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Freshers’ Orientation and Registration for 2021/2022 Academic Year

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To All Students

On behalf of Makerere University community, 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 in the University as well as other important aspects of life at the University.

Schedule of Semesters for 2021/2022 Academic Year

Orientation Week:

Getting used to a new place can be pretty daunting, but that is what orientation week is all about; getting to know your surroundings, meeting students and staff members.  This makes you feel comfortable enough to hit the ground running when the semester starts.  It is a great chance for you to familiarize yourself with the University.

Saturday 29th January, 2022 to Friday 4th February, 2022 (7 Days) – Orientation Week

Semester One

Saturday 5th February, 2022 to Saturday 15th May, 2022 (14 Weeks) 

Semester Two

Monday 30th May, 2022  to Sunday 4th September, 2022 (14 Weeks)

During this 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 first centrally and then with each of their respective Colleges/Schools/Departments/Halls.

ORIENTATION  WEEK

Saturday 29th January, 2022- Friday 4th February,2022

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 31st January, 2022 to Friday 4th February, 2022 will be orientation for all Freshers  at Colleges/Schools.

During this period all Freshers shall report to their respective Colleges for  meetings  with the University officials starting  at 9.00 am every day. College Principals and Registrars will issue the orientation programmes for their Colleges.

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 31st January, 2022 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 programmes.

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.

 The fees structure for privately sponsored students is attached to their provisional admission letters.

In the meantime the fees structure for  2021-2022 Academic Year and academic policies can be viewed from the university website at https://www.mak.ac.ug/admissions/payment-methods-fees-structure.

All freshers MUST have laptop computers as one of the essential tools for study purposes for their programmes.

Other Fees

  1. National Council for Higher Education fee (Per Year)- Shs.20,000/=
  2. (Payable to the National Council for Higher Education Account in Stanbic  Bank )
  3. UNSA Subscription fee(per year)-Shs.2,000/=(payable to Stanbic  Bank, City Branch, A/C 0140007248501).                            

Change of Programme/Subjects

         (a) Change of Programme

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 programme/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 is required to pay an application fee of Shs.6,000/= plus the bank charges to banks used by Uganda Revenue Authority.

         (b)     Change of Subjects

         Students in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences or the College of Education and External Studies may wish to change their subjects.  Change of Subject will be done online on payment of Shs.6,000/= to banks used by Uganda Revenue Authority.

         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.

Students are notified and warned about this Senate ruling that any one transferring to another subject 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) is 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/School and the new College/School.

Online applications to change of programme/subjects will be open from Monday 24th January, 2022 to Friday 4th February, 2022.

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

Alfred Masikye-Namoah
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

Elias Tuhereze

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2025 K-POP Festival: Online Auditions

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2025 K-POP Festival, 8th November 2025, Yusuf Lule Auditorium, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Uganda is organizing the 2025 K-POP Festival in Uganda. K-POP stands for Korean Popular Music and this festival will include a K-POP singing or dancing contest open to both individuals and groups. There will be online auditions and a grand festival open to the public.

1. Eligibility

  • The contest is open to all Ugandans
  • Participation is as an individual or in a group

2. How to apply

Record a video of yourself of about 3 minutes of dancing or singing to a K-POP song. Upload the video on your Social Media or YouTube with the hashtag #2025KPOPUG and copy and paste the link to the video in the application form at https://han.gl/kE1xN. The application deadline is 17th October 2025.

The GRAND K-POP FESTIVAL will be held on 8th November 2025 starting 1:00PM at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium, Makerere University.

There will also be a K-POP Random Play Dance Event and everyone is invited to participate and watch.

Mak Editor

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Makerere University Council and Top Management Convene Strategic Planning Retreat

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Members of the University Council together with Management in a group photo at consultative meeting towards the formulation of the University’s Strategic Plan 2025/2026–2029/2030.

The Makerere University Council and Top Management have today convened at Speke Resort Munyonyo to deliberate on the University’s Strategic Plan 2025/2026 – 2029/2030. The retreat seeks to align Makerere’s priorities with the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and ensure that all key stakeholders contribute to shaping the institution’s next five years.

Opening the discussions, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, underscored the centrality of planning in the University’s growth trajectory. He called on members of management to actively participate in the drafting of the new strategic plan. Prof. Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s progress in recent years, noting that the University has drawn a roadmap to becoming a research-led institution, with publications rising from 700 five years ago to 2,000 currently.

He further pointed out the revision of research policies to align with the University’s research agenda, as well as the establishment of innovation hubs that support product development, commercialisation, and intellectual property management. Commending staff for their resilience and success, Prof. Nawangwe congratulated them on winning significant individual grants, some of which now surpass institutional grants. “NDP IV is intended to grow the country tenfold, and I am confident Makerere will make a huge contribution,” he remarked.

Mrs. Lorna Magara

In her keynote remarks, the Chairperson of the University Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara, described the retreat as a defining moment for Makerere’s role in Uganda’s transformation. She urged the University to move beyond traditional teaching and research, positioning itself as a central driver of national development.

