General
Academic Registrar’s Remarks at Freshers’ Orientation 2023/24
Published
2 years agoon
By
Mak Editor
REMARKS BY PROFESSOR BUYINZA MUKADASI
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR
AT THE ORIENTATION CEREMONY OF FRESHER STUDENTS,
ACADEMIC YEAR 2023/2024
AT THE FREEDOM SQUARE, MAKERERE UNIVERSITY, KAMPALA
ON MONDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2023
Members of University Council
Members of University Management Principals, Deans and Directors Academic, Administrative and Support Staff of the University
Students
Ladies and Gentlemen
Dear Students; Class of 2023/2024
We are delighted that you have chosen Makerere University as you enter the next phase of your journey of intellectual growth, self-discovery and personal development. You have chosen very well! Your energy and excitement will enrich our vibrant campus life for the next years.
I wish to take this enviable moment and singular privilege to welcome you to Makerere University. It is an occasion that deserves celebration. What else can an Academic Registrar do after receiving 20,000 Undergraduate and Graduate students who excelled and were approved for admission by the University Senate of Makerere; famed to be one of the strictest in the world.
You are joining a 100-year old University with a long history and well-entrenched culture and tradition of academic excellence and of nurturing exceptional intellectual talent of young people like you. You are joining us at a time when higher education is undergoing rapid and dramatic transformation. We live in an era when knowledge is growing in importance in addressing the world’s most pressing problems, when technology promises both wondrous possibilities and profound dislocations, when global forces increasingly shape our lives and work, when traditional intellectual fields are shifting and converging, and when public expectations and demands of higher education are intensifying.
So, today you are making your first step in a journey of several years. The time and place where this transformative journey begins is known. It is today and at Makerere University. The end however will only be determined by you.
To set out on a journey, you must know the destination, the means of getting there and the resources you need to get there. In the case of an academic journey the destination is graduation while time, commitment and attitude form the other requirements.
I know most of you are not at ease. You are preoccupied with the idea of being in an unfamiliar environment. For most of you, this might be the first time you are away from your family. You must be wondering about what it is like to be away from the familiar and predictable life or comfort zone at home. However you are not the only ones who have left familiar territory to join university.
We want you to achieve your academic and personal potential, to develop networks of friends, new interests and life skills. In order to achieve this we recommend that you work hard; find time to relax; and make use of the support services that are available to you. It is therefore critically important that you take time to familiarize yourself with the materials in this manual.
We pledge to create an intellectually and socially vibrant environment, provide the resources, focused leadership for you to achieve your dreams. In you, I see vibrant young people with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. I hope that you will use the energy you have to your best for the benefit of yourselves and humanity. We want you to thrive and succeed here, academically, socially and personally.
As you can see, there are numerous opportunities at the university. These come in many forms; They may come in the form of sports and games, areas that develop talent like music and drama, professional circles where you interact with your future employers, social networks with the potential of providing a future spouse, spiritual growth and even honing your acumen in student politics. This however is easier said than accomplished. Like mines in a war zone, university life is littered with challenges that will make your dream difficult to realise.
University life has excess freedom which opens doors to sweet life. For the first time you have the opportunity to date and go out without the watchful eyes of your wife/husband or older siblings. But let me caution that this takes time and money. So strike a balance between social and academic life.
Life is more materialistic today than during our time. The products are also varied and more tempting. They range from sophisticated electrical appliances, drinks with strange colours catchy names, to fancy clothes and even gambling activities. The temptations will push your financial demands to the limit and sometimes even tempt you to divert your fees. Careful and prudent utilization of finances is your only way out.
Modern lifestyle if not handled carefully, could easily open doors to promiscuity whose outcome could be disastrous. The individual freedom coupled with the absence of someone to watch over you as well as unfamiliarity with the new environment may lead to confusion normally manifested in the form of failure to register for the right courses, missing classes, inability to keep timelines and so forth.
Then there is the issue of peer pressure, bad influence. Seek counsel, choose good company.
When one gets overwhelmed by all the challenges narrated above they become easy prey for drug abuse, sexual misconduct, radicalization and recruitment into devious groups. At the moment this is the biggest threat to the completion of your journey at Makerere University.
Finally, I wish you an exciting, rewarding, challenging and stimulating time at this University, which will be the start of what I hope will be a lifelong experience as members of Makerere University. However, just like in any other urban city take great care of your personal security while in Kampala; we shall play our part.
We offer you our very best wishes for every success during your time at Makerere University and we look forward to seeing your smiling faces during our daily walks on our beautiful campus! “We Build For the Future”.
Professor Buyinza Mukadasi (PhD)
ACADEMIC REGISTRAR
You may like
-
Mak Inducts Newly Appointed Staff
-
Makerere University embarks on developing e-Learning Digital Transformation Roadmap
-
Office of the Academic Registrar Lauded for Groundbreaking Achievements In Digitalization
-
Extension of Applications for Diploma/Degree Holders for Govt. & Private Sponsorship AY 2025/2026
-
Mak Welcomes CaReFoAfrica Project Sponsored Students
-
Empowering and Shaping Tomorrow’s Peacebuilders: Transformative Reflections on a 3-Day Training
General
Meet Safali Libia, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar-alumnus who rebuilt his life as a refugee in Uganda
Published
22 hours agoon
June 20, 2025By
Mak Editor
In recognition of International World Refugee Day this year, themed “solidarity with refugees,” the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University proudly highlights the remarkable achievements of our Scholars and alumni with refugee backgrounds. These individuals have shown incredible resilience and determination, making a profound impact in their communities. Today, we are excited to share the inspiring story of Safali Libia, a Scholar-alumnus who, despite facing numerous challenges, successfully joined Makerere University through the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, graduated, and actively contributes to his community at Kyangwali Refugee Settlement. He launched a transformative social venture project, A Hand for a Refugee, aimed at advancing the agriculture sector and enhancing livelihoods.
I was born in 1997 in Bunagana, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2013, I fled to Uganda due to the armed conflict in my home country. My life was rebuilt in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, where I found a new beginning.
Despite the challenges, I worked hard through school and was eventually admitted to Makerere University. There, I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics as a proud Mastercard Foundation Scholar. Accessing education in a peaceful environment changed the trajectory of my life. While at university, I decided to change the narrative about refugees. Too often, we are viewed through a lens of pity rather than potential. In my second year at Makerere, I allocated part of my scholarship stipends to support my family and also fund youth activities in the settlement. I mentored younger students, encouraged girls to stay in school, and advocated for inclusive development policies that recognise refugees as contributors, not burdens.

