard Foundation, for what he termed as an iconic classroom block they had gifted to his School.
“This day is very special to us, we will not see this day again. We are delighted to receive the Scholars and alumni of Mastercard Foundation from Makerere University, thank you for considering supporting our School” Mr. Eryebu excitedly remarked.
Mr. Raymond Eryebu, the Headteacher of Achukudu Primary School addressing the gathering.
The Headteacher revealed that one of the major challenges the school was facing was an acute shortage of classrooms for his 1,097 pupils. He was therefore grateful to Mastercard Foundation Scholars for choosing to construct a two-class block for the School.
“This donation of a classroom block and Desks is a testament to your commitment to education and empowering the lives of the vulnerable people in the community. This classroom block and desks will go a long way in improving the quality of teaching and learning at our school.” Mr. Eryebu further remarked.
The 2023 Scholars Annual Day of Community Service (Giveback) was punctuated with a lot of joy, pomp, and fanfare, as the pupils and the entire community of Achukudu danced and ululated at the commissioning of the classroom block. The construction of the classroom block and purchase of desks for Achukudu Community Primary School was made possible by generous contributions by the Scholars, alumni, the Program Team, and members of the Steering Committee.
The old grass thatched structure that the pupils were using as their classroom block.
Among the Partners who made financial contributions towards the class block construction included; DFCU Bank, Post Bank, URA, Katumba Estates, Footsteps Furniture Ltd, and Sion Travels Ltd.
The Scholars and Alumni Day of Community Service (Give back) is an annual event, where Scholars and alumni of the Mastercard Foundation go out into the community to give back by providing solutions to challenges that a particular community is facing. Over the years Scholars have given back to the communities in numerous ways that range from offering professional services and erecting major projects like classroom blocks.
Bernard Buteera is the Communications and Public Relations Officer of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
The College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) conducted a Research Dissemination of two studies aimed at the Development of Materials for point of use water treatment systems.
The investigations were conducted by a team of researchers comprised of P. W. Olupot, H. M. Kalibbala, E. Menya, G.M. Wangi, J. Jjagwe, J. Wakatuntu, M. Turyasingura, R. Walozi, C. Kanyesigye and R. N. Kulabako.
The dissemination event held on Wednesday 29th November 2023 follows the successful completion of two MakRIF supported Research projects namely; Development of rice husk based granular activated carbon for point-of-use water treatment systems and Development of zeolite-based nanocomposite filters for drinking water treatment.
The School of Engineering at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) shared findings of research that was conducted in Apac Districts through two projects namely Piloting a Rural Broadband Connectivity Model (RCBM) and Efficacious patient management system (EPMS).
The findings of the research sponsored by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University research and Innovation Fund(MakRIF) were disseminated during a dissemination seminar held in the College on Friday 24th November 2023, where it was revealed that Apac the host District greatly benefited from the services that not only led to the increased uptake of internet services but also gained through other socio economic areas.