General
Joyce Mpanga: It was by luck that I made it to Makerere
“Although there are a number of things today that don’t look like the Makerere I was in. The Makerere that I entered was extremely beautiful. We had beautiful lawns and there were very few but very beautiful buildings.”
At first, Joyce Mpanga wanted to become a nurse. But the dream never came to fruition as she was still young to get admitted, she had to stay at Gayaza High School and was automatically admitted to Makerere College in 1953, after passing Cambridge School Certificate that learners took after completing junior high school, equivalent to today’s O’level.
Mpanga graduated first in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts. She spent another year at Makerere doing a post-graduate diploma in Education which she obtained in 1958. She was hired as a part-time teacher in Makerere College and later faculty of education.
A politician, women rights crusader and educationist in the past six decades, Joyce Mpanga is one of Makerere’s illustrious female alumni. As the university celebrates its centenary anniversary, it’s shining a light on alumni of her calibre. She is a woman of many firsts, including being the first African female lecturer in the faculty of education at Makerere University and Gayaza High School’s first African deputy headmistress.
Now in retirement and more than six decades after graduation, Mpanga recounted her times at Makerere in a recent interview. Makerere, she says, was a beautiful place. “I entered Makerere in 1953 and I graduated in 1958. I first graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts but then I did one other year of postgraduate diploma in education,” she says. Makerere College was at the time affiliated to the University of London, hence, the degree she received was from University of London.
In the interview, she gives nuanced tells of her time at the hill: being the only female in her Bachelor of Arts class as well as a number of university and national events that took place during that epoch of her life. Mpanga was admitted eight years after Makerere opened doors to female students. In the interview, she also talks about how she earned a job at Makerere as a lecturer.
Mpanga who had joined Gayaza High School in 1947 from Ndejje High with another girl. At Gayaza for junior one to junior three. After completing Junior three and passing continuation exams which learners sat at the time, she went for interviews at Mengo Nursing School in 1949. Other girls who she had applied with were admitted and started nursing training because they were strong enough to carry patients. Mpanga was at the time 15 years old. “They told me that if I like nursing, I can go back and come back later,” she says. She wondered what to do. The other option was King’s College Budo which had started admitting girls in 1934 yet she never wanted to go to Budo. “My father wanted to take me to King’s College Buddo but I didn’t want to leave Gayaza,” she says.
Entry to Makerere
At the time, she was joining what we now know as secondary level. As her parents were pondering on what do, Gayaza decided to start senior secondary level which had to run for four years which she completed in 1952 after passing Cambridge School Certificate. At first, Miss Cox who was the headmistress of Gayza didn’t know whether the students were good enough for Cambridge School Certificate. The headmistress took them to a girls’ only school in Kenya to compare standards which she found that her students were good. Miss Cox became confident thus deciding to present them to Makerere the exams which they passed.
When results were released, Ms Cox was confident that Mpanga and another girl would be admitted to Makerere. Indeed, they were admitted after submitting their certificates to Makerere.
“I remember when my father visited the school, Miss Cox told him that they were going to try and see if Makerere could take me,” Mpanga says. Makerere accepted to admit her together with another girl from Gayaza and one from Trinity College Nabbingo.
“The headmistress sent a teacher to come to my home and inform us that I had been given a place at Makerere. Everybody was excited. The school was excited. My parents were very excited and so was I,” she says.
At Makerere, entrants first did what is now known as two years of Advanced Level (A level) and then studied a degree or a diploma. Degrees were both for sciences and arts. And the diplomas were for education, agriculture and veterinary. In the second year of A Level, students who were to join the degree, London intermediate exams set by University of London while for the diploma, exams were set by Makerere College.
To sit University of London intermediate exams, a student must have passed English at O-level, Mpanga says. “Being admitted for the intermediate exam meant that I had passed with a good credit in English,” she says.
In the first year of A Level, the three girls Mpanga entered Makerere with–one from Gayaza, another from Trinity College Nabbingo and a third one from Kenya–were told that they weren’t going to present them for the University of London intermediate exam. Instead, they were going to take the Makerere higher Arts and go into diploma courses. “They went into education for two years and came out with a diploma in education and that too was quite high for anybody at that time,” she says.
Mpanga sat University of London intermediate exams which she passed and enrolled for Bachelor of Arts. Makerere was then a college that awarded University of London degrees. For the degree, she studied English, history and sociology.