“Our mandate extends beyond academia. The knowledge we generate, the leaders we shape, and the innovations we deliver must directly fuel Uganda’s growth,” Mrs. Magara stated.

She outlined priority national development areas— agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral-based development, and advances in science and technology—where Makerere’s expertise can make a decisive impact. Emphasising the urgency of challenges such as youth unemployment, climate change, food insecurity, and fragile health systems, she noted that within these lie opportunities for Makerere to lead in testing and scaling solutions.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.

“This retreat is about discipline and focus. Our strategy cannot be a wish list; it must be a blueprint for measurable national impact,” she said, challenging participants to critically reflect on how Makerere can anchor Uganda’s food security, nurture digital innovators, strengthen health resilience, and raise transformative leaders.

She concluded with a call for boldness and clarity in execution: “The next five years are decisive. Makerere must shift from being a participant in national development to being its strongest driver. What we agree here must position Makerere not only as Uganda’s premier university but also as a trusted national partner and a beacon of Africa’s transformation.”

Participants in a group discussion

The retreat involved detailed discussions and contributions from University leaders, aimed at developing a practical and impact-driven strategic plan that cements Makerere’s role in advancing Uganda’s development agenda.

Betty Kyakuwa
Betty Kyakuwa

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Makerere University Welcomes New Cohort of 236 Mastercard Foundation Scholars

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By Carol Kasujja Adii and Bernard Buteera

 On Thursday, 11th September 2025, there was joy and ululations as Makerere University officially welcomed 236 new Scholars, 206 under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and 30 under the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Collaborative.

This follows the December 2023 renewal of the partnership between Makerere University and the Mastercard Foundation, which will enable 1,000 young women and men to receive quality, inclusive education at Makerere over the next decade.

During the joint scholarship award ceremony held in the Main Building, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, in remarks delivered by Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, urged scholars to approach the opportunity with diligence and purpose.

“Equip yourself to conquer the world with confidence! Your resilience and ability to think critically will be put to the test. Stay true to your values, the values of Makerere University, and the values of Mastercard Foundation,” Prof. Nawangwe noted.

Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, the Ag. DVC AA, speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, during the event.

He further cautioned the Scholars to uphold the University’s regulations as they navigate their academic journey and expressed gratitude to the Foundation for renewing the partnership for a further ten years and launching the Climate Resilience and Sustainability Collaborative.

Rigorous Selection Process
According to Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, Chairperson of the Scholars’ Selection Sub-Committee, this year’s selection was highly competitive and lasted nearly six months.

“For undergraduate scholarships, the Program received 2,559 applications for 290 slots. Of these, 568 were shortlisted for interviews, 407 validated and 194 ultimately selected (142 female and 52 male),” Prof. Okumu said.

He further explained that for graduate (Master’s) scholarships, there were 784 applicants for 11 slots. 64 were shortlisted, 28 validated, and 12 successful.

The Climate Resilience and Sustainability Collaborative attracted 190 Master’s degree applicants, with 30 selected (20 female and 10 male).

Behind these numbers are stories of resilience and courage: 73% of the new Scholars are women; 45 are refugees; 22 are persons with disabilities; and 14 are international students from Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia. The cohort represents 67 districts of Uganda and 17 refugee settlements,” Prof. Okumu noted.

Words of Encouragement
Mr. Adrian Bukenya, Country Director of the Mastercard Foundation, urged the Scholars to embrace resilience as the foundation of their journeys.

Mr. Adrian Bukenya, the Executive Director, Mastercard Foundation Uganda, addressing the gathering during the event.

“How you start is not necessarily how you will finish. You belong here, and you earned this scholarship. Take on the responsibility of leadership by developing yourself to uplift your community,” he said.

In her remarks, Prof. Justine Namaalwa Jjumba, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Director, emphasized that the partnership’s goal is to expand inclusive university education and nurture youth into transformative leaders.

During the award ceremony, Prof Namaalwa, who was overjoyed, explained that of the 1,000 scholarships available from 2024 to 2034, 70% are reserved for women and 30% for men.

“The 206 Scholars recruited in Cohort 8 mark 30.6% of the renewed phase’s target, bringing the total to 1,338 Scholars supported since 2013,” Prof. Namaalwa said.

 Scholars and Parents Speak Out
Speaking on behalf of Cohort 8, Scholars, Mungurumo Stephen described the opportunity of being awarded the Mastercard Foundation scholarship as life-changing.

“Education is not merely about acquiring knowledge; it is about transformation. Our backgrounds do not define our future; they prepare us to recognise success when it arrives. We are here not just for ourselves but to light the way for others and contribute to Africa’s transformation,” he said.

Liong Annet Sworo, a scholar pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems and Technology from Parolinya Refugee Settlement, added:

“Receiving this scholarship has reignited our hopes and ambitions. For many of us who have faced educational interruptions, this is not just an opportunity but a stepping stone to elevate our aspirations.”

Read more here: Mak Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program website

Carol Kasujja and Bernard Buteera form the Communications Team for the Scholars Program at Makerere University.

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