General
Buzzibwera SSS Students Visit Makerere University for Career Guidance
It was a moment of joy for Advanced level students from Buzzibwera Senior Secondary School to visit Makerere University, an institution that they would love to join to pursue higher education studies.
On 28th February 2022 at 8:30 am, Advanced level students from Buzzibwera Senior Secondary School visited Makerere University for career guidance, gaining a deeper understanding about the admission process, and to have an experience of life at campus!
The students accompanied by their Career and Guidance teachers Ms. Rachael Nakazinga and Ms. Florence Namugga were received by Ms. Ritah Namisango, the Principal Public Relations Officer of Makerere University.
Welcoming the students, Ms. Namisango informed the students that they were visiting Makerere University at a time when this great institution was celebrating 100 years of existence (1922-2022). “Your educational tour/visit is very special to us. You are our prospective students. This University started in 1922 with only 14 students. It continued to grow because secondary schools would teach students who would enroll at the University. I take note that you are Advanced level students, who are on a journey that will soon lead you to universities.”
Ms. Namisango informed the students that the University administration would be very happy if they joined Makerere University. She advised the students to work towards getting the best grades.
“To join Makerere University, you must excel. Your teachers will do their part, but you need to double the efforts to do your part so that you excel. I advise you dear students to focus on your studies, participate in debates, group discussions and seminars,actively engage the respective subject teachers, and be disciplined,” she said.
In line with the students’ desire to have an experience of life at campus, Ms. Namisango conducted a tour focusing on key University spaces and facilities including Makerere University Central Teaching Facility 1 that houses the University Administration and lecture spaces, the Senate Building, Freedom Square, the Main Library and among others.
According to Ms. Rachael Nakazinga, the Career and Guidance teacher, the education visit to Makerere University provides exposure to the students and provokes them to worker harder with raised and focused ambitions.
Ms. Namisango then led the students to Makerere University Senate Conference Hall for the Career Guidance session. The students were blessed to receive an informative education tutorial from Mr. Charles Ssentongo, the Deputy Registrar (Undergraduate Admissions and Records) under the Department of the Academic Registrar.
Mr. Ssentongo emphasized the need for students and teachers to understand the subject combinations and the courses/academic programme that one can pursue at Makerere University.
“If you desire to be an engineer, a teacher, computer scientist, medical doctor, a nurse, an entrepreneur, a business analyst, the subject combination is very essential. The subject combination determines the academic programme that you will pursue at the University. When you undertake that particular programme, study and excel, you can then become the person you desire to be with respect to career options.”
During the highly interactive session, each student mentioned his or her subject combination. The students were also requested to mention three (3) choices following the order of preference of what they would like to become in future. This exercise revealed to Mr. Ssentongo that students needed further grounding on aligning subject combinations to the academic programmes that they would like to pursue as well as their dream jobs/career paths. After an in-depth and interactive session on subject combinations, Mr. Ssentongo then highlighted the weighting system for the respective academic programmes/courses that the prospective students preferred, admission criteria and the avenues including Government sponsorship on National Merit, the private sponsorship scheme as well as the district quota.
Mr. Ssentongo informed the students that he is a living example of a student who studied from a middle range school (not those very powerful schools that you always mention), but he worked hard and joined Makerere University.
“We have students who studied from ‘middle range’ schools, excelled and joined Makerere University. I am one of them,” said Mr. Ssentongo.
He added: “You just need to be focused and have a dream that you can execute using your ability and having interest in what you want to do at the University. Some academic programmes like engineering require talents, so you must have the talent. Then the personality, can your personality handle your particular dream job/career. We have seen people with personalities that cannot take them where they want.”
“For example you may want to be a midwife but when your personality cannot handle a pregnant woman; you want to become a lawyer, but you don’t want to talk during discussions at school; you may want to be a teacher, but you are very shy and you do not want to talk to people.” Ssentongo said.
Responding to a request from one of the students to explain the district quota entry scheme further, Ms. Namisango revealed that to qualify you must have been born in that particular district and also studied your Advanced level from that district. “For example, if you are studying at Buzzibwera S.S.S, to qualify for the district quota, you should have been born in Luwero and studied your Advanced level in one of the schools located in Luwero District.”
To inspire the students further, Ms. Namisango invited Mr. Alex Mugalu-a student of Makerere University who has recently completed a Bachelor of Journalism and Communication (a four-year study programme) to share his experiences.
