General
Absa Uganda Pledges UGX65million towards Mak Centenary celebrations
Absa Bank Uganda Limited has today announced a commitment of 65 million Uganda shillings towards Makerere’s centenary celebrations.
The contribution that was delivered by the Managing Director of Absa Uganda, Mr. Mumba Kalifungwa at Makerere earlier today is geared towards facilitating year-long activities in commemoration of Makerere’s centennial journey. The funds are also aimed at enabling the University to achieve its short-term goals as well as its ambitious long-term projects.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe thanked Absa Uganda for the commitment towards Makerere’s centenary celebrations which kicked off in November last year and will run throughout this year till the final commemorative event in October.
Prof. Nawangwe also highlighted Makerere’s long-term partnership with Absa Bank, “Makerere is proudly associated with ABSA through the programs that support SMEs and the scholarship programs they run for young people in Uganda.” He said, adding that “We thank them for their consistency in enabling young people to achieve their full potential.”
Speaking at the event, Mr. Kalifungwa remarked that the bank recognizes the role played by the university in bolstering the economy by producing invaluable human resources which are evidenced by the fact that over 70% of the top administration at Absa Uganda is from Makerere.
“Access to education remains one of Africa’s biggest challenges and thus Education and skills development remains a key focus as the bank supports youth access to education through our scholarship program, employability through the ReadyToWork initiative, and partnerships with institutions of higher learning like Makerere.” He added.
Makerere University’s celebration of 100 years marks the end of a century of excellence, and offers the opportunity to define the future by “Leveraging the 100 Years of Excellence in Building a Transformed Society.”
Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.
The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.
Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.
After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.
Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.
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