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RUFORUM Triennial Thought Pieces: ISSUE 15 – Prof. Luke E. Mumba

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Transformational Institutional Leadership in Higher Agricultural Education

Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) play a key role in shaping the present and the future; transforming minds and processes, and nurturing talent. Hence the quality and direction of leadership in these higher educational institutions is of paramount importance. Transformational leadership is a value-based approach where a leader is expected to be visionary, an inspiration, a role model, and an intellectual stimulant. This kind of leadership, which goes back to 1978 when it was framed, places a lot of value on individualized consideration. Given the diversity of staff (academic and non-academic), transformational leadership in Higher Education Institutions requires good chemistry in order to achieve successful operational and strategic results.

Transformational leadership has to be supported by various institutional policies which should guide staff in their various offices and positions. For example, having in place and spear heading the teaching and learning policy, sexual harassment policy, Quality Assurance framework, communication policy and consultancy policy, among others, are some of the key attributes.

There is no leadership without willing followers. Willing followers are those who have embraced and bought into the vision of the institution and the leader. If we as Vice Chancellors take the path of leadership without followers, our term in office will have just been a walk alone.

Strategic partnerships

A leader needs to be a problem solver, with networks in Government, in Industry, with Alumni and internationally which when brought to bear, help to resolve the challenges the institution is faced with while building the synergies that the University requires. This is where partnerships are important. As a University (University of Zambia), we have a dedicated strategic direction on fostering community outreach and beneficial partnerships and have created over 300 strategic partners who in the case of the School of Agricultural Sciences include both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and indeed many other agro companies.

Organizational politics

For the public universities, we face political influence in University Governance. But I believe from a leadership perspective that we will successfully deal with this challenge by starting from having an Institutional vision which must be shared with internal and external stakeholders. The vision must include how the people aspects will be addressed knowing fully well that the success of the vision depends on human capital implementing the different strategic initiatives in the university. This vision must also include how the University will build research capacity and foster partnerships, address knowledge generation challenges and foster skills development.

Another way to go navigate the political landscape is to institutionalize everything we do in the University. We need to have strong systems in place to the extent that even when you have a person with average leadership skills in the University, they can manage in the face of strong systems.

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Mark Wamai

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Applications for Admission to Undergraduate Programmes 2026/27

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Students in discussion groups in Freedom Square on 1st April 2026.

The Academic Registrar, Makerere University invites applications from Ugandan, East African, and international applicants for the undergraduate programmes under the private sponsorship scheme for the 2026/2027 Academic Year for ‘A’ Level Leavers Only.

Each applicant should:

Have the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) with at least five (5) passes, or its equivalent and at least two (2) principal passes at Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) obtained at the same sitting. For day programmes only candidates who sat A’ Level in 2025, 2024 and 2023 are eligible to apply. For evening, afternoon, and external programmes, a candidate is not restricted on the year of sitting A’ Level. Detailed information on the weighting system can be accessed by following this link.

Other relevant information can be obtained from UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS OFFICE, LEVEL 3, SENATE BUILDING OR CAN BE found on the University Website https://www.mak.ac.ug. Effective Monday 20th April 2026. 

A non-refundable application fee of shs.50,000/= for Ugandans, East African and S. Sudan applicants or $75 or equivalent for internationals  plus bank charges should be paid in any of the banks used by Uganda Revenue Authority.                                           

 Candidates who hold grades X, Y, Z, 7 and 9 of ‘O’Level results should not apply because they are not eligible for admission. Below are the availble courses including respective fees structure.

How to submit your application                                            

  1. Applicants should access the Institution’s Admissions URL https://apply.mak.ac.ug/
  2. Sign up by clicking on the REGISTER NOW. Use your full name, e-mail and Mobile No.  Please note that your name must be similar to the one on your supporting academic documents for your application to be considered valid.
  3. A password will be sent to you on your mobile phone and email.                                      
  4. The system will prompt you to change the password to the one you can easily remember.
  5. To fill an application form, click on the APPLY NOW button displayed on the appropriate running scheme.                                              
  6. Obtain a payment reference number by clicking on “Pay for Form” Button
  7. Make a payment at any of the banks used by Uganda Revenue Authority                                            

MOBILE MONEY PAYMENT STEPS:                                                 

  1. Dial *272*6# on either MTN or Airtel                                                             
  2. Select option 3-Admission                                                     
  3. Select option 3-Pay Fees
  4. Enter reference number obtained from Application portal 
  5. Details of Application form will be confirmed                                                              
  6. Enter PIN to confirm payment                                                            

The closing date for receiving applications shall be Friday 22nd May 2026.

WARNING:                                                             

  1. Applicants are strongly warned against presenting forged or other people’s academic documents to support their applications for admission.  The consequences, if discovered, are very grave indeed.
  2. Do not buy any other documents not originating from the Academic Registrar’s Office.  Those who buy them do so at their own risk. 
  3. The Academic Registrar has not appointed any agent to act on his behalf to solicit for additional funds other than the application fee stated above.    
  4. Applicants are advised to use the right programme names and codes. the university will not be responsible for any wrong information entered in the system by applicants.                                               

Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR

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CHS Registrars, Heads of Departments Embrace RIMS as Makerere Deepens Digital Shift in Graduate Supervision

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Participants pose for a group photo after the hands-on training in the Research Information Management System (RIMS) at the College of Health Sciences (CHS). Hands-on training in the Research Information Management System (RIMS) by the Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) and Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) for 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, 15th April 2026, College of Health Sciences, Mulago Campus, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

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.

The training in session. Hands-on training in the Research Information Management System (RIMS) by the Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) and Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) for 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, 15th April 2026, College of Health Sciences, Mulago Campus, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
The training in session.

“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.”

Arthur Moses Opio from DICTS was the lead trainer on RIMS. Hands-on training in the Research Information Management System (RIMS) by the Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) and Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) for 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, 15th April 2026, College of Health Sciences, Mulago Campus, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Arthur Moses Opio from DICTS was the lead trainer on RIMS.

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.

Prof. Annettee Olivia Nakimuli, the Dean School of Medicine (L) and Mr. Herbert Batamye, the Registrar of CHS (R). Hands-on training in the Research Information Management System (RIMS) by the Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) and Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) for 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, 15th April 2026, College of Health Sciences, Mulago Campus, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Prof. Annettee Olivia Nakimuli, the Dean School of Medicine (L) and Mr. Herbert Batamye, the Registrar of CHS (R).

“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.

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A Graceful Exit: Makerere Celebrates Patience Mushengyezi’s 26 Years of Service

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Academic Registrar Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza handing over a plaque in appreciation of Mrs. Patience Rubabinda Mushengyezi.

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.

Patience Mushengyezi (R) and her sister Alexandra Kalemera
Patience Mushengyezi (R) and her sister Alexandra Kalemera

“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.

Framed message in appreciation to Mrs. Mushengyezi dedicated service to Makerere University.
Framed message in appreciation to Mrs. Mushengyezi dedicated service to Makerere University.

“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.

Mrs. Mushengyezi receiving a bouquet of flowers from Ms. Ruth Iteu Eyoku
Mrs. Mushengyezi receiving a bouquet of flowers from Ms. Ruth Iteu Eyoku(L)

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.

A cake was cut.

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.

Rev. Lydia Kitayimbwa lead a prayer for Mrs Mushengyezi.

“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.

Betty Kyakuwa
Betty Kyakuwa

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