“Like the previous speakers namely Mr. Ssentongo and Ms. Namisango, my message is simple. If you work hard, convince your brain and mind that you should join Makerere University, develop a positive attitude towards education, you will make it. I studied my Advanced level from Kololo High School and I joined Makerere University to pursue a Bachelor of Journalism and Communication. It is one of those academic programmes in the humanities, where you are required to have good grades to get an admission letter,” he said.
Mr. Mugalu also recalled the vivid memories when while in Advanced level (S.5 and S.6) at Kololo High School, he would walk through the Makerere University campus via the swimming pool, and he would assure himself (talking to himself) that he would one day make it and study at Makerere University. Living true to his dream, he joined Makerere University, he has completed the Bachelor of Journalism and Communication, he is looking forward to his graduation.
Giving a vote of thanks, Ms. Agnes Nabatyanga-a Senior Six student appreciated Mr. Ssentongo and Ms. Namisango for sharing with them the right information as they pursue their dream of joining Makerere University. On behalf of the students, Ms. Nabatyanga said they were not only pleased that they were able to be at Makerere University, but had received knowledge crucial in choosing academic programmes, developing a positive attitude and determining their destiny. She appealed to the Almighty God to bless Makerere University and to grant the students from Buzzibwera S.S.S the required wisdom so that they excel and join Makerere University.
Written by: Mak Public Relations Office
General
CHS Registrars, Heads of Departments Embrace RIMS as Makerere Deepens Digital Shift in Graduate Supervision
By Moses Lutaaya
The College of Health Sciences (CHS) at Makerere University has taken a significant step toward strengthening graduate training and research oversight following a hands-on training in the Research Information Management System (RIMS) held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the CHS premises.
The training brought together over 25 Heads of Departments and College Registrars from the School of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, and School of Public Health, in a strategic push to digitize and streamline graduate supervision.
Leading the CHS team, Associate Professor Annettee Olivia Nakimuli, Dean of the School of Medicine, described RIMS as a transformative tool that will redefine how graduate students are tracked and supported.
“RIMS is definitely the way to go. It will help us track students in real time,” she said. “We have struggled to know how well students are progressing, and sometimes we are not even sure who needs help along the way.”
Prof. Nakimuli emphasized that the system will enhance accountability on both sides of the supervision divide.
“It will facilitate supervision for both the supervisor and the student. Supervisors will be more accountable, but students too will be more accountable. At any one time, we shall know exactly what is happening between student-supervisor pairs.”
Addressing concerns about possible resistance or tension arising from increased transparency, she noted that RIMS would instead clarify longstanding challenges affecting completion rates.
“Completion challenges are multifactorial—sometimes it is the supervisor, sometimes the student, and sometimes both. This system will make it clear where the problem is so it can be addressed,” she explained, adding that mindset change—not technical ability—remains the biggest hurdle for some staff transitioning from analog systems.
She further aligned RIMS with Makerere University’s broader agenda of becoming a research-led, graduate-focused institution.
“This is how we begin to walk the talk of being a graduate training university,” she added.
Representing the Director of Graduate Training, Mr. Nestor Mugabe underscored that RIMS is part of a larger, evolving digital ecosystem aimed at strengthening research management across the university.
“RIMS is a comprehensive system that captures the entire research process, but today we are focusing on the e-supervision component,” he said.
He noted that the system has been rolled out progressively across colleges, with CHS engagements tailored to accommodate the demanding schedules of health professionals.
“A student cannot progress if their supervisor is not on the system. That is why we are bringing everyone on board—supervisors, administrators, and students—so that the system works seamlessly,” Mugabe emphasized.
To ensure sustainability, he revealed that dedicated technical personnel have been deployed to provide on-site support.
“We now have resident technical staff who can support you directly in your offices, ensuring that no one is left behind in this transition.”
From a technical standpoint, Arthur Moses Opio of the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) highlighted RIMS as a critical pillar in Makerere’s digital transformation journey.
“This system is about bridging the gap between supervisors and students,” he said. “It logs activities, tracks feedback, and ensures that no academic guidance is lost or disputed.”
He explained that RIMS allows students to upload research milestones—from concept notes to final theses—while enabling supervisors and examiners to engage within a transparent, traceable system.
“Before, a student could get lost in the process. Now, every comment, every revision, every step is recorded. It brings clarity and accountability.”
Opio also noted that RIMS is integrated with key university systems, including the Human Resource Management System and the Academic Management Information System (ACMIS), ensuring data consistency and institutional oversight.
