General
Mak embarks on championing Gender Equality Seal in public institutions: Vice Chancellor Commissions Committee
By: Ritah Namisango
Makerere University, a public-funded institution, has embarked on a journey to champion the implementation of the Gender Equality Seal in public institutions. The Gender Equality Seal is aimed at encouraging public institutions to analyse and mainstream gender into their policies, improve their approaches and their potential impact on women’s lives, empowerment and gender equality.
Consequently, on Thursday 6th April 2023, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commissioned the Gender Equality Seal Committee at Makerere University and called upon them to ensure a 50/50 per cent gender parity across the board.
“I congratulate the Committee upon its appointment. Over the years, Makerere University has embraced gender mainstreaming and equity initiatives. I am glad that Makerere University has been selected to champion the implementation of the Gender Equality Seal programme. Our goal should focus on attaining a 50/50 gender parity across the board. I urge the team to spearhead the certification process for Makerere University to earn the gold seal. I thank UNDP for accepting to partner with Makerere University in the implementation of the Gender Equality Seal initiative,” he said.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized the need to recommend policies and laws that will inform the gender equality drive, implementation and practice. “I advise you to undertake a self-reflection of what Makerere University has done or achieved over the years and set your goals. I hope that the exercise will also make proposals for policies. For countries to make good progress, gender equality and parity issues ought to be prioritised in the law.”
The Gender Equality Seal (GES) for public institutions is a methodological proposal and acknowledges the efforts of public institutions towards achieving substantive equality between women and men within the framework of the 2030 agenda for development and the Sustainable Development Goals. (SDGs). At Makerere University, the Gender Equality Seal initiative is anchored by the School of Women and Gender Studies.
The commissioning ceremony held in the Council Room, Makerere University Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility started with an orientation programme to enable the Members of the newly constituted Gender Equality Seal Committee to understand and appreciate the noble task.
Chaired by Dr. Sarah N. Ssali, an Associate Professor and the Dean, School of Women and Gender Studies, the Gender Equality Seal Committee consists of the following members: Dr. Euzobia Baine Mugisha-Director of Gender Mainstreaming, Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha-University Bursar, Mr. Ssanyu Lawrence-Ag. Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Winifred Kabumbuli-Dean of Students, Ms. Ritah Namisango-Principal Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Kitamirike-Principal Planning Officer, and Mr. Ayub Kiranda-the Secretary to the Committee. It is important to note that two (2) female representatives of students will be nominated to join the Committee when the 89th Students’ Guild Government is constituted.
During the orientation, the Gender Equality Seal Committee listened to presentations on: the overview of the Gender Equality Seal for Public institutions, introduction to the role and expectations of the Gender Equality Seal Committee, Sharing of best practices of gender equality at the global, regional and national level. This was followed by an interactive experience sharing session from the Members of the Gender Equality Seal Committee including a question and answer session.
In her address, Dr. Sarah Ssali reiterated the commitment of the university leadership towards gender issues at the institutional, structural and operations levels through the establishment of the School of Women and Gender Studies, the Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming, the formulation of the Gender Equity Policy, the Policy and Regulations Against Sexual Harassment, among others. These measures are aimed at promoting gender equality, women empowerment and protection of men and women against all forms of abuse. In addition to these efforts, Dr. Ssali acknowledged the Vice Chancellor; who is renowned for championing the mainstreaming of gender into university processes, for appointing the Gender Equality Seal Committee to take on an oversight role that will drive the transformation of Makerere University with regard to gender parity.
Dr. Ssali highlighted that the gender equality seal process will not only help Makerere University to deliver on its gender gains, but also contribute to its transformation into a competitive centre of gender excellence. She revealed that Makerere University requested for the Gender Equality Seal programme in consideration of SDG 5, which focuses on achieving gender equality. She noted that the Gender Equality Seal Committee is very central because universities will be ranked on gender equality.
“Under SDG 5, universities will be ranked on gender equality issues. It is very encouraging to see that UNDP has started this process with Makerere University. It helps us to check and monitor ourselves, to perform better in gender equality issues and to meet international expectations,” she said.
