Education
Over 400 graduate in Skills Dev’t from Mak – Love Binti International Program
It was ululations and dancing as 417 students graduated with certificates at Makerere University under the Love Binti program. Of these, 415 were women.
The university partnered with Love Binti International to offer certificate training to students that required the education.
The students graduated from three different branches of Love Binti International, including; 177 from Makerere University branch, 145 from Harvest Church, Kabalagala and 95 from the mobile branch which us currently located in Kikaya.
The graduands have been trained in three major areas Including; Tailoring, Entrepreneurship and Health Education.
Speaking at the Graduation, Mr. Joseph Wakuleke, the Executive Director of Love Binti International, Makerere Chapter said the program has trained over 1,180 students since its inception in June 2018. Majority of these are female students.
“At Love Binti International, we prioritize empowering women, to help them become self-sustaining because an economically empowered healthy woman is a gate pass to collective development,” he said
As they empower women, the program, Wakuleke said has opened doors to men who also want to benefit and develop skills.
“Our strategy is to empower a girl child through provision of skills in three modules; tailoring, entrepreneurship and health education, which are all compulsory because we realized most of the diseases that disturbing our homesteads are avoidable,” Wakuleke emphasized.
At a function held at Makerere University Freedom Square on Saturday 7th January 2023, the excited gradaunds shared moments of joy and danced as they sung in praises for the Almighty.
The graduands, who had been accompanied by their parents thanked the University and Love Binti International for thinking about the under privileged groups of women and young men who had failed to study, due to tuition constraints.
In this three months program, Love Binti International paid all the tuition and gave the beneficiaries materials to use during training.
In her remarks, Elle Yang, the Director of Love Binti International thanked the graduands and management for being resilient especially during the two years of lockdown.
“The two years were crazy, classes were halted but you stood firm and peacefully waited and here we are,” she said.
“I want to thank you for the basic skills you have learnt and implemented. We were discussing if students should really pay tuition and chose to agree with the guest of honor that really students do not need to pay tuition but just bring materials to help their smooth learning,” she added.
Adding her voice to Yang’s remarks, Taiwan based Sara Liu, the Chairperson of Love Binti International urged Graduands to practice what they have learnt to better their lives.
While officiating at the Graduation, Dr. Twine Bananuka, the Dean School of Distance and Lifelong Learning at Makerere University appreciated the efforts brought by Love Binti International, which are partly helping Makerere realize some of its objectives, like being a people-centred University.
“What we are doing here today is what defines a people-centered University. We are delivering education to all Ugandans,” he said added.
“From what we are seeing here (innovations), you have shown us that you are professionals. I am happy that the program deals with women empowerment and as Makerere we have done our part,”
Promoting women empowerment through entrepreneurship, health and skills development, he said, are among the gears of economic development.
“Government is emphasizing the Parish Development Model and as Makerere University we are now stakeholders in ensuring the success of this program so I implore you to go and participate in it,” he said. “Go flourish, work and change your lives, families and the whole world,” he concluded.
Education
Call for Papers: Makerere University Journal of Research and Innovations in Teacher Education (RITE)
The association of Kiswahili speakers in Uganda through their umbrella body, CHAKITAU, have asked the government to pass a directive making the language compulsory in schools and higher institutions.
CHAKITAU is a Swahili word which stands for Chama Cha Kiswahili Cha Taifa Cha Uganda.
The members said if Kiswahili is integrated in teaching and learning at all levels, Uganda will then realize the East African Community goals and objectives.
Dr Levi Masereka Kahaika, a lecturer of Kiswahili at Makerere, said the government should think about introducing the language at nursery level.
This he believes will make learning Kiswahili easy since it is believed the learning rate among children is higher than their older counterparts.
“Our research revealed that if a child is introduced to a language when he/she is still young, chances are high they will speak it fluently,” Dr Masereka said.
He further noted that a child is capable of learning six languages at a time, and Kiswahili should be prioritized alongside English, the official language.
“At the regional level, we are talking about free movement and free residency so we need to start now and everyone learns Kiswahili since it unites the East African Community,’ Dr Masereka said.
Kiswahili speakers raised the concern during the 17th annual Kiswahili conference which was held at Makerere University from 23rd to 24th March, 2024.
The conference was graced by students taking Kiswahili language at higher institutions of learning lead by Makerere University, the host institution, Kyambogo University, Metropolitan International University, Bishop Stuart University, Mountains of the Moon University, Uganda Martyrs University, and Pentecostal University among others.
Schools including St Kizito SS Bugolobi, St Joseph Naggalama, Archbishop Kiwanuka Masaka, and Kampala Parents’ school among others also participated.
Dr Muhammad Kiggundu, the Head of the Department of Humanities and Language Education at Makerere University officiated at the conference on the opening day as the guest of honour.
In his remarks, Dr Kiggundu said despite the integration of Kiswahili in the Ordinary level curriculum, many teachers have remained unemployed, posing a risk to the future of the language in Uganda.
He asked the government to reconsider recruiting Bachelor’s degree holders saying the majority of the recent teachers recruited on government payroll were diploma holders.
“Government recruited diploma holders to teach students in lower secondary leaving out the bachelor’s teachers, most of whom are on the streets of Kampala searching for jobs,” Dr Kiggundu said.
He noted that since Kiswahili was introduced at Makerere University, they have passed out 40 percent of Kiswahili teachers in the country but only 10 percent have since secured jobs.
Dr Kiggundu asked the government to take immediate action and have those idle teachers deployed in schools countrywide to enable them spread the language to other parts of the country.
Dr Boaz Mutungi, the vice president of CHAKITAU, expressed worry over Kiswahili being taught in only central and Western schools and institutions.
