It brings me great joy to welcome you to Makerere University.

First Year students (Freshers) are by tradition given an “acclimatization” period of
one week which is referred to as the “Orientation Week”. The Freshers report on
Campus one week earlier than the Continuing students and during this week they
are introduced to the key facilities as well as other important aspects of life at the
University.
Schedule of Semesters for 2026/2027 Academic Year
Semester One
Saturday 8th August, 2026 to Saturday 5th December, 2026 (17 Weeks)
Semester Two
Saturday 16th January, 2027 to Saturday 15th May, 2027 (17 Weeks)
Orientation Week
Saturday 1st August, 2026 – Friday 7th August, 2026
During the Orientation week, arrangements are made to enable the Freshers meet
and be addressed by Key Officers, Wardens and Student Leaders who welcome the
students.

Arrangements are also made to enable the Freshers acquaint themselves with such
key facilities at the University like the Library, University Hospital, Games and
Recreation Facilities.etc.

Freshers are expected to take advantage of the week to survey and acquaint
themselves with the general Campus lay out. Another major activity during the
Orientation Week is Registration.

All Freshers must ensure that they are registered with their respective Colleges/Schools/ Departments/Halls/University Hospital.

Saturday 1st August, 2026
Resident Freshers report to their respective halls of residence or private hostels by
5.00 p.m. It is the responsibility of each student to make his/her own travel
arrangements to the University or private hostel.

Monday 3rd August, 2026
All freshers shall report to the Freedom Square for a meeting (Central orientation
program) with the University officials at 9:00am.

College Orientation
Tuesday 4th – Friday 7th August, 2026 College orientation programs will follow
during the orientation week. College Principals and Registrars will issue the
orientation programs for their colleges.
Lectures will begin on Monday 10^th August, 2026.

Registration
For a candidate to be considered a bonafide student of the University, he/she must
be registered. Registration is a mandatory requirement of the University which
must be done within the first two (2) weeks from the beginning of the semester by
every student. Privately sponsored students will pick their original admission
letters after payment of 60% tuition and all functional fees from their respective
colleges.
Registration will commence on Monday 10^th August, 2026 starting at 9.00 a.m.
each day at the respective Schools.
Ensure that you complete all the required registration formalities within the
prescribed time in order to avoid disappointments later. College/School Registrars
will provide registration programs.

Registration Requirements
Admission to Makerere University is a provisional offer made on the basis of the
statement of your qualifications as presented on your application form. The offer is
subject to verification of your academic documents and payment of university fees.
For registration purposes, all first-year students MUST produce their original
documents for verification.

Government sponsored students shall pay shs.155,404/= functional fees to
Makerere University.

Privately sponsored students shall pay 834,505/= and 1,489,785/= for Ugandans
and International candidates respectively for semester one and 132,250/= for
semester two of year 1.

Full admission letters for Government sponsored students should be picked from
the respective Colleges/Schools beginning Monday 6th July 2026.
The fees structure for privately sponsored students is attached to their provisional
admission letters that should be down loaded from their ACMIS portal.
Students in the affiliated Institutions should pay fees indicated by their respective
Institutions.
Fresher’s joining instructions concerning reporting, fees payment, academic
policies and any important information from the different university units can be
viewed from the Academic Registrar’s Department notice boards and University
websites www.mak.ac.ug
All freshers MUST have laptop computers as one of the essential tools for study
purposes for their programmes.

Other Fees
a) National Council for Higher Education fee (Per Year)-Shs.20,000/=
(Payable to the National Council for Higher Education Account in Stanbic Bank).

b) UNSA Subscription fee (per year) – Shs. 2,000/= (payable to Stanbic Bank,
City Branch, A/C 0140007248501).

Change of Programmes/Subjects
(a) Change of Programmes
Since selection for specific programmes was made according to each candidate’s
performance and order of programme choices, taking into account the available
subject combinations and time-table limitations, there is normally little need to
change the programme or subjects. However, some places become vacant when
some of the students admitted do not take up the offers. Such places are filled
through the change of programmes/subjects.

Students who wish to change programmes first of all register according to the
registration time-table for the programmes and subjects (where applicable) to
which originally have been admitted. Each student who may wish to change
his/her programme/ subject combination is required to pay an application fee of
Shs.6,000/= plus the service fee and bank charges to banks used by Uganda
Revenue Authority.

(b) Change of Subjects
Students in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Natural
Sciences or the College of Education and Extemal Studies may wish to change their
subjects.

Students should be aware that changing one subject may result in a change of
College. Before students apply to change their programmes, Colleges and Subjects,
they are encouraged to seek advice on the cut-off point(s) for programmes,
requirements for specific subjects and possible subject combinations.