Dr. Ssali emphasized the need to document evidence and processes as well as have indicators to measure policies and inform policy implementation. “To execute this role of documenting evidence, which is embedded in all the processes, the Vice Chancellor ensured that the planning unit of the University is part of the Gender Equality Seal Committee,” she said.
Underscoring the need for institutional commitment, Ms. Annet Mpabalungi Wakabi, the Team Leader, Governance and Peace at UNDP commended Makerere University for its contribution to national development. She appreciated the leadership at Makerere University for choosing to set the pace in the gender equality seal implementation and processes.
Highlighting that gender equality is a pre-condition for achieving development agenda 2030 and 2063, she explained that the task at hand involves the leadership and the gender equality seal committee to work together to address institutional resistances to gender equality, which includes breaking standards and patterns.
Ms. Mpabalungi provided an account of the existing partnerships between Makerere University and UNDP including the Makerere University Innovations Hub, the ongoing proposal to support a day care centre at Makerere University, and this particular initiative towards the promotion of the Gender Equality Seal in public institutions.
The Team Leader reiterated the commitment and readiness of UNDP to support the realization of the gender equality seal at Makerere, and wished the University leadership and the Gender Equality Seal Committee a fruitful engagement that will result into the gold seal standard. This commitment will be represented in communications through a hash tag: #MakStrive4Gold.
The UNDP team that interacted with the Gender Equality Seal committee at Makerere University included: Ms. Annet Mpabulungi-Team Leader, Ms. Harriet Karusigarira, Ms. Beatrice Mugambe, Angela Bageine and Voilet Namata.
Addressing the Gender Equality Seal Committee and the UNDP team, the Vice Chancellor highlighted the measures that have been undertaken towards gender equity and equality. He mentioned that the strides need to be understood and appreciated within the broader context of the attitudes towards education in general and the cultural norms and practices. Established in 1922 as a technical school, Makerere opened its doors to 14 male students with a motto, let us be men. It was later on in the 1940’s that the female students joined this institution. He disclosed that when he joined the Faculty of Technology (30 years ago), there was only one (1) female student, and everyone in the University knew her. At that time, the enrolment of female students in the University stood at 5%.
To address the low levels of female students’ enrolment, Makerere University in the early 1990s, came up with an affirmative action whereby each female student who qualified to join the University would be added 1.5 points, which gradually raised the enrolment from 5% to growing numbers of up to 42% to date. With this measure, the Vice Chancellor noted that Makerere University has made a tremendous impact on the gender terrain in Uganda and the region. In the same vein, other partners namely Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, and the Makerere University Council through the Female Scholarship Foundation, the Embassy of China in Uganda came on board to provide scholarships to female students.
For staff members, the Vice Chancellor pointed out that women were the majority in the category of support staff and were very few within the administrative and academic staff categories. However, with the access of women to university education and scholarships, the percentage of women in administrative and academic staff positions/ranks has continued to rise. He noted that although the University has not yet reached the desired levels of women in administrative and academic staff categories, the future is bright and promising. Makerere University also subscribes to the Employment laws of Uganda, and the Equal Opportunities Act. In the adverts, qualified women are encouraged to apply. During the recruitment processes, qualified women compete with men, and the best candidate is considered.
On the issue of women in leadership, the Vice Chancellor outlined the deliberate effort to identify qualifying women to take on key roles. For instance, the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate is headed by Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has been headed by women (Ms. Catherine Kanabahita, Dr. Florence Nakayiwa, and Dr. Justine Namaalwa). The Makerere University Grants Administration and Support Management Unit (GAMSU) was headed by Prof. Grace Bantebya Kyomuhendo, and following her appointment to become the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) of Bunyoro University, Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nannyonga-Tamusuza.
Going forward, the Vice Chancellor guided that the drive of Makerere University should be geared towards achieving 50/50 per cent parity in all these issues and expressed confidence that this would be feasible thanks to the capacity built over the years. “Once again, I thank the Gender Equality Seal Committee for accepting to serve. Please make sure that Makerere University gets the Gold seal in gender equality. I officially commission the Gender Equality Seal Committee to start its work,’’ remarked the Vice Chancellor amidst applause.