I also noticed how refugees have limited access to resources and opportunities. Many can only engage in small-scale agriculture or petty trade, yet they have dreams and abilities far beyond that. This realisation led me to co-found ‘A Hand for a Refugee’, a youth-led social enterprise driven by a profound understanding of the urgent need to strengthen the socio-economic well-being of refugee communities. We envision a future where refugees are not solely reliant on aid but are empowered towards self-reliance and can sustainably meet their diverse household needs, including ensuring access to education for their children, providing sufficient and nutritious food, securing safe drinking water, and fostering improved living conditions.
We focus on practical and sustainable solutions, providing comprehensive skilling and training in the two thematic areas of climate-smart agriculture livelihood for refugees and youth/women economic empowerment. Recognising the diverse experiences of refugee farmers, we provide support through comprehensive extension services and market linkage initiatives. These efforts are designed to enhance agricultural productivity, foster economic self-reliance, and promote sustainable livelihoods.

So far, we have trained fellow refugees in modern, climate-smart farming techniques and supported them in growing high-value crops like passion fruits, tomatoes, onions, and cabbages, which could thrive on small plots of land. Through these efforts, we strengthened food security and restored dignity. Our initiative has trained over 50 farmers, empowered women and youth, and demonstrated that refugee-led solutions are practical and sustainable. The Anzisha Prize and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program have recognised my work as a shining example of refugee-led innovation and a testament to whatrefugees can achieve when given the opportunity.
Today, I serve as the General Secretary of the Kyangwali Refugee-Led Organisations Umbrella. I encourage fellow refugee youth to take up leadership roles. We are not helpless; we are resourceful, determined, and resilient. All we need is trust, tools, and opportunity.