Change of programme/Subjects will be done online on payment of an application
fee of Shs. Six thousand (6000/=) plus the service fee and bank charges to banks
used by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

Students are notified and warned that change of programme or transferring to
another subject combination or College without proper authority will be liable to
discontinuation from the University.

A student who has been permitted to change his/her programme or subject(s) will
be issued with a letter stating so, and on receipt of such a letter that student should
complete the ACCEPTANCE part and return a copy of each to the Undergraduate
Admissions and Records Office, the former College j School and the new
College/School.

The change of programme /subjects will be done online from Monday 3rd August,
2026 to Friday 14th August, 2026.

N.B: It is advisable that only those students who meet the cut-off points for the
desired programme/subjects may apply.

Buyinza Mukadasi
Academic Registrar

Hundreds of mourners gathered at St. Augustine Chapel, Makerere University on May 30, 2026 to pray for the soul of Mr. Sylas Ruhweza, the first President of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Alumni Community at Makerere University.

The requiem mass was filled with emotional tributes celebrating Ruhweza’s life of service, leadership and dedication to community causes. Ruhweza passed away on Friday, May 29, 2026, at Mildmay Uganda Hospital.

Speaker after speaker described him as a humble and visionary leader who was passionate about uplifting others and deeply committed to excellence.

“We thank God for the life of Sylas, for the years he granted him among us, and for the impact he made on countless lives. He carried himself with humility and grace, and wherever he went, he built friendships, inspired confidence, and left people better than he found them,” Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki, said during the Mass.

Mr. Rwomiire urged mourners to honour Ruhweza’s legacy by embracing the values he stood for, including integrity, compassion, hard work, service to community, and his unwavering love for Tooro Kingdom.

The main celebrant, Rev. Fr. Charles Lwanga Makoboza, echoed the message in his homily, reminding Christians to remain rooted in Jesus Christ throughout their lives.

 “Sylas has gone to be with God, in a place where there is no pain, missed calls, struggle, corruption, betrayal, jealousy and tears. He is in a place with absolute peace. So, in life, never be the cause of someone’s tears, and if you do, seek reconciliation,” Fr. Lwanga, said.

Fr. Lwanga also reminded mourners that what Ruhweza needs most are prayers, not wreaths.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Ms. Grace Kabasita, Ruhweza’s maternal aunt, described him as a loving and dedicated young man whose life touched many people.

“Sylas was a counsellor, teacher, and a brilliant, loveable young man who fitted into every society. His life was marked by service, friendship, dedication, and commitment to the wellbeing of others and his culture,” she said.

Addressing mourners, Prof Justine Namaalwa, the Coordinator of the Mastercard Foundation Initiatives at Makerere University, noted that though Sylas’s life was cut short, he leaves behind a lasting legacy of service, leadership and impact on the communities he served.

 “Sylas, you have gone too soon. But it is well with our souls. May your legacy of Transformative Leadership live on,” Prof. Namaalwa, said.

She thanked the Mastercard Foundation for supporting his education through BRAC Uganda, supporting his university education through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, and nurturing his leadership journey through the Youth Advisory Board.

Ruhweeza at glance

Born on 19^th July 1994 to the late Mr. Paul Tinkasimire Paul Adyeeri and Ms. Ategeka Margret Abwooli of Bunyangabu District.

The ninth born of eleven children attended Kaboyo Primary School for his Primary Education, and later joined Fort Portal Secondary School where he sat for his O-Level. He then proceeded to A-Level at Hannah International School.

He joined Makerere University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Geoscience and Production in 2022, supported by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme at Makerere University.

At the time of his passing, he was pursuing a Master’s degree at Victoria University.

Leadership, Service and Professional Contributions

Mr. Ruhweza served as Chairperson of the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network at BRAC from 2020 to 2022, demonstrating transformative leadership and commitment to social change.

He later became the President of the Makerere AlumNet Foundation, an umbrella organization that brings together the Scholars Makerere Alumni chapter.

He worked as an eLearning Support Officer at the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) under the e-learning initiative at Makerere University.

He was a member of the Steering Committee of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, representing the Scholars Makerere Alumni chapter.

At the time of his passing, he was serving as the Minister of Information in the Tooro Kingdom, Strategy and Engagement Lead for the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network-Uganda Chapter, and Programme Associate at the Africa Climate Collaborative, one of the Mastercard Foundation initiatives at Makerere University.

Legacy

Ruhweza is remembered for his dedication to education, leadership, mentorship, and community service. He passionately championed youth empowerment, collaboration, and social responsibility.

His life reflected the transformative power of education, servant leadership, and a commitment to uplifting others.

May Sylas’s soul rest in eternal peace.

_{By Moses Lutaaya}

Makerere University has intensified efforts to strengthen research governance and ethical oversight, with university leaders calling for greater institutional support for Research Ethics Committees (RECs), whose role has become increasingly central to the institution’s research-led agenda.