The specific objectives of the Gender Equality Seal Initiative include:
- To enhance the understanding of the Gender Equality Seal for public institutions including the overall goals, objectives and principles of the Gender Equality Seal and how it works.
- To support the University leadership’s commitment to rolling out and implementing the Gender Equality Seal programme.
- To facilitate and support the transfer of knowledge and skills to Makerere University and establish a core team of Gender Advisors to support the roll out and implementation of the seal programme.
#MakStrive4Gold
General
Makerere’s CHUSS Embraces Digital Future as RIMS Training Sparks Push for Faster Graduate Completion
By Moses Lutaaya
KAMPALA, April 17, 2026 — The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) at Makerere University has taken a decisive step toward strengthening graduate training and accountability following a comprehensive hands-on Research Information Management System (RIMS) training by a team from the Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) and Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) held yesterday, April 16, in the CHUSS Smart Room.
Opening the session, the Director of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma, underscored CHUSS’s central role in producing graduate students and contributing to Uganda’s development agenda. He cautioned that the college’s leading position could easily be overtaken if vigilance wanes.
“I’m glad we are back here to focus on something that can propel CHUSS to its rightful position,” Prof. Kikooma said. “Your contribution to graduate student production is highly envied across the university, but if you sleep even briefly, that position can be taken.”
He emphasized that beyond competition, the real goal is national transformation. According to Prof. Kikooma, increased graduate output directly supports Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which prioritizes building relevant human capital.
“More than ever before, the country needs human resources from the humanities and social sciences,” he noted.
Prof. Kikooma explained that the RIMS platform builds on CHUSS’ pioneering cohort-based PhD model by introducing a digital solution to track student progress, enhance supervision, and improve completion rates. The system, developed in collaboration with the Directorate for ICT Support, allows both supervisors and students to log and monitor academic activities in real time.
“This is not optional,” he stressed. “By the end of this month, we must report on who is using the system. It is a strategic priority of the University Council.”
Welcoming participants, the Deputy Principal of CHUSS, Assoc. Prof. Eric Awich Ochen, described the training as timely and necessary in a rapidly digitizing academic environment.
“Makerere today is very different from the Makerere of 15 or 20 years ago,” he said. “We are moving from an analogue past to a digital future.”
He noted that while the college has improved its graduate output in recent years, gaps in tracking student progress remain a concern.
“We celebrate the numbers we graduate, but we may still have many students in the pipeline whom we cannot fully account for,” he said. “This system will help us track supervision and improve accountability.”
The training drew participation from the CHUSS Principal and Deputy Principal, senior lecturers, lecturers, and registrars from the School of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, School of Liberal and Performing Arts, and the School of Languages, Literature and Communication.
In an interview after the session, Dr. Jim Spire Ssentongo offered a more reflective perspective, welcoming RIMS as a timely innovation while highlighting key realities in graduate training.
“I think RIMS is a good idea with strong potential,” he said, noting that the system could help address long-standing supervision gaps by ensuring that interactions between students and supervisors are tracked and visible.
However, he pointed out that delays in graduate completion are not solely the fault of supervisors. According to him, student-related factors—particularly lack of consistency and self-discipline during the research phase—play a significant role.
“At the coursework level, students are guided by timetables and structured assessments, which keeps them active,” he explained. “But once they transition to research, much depends on their own discipline. Some students simply become unresponsive.”
Dr. Ssentongo observed that RIMS could help counter this by introducing a level of accountability on both sides. If properly used, the platform would enable students to track feedback from supervisors while also making it clear when they themselves have delayed progress.
He also noted that the system’s monitoring aspect could encourage improved completion rates, as both supervisors and students become more conscious of timelines and expectations.
At the same time, he cautioned that implementation would be key. He explained that while systems that enhance accountability are beneficial, they must be introduced in a way that supports rather than intimidates users.
“There is an element of monitoring, which is good,” he said, “but it should be balanced so that it does not create an environment where people feel over-policed.”
Dr. Ssentongo further emphasized that RIMS should be seen as part of a broader strategy to strengthen research culture at the university. Beyond improving completion rates, he said, there is need to encourage publication, collaboration between students and supervisors, and greater visibility of research outputs.
“If it is implemented well and supported by other initiatives, it can contribute not just to completion, but also to improving research productivity and impact,” he added.
