General
Staff Appeals Tribunal Swears in Senate & MASA Representatives
The Makerere University Staff Appeals Tribunal on 20th December 2021 swore in two new members to represent the Senate and Mak Administrative Staff Association (MASA) constituencies. The ceremony was presided over by the Chairperson of the Tribunal Justice Dr. John Patrick Tabaro and witnessed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Dr. Umar Kakumba as well as Members of Management.
Delivering the opening remarks, Justice Dr. Tabaro thanked the University Administration, Staff and Students for all the hard work that ensures that Makerere remains ranked among the top institutions on the continent, noting that this brings great pride to members of the public in general and the alumni in particular. As such, he said, it is important for the University to continue resolving disputes fairly, and in accordance with justice, so as to keep in step with its good ranking.
On the same occasion, he appealed to Senior Academic and Administrative staff to groom their upcoming colleagues so as to leave behind a legacy that will enable Makerere to continue performing excellently and competing favourably with other institutions.
“It is my dream that one day the academic excellence of this University and justice that the leadership and tribunal are promoting will one day lead it to top position in Africa and beyond” concluded Justice Dr. Tabaro.
Addressing participants at the ceremony, Dr. Kakumba conveyed the appreciation of the Vice Chancellor to the Chairperson and Members of the Staff Appeals Tribunal for the great work done to resolve staff disputes impartially and transparently.
“This is a very important process in any democratic institution that upholds the principles of the rule of law and human rights” remarked the Deputy Vice Chancellor.
Dr. Kakumba reiterated the readiness of the Vice Chancellor and University Management to ensure that all matters raised by the Staff Tribunal to the University Appointments Board are addressed for purposes of continuous improvement and building a strong human resource. He added that the tribunal provides an internal mechanism through which there can be a reduction of cases in the Courts of Law.
The Vice Chancellor concluded by welcoming the new members of the Staff Appeals Tribunal; Assoc. Prof. Sylvia A. Nannyonga-Tamusuza, Head, Department of Performing Arts and Film (PAF) and Representative of University Senate and Mr. Joseph Kalema, Warden, Nkrumah Hall and Representative of Senior Administrative Staff (Male) under MASA.
“The University shall continue to provide support to the Tribunal as they dispense justice to the staff appealing decisions of the Appointments Board and we trust that you shall uphold the standards set by the Tribunal” said the Vice Chancellor to the newly-appointed members.
The swearing-in ceremony was witnessed by the University Bursar-Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha, Director Internal Audit-Mr. Walter Yorac Nono, Dean of Students-Mrs. Winifred Kabumbuli, Director Human Resources represented by Principal Human Resources Officer-Mr. Mujuni Tayari Deus and Mrs. Naome Kiconco Ochieng-Office of the University Secretary.
In attendance were; Dr. Josephine Ndagire-Secretary to the Staff Tribunal as well as Members – Dr. Phiona Muhwezi Mpanga and Dr. Ronald Kakungulu-Mayambala (MUASA Representatives), Ms. Sarah Wegosasa (MASA Representative) and Mr. Peter Eneru-Tribunal Clerk.
By Agnes Namaganda
On July 22nd 2022, Makerere University–Child Health and Development Centre (Mak–CHDC) launched a draft manual for the National Parenting Standards. The Centre has been working together with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) with funding from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund), to develop standards that are agreeable to all organisations in the country that are involved in parenting work. The draft manual was being presented to members of a consortium that brings together all these organisations together, called the Parenting Agenda Consortium.
“We produce many documents and they are shelved,” Irene Ayot Chono, who was speaking on behalf of UNICEF said. “We hope that this document will not be one of them,” she emphasized.
Dr. Godfrey Siu, the Principal Investigator from Mak-CHDC who presented the draft manual to participants, emphasized that if any organization is doing parenting work, there should be a minimum package that they should offer.
Draft Manual Content
The manual which will have several modules. These modules will be delivered face-to-face in 1.5 hour sessions. Some of these include; Module 6 which will focus on “understanding responsible masculinity and fatherhood” and on “understanding the concept of head of family.”The draft manual also proposed that Module 11 focuses on Parenting in the 21st Century. Some of the sessions in this module will include Children and Technology, Contemporary Influence on Children and Modernity, Culture and Morality.Module 9 will focus on Parenting for Adolescents and some of the suggested sessions within this module are Needs for Adolescents and The Art of Communicating with Adolescents. Module 5 will focus on Preventing Violent Parenting and Promoting Alternative Discipline Strategies while Module 10 will be about Parenting to Address the Mental Health for Children and Adults.
Participants’ suggestions
After the presentation, participants raised several suggestions for discussion and consideration. These included whether there should be a module on spirituality since Uganda is a strongly religious nation. There was also the concern of how children in remand homes should be parented. Another concern raised by a participant was as to whether teachers who make an undeniable contribution to parenting, should be taken through the parenting manual.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Juliana Naumo Akoryo, the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) said that the manual is for the parenting organisations to utilize and not for MGLSD.
Ms. Chono also adjured the team behind the manual to use picture illustrations in the manual that can be relatable by the Ugandan parents.
Contact: Agnes Namaganda – agnesvioletnamaganda@gmail.com
-
General2 weeks agoMak Private Sponsorship Undergraduate Admission Lists 2022/23
-
General2 weeks agoUganda’s policymakers implored to address forest loss, plastic & water pollution
-
General2 weeks agoMature Age Entry Scheme Admissions List 2022/2023
-
General7 days agoLaunch of Mak-RIF Round 4 Awards & PhD Call for Proposals
-
General2 weeks agoSupplementary Admissions to Bachelor of Laws Under Private Sponsorship 2022/23