On this World Refugee Day, I call upon refugee youth not to wait for change but to be the change. We carry the solutions to our own problems. With education, courage, and unity, we can build more than survival; we can build thriving futures.
Let my journey remind the young people in different settlements that leadership, resilience, and hope can grow even in difficult conditions. I represent a new generation of refugees who do not see themselves as victims of circumstance but as architects of change, ready to rebuild their communities from the ground up. As we commemorate this day, let us celebrate young visionaries for surviving, thriving, and illuminating the way forward for millions of others displaced by conflict and crisis. In this struggle, I have planted seeds of hope, demonstrating that from within the refugee settlements of Africa can emerge the leaders of tomorrow. If I can do it, you can too.
General
Call For Expression of Interest: MURBS MIS Requirements Gathering
Published
2 days agoon
June 19, 2025By
Mak Editor
1.0 Background
Makerere University Retirement Benefits Scheme (MURBS) is a Mandatory Employer-Based Scheme established under irrevocable trusts to provide retirement benefits to employees of Makerere University and operates in accordance with its Trust Deed and Scheme Rules, as amended on 30 May 2023.
MURBS is committed to enhancing operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making. MURBS has grown over the years and is looking to develop a system that offers comprehensive information systems integration and reporting capabilities to support effective management.
MURBS invites qualified and experienced consulting firms/consultants to submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) for the requirements gathering necessary to develop and implement a comprehensive Management Information System (MIS). The purpose of this initiative is to gather detailed user needs and technical specifications to ensure the successful design, development, and deployment of the Management Information System (MIS).
2.0 Objectives of the Requirements Collection
The consultant/firm shall be responsible for achieving the objectives, which include:
- To understand and document the detailed functional and non-functional requirements of the MURBS MIS.
- To identify user needs across various departments and levels of management.
- To establish technical specifications and data architecture needs.
- To ensure alignment with organizational goals and compliance standards.
- To provide a foundation for the subsequent design, development, and implementation phases.
3.0 Scope of Work
The selected consultant/firm will be responsible for:
- Conducting stakeholder interviews and workshops across departments.
- Reviewing existing systems (if any), workflows, and data sources.
- Documenting current processes and identifying gaps.
- Collecting and prioritizing user requirements.
- Developing a comprehensive requirements specification document.
- Validating requirements with stakeholders.
- Providing recommendations for system features, integrations, and technical architecture.
4.0 Eligibility Criteria – Qualification and Experience
The Firm/Consultant must submit a detailed written statement to confirm the following minimum requirements:
- Proven experience in requirements gathering for MIS or similar systems.
- A strong understanding of data management, reporting, and analytics; and Public Financial Management (PFM) knowledge.
- Experience working in the IT industry; at least 10 years in the software and system development industry.
- Adequate technical and functional expertise. The Firm/Consultant should be familiar with the various stages of system development, from design to implementation and testing; and should be familiar with different requirements gathering methodologies.
- Successful track record of similar projects undertaken, including different requirements gathering methodologies.
5.0 Responding to this Call
- Interested parties should submit their EOIs, including:
- i) Cover letter expressing interest.
- ii) Company/consultant profile with relevant experience.
- iii) Methodology/approach to requirements collection.
- iv) List of key personnel involved.
- v) Examples of similar projects undertaken.
- vi) Tax clearance system.
- vii) Proof of membership to a professional body in Uganda or internationally.
- viii) Any other relevant information.
- The EOI should be addressed to;
The Principal Pension Officer
Makerere University Retirement Benefits Scheme
P.O. Box 7827, Kampala
Lincoln Flats – B4, Makerere University
Tel: +256 (414) 531472
Email: info@murbs.mak.ac.ug
- A completed and sealed EOI should be hand-delivered and submitted at the Scheme Office, and an electronic copy of the EOI should be sent to info@murbs.mak.ac.ug.
Disclaimer: This EOI is not a procurement contract and does not commit MURBS to select any respondent. It is an invitation for expressions of interest to facilitate the subsequent formal procurement process.
Deadline for Submission: 2 July 2025 (3:00 p.m.)
Licensed by the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (RBS.0005)
General
Mirror Frank Kalimuzo’s life of service-MUBS Principal
Published
1 week agoon
June 13, 2025
The Principal of Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Prof. Moses Muhwezi, has called upon Ugandans to emulate the life of the late Frank Kalimuzo.
Today, (Friday, June 13, 2025), Makerere University hosted the 2nd Frank Kalimuzo Memorial Lecture, an event that brought together distinguished public servants, University leaders and stakeholders to honor the legacy of the late Frank Kalimuzo, Makerere University‘s first Ugandan Vice Chancellor.
The event held under the theme ‘Building a culture of service in Public Institutions’ highlighted lessons from Frank Kalimuzo’s leadership and provided an opportunity to examine how institutions of higher learning can cultivate these same qualities of service in an era where universities are increasingly called upon to be engines of innovation, drivers of economic development and guardians of knowledge.
In his welcome speech, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, noted that the Frank Kalimuzo Annual Public Lecture serves not only as a commemorative event but as a platform for critical reflection on the principles and values that should guide our institutions in an ever-evolving world.