“All universities in the North and Eastern don’t offer Kiswahili as one of the subjects in schools,” Dr Mutundi said.
He asked the government to absorb the available teachers and put them in vacant schools and institutions.
According to the statistics presented by CHAKITAU as of 2024, they have a total of 2,401 teachers as registered members of the association but 2,056 of them are unemployed.
The statistics further reveal that only 345 teachers are employed by the government countrywide. 57 of these teachers are diploma holders, 23 of them are Master’s degree holders and 19 teachers have Doctorate in Kiswahili (PhD), with one Doctor still unemployed.
The rest of them who are the majority have bachelors from different universities.
Dr Martin Mulei, the patron of CHAWAKANA Uganda, lauded primary and secondary schools that have already started adopting the language policy of teaching Kiswahili.
In 2022, cabinet approved the implementation of the 21st East African Community Summit directive in Uganda to make Kiswahili the official language and they also approved compulsory teaching of Kiswahili in primary and secondary schools.
However, the directive worked well in lower secondary schools after making Kiswahili compulsory for seniors one and two.
The Institute of Open, Distance and e-Learning (IODeL) has bid farewell to one of its longest serving academics, Dr. Samuel Ndeda Siminyu. This was at a colorful luncheon on March 27, 2024. Spiced up with music, dance, food, drinks, jokes, laughter, and nostalgic speeches, the party was attended by the institute’s staff, friends, and colleagues of Uncle Sam, as he has been popularly known.
Colleagues shared memories of Uncle Sam’s dedication to the job, resilience and mentorship. Speaker after speaker underscored his fatherly approach towards handling of both students and fellow staff. “I remember my first travel abroad was with uncle Sam. We suffered several mishaps such as missing the plane, but he kept claiming me down, saying we would hope that all would be well. Indeed, after one month of being abroad, we returned safely. He was and still is like a father to me,” Mr. Kajumbula Richard said.
Dr. Siminyu was also praised for his mastery of the English language. “Can it be true that Omuwongo Samwiri has clocked retirement? Samwiri remains my legendary wordsmith! I will greatly miss those positive comments about my grammar, word diction, and synthesis! Samwiri is not only brainy but also well cultured, responsible, respectful, amiable, jovial, warm and polished. I am lucky to have known and interacted with Mzee Mangeni (Sr) who fathered these eminent personalities. Samwiri has been my trusted encyclopedia, and it’s sad that he is retiring at such a young age,” another colleague shared.
Another colleague, Mr Arthur Mugisha also added, “Sam was such a perfectionist that nothing would cross his table with any errors, and he appends a signature. I remember him principally teaching me how to write official documents in his office. I would draft, and then we would write together what he would sign. He has such a moral character that everyone would wish to emulate.”.
“Sam was a father figure to many of us who came as young staff. especially me, who never joined Makerere with anyone holding my hand but my performance. If anything was going astray, he would call you and counsel you instead of reprimanding you. For me, that was perfect leadership. I have learnt quite a lot from him, which makes me stand out in my leadership within and outside the department.”
Uncle Sam, as he is known by many in the department, has mentored many staff on matters of student support, managing DE programs, handling students as coordinators, matters of faith, and personal well-being.
On his part, Dr. Siminyu thanked IODEL for the love and support shown to him over the year and for the beautiful sendoff. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to mentor and lead others, and he emphasized the importance of continuous learning and growth in leadership. Dr. Siminyu’s legacy of compassionate leadership will continue to inspire those he has mentored for years to come. His dedication to helping others succeed has left a lasting impact on the department, and his wisdom and guidance will be greatly missed. Dr. Siminyu’s legacy will live on through the countless individuals he has influenced throughout his career. He said that he is confident that his mentees will carry on his values and teachings, making a positive impact on their own leadership journeys.
Speaking during the luncheon, Mr. Banadda Godfrey, a member of the Makerere University Retirement Benefits Scheme (MURBS) and also a retiree, shared some insight into what one needs to do pre and post-retirement.
Mr Banadda said it was important for one to save money before retirement. This, he said, should be invested in a fixed deposit account or a unit trust so that one is able to enjoy the interest accrued during retirement.
He advised Dr. Siminyu to draw up his own retirement plan, which he said would guide him in the utilization of his money.
“You will need to put in place a plan for cash flow and also have an investment plan for your benefits. Look at investment options like bonds and trust funds,” he emphasized.
Don’t delegate the use of your money or enterprise. Invest in ventures you can supervise effectively. Always adjust to your new status quo. Your lifestyle might need to change, so adjust quickly. Don’t live in denial.”
Mr. Banadda advised Dr. Siminyu to continue socializing and also widen his social networks by joining clubs, visiting friends and family, and engaging in regular exercise.
“Above all of this, enrich your spiritual life, join a church, and pray,” he concluded.
About Dr. Siminyu
- BAED 1989 and scored Upper Second
- MA 1995
- Joined the Department of Distance Education as a contract staff (Editor) 1995
- Got Contract appointment for 6 months on 25th January 1996 an Editor
- He joined with a Masters Degree so he got an appointment as a lecturer on March 11, 1998 a rank he has held until his retirement.
- He previously served as the head of the Department of Distance Education
- All through his service at Makerere, he has served as the Head of Materials Development and Distribution Section in the department.
- Sam has been an expert in curriculum development and review for all the delivered programs in the department (B.Ed/ Ext, B.COX, B.Sc and BARI)
- He became the interim managing editor of Makerere University Press on June 20, 2022 and made several publications under his watchful eye.
- Sam was one of the pioneers of online learning at Makerere University. He did his PhD at the University of Liverpool purely online.
- He has participated in policy formulation and implementation at various levels.
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