General
Mak Digitizes over 10,000 Land Records Dating from 1830 to 1995
Over 10,000 records on land in Uganda under the custody of Makerere University Library have been digitized. The process supported by the Government of Uganda under Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) aimed at preserving and promoting access to land and archival records for the period of 1830-1995 that are at high risk of deterioration.
The composition of land archives digitized include but are not limited to; land titles, Lukiiko minutes on land and correspondences, land treaties and testamentaries. Other documents included paper archives on the Uganda Protectorate, Church Missionary Society, Makerere University and instigation of clans.
According Ms. Rhodah Nalubega the Principal Investigator of the Project; Digitization of Land Archival Documents in Makerere University Library (1830-1995), the project was inspired by the information gap on the history of land in Uganda. The project team was equally motivated by the change in habits of scholarly communities who prefer to access documents in electronic format.
“The escalating demand of archival documents in Makerere University, the fragility of the documents due to age, physical handling, environment issues, brittleness and the existing contentious issues on land prompted us to think of how best to conserve and preserve the documents in their original formats without extinction” she said.
Speaking at the Dissemination workshop, on Friday 28th May, 2021, Mr. Kizito Bashir who represented the Chief Executive Officer of Buganda Land Board (BLB) Owek. Simon Kaboggoza Muwanga recognized the importance of archiving critical documents related to land ownership when he said, “I cannot tell you how important it has been for Buganda Land Board to rely on archived documents to fulfil our mandate. The political history of the kingdom and the country at large such as the 1900 agreement, Battaka movement, the 1966 Kabaka crisis and the land decree created several information gaps and the need to rely on archived documents.”
Mr. Kizito therefore said that documentation has enabled BLB to resolve land conflicts that have existed in the kingdom and the country at large. He added that BLB has greatly relied on old records dated 1900-1930 to reclaim assets that belong the kingdom of Buganda.
“We have heavily relied on the lists of land owners that were provided for in 1900, the subsequent surveys and registrations that happened in 1922-1930. Using these records, we have been able to differentiate between the original mailo land that belongs to the kingdom and private mailo land that belongs to individuals” he said.
He however, mentioned that the recording process has been evolving over time from the Final Certificates (FCs) which are evident on the micro films and the subsequent surveys, to Viral Register Volumes (MRVs) up to the current plot and block systems. He noted that the revolution is premised on land archival documents.
He congratulated Makerere University upon reaching the tremendous milestone of preserving and protecting the land archives in an electronic and digital format. He called upon the university leadership to seek institutional collaboration between the University and various key players in the sector with other archived information.
Ms. Monica Naluwooza, a Project Team Member mentioned that the digitized materials will be hosted under the Africana section of the Makerere University Institutional Repository and will be accessible to the public through rightful University procedures. Other members of the team are Ms. Racheal Nabbosa and Ms. Sara Maka.
The Makerere University Librarian Dr. Helen Byamugisha applauded the team for investing their efforts in causing visible change and adding value to their country through digitizing some of the most important and historical documents. She acknowledged the tremendous support that the University Management and Government of Uganda have consistently extended to the University Library to achieve its goals.
“The role of the library in the university is to enhance teaching and learning as well as research. It is therefore regarded as the heart of the university. Indeed, Makerere University Library is the heart of the Ivory Tower,” she noted.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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