“The late Frank Kalimuzo remains an exemplar of dedicated public service and transformational leadership. As Makerere University‘s first Ugandan Vice Chancellor, he navigated the institution through a critical period of transition with wisdom, integrity, and unwavering commitment to excellence. His legacy extends far beyond his tenure at this university, as the first Head of Public Service, first Ugandan Secretary to Cabinet, and first Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, he helped lay the foundation for Uganda’s administrative structures,” Prof. Ireeta, noted.
Prof. Ireeta explained that what distinguished Frank Kalimuzo, was not merely his succession of firsts, but his approach to leadership, characterized by humility, service, and an unyielding dedication to the common good.
“As we continue to build on the strong foundation laid by pioneers like Frank Kalimuzo, we must ask ourselves: How do we nurture leaders who serve with integrity? How do we create institutional cultures that prioritize the common good? How do we ensure that our graduates carry forward the values of service and excellence that have defined this university for over a century,” Prof. Ireeta, pondered?
Presenting a paper titled ‘Building a culture of service in Public Institutions’ Prof. Muhwezi, noted that Mr. Kalimuzo was not merely an academic administrator but more importantly, a servant-leader whose life exemplified the highest ideals of public service.
“Mr. Frank Kalimuzo’s life teaches us that public service is not a career choice but a calling, a commitment to using one’s talents, position, and influence to advance the common good. His example shows us that it is possible to maintain integrity, drive innovation, and achieve excellence even within imperfect systems,” Prof. Muhwezi, said.

In his keynote address, Prof. Muhwezi, explained that Mr. Kalimuzo consistently demonstrated that effective public service requires placing institutional objectives above personal ambitions. He added that when faced with unprecedented resistance from various quarters, like academics who questioned his credentials to those who opposed political appointees in university leadership, Mr. Kalimuzo responded not with defensiveness but with dedication to proving himself through service.
To deal with challenges of the 21st century, Prof. Muhwezi, pointed out that the Country needs public institutions that are fit for purpose and leaders who understand that their primary responsibility is to serve, not to be served.
“We need to leave some legacy when we are out of our institutions. We should be brave. As public servants, we learn that Mr. Kalimuzo kept brave even after disappearance of other prominent personalities. As a leader, you should not be the first person to panic,” Prof. Muhwezi, said.
Prof. Muhwezi reminded leaders that they do not need many years to create impact. He explained that although Mr Kalimuzo’s tenure as Vice Chancellor was short-lived, his impact, like a writing on the wall, remains for all to see.
“When given an opportunity to serve, don’t be distracted. Offer skilled leadership execution even in the middle of the storm. As we play around with politics, we should promote peace. As an educated class, we should be good examples. We should appreciate the freedom of speech we enjoy at the moment,” Prof. Muhwezi, noted.
On 23rd June 2022, the University Leadership dedicated the Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility in his honor, that stands as a physical reminder of his contributions. But more importantly, it symbolizes the University’s commitment to ensuring that his values and principles continue to shape generations of students who will go forth to serve Uganda and the world.

