The DICTS Team conducts a training for Student Leaders of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) on 23rd February 2022 in the CHUSS Smart Room, Makerere University.
In the month of February 2022, the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) was involved in the orientation of first year students/Freshers and training of student leaders.
It has been a productive, engaging and fruitful month where we had face-to-face and virtual sessions to introduce students to the key ICT services they will be accessing while they study at the University.
Key things Trained On
How to activate their student portal
How to create a University email address
How to create a MUELE account for E-learning
How to connect to MAKAIR and Eduroam WiFi
How to be Cyber Alert
A Fresher’s orientation guide was documented and uploaded on our knowledge base and may be accesed using the Title and Link below:
The guide is loaded with content about DICTS; how students can access ICT services, how they can use the student portal for Payment Reference Number (PRN) generation to facilitate payments in the bank, via mobile money and through VISA. It also shows students how to activate their student portal, enrol and register for their programmes and course units.
DICTS worked closely with Exploits Fellowship; a group of students from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS). We also had the opportunity to work with another group of students from CHUSS led by Clinton Wandera. The students were trained on the different ICT services at DICTS’ College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) office. They were then equipped with tools (Laptops) to be able to support fellow students.
To broaden our reach, we set up a tent at the Freedom Square and publicized the engagements using our social media presence. Over 2,234 students were supported through this setup at the Freedom Square.
We equipped over 173 student leaders with skills in ICT services that enabled them better support students within their colleges. This training was groundbreaking as students got first hand information from their colleagues about the different challenges of the ICT services. This made them both good candidates and beneficiaries of the training.
Key observations
Student leaders can do a great deal in enabling students to embrace the ICT services through knowledge sharing.
Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) were not well catered for except for one orientation held at the Central Teaching Facility 1 (CTF1) for students of Social Sciences where an interpreter was present. DICTS will arrange for specialized training that will bring them up to speed.
A number of students faced difficulty with digital literacy, basic reading of instructions and technophobia, which was at high play. These factors will be addressed through continuous training.
Many students have embraced social media as a way of getting support. DICTS has a strong social media presence where we do not only give support but ensure students enjoy a good customer experience.
We thank the University Management, College Principals and Leadership, Student Leaders, the DICTS team, College ICT teams and our Director for enabling this to happen successfully.
Arthur Opio End User Support Administrator Directorate For ICT Support(DICTS) Twitter @DICTSMakerere Facebook @MakDICTS Email: arthur.opio@mak.ac.ug Phone: 0782294711
Makerere University School of Public Health, through the Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, is accepting applications for a two-week online short course on Introduction to Decision Modelling for Economic Evaluation.
The course will introduce participants to the principles and practical application of decision modelling in economic evaluation, covering Markov modelling, evidence synthesis, model development, validation, sensitivity analysis and interpretation of results to inform policy and resource allocation.
Convened by Dr. Elizabeth Ekirapa, Associate Professor of Health Economics at MakSPH, the course will feature Dr. Joseph Babigumira, Managing Consultant at GHE Consulting, as Guest Lecturer.
The training targets health professionals, researchers, policymakers, students and other individuals interested in applying decision modelling to economic evaluation.
Dates: 9–20 November 2026 Time: 3:00–6:00 PM EAT Mode: Online via Zoom Fees: UGX 800,000 (Ugandans) | USD 270 (non-Ugandans) Application Deadline: 1 November 2026
Makerere University and Xiangtan University are set to update their close to 20-year academic partnership, with a new focus on launching a joint Master’s degree program in Chemical Engineering and expanding student and staff exchange initiatives.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a recent visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University to Makerere University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in the company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively.
While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to diversify academic offerings and contribute to national development through training in Chemical Engineering. Through this new initiative, the University will better prepare graduates for the petrochemical industry and support the country’s industrial growth.
The meeting in session.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated that the proposed collaboration aims to address Uganda’s growing need for industrial expertise, particularly as the country develops its petroleum sector. The two universities here are working toward a 1+2 training model, which will enable Makerere students to gain practical experience and access advanced laboratory facilities at Xiangtan University.
Professor Nawangwe further reiterated that “our relationship with the people of China, not just for Makerere but also for a big part of Uganda, has been opened wider by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, considering that many other collaborations like one being discussed now have come through this collaboration.”
The head of the Xiangtan delegation, Professor Dingyu Ou, expressed appreciation for the meeting, and acknowledged the history between the institutions. “As mentioned, we have a very long relationship and a very stable friendship between our two universities.”
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) presents an assortment of Makerere Souvenirs to Prof. Dingyu Ou (R).
Professor Ou extended appreciation for the support provided to the Confucius Institute at Makerere, the care shown to his colleagues, and looked forward to the successful start of the Chemical Engineering collaboration.
Assuring the delegation of Makerere’s readiness for the collaboration, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba the Lead, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Makerere University Advancement Office, aligned with the Vice Chancellor’s emphasis of University goal to have both theory and practice imparted to the students.
She said “the curriculum of the university and Uganda as a whole is moving towards competence-based education training to ensure students are equipped to demonstrate those skills in the actual field, particularly regarding petroleum exploration.”
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) presents an assortment of Makerere Souvenirs to Prof. Zhuoqiong Xia (R).
Ms. Ndagire Kajumba also emphasised a shift in strategy for the partnership office, saying, “we are moving away from just signing MOUs that collect dust, and moving towards those that are more collaborative to benefit our faculty and students, just like this one.”
Professor Gilbert Kumushabe aligned his remarks with those of the Vice Chancellor and Ms. Ndagire Kajumba, and described the method used at Xiangtan University as “actually competence-based teaching.”
Based on his recent visit, Prof. Gumoshabe shared that students in China are divided into groups with dedicated teachers to perform practical, hands-on work beyond the theoretical lecturers. He expressed gladness that the same was being adopted for the Ugandan context.
Both institutions are now working to finalise the specific agreements for the joint degree and exchange programs. Beyond academic training, the collaboration will advance cultural and professional exchange.
Makerere University School of Public Health invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for three positions under the Wellcome Trust-supported NETOMA study, which examines the coexistence of health worker shortages and unemployment among qualified health professionals in Africa.
Available Positions
Research Officer To coordinate longitudinal research, data management, quality assurance, and statistical analysis across study sites. Full details and application: https://sph.mak.ac.ug/careers/?view_job=21465
Policy Scientist To undertake health workforce policy research, evidence synthesis, qualitative analysis and knowledge translation. Full details and application: https://sph.mak.ac.ug/careers/?view_job=21468
Research Assistants To support participant recruitment, field data collection, research documentation, and analysis. Full details and application: https://sph.mak.ac.ug/careers/?view_job=21470
Application deadline: Friday, 16 October 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EAT .