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Mrs. Lorna Magara: A lot of Makerere’s Rich History Hasn’t Been Told

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Makerere University Council Chairperson Mrs. Lorna Magara on 25th November 2021 during stakeholder mobilisation event highlighted how Makerere’s rich history has been documented but also added that a lot hasn’t been told. As part of activities to mark the University’s centennial journey, she said a book will be published. Below is her speech.

It gives me great pleasure to join the Deputy Chairperson of Council to welcome you all to Makerere University this morning. As Council it has been a great honour for us to take lead in Organising celebrations to mark 100 years of Makerere University’s contribution to the transformation of our country, region and the globe. 

At this juncture, I would like to thank Rt. Hon. Daniel Fred Kidega for overseeing this project on behalf of Council as well as the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe for coordinating the various activities of the sub-Committees. 

The rich history of Makerere University has been well documented by several authors. Notable among these is Margaret MacPherson who spent nearly 40 years at Makerere University, shaping lives and instilling the spirit of thoroughness in all she had the opportunity to mentor. Her book; They Built for the Future: A Chronicle Of Makerere University College 1922-1962 is widely regarded as the most authoritative history of this institution for the period. 

This work is complemented by that of others such as Carol Sicherman’s book; Becoming an African University: Makerere 1922-2000. The review of this work by distinguished writer and gallant alumnus Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o sums it all up. 

“In its various manifestations in time Makerere University is inseparable from a certain sense of applied Pan-Africanism. In its heyday, it brought together students from East and Central Africa and Nigeria. But the story of Makerere in terms of the glorious and the gory, hope and despair and hope again, is really the story of Africa. Carol Sicherman tells this story with clarity and humor. It is a narrative spiced with interesting anecdotes and insightful observations. For those who have had the privilege of attending Makerere, the story will take them down memory lane. But the book should attract the general reader as well the student of African education, culture and politics.” 

As grateful as we are of these accounts of Makerere’s rich history, we are also mindful that a lot remains to be told, especially of the modern era. We are nevertheless cognizant that a lot of scholarly work has been published about the modern day Makerere. 

In his 2007 book Scholars in the Marketplace: The Dilemmas of Neo-Liberal Reform at Makerere University, 1989-2005, Prof. Mahmood Mamdani ably distinguishes between privatisation and commercialisation, two processes that drove Makerere’s reform in the 1990s. This book offers valuable lessons that Scholars and Administrators not only in Makerere but Uganda’s Higher Educator can learn from when undertaking institutional reforms. 

The University Council is therefore pleased that as one of its undertakings, the Makerere@100 Organising Committee through its History, Culture and Future Documentation sub-Committee has embarked on a book project. The publication is planned to be an easy-to-read and well-documented book around six broad themes. These include: 

a) Providing skilled human resources for East African Society,

b) Production of knowledge through research and innovation,

c) Makerere’s contribution to democratic governance and the building of social institutions in East Africa,

d)Makerere’s contribution to the economic development of  East Africa,

e) Makerere and Curriculum Development in East Africa and

f) Challenges. 

I therefore call upon all of you our stakeholders to visit our online platforms and learn how you can make your respective contributions to this historic project before 31st December this year. 

Besides reviewing our history, the year-long celebration presents great prospects for Makerere and her stakeholders to renew their commitment to make the University more impactful in its activities in the years to come. 

Therefore, the congregation of our stakeholders today and at subsequent events throughout the coming year provides Makerere University with an opportunity to continue optimizing her ten year strategic plan (2022-2030). Now in its second year of implementation, the plan seeks to create a research and innovations ecosystem that will enable the University’s outputs to have demonstrable economic, environmental, health and social impacts. 

Furthermore, the plan seeks to create the appropriate support environment for students to meet their academic and professional aspirations. This, it is envisaged, will translate into more positive attitudes as well as greater affinity and loyalty to the institution. 

Staying with Makerere’s strategic direction, over the coming years, Council will continue to ensure prudent financial management, cost-effective and efficient student and staff support services. 

We have already embarked on this with the implementation of the electronic Human Resource Management System and other systems. 

The fourth industrial revolution and its associated emerging technologies presents challenges as well as opportunities that will impact the job market, businesses, governments and how people interact. Council is fully aware of advancements made by other institutions that have harnessed these emerging technologies and will strive to ensure that the enabling policy framework is put in place to support Makerere’s progression in the same. 

We, therefore, call upon all of you our various stakeholders whose competencies lie in the various areas I have briefly touched on to partner with us and make our future even more impactful than the milestones we are celebrating today. 

I once again thank you all for joining us here today. 

Engineering, Art & Tech

Innovations using low cost locally available materials for point of use water treatment system unveiled

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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.

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Engineering, Art & Tech

Apac District gains from CEDAT’s Research on Piloting a Rural Broadband Connectivity Model and Efficacious patient management system

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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.

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Application Forms for Admission to Public Universities 2024/2025

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Senate Building

The Academic Registrar, Makerere University informs all Head Teachers of A ‘Level schools that application forms for admission to public universities for senior six candidates (UACE 2023) for the 2024/2025 academic year will be ready for collection from the university from Monday 4th December, 2023.

The application forms should be collected from the Office of the Academic Registrar, Senate Building, Level 3, Makerere University.

Issuing of the application forms will start on Monday, 4th December 2023 on payment of a non-refundable application fee of Uganda Shs. 52,000/=(fifty two thousand Uganda shillings only) per application form.

You are advised to get a pay reference number (PRN) using the ACMIS system (http://pay.mak.ac.ug) to enable you pay the application fees in any bank used by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

The forms are for Ugandans only.

Please note that only Head Teachers or their authorized representatives will be served.

The closing date for submitting the completed application forms will be Wednesday 31st January, 2024.

Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

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