Life as a student
With three other female students she joined with going for diploma, Mpanga became the only woman in the degree intermediate class. And it was the first time she was studying with males. But during the two years of intermediate for degree entry, everybody was telling her to opt for diploma arguing that she wasn’t going to pass. Male students were telling Mpanga that intermediate was going to be very difficult for her. They were also telling her it had even been difficult for male students.
“The intermediate one was the first time I studied with men and of course the men who were discouraging us. All the time they would say that you are a girl and you can’t make it. They would just be surprised to see that you’ve made it,” she says. In the degree class, Mpanga says, “I was used to studying with boys. They used to tease me and I would tease them back.”
Mpanga contemporaries at Makerere included, Prof. Namboze Josephine, the first female student to graduate with a medical degree from Makerere University. She was also the first female medical doctor in Eastern Africa. “She was very hard working as I remember,” Mpanga says.
Nambooze’s time at Makerere: https://100.mak.ac.ug/a-dance-at-state-house-sharing-a-class-with-male-students-east-africas-first-woman-medical-doctor-tells-her-makerere-story-%ef%bf%bc/
At the time she joined, the University Guest House was the girl’s dormitory. There were only 13 girls in the university. They later moved to Mary Stuart Hall, whose construction started in 1947. When Mpanga left Makerere in 1958, there were about 50 female students. Male and female students were treated equally, Mpanga says, except that boys were allowed to get into their halls by midnight, girls had to be in their dormitory by 10:30PM.
The famous undergraduate red gown was in use during the 1950s. It was mandatory for students to don the gown whenever they went out of their halls at night or wherever they went out of campus. Makerere students were very highly respected, Mpanga says. But they also respected themselves. “We had our own self-respect, I am a Makerere student. I can’t do this. Like I see sometimes students moving from Wandegeya, eating maize on the way, how could a Makerere student eat while walking on the street? That was below us,” she says.
Into University politics
Mpanga was always interested in politics. There was a guild which was made up of representatives from halls of residences. Each hall had to send three or four representatives to the guild. “Since I was interested in politics from the beginning, I used to be one of the people who represented Mary Stuart in the guild,” she says. Students campaigned for leadership positions but she says they did not involve outside political parties as it is today.
But as it is today, students took keen interest in national politics by following activities of political parties such as Democratic Party and Uganda National Congress (UNC), the first political party in Uganda formed in 1952. Political parties used to hold meetings where the old bus park is now, Mpanga says. “There was a tree which they called omuti gwe dembe. Politicians from different political parties used to hold mass meetings there. And I remember we used to run and go and listen to them,” she says.
Unlike today when a semester can’t elapse without students’ demonstrations, there were no strikes at Makerere during Mpanga’s time. The last strike had taken place in 1949. And that’s when Abu Mayanja was expelled from Makerere for leading the strike over food. However, Mpanga says there were tense moments such as the deportation of the kabaka Mutesa II in 1953 that nearly led to a demonstration.
On the day the Kabaka was exiled, she says, students were gated in their dormitories to ensure that they don’t move out. But male students forcefully moved out and went outside near the female students’ hall, calling ‘Abana ba BUganda, come out.’ The girls too moved out. They moved to the arts building lower lecture theatre and started shouting out what they were going to do. “We decided on a number of things. One was that we shall never stand up when they’re singing God, save the Queen,” she remembers.
The Queen of England together with the duke of Edinburgh visited Uganda in 1954. As part of the trip, they were supposed to visit Makerere, open the Arts building and plant two trees in the Arts Building quadrangle. It was the reason why the Arts building was christened the Queen’s Court. The Queen’s Makerere visit never took place. Instead students were selected to go to Entebbe and meet the Queen and her entourage. It’s the students who got the trees, brought them to Makerere and planted them on behalf of the Queen and the Duke.
Loyalty to Buganda kingdom mattered for students like Mpanga, hence snubbing the opportunity to go to Entebbe and meet the Queen. “I was not one of the students who went to meet them. I can say that I was fairly political and politics outside concerned me. My kingdom Buganda had refused the Queen,” she says.
Graduation, return to Makerere
Mpanga graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts and a diploma in Education. “And I remember one, one newspaper put in with ‘a double smile for a double entry’ because I got my diploma for education,” she says. Mpanga completed the degree in 1957. It took a year between students completing the degree course and when they graduated because their results had to be verified and approved by London University. She spent the would be year of waiting studying the postgraduate diploma. Her graduation brought excitement in her family and village.
