Officiating at the Swearing-in-Ceremony of the 88th Students’ Guild held on Monday 5th December 2022, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe called upon the student leaders to work with the University Management, Senate and Council to promote a favourable brand of Makerere University that is renowned for research, innovations and excellence.
“The University exists because of students. We cannot exist without you students. Our goal is to ensure that students are handled well. So, I request that the Students’ Guild works together with the University Management to make the University a better place. Let us work together to promote the best practices such as excellence and intellectual discourse,” he remarked.
In a speech read by the Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the Vice Chancellor further urged the student leadership to uphold dialogue in issues of management and conflict resolution.
“Issues can be solved amicably by use of dialogue and solutions can be found without necessarily using force or strikes,” he said.
Chairperson Mr. Edrine Nsobanyi (Right) together with Ms Joan Atuhaire, Vice Chairperson Electoral Commission
The Vice Chancellor congratulated H.E. Lawrence Alionzi, a student of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) upon his election as the 88th Guild President of Makerere University. In the same spirit, he expressed gratitude to the students who took the bold step to contest for leadership at the different levels, and congratulated each and every one who emerged a winner at the Cabinet level, Guild Representative Council, Hall Chairpersons and Senior Common Room, Representatives of College Guild Council among other categories.
Prof. Nawangwe hailed the Students’ Electoral Commission led by Mr. Edrine Nsobanyi for conducting peaceful, free and fair elections in a shortest time possible.
“I have been briefed by the Chairperson of the Students’ Electoral Commission and the Dean of Students, Mrs. Winifred Kabumbuli that during the physical elections, we would have between 5,000 and 6,000 participants, but this time, when we conducted elections virtually, over 10,000 students participated in the polls. I thank the team that managed the University e-voting system led by Mr. Samuel Mugabi, the Director of DICTS and Ms. Ruth Eteu from the Department of the Academic Registrar,” he said.
Guild Representatives for Persons with Disabilities pose for a photo with Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Henry Alinaitwe and Dean of Students Winfred Kabumbuli
He reminded students to guard against unfortunate incidents such as the one that led to suspension of the earlier Guild elections, where a student of the Uganda Christian University lost his life while participating in Makerere University Guild campaigns.
Sharing lived examples as a student leader at various levels during his school days, Prof. Alinaitwe advised the student leaders to value their time, and the time of other people. He emphasized the need to respect time and rallied the student leaders to always keep time by starting meetings on time and meeting deadlines.
Guild Representative Councillors (Complex Hall) with Margaret Nattabi (Extreme Right) who doubles as Vice Guild President pose for a photo with Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Mrs. Winfred Kabumbuli and Complex Hall Warden Ms. Donna Keirungi (Extreme Left)
“Leaders should lead by example. I encourage you to always consult and value time management. I was a time keeper in primary and secondary school. Time management is very essential in delivery of services, and ensuring that meetings, activities, programmes and projects are executed well,” said Prof. Alinaitwe.
In his remarks, Mr. Nsobanyi appreciated the University Management for the support rendered to the Students’ Electoral Commission. “I thank the administration for restoring the students’ leadership. You have really supported activities of the elections including online elections which have been extremely peaceful, free, fair with no chaos,” he said.
Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Henry Alinaitwe (Center), H.E. Lawrence Alionzi (on his left), Dean of Students Mrs. Winfred Kabumbuli (on his right) together with out-going Guild President Shamim Nambasa (4th Left) join Alionzi’s family in a group photo after swearing-in.
Delivering his inaugural speech, the 88th Guild President H.E. Alionzi glorified God for the gift of life, studies and for his elevation to the position of Guild President. He saluted his parents, his uncle (Mr. Pariyo Albert), teachers, religious leaders and everyone who has significantly made a positive contribution to his life journey.
H.E. Alionzi appreciated the students for not only participating in the Guild elections, but also choosing him as their next leader. The Guild President expressed readiness to work with every student at Makerere University regardless of his or her political and religious affiliation.
“I was voted by the students. I believe in a Guild for the students, by the students. During the three months of the Guild Government, I will prioritise dialogue and intellectual discourse,” said H.E. Alionzi.
The Guild President is fully committed to working with the University Management to prioritise the renovation of Halls of Residence as well as proposals aimed at expanding teaching and learning facilities on campus.
Staff from the Office of the Dean of Students in the audience during the swearing-in ceremony.
While handing over the Office, the 87th Guild President of Makerere University, H.E. Shamim Nambassa congratulated the 88th Students’ Guild upon their election and appealed to them to be result oriented.
“In execution of your duties, please always remember the students who voted you into office. Prioritise the demands and interests of the students. Stand with Makerereans and remain accountable to them for the time you will spend in office,” she said.
Delivering the closing remarks, the Dean of Students, Mrs. Winifred Kabumbuli, informed the 88th Students’ Guild about an upcoming induction workshop organized by the Dean of Students where the Students’ Guild will interact/engage with key University officials and experts in different fields.