During the event, Mr. Kalimuzo’s family expressed gratitude to the University Leadership for always honouring a man who served the University, nation, and its people with distinction.
Addressing guests, Mrs. Esther Kalimuzo, the widow of the late Frank Kalimuzo, noted that although to-date the family has no grave, no explanation and no closure, his silence has not been wasted. On the contrary, it has become a witness, and his disappearance has become a declaration that Uganda has known men who refused to bow.
“After Frank was taken, I was left with our children young, tender, full of questions I could not answer. They were raised with memory instead of presence, with principle instead of protection. And yet, through all the hardship, uncertainty, and pain they endured. They overcame. Today, our children stand tall. They are proud citizens of Uganda, and residents in nations far beyond. They have carried their father’s spirit into classrooms, workplaces, and communities across the world. They embody the values they barely had time to hear him speak, values they absorbed through the echo of his life and the strength of his memory,” orated Mrs Kalimuzo to an audience that listened silently in great admiration.
Delivering the closing remarks, the Chairperson of the University Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara, noted that Makerere’s strategic plan echoes Mr. Kalimuzo’s spirit of innovation and visionary leadership.

“The insights shared today provide a valuable framework for addressing current leadership challenges within African institutions. Makerere University Council is already advancing key recommendations through our Strategic Plan (2020/21–2024/25), with an emphasis on building a responsive and research-driven institution,” Mrs Magara, said.
Mrs. Magara also pointed out that Mr. Kalimuzo’s values deserve continued critical reflections and practical application in leadership development, noting that they remain relevant not just for Makerere’s transformation, but for the renewal of public institutions across the continent.
“As the late Prof. Asavia Wandira reminded us during Makerere’s 90th Anniversary, our historic mission is “to be the Golden Apex of the Education System, consistent with National Development.” This mission remains unfinished. Rising societal challenges from youth unemployment to public health demand the very kind of ethical, visionary leadership Mr. Kalimuzo embodied,” Mrs. Magara concluded.

During the interactive discussions chaired by Mrs. Allen Kagina, the Chairperson of the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, Mrs Kalimuzo shared with the guests that when her husband went missing, she did all kinds of odd jobs to see her children through School and put food on the table. Hard work and the grace of God, she said, were the hallmarks of how she managed to raise her young family.
Organized in partnership with Makerere University Business School, the 2025 lecture was crowned with a surprise 90th Birthday celebration for Mrs. Esther Kalimuzo. It was all tears of joy as she cut cake with her grandchildren surrounded by family and friends.

Frank Kalimuzo at glance
Born on 24th September 1925, the late Kalimuzo was the first Vice-Chancellor of the newly formed Makerere University away from the colonial and white man’s control. He was appointed on 1st July 1970 by the then President H.E. Apollo Milton Obote. Frank Kalimuzo transformed the institution from a colonial-era university into a truly national institution serving Ugandan society. His brief but impactful tenure established principles of service-oriented leadership that continue to influence public institutional management across East Africa
He held an Overseas Course B from Wadham College in Oxford, UK (1956), an Honors Degree (Economics Major) from the University College of Aberystwyth in Wales (1955), and a BA in Education from Makerere University (1946).
In his brief tenure, courses like Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Forestry, Bachelor of Laws, and Bachelor of Technology were added to the University’s Curriculum. Veterinary Medicine, which was being offered at the University of Nairobi, was also introduced at Makerere University, while Music, Dance, and Drama became diploma subjects. The Main Library and Albert Cook Medical Library were extended in 1972. Later that year, during former President Idi Amin’s rule, Mr. Kalimuzo was picked up by security personnel and was never seen alive again.
Trending
-
General1 week ago
Mirror Frank Kalimuzo’s life of service-MUBS Principal
-
General1 week ago
Israeli Ambassador Lotem Talks Innovation on Farewell Visit
-
Research2 weeks ago
Mak and MSU Host Landmark Symposium on Insects for Food, Feed, and Food Security in Africa
-
General1 week ago
Directorate of Graduate Training Rolls out Research Management Information Sytems (RIMS)
-
Engineering, Art & Tech2 weeks ago
Makerere University and Nile Basin Discourse Partner on Water Resource Management Initiative