“My family was very excited. In fact, I had a death in the family. One of my brothers died. If that didn’t happen, I don’t know what I would have done with all my relatives, because the whole village was saying, ‘we are going to hire a car and see how our daughter is being crowned.’ Many did not come,” she says referring to the graduation day.
However, her mother and about ten other relatives attended the graduation. Each graduand would be given two invitation cards but Mpanga says she secured more cards from Tanzanian and Kenyan students whose parents were not coming for graduation.
Mpanga had got a first-class diploma in education. And she was quickly earmarked to start teaching immediately after graduation. “They gave me a part-time lecture. I was actually a teacher in Makerere College School, but I also taught students who were in the faculty of education,” she says. “It was sort of saying, don’t go very far. We want you to get a second degree and be able to be appointed as a lecturer.”
It had been the same policy with other bright students such as Kenya’s former President Mwai Kibaki who was appointed part lecturer after graduation. Mpanga taught for one and half years and then went to do a masters degree in education at University of Indiana Bloomington campus in America. When she returned from America, there was no place in the faculty at that time. But Mpanga wasn’t short of offers because Gayaza wanted her as the first African deputy headmistress.
Mpanga took Gayaza high school offer but then after a short time Makerere advertised a temporary job in the faculty of education and the subject was exactly like she had done. This was 1964. She applied for it. Before sitting interviews, she had to get recommendations from the faculty. First, she went to professor Tom Watson who had taught her, and who had advertised the temporary job. The professor told her that the job had been advertised for a very experienced European woman. He told Mpanga that “you are already in a very good first class school as deputy headmistress.”
She went to another professor called Lucas requesting a recommendation. Professor Lucas had been Mpanga’s personal tutor when she was in faculty education. He gladly accepted to give her a recommendation, saying, “if we haven’t produced anybody who can lecture with us, what have we done?”
Mpanga sat the interviews together with other three applicants. She passed and was given the job. “I think I can say I was the first African woman as the lecturer. They were African men who were lecturers. But I don’t remember any woman who was a lecturer at that time. I started as a lecturer in 1964.”
She adds; “I felt proud. I won’t hide that. I felt proud because how many African lecturers were there?” Prof. Yusuf Lule, Makerere’s first black principal, was excited to have the first African female lecturer and didn’t want to let Mpanga go. When her 18 month contract expired, it was extended.
Mpanga stopped teaching in 1967 and went to Britain to stay with her husband who couldn’t return to Uganda following 1966 crisis in which prime minister Milton Obote abolished Buganda kingdom. Her husband was the kingdom’s attorney general in the 1966 crisis.
Final reflections
“I am very proud of Makerere,” she says, adding, “although there are a number of things today that don’t look like the Makerere I was in. The Makerere that I entered was extremely beautiful. We had beautiful lawns and there were very few but very beautiful buildings.”
As Makerere turns a century old and starts its next century journey, Mpanga says, “Makerere should keep that name as beautiful and as dignified as we used to have it.”
“We used to be very dignified and you always felt proud to come to Makerere. And of course, even those who are there now should be proud that they’ve made it.”
The President of the Republic of Uganda and Visitor of Makerere University, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on 8th April 2025 officially flagged off the Research and Innovations Week 2025 and lauded researchers on progress made in utilizing funds to inform national development.
“The more a society is able to tame and harness nature; natural laws, and use them for improving their life, the more developed that society is, so I am very glad that you seem to be getting the message now,” President Museveni commended.
Citing innovations such as Freza, a nanotechnology-based preservation solution used for either shelf life extension of fruits and vegetables or accelerating ripening, President Museveni observed that such practices exist traditionally and called upon scientists to rise above the inferiority complex that seeks to neglect indigenous science knowledge. He noted, to the joy of the audience, that the annual allocation to the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) was subject to future increment.
“This money we are sending, the 30 billion is endozo/jaribu; you taste and if you like, I will give you more” remarked the President to instantaneous applause from the audience. He nevertheless cautioned researchers in their pursuit of coming up with innovations that make economic sense not to ignore what would be considered taboo according to indigenous knowledge. The President was referring to the proposed use of animal protein to enrich cattle fodder.
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni in her speech read by the State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu commended Makerere University’s upon utilizing Mak-RIF funding to dynamically respond to both national and global needs.
“Today, we gather to celebrate the tangible outcomes of these investments, pioneering innovations, technological advancements, and actionable policy recommendations that continue to propel Uganda forward,” remarked the First Lady.