CHS College Registrar Mr. Herbert Batamye welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention in addressing inefficiencies in graduate supervision.
“RIMS is going to be a wonderful addition to our academic processes. It will accelerate supervision and improve efficiency if fully adopted,” he said.
He observed that the system had already received strong buy-in from participants.
“We brought together over 25 Heads of Departments and registrars, and the response has been very positive. Staff appreciate its potential.”
Mr. Batamye pointed out that one of the key strengths of RIMS is its ability to synchronize multiple supervisors on a single student’s progress.
“If a candidate has several supervisors, each will clearly see what the other is doing. It ensures that everyone is accountable and that delays are minimized.”
As Makerere University continues to digitize its academic and research processes, the CHS RIMS training signals a growing institutional commitment to improving graduate completion rates, enhancing supervision quality, and positioning research at the heart of its mission.
There are farewells that pass quietly and then there are those that leave a lasting imprint on the hearts of all who attend. The retirement luncheon of Patience Mushengyezi held at the Senate Building University was unmistakably the latter.
Held in an atmosphere filled with warmth, gratitude, and reflection, the event brought together colleagues, friends, and family to celebrate a woman whose 26-year journey at the University has been defined by diligence, humility, and quiet impact.
From the moment she rose to speak, Patience set the tone, not with grandeur, but with gratitude.
“I thank God for the opportunity He gave me to serve,” she said, her voice steady but reflective. “Everything I have achieved has not been by my own strength.”
Her career began in the Transcripts Office as an Assistant Registrar, a role that would become the foundation of her legacy. Over the years, she rose through the ranks to Senior Assistant Registrar and later Deputy Registrar, serving in various units including the Senate. Along the way, she became not only a custodian of records but also a steward of institutional memory.
Colleagues recalled how, in earlier years, obtaining a transcript in a single day was nearly impossible. Today, that process has been streamlined, thanks in part to Patience’s innovation and persistence. Patience initiated the Digitalization of Academic Records and Processes (DARP) project to ease the storage, retrieval and acquisition of academic documents by stakeholders. What began as a simple concern about poorly kept records evolved into a transformative records management initiative that has since improved efficiency and safeguarded academic history.
“She is like a moving encyclopedia,” one colleague remarked, highlighting her deep knowledge of university policies, many of which, he noted, exist as much in her mind as they do on paper.
The luncheon was not just a celebration of professional achievement, but also of character. Speaker after speaker described Patience as calm, dependable, and deeply empathetic “a friend you can trust,” as her supervisor, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, put it.
In his tribute, he reflected on his own transition from academia into administration, crediting Patience for guiding and mentoring him. “It is through her willingness to teach and support me that I became the administrator I am today,” he said.
Beyond the office, Patience’s impact extended into personal lives. Rev. Dr. Lydia Kitayimbwa – Chaplain, St. Francis Chapel spoke fondly of their friendship, describing her as a confidant and prayer partner. “She brings a sense of peace,” she said. “She listens, she prays, and she walks with people.”
Her sister, Alexandra Kalemera, offered an emotional reflection that captured the essence of the day. “It is a beautiful thing to serve in one place for 26 years and not simply disappear,” she said. “Today, we see the impact of a life well lived.”
Indeed, that impact was evident not only in speeches, but in the collective emotion in the room. There was laughter and moments of quiet introspection as colleagues reflected on their own journeys.
At the heart of Patience’s message was a call to action: to serve with integrity, to embrace small but meaningful change, and to value people above titles.
“Do not sit comfortably when things are not working,” she advised. “Do something.”
She also reminded colleagues of the importance of balance and self-care, urging them to find satisfaction in their work while recognizing the limits of their control.
As she steps into retirement, Patience is far from slowing down. She looks forward to pursuing personal ventures, including producing organic dairy products, and expanding her passion for mentoring young people, a calling she believes has already transformed lives.
“This is not the end,” Rev. Kitayimbwa noted. “It is the beginning of a new chapter.”
Perhaps the most profound reflection of the afternoon came from Prof. Buyinza, who posed a question to those gathered: When your time comes, will people come for you like this?
It was a moment that lingered, a reminder that legacy is not built on titles, but on relationships, integrity, and service.
As the luncheon drew to a close, one thing was clear: Patience Mushengyezi may be retiring from office, but her influence will remain deeply woven into the fabric of the Department of Academic Registry.
And in the words echoed throughout the room—this was not goodbye.
It was simply the beginning of another journey.
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