The Makerere University Innovation Pod is thrilled to announce the launch of the E-Mobility Skilling Programme: Cohort 2, in partnership with Kiira Motors Corporation and UNDP Uganda! This immersive one-year program offers exceptional Bachelor of Science and related discipline students (2nd-3rd year) the opportunity to gain cutting-edge skills in electric vehicle technology.
We are seeking motivated individuals from Physics, various Engineering fields, Industrial Art, Architecture, and Business (Marketing) with a strong academic record. Participants will engage in hands-on training, industrial immersion at Kiira Motors, and contribute to the development of the “Moonshot Project.”
Apply by September 1, 2025, to be part of this transformative skilling initiative. Female students are strongly encouraged to apply.
Invitation to bid for Consultancy Services for Midterm Review of The Embassy of The Kingdom of Netherlands Funded Project; Securing Refugee-Host Relations Through Enhanced Protection, under Refugee Law Project, School of Law, Makerere University. Proc. Ref. No. MAK/SRVCS/2025-26/00013
The Makerere University under Refugee Law Project has allocated funds to be used for the acquisition of Consultancy Services for Midterm Review of The Embassy of The Kingdom of Netherlands Funded Project; Securing Refugee-Host Relations Through Enhanced Protection, under Refugee Law Project, School of Law, Makerere University.
The Entity invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the provision of the above consultancy services.
Bidding will be conducted in accordance with the open domestic bidding procedures contained in the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, 2003, and is open to all bidders.
Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information and inspect the bidding documents at the address given below at 8(a) from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
The Bidding Documents in English may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written application to the address at 2 above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of UGX. 100,000/= (One Hundred Thousand), only. The method of payment shall be cash payment after downloading Application Advice Slip from https://payments.mak.ac.ug/ and thereafter obtain a receipt from the bank before picking the document.
Proposals must be delivered to the address below at 8(c) at or before 10:00am on Wednesday 20th August 2025. All proposals must be accompanied by a proposal securing declaration which must be valid until 28th February 2026. Late proposals shall be rejected. Proposals will be opened in the presence of the consultants’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below at 8(a) at 10:15am on 20th August 2025.
I would like to extend warm congratulations from the University Management and myself to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Team for securing the Second Phase of the Scholars Program at Makerere University, which will run from 2023 to 2034. This achievement is commendable! Makerere University takes great pride in its long-standing partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, which has yielded numerous valuable outcomes over the past decade. This collaboration has profoundly impacted the Scholars Program and various other initiatives.
During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many academic institutions shifted to online learning, the Mastercard Foundation played a pivotal role in enhancing our e-learning infrastructure through the E-learning Initiative project. This initiative has enabled the university to create high-quality, inclusive academic online content and support systems that benefit all Makerere University students and those from affiliated institutions across Uganda.
Additionally, Makerere University is working with the University of Cape Town and the University of Cambridge on another important Mastercard Foundation project: The Climate Resilience and Sustainability Collaborative. As part of this initiative, we will offer 40 PhD scholarships, 250 MSc scholarships, and skilling programmes for 500 youth. Moreover, 40 women- and youth-led green innovations will be supported, along with 30 postdoctoral scholarships. This demonstrates the immense value of our collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, and we are optimistic about continuing this partnership for many years.
Like the first phase, the second phase of the Scholars Program will focus on providing scholarships to vulnerable young people from various backgrounds. Special attention will be given to refugees, young people with disabilities, those from refugee-hosting communities, and other underserved individuals from hard-to-reach areas. This emphasis on inclusivity will further enhance opportunities for deserving youth.
I am pleased to share that Makerere University is progressing significantly toward fostering inclusivity for all students. We have established the Disability Support Centre on the ground floor of the Frank Kalimuzo building, designed to serve as a comprehensive resource for our students with disabilities and other vulnerable young individuals. Thanks to the contributions from the Mak Run 2024, the Centre is now equipped with vital ICT services, including screen readers, JAWS, Fusion, Braille services, and other essential amenities to ensure our students can easily pursue their studies.
Furthermore, I want to assure all our students, staff, partners, and the broader community that the University Management is deeply committed to creating a safe and supportive learning environment. With the University Council’s and partners’ invaluable backing, we have developed and launched the Safeguarding Policy. This vital framework outlines our measures to protect everyone from abuse and harm at Makerere University. We are building a community where everyone can learn, work, and thrive.
Makerere University remains a top choice for young people seeking higher education. The university’s vision is “To be a thought leader of knowledge generation for societal transformation and development.” Its mission is “To provide transformative and innovative teaching, learning, research, and service responsive to dynamic national and global needs.” These aspirations place the university in a unique position, and it›s essential to uphold them always. As a University, we will continue to strengthen our efforts to focus on the key issues facing humanity and meet our obligations to a broader society beyond education and research.
In conclusion, we are grateful to our invaluable partner, the Mastercard Foundation. The renewal of the partnership with Makerere University for another 10 years of Phase Two of the Scholars Program is a significant commitment that will empower 1,000 young people in Uganda and throughout Africa. We sincerely appreciate the Foundation’s support and dedication to this mission. The University Management is committed to supporting the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to realize the vision and mission of Makerere University and the Mastercard Foundation as We Build for the Future.