Hon. Janet Museveni nevertheless called for the strengthening of collaborations between academia, Government, industry and civil society in order to maximize the impact of Mak-RIF research outputs. “This exhibition serves as a platform for these crucial interactions, where research meets policy, academia meets industry, and ideas transform into market-ready solutions.”
Referring to Mak-RIF’s 65 projects identified for commercialization and 79 projects producing actionable policy recommendations as, “proof that we are making strides in the right direction”, the First Lady urged the private sector to take keen interest in the innovations and support their adoption for economic transformation.
The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Information, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero described universities as invaluable in the journey to synthesize science in six milestones. These she broke down as; 1) generating knowledge through research, 2) developing technologies, 3) converting technologies into usable products, 4) manufacturing products at industrial scale, 5) building viable businesses and brands that can be sold globally, and 6) ensuring that brands touch the economy through profitability, as well as creating distribution channels, related businesses, and science that is environmentally friendly.
Citing the example of Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), Hon. Dr. Musenero observed that many products that had their humble beginnings at Makerere University have now reached the market. “Not only have we produced buses, but we have also designed prototypes of SUVs; the common vehicles that we use in Government. Your Excellency, we are asking that Government policy is revised so that we give priority to domestically developed products” she appealed.
Describing the exhibition as the apex of the fulfillment of point number five of the National Resistance Movement’s original ten-point programme, which called for the creation of an integrated and self-sustaining national economy, the Chancellor Dr. Crispus Kiyonga thanked President Museveni for the funding extended to Mak-RIF.
“This exhibition is laying out very relevant innovations and discoveries by our own people; the children of Uganda, taught by Uganda, who are also assisting create other innovators and researchers. That really gets us to the point of being truly self-sustaining as a country” remarked the Chancellor.
“Therefore Mr. President as we approach the next anniversary of Heroes’ Day in June this year,” Dr. Kiyonga continued, “we can reassert that the blood of our Ugandan Heroes was not shed in vain” he concluded.
The Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara in her remarks described the occasion as “not merely a ceremonial event, but a celebration of the transformative role of research and innovation in advancing Uganda’s development agenda.
“Today, we showcase the fruits of years of dedication and ingenuity. The exhibitions you will encounter today are not just academic endeavours – they underscore Makerere University’s enduring role as a centre of excellence, a hub for innovation, and a key partner in national development,” observed Mrs. Magara.
Acknowledging Government’s support to research and innovations, the Chairperson of Council reiterated Makerere University’s commitment to further strengthening the partnership with Government and to pursuing new frontiers of collaboration with industry. “Your Excellency, we extend our deepest appreciation. The establishment of the RIF is a testament to your unwavering commitment to nurturing Uganda’s academic and innovation ecosystem.”
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe acknowledged that Makerere has been spurred on to pursue impactful research thanks to the President’s positive criticism whenever he addresses the staff. “The level of research that you have seen is world-class.”
Prof. Nawangwe reported that over 1,300 awards had been made by Mak-RIF since inception. Additionally, by the end of the Financial Year, 2023/24, a cumulative total of 666 (approximately 50%) projects had completed implementation of their activities and closed out.
The Vice Chancellor took the opportunity to thank UNDP for supporting the establishment of the Makerere University Pod (Mak UniPod). “The University Pod is where researchers are trained to on how to incubate their ideas and turn them into businesses so that they can go out there and create jobs for our youth,” he added.
Prof. Nawangwe concluded by thanking the Government for the funding, the University Council for guiding Management, and the line Ministry for releasing the funds. He equally congratulated the researchers on the enormous work done and urged them to do even more.
A total of 91 exhibitors are showcasing their projects at the Research and Innovations Week 2025.
View the Event Livestream
General
Prof. Nawangwe encourages Mastercard Foundation Alumni to support each other in advancing their careers
On Saturday, April 5, 2025, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University held its inaugural scholar-alumni convening, themed “Building Bridges: From Scholars to Global Change Makers,” with great pomp and fanfare.
While representing Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi urged the Scholar-alumni to support one another and grow their careers together.
“Dear alumni, I encourage you to support one another, as it will help you grow your careers together. Education is a foundation, not just a destination. What you do after Makerere defines the true success of the Scholars Program. Wherever life takes you, stay curious, courageous, and committed to uplifting others as you rise. Prof Buyinza remarked.
Prof. Buyinza further reminded the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University alumni to always remember that they are more than just graduates; instead, they should view themselves as a powerful force capable of changing Uganda and the world.