The call was made during a high-level meeting between University Management and Chairpersons of Research Ethics Committees held at the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom at the Makerere University Main Building on May 25, 2026.

Opening the meeting, the Director of Research Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP), Prof. Robert Wamala, highlighted a number of operational and administrative challenges affecting the effectiveness of RECs at Makerere University.

Prof. Wamala observed that RECs continue to operate with gaps in institutional framework outlining their position within the university governance structure, a gap he said has affected institutional support and long-term sustainability.

According to Prof. Wamala, inadequate facilitation continues to affect the operations of several committees, especially in areas of staffing, administrative coordination, and remuneration for REC administrators.

He also pointed to challenges arising from new regulatory requirements governing the appointment of REC members, particularly the need for appointment letters to be authorized or signed by the Vice Chancellor.

Prof. Wamala further raised concern over the high cost of mandatory accreditation and training processes required by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), especially the Good Research Regulatory Practice (GRRP) training undertaken every three years. “Payment for training is too high for individual RECs to cover,” he noted, adding that many committees are struggling to independently raise the money to undertake the training for all their members.

He also emphasized the need for stronger institutional monitoring systems to support timely submission of accreditation renewal applications, oversight of approved research activities, and coordination of REC operations across the university.

In her remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, commended the growing contribution of RECs in advancing Makerere University’s research agenda and acknowledged the concerns raised by Prof. Wamala and committee members.

“There were not very many RECs,” Prof. Ssali said. “So now that we are 10, it is really impressive because it speaks to our cause for a research-led university.” She admitted that despite their importance, many RECs still operate outside the formal university establishment, making staffing and operational support difficult.

“The only challenge that I see is that they are not fully institutionalized. So it is upon units to start them or not to start them,” she explained. Prof. Ssali added that because RECs are not fully integrated into the public service structure of the university, recruiting and remunerating staff through conventional university systems remains complicated. “Hiring for them staff will be a little bit cumbersome because the university will say they are not part of our structure,” she said.

She nevertheless emphasized that university management recognizes the strategic importance of RECs in strengthening ethical research oversight and supporting Makerere’s position as a research-led institution. “RECs are doing a great job of furthering our strategic agenda of being a research-led university,” she noted.

Prof. Ssali explained that the growing reliance on institutional RECs by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology demonstrates the trust placed in Makerere University’s ethical review systems.

Addressing concerns about the cost and frequency of mandatory training, Prof. Ssali acknowledged the financial burden on RECs but explained that many of the requirements are set by national regulators. “Many of the things you have raised are with National Council, they are not with us,” she said. “We can only pledge to lobby.”

To address logistical challenges associated with training senior academics, she proposed more flexible scheduling arrangements. “For a professor to give you a whole day is going to be a challenge,” she said. “Maybe you can do half days throughout the week.”

Prof. Ssali also encouraged colleges and schools to allocate part of their enhanced research budgets toward supporting REC activities, including staffing, training, and operational facilitation.

She suggested that colleges and schools hosting RECs should directly take responsibility for sustaining them. “For me, that’s the way out — to ensure that the colleges and schools that have RECs take them as their responsibility,” she noted.

The DVC-AA also addressed concerns related to intellectual property rights, Material Transfer Agreements (MTA), and the need for researchers to formally communicate scientific discoveries and innovations to the university to ensure institutional protection and benefit-sharing. “All you are saying is true, but it depends on you as researchers informing the institution that we have made this discovery,” she said.

Prof. Ssali reiterated Makerere University’s commitment to strengthening research governance systems and pledged continued engagement with both university management and national regulatory bodies to address the concerns raised by REC members. “Where they are, they enable research, publication and growth,” she said of the RECs. “Most importantly, they enable us to be ethical with the way we do our things.”

The meeting was attended by chairpersons of the various Research Ethics Committees across Makerere University and affiliated institutions. These included Dr. Ponsiano Ochama from the School of Medicine Research Ethics Committee (SOM-REC), Dr. Moses Ocan from the School of Biomedical Sciences Research Ethics Committee (SBS-REC), Dr. Paul Kutyabami from the School of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, Dr. David Kyaddondo from the Uganda Cancer Institute Research Ethics Committee, Dr. Stella Neema from the School of Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee (MAKSS-REC), Dr. Joseph Kagayi from the School of Public Health Research Ethics Committee, Dr. Joseph Kateete from the Infectious Diseases Institute Research Ethics Committee, Dr. Fred Okuku from the Uganda Heart Institute Research Ethics Committee, Dr. Kassim Sadik from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Research Ethics Committee, and Dr. Eddy Walakira from the College of Business and Management Sciences Research Ethics Committee.

The discussions reflected Makerere University’s broader ambition to consolidate its position as a leading research-intensive institution while ensuring that ethical standards, accountability, and innovation protection remain central to its academic mission.