The RIMS training marks a significant step in Makerere University’s efforts to modernize graduate education, improve accountability, and align academic output with national development priorities.
General
CHS Registrars, Heads of Departments Embrace RIMS as Makerere Deepens Digital Shift in Graduate Supervision
By Moses Lutaaya
The College of Health Sciences (CHS) at Makerere University has taken a significant step toward strengthening graduate training and research oversight following a hands-on training in the Research Information Management System (RIMS) held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the CHS premises.
The training brought together over 25 Heads of Departments and College Registrars from the School of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, and School of Public Health, in a strategic push to digitize and streamline graduate supervision.
Leading the CHS team, Associate Professor Annettee Olivia Nakimuli, Dean of the School of Medicine, described RIMS as a transformative tool that will redefine how graduate students are tracked and supported.
“RIMS is definitely the way to go. It will help us track students in real time,” she said. “We have struggled to know how well students are progressing, and sometimes we are not even sure who needs help along the way.”
Prof. Nakimuli emphasized that the system will enhance accountability on both sides of the supervision divide.
“It will facilitate supervision for both the supervisor and the student. Supervisors will be more accountable, but students too will be more accountable. At any one time, we shall know exactly what is happening between student-supervisor pairs.”
Addressing concerns about possible resistance or tension arising from increased transparency, she noted that RIMS would instead clarify longstanding challenges affecting completion rates.
“Completion challenges are multifactorial—sometimes it is the supervisor, sometimes the student, and sometimes both. This system will make it clear where the problem is so it can be addressed,” she explained, adding that mindset change—not technical ability—remains the biggest hurdle for some staff transitioning from analog systems.
She further aligned RIMS with Makerere University’s broader agenda of becoming a research-led, graduate-focused institution.
“This is how we begin to walk the talk of being a graduate training university,” she added.
Representing the Director of Graduate Training, Mr. Nestor Mugabe underscored that RIMS is part of a larger, evolving digital ecosystem aimed at strengthening research management across the university.
“RIMS is a comprehensive system that captures the entire research process, but today we are focusing on the e-supervision component,” he said.
He noted that the system has been rolled out progressively across colleges, with CHS engagements tailored to accommodate the demanding schedules of health professionals.
“A student cannot progress if their supervisor is not on the system. That is why we are bringing everyone on board—supervisors, administrators, and students—so that the system works seamlessly,” Mugabe emphasized.
To ensure sustainability, he revealed that dedicated technical personnel have been deployed to provide on-site support.
“We now have resident technical staff who can support you directly in your offices, ensuring that no one is left behind in this transition.”
From a technical standpoint, Arthur Moses Opio of the Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS) highlighted RIMS as a critical pillar in Makerere’s digital transformation journey.
“This system is about bridging the gap between supervisors and students,” he said. “It logs activities, tracks feedback, and ensures that no academic guidance is lost or disputed.”
He explained that RIMS allows students to upload research milestones—from concept notes to final theses—while enabling supervisors and examiners to engage within a transparent, traceable system.
“Before, a student could get lost in the process. Now, every comment, every revision, every step is recorded. It brings clarity and accountability.”
Opio also noted that RIMS is integrated with key university systems, including the Human Resource Management System and the Academic Management Information System (ACMIS), ensuring data consistency and institutional oversight.
CHS College Registrar Mr. Herbert Batamye welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention in addressing inefficiencies in graduate supervision.
“RIMS is going to be a wonderful addition to our academic processes. It will accelerate supervision and improve efficiency if fully adopted,” he said.
He observed that the system had already received strong buy-in from participants.
“We brought together over 25 Heads of Departments and registrars, and the response has been very positive. Staff appreciate its potential.”
Mr. Batamye pointed out that one of the key strengths of RIMS is its ability to synchronize multiple supervisors on a single student’s progress.
“If a candidate has several supervisors, each will clearly see what the other is doing. It ensures that everyone is accountable and that delays are minimized.”
As Makerere University continues to digitize its academic and research processes, the CHS RIMS training signals a growing institutional commitment to improving graduate completion rates, enhancing supervision quality, and positioning research at the heart of its mission.
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