“I encourage all of you to value your connections within the university. As graduates of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, you have the power to change Uganda and Africa. Makerere University supports the AlumNet Foundation, which we hope will partner with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Our mission is to educate, empower, and help you realize your bold dreams for meaningful change,” Prof. Buyinza emphasized.
Mr. Adrian Bukenya, the Country Director of Mastercard Foundation Uganda, represented by Ms. Rachel Nandelenga, the Country Lead for Program Communications in Uganda, acknowledged the invaluable partnership with Makerere University, noting that the collaboration has made a substantial impact in the communities through the active engagement of Scholar alumni.
“The Mastercard Foundation is proud of its decade-long partnership with Makerere University, which has borne a lot of fruit and made a significant impact in the communities through the activities of the scholars and alumni, especially through the component of giving back to the community, ” Mr. Bukenya remarked.
Mr. Bukenya further urged the Scholar-alumni to leverage their extensive network worldwide to connect, learn from one another, and support each other in finding jobs or creating entrepreneurial ventures.
“I call upon you to take advantage of the extensive network of Mastercard Foundation partners around the world, especially for the opportunities created under the Young Africa Works strategy. I invite you to visit the Foundation’s website to explore these opportunities and connect with your peers who are working with the Foundation. I also encourage you to stay connected with your peers across the partner networks and your university. Lastly, I encourage you to live boldly by expressing your ideas.” Mr. Bukenya pointed out.
Mr. Bukenya encouraged the scholar-alumni to step out of their comfort zones and look beyond titles and descriptors that aim to belittle them.
“When I look around the room, I don’t see scholars or alumni; I see great thinkers, rising leaders, influential innovators, and quiet disruptors of the status quo. I see future ministers, parliamentarians, chief executives of Organisations, and quiet innovators of ideas that will change this world. Therefore, I urge you to look beyond titles and descriptors such as ” scholar-alumni,” Mr. Bukenya emphasized.
Mr. Sylas Ruhweza, Team Lead of the Alumni Association under the AlumNet Foundation, expressed gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation and Makerere University for their visionary partnership. He noted that this collaboration has immensely benefited many young people in Uganda and throughout Africa.
“I would like to first express our gratitude to the Foundation and Makerere University for their visionary partnership, which has enabled many young people to obtain a quality university education that most of us may not have otherwise attained,” Mr. Ruhweza stated.
Mr. Ruhweza reminded his fellow alumni of the importance of the convening as a vehicle to support them in achieving their shared visions and dreams.
“Colleagues we’re here today to commemorate our first Scholar-alumni convening for a reason. We are here today because we have a shared vision, we have dreams, and we can only achieve our dreams if we often share ideas, learn and support each other.” Mr. Ruhweza remarked.
Mr. Ruhweza encouraged his fellow alumni to take advantage of the resources the Foundation provided and the skills imparted by Makerere University, to enable them transition successfully to the next chapter of their lives.
“The Foundation provided all the resources we needed, Makerere University imparted the knowledge and skills; therefore, we have no excuse not to transition to any of the pathways: namely, Employment, Entrepreneurship, or further studies,” he added.
The Program Director for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, Prof. Justine Namaalwa, used the occasion to inspire the alumni to maintain the spirit of giving back to their communities, a core component of the Scholars Program.
“Dear Alumni, I encourage you to continue embracing the spirit of giving back to the community, as it has a profound impact and supports your peers. We are grateful for the significant project you completed in Buyende District in 2024. Now is the time to start planning for an even bigger project in 2025,” Professor Namaalwa stated.
Prof. Namaalwa further reminded the alumni not to focus too much on the class of degree they obtained; instead, they should concentrate on what they can accomplish and achieve with the education they received at Makerere University.
“The class of degree may not matter much; instead, what truly counts is what you can do with the education and skills you acquired at Makerere University. Do not focus solely on the paper; rather, what you are now and where you want to be is what truly matters,” Prof. Namaalwa remarked.
The inaugural alumni convening was a vibrant event featuring a range of engaging activities, including panel discussions, meet-and-greet sessions, and lively music and dance performances. Organized by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University, the Alumni Convening serves as an important annual platform for alumni to network and deepen their involvement in Program activities. By uniting Scholar alumni from different cohorts, the event fosters a strong sense of community and provides an opportunity for participants to share their experiences, challenges, and successes. This collaborative environment not only strengthens the Scholar Alumni community but also encourages ongoing engagement and support among alumni.
Bernard Buteera is the Principal Communications & Public Relations OfficerMastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
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