The Vice Chancellor-Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (4th R), DVCAA-Prof. Umar Kakumba (5th R) and the Editor, NC STATE's-Prof. James Kiwanuka-Tondo (3rd R) hold a dummy of the book during the launch on 13th May 2022, Senate Conference Hall, Makerere University. L-R are Dr. Fred Kakooza, Dr. William Tayeebwa, Dr. Samuel Siminyu, Keynote Speaker-Dr. Stephen Watiti, Deputy Director DRGT-Prof. Robert Wamala, TASO's Mr. Samuel Isiko and Ms. Martha Muwanguzi.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on Friday 13th May, 2022 launched an eleven-chapter book titled “HIV/AIDS in Uganda: Achievements and Challenges” edited by alumnus Prof. James Kiwanuka-Tondo and published by the Makerere University Press (MUP). The book that chronicles the history of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Uganda also traces the public policies and infrastructure put in place by the Government and other actors to respond to the disease as well as the campaigns designed to raise awareness and reduce its spread.
Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo who obtained is Bachelor of Arts degree from Makerere University is a Professor of Communication at North Carolina State University (NC STATE) and a College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) Alumni Distinguished Graduate Professor 2019/2020. Speaking at the launch, he noted that the book makes a significant contribution to the literature and understanding of one of the major challenges of our time, which still has neither cure nor vaccine.
“In 1986 with the help of the World Health Organisation, the country established the AIDS Control Programme as a model for the rest of Africa. And now it is not just a model for the rest of Africa but the whole world… Consequently, the Government established the Uganda AIDS Commission to oversee policies, organisations, mobilisation of resources to respond to the pandemic. Moreover, Uganda was the first country in Africa to acknowledge the problem and come up with vigorous campaigns to respond to HIV/AIDS” said Prof. Kiwanuka Tondo.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) receives a dummy of the book from Prof. James Kiwanuka-Tondo (R) shortly after he officially launched it.
He added that he was inspired to embark on the book because Uganda’s success story in reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS was against the backdrop of limited Government resources and an impoverished population. “Nevertheless, Uganda was able to do something about it without much money despite having the highest HIV prevalence rates in the 1980s.”
Dr. Stephen Watiti, the Chairperson of the National Forum of People Living with HIV/AIDS Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANU) is one of the most resounding voices for positive living in Uganda. Delivering the keynote address at the event, he congratulated Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo for documenting this journey, noting that it was important to learn from the past.
He added that the recent fight against COVID-19 stood to gain a lot from the well-documented approach, expertise gained and interestingly, mistakes made by health practitioners and other actors in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Dr. Watiti therefore commended Makerere University for publishing the book, which he opined will offer valuable insight into Uganda’s fight against HIV/AIDS in the face of looming pandemics associated with the rising incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and other diseases.
Dr. Stephen Watiti (L) shows off his personal copy of the book, “HIV/AIDS in Uganda: Achievements and Challenges”.
“The reason why I publish in the New Vision every Monday is because I found that there was either a lot of trivialisation or fearmongering of things about HIV. And so I convinced the Editor that I was going to start by sharing my personal experience and I must confess that it hasn’t been an easy job” admittted Dr. Watiti.
He concluded his keynote by tasking his audience, especially the younger ones to read more and, upon developing the culture, document their personal stories for the benefit of future generations.
“Professor Kiwanuka-Tondo is a very good example of a patriotic Ugandan and a proud alumnus of Makerere University. Thank you for loving your country. With this book you have given us a gift as we celebrate 100 years of existence and set a good example for the very many Ugandans living in the diaspora” said the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe as he delivered his remarks.
He thanked Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo for initiating and collaborating the visit of Professors from NC STATE to Makerere, which birthed an MoU between the two institutions, signed on 16th September 2015. As a result of the agreement, students from Makerere are currently pursing PhDs at NC STATE, and 11 journal articles have been jointly published in various disciplines. The book by Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo is the latest product of the Makerere-NC STATE collaboration.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and Chairperson, Makerere University Press (MUP) Editorial Board, Prof. Umar Kakumba.
The Vice Chancellor equally thanked Dr. Watiti for delivering the day’s Keynote Address and for his column in the New Vision, which has over the last sixteen (16) years reassured the public that contracting HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence. He equally congratulated the MUP Managing Editor, Dr. Samuel Siminyu upon his resilience in reviving the activities of the Press.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Umar Kakumba in his capacity as Chairperson Editorial Board affirmed MUP’s readiness to rejuvenate the publishing culture at Makerere.
“We in the Press are trying hard to prioritise documentation of research, which if followed up with engagement, will help to close the gap between the University and wider stakeholder community” said Prof. Kakumba. He thanked Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo for entrusting the publication of his book with the Makerere University Press.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (L) witnesses as Prof. James Kiwanuka-Tondo (R) autographs a copy of his book after the official launch.
Representing Dr. Bernard Etukoit, Executive Director, The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), Mr. Samuel Isiko informed the audience that although his organisation has gathered a lot of data, models and best practices over the last 30 years of its existence, it lacks the expertise to convert it into material beneficial to academia. He therefore called upon Makerere and other institutions to continue from where Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo had left off, by partnering with TASO to publish even more materials that will benefit future generations of decision makers.
The book launch was also graced by the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe and the Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, represented by his Deputy, Assoc. Prof. Robert Wamala. Dr. Samuel Siminyu in commending Prof. Kiwanuka-Tondo’s academic effort quoted his former Professor of Literature Timothy Wangusa’s famous line, “the faintest ink is stronger than the strongest memory”.
The event was organised by the Head, International Office, Ms. Martha Muwanguzi and moderated by the Department of Journalism and Communication’s Dr. Fred Kakooza, who also authored a chapter in the book.
The book may be purchased form the Makerere University Press at a fee of UGX 25,000. Inquires: Contact Enos 0771 563469
The Nottingham Trent University (NTU) Global Summer School will run from 7 July – 1 August 2025 in the heart of England.
Why join this summer?
A diverse range of credit-bearing courses The Global Summer School offers a variety of exciting courses, from cybersecurity to creative industries, and space science to entrepreneurship – truly something for everyone! With two distinct blocks of courses, students can either dive deeper into their passions or broaden their horizons by exploring new subjects.
A truly international experience Students will join peers from many countries across the world, creating a vibrant and multicultural learning environment that enhances the global student experience.
An exciting cultural and social programme Beyond the classroom NTU offers a full schedule of activities, including visits to iconic UK cities, sports and evening events ensuring that students make the most of their time in the UK.
A safe and welcoming destination Nottingham is a city renowned for its safety, having earned the prestigious Purple Flag award for its excellent night-time safety and vibrant atmosphere, ensuring your students feel at home both on and off campus.
Don’t miss out! This is the perfect chance for students to develop new skills, make new friends and experience the best of British culture. NTU looks forward to welcoming students this summer!
On behalf of Makerere University Management, I congratulate and thank you for the successful completion of Semester Two: 2024/2025.
2.End of the Second Semester
The second Semester holiday break will begin on 17th May, 2025 up to Saturday 9th August, 2025.
3. Resident Students
All resident students are expected to vacate the Halls of Residence by mid-day on Saturday, 17th May, 2025.
4. University Property
Please hand over all University property in your possession (such as: room keys, Sports & Games equipment, College property etc) before you leave the Hall of Residence.
5. Security of personal property
Please make sure that you carry with you all your property.
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.
One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall.
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.
Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale.
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.
Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL).
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.