Computing & IS
Over 800 Freshers oriented at CoCIS; Urged to Balance Academic & Social life
Hundreds of freshers admitted to programs in the College of Computing and Information Sciences turned up for orientation at a function that was presided over by Principal Professor Tonny Oyana in the Big Lab 2 in Block B on 24th August 2023.
Three students won scholastic materials worth over UGX 100,000 in a quiz and orientation raffle – a college culture of welcoming first-years every intake.
Heads of academic units including Principals, Deans, and departmental chairs congratulated freshers upon successful admission and welcomed them to Makerere University. Day 2 was dedicated to orientation by university support units.
Prof. Oyana described the orientation as an exciting moment transitioning from primary, and secondary to university
In the current competitive world, Oyana told freshers that one degree is not enough.
“University should be able to prepare you to stand on your own. Forget about finding a job. But can you now count and write your records properly and make sense of the world? Listen, the world is complex. Even your home is complex. The school must teach you to make sense of things and articulate them clearly”
The Principal informed students that they are in the university to acquire knowledge and skills to tame their environment and organize their communities.
He told freshers that the key thing to success nowadays is to create their own opportunities.
“To record success, the first one is the academic work. If you like to sleep and you cover your head with the two bed sheets turn off alarms and sleep again, you will sleep into your future. Organize yourself so that you know which classes you are supposed to do when and where”, Prof. Oyana warned.
The Principal stressed the need for students to balance their time for academics and social life and to identify additional university resources such as the library, places of worship, and counseling services to make their stay successful.
“The Second thing is social success. There is life outside academics. It is okay to go and dance a bit. The problem comes when done every Monday, Wednesday, Friday etc and you know all the clubs. Balance social and academics and life will be very good for you. Go socialize, play soccer, and netball, and run If you are overwhelmed, take a walk, and talk with friends who like you. Give them a call, they will make you feel better”, He said.
Prof. Oyana highlighted key things to success including being focused on obtaining knowledge, working hard, endurance, and discipline.
“God designed you to succeed, to prosper. In the Bible, if you are Christian, God designed you to thrive. So don’t believe that you are born stupid. So if you fail, get up and say I know I can do it.
Hard work is good and pain is also good. Build your endurance. Endurance according to the Bible, will give you wisdom. I want you to do better. I want you to succeed but you must work hard”, Oyana advised.
The different heads of departments introduced freshers to programs offered in their units and guided them on different matters.
“Our role is to facilitate you and you go on your own. Have your objectives and know where you want to go and identify practical projects that you can start working on.
We are training you not only to be technicians but also to be theoretical. So, accept the balance”, Prof. Engineer Bainomugisha, Head Department of Computer Science.
The head department of Information Technology Dr. Fiona Penlop cautioned freshers against examination malpractices and or forgery.
“You need to concentrate, read, and ensure you appear on the university graduation list and booklet. We have seen students fooling parents to come for graduation knowing they are not on the graduation list”, she warned.
Agnes Nakakawa, head Department of Information Systems congratulated students upon their admission to Makerere but said it was up to them to determine where to focus their attention.
Dr. Nakakawa warned freshers that they have limited time and as adults at Makerere, there is no stick, nor master on duty and metrons to chase them around. She also cautioned about misleading advice that a 50 % or pass is good enough.
“Respect the CGPA, it is a monster that can kill you. If you fail to get a first or second-class upper in the first year, nobody should lie to you. Your parents have toiled to get you here and your job is to get knowledge and skills”, Nakakawa warned.
Nakakawa advised every student to take his or her own lane and begin building a good CGPA, prioritizing their goals saying, the only way to attain positions they deserve is through coursework, tests, and examinations.
She also cautioned students to guard against pregnancies and unserious group mates always seek help and counseling services in case of challenges and, not to harm themselves,
Speaking on behalf of the head department of Library and Information Sciences, Mwanje Senono urged students to focus in order to complete within the program time.
“We have seen students spend five years. But once you focus and attain a good CGPA, you will finish in time. Aim at first or second-class upper. A passing degree has no future. Avoid negotiating marks with lecturers, create groups, concentrate, and get off anything that rids you from focus”, Senono advised.
Chair Department of Networks, Dr. Swaib Lwasa said unlike other programs, the Bachelor of Software Engineering takes four years. He advises freshers to work through class representatives as contact points in case of challenges.
“Not everyone around you is a student of Makerere, you may lose your property. The department has staff ready to support you in your academic journey. Year 2 and year three students of software engineering have social networks and they will be mentoring first years.”, He pledged.
The head of the Center for Innovations and Professional Skills Development (CiPSD), Ms. Barbra Nalubega told students that the future lies in Artificial intelligence. She highlighted some of the courses offered at the centre adding the centre offers practical skills.
“We train for the industry. We want you to have skills that will make you fit for the world. Excellence comes with paying attention to detail. We want to give you skills for achieving your goals. We offer hands-on experiences during recess term to complement theory” ” she said.
Computing & IS
Makerere Launches Scholarly Guide, Calls for Increased Research, Publication and Innovation in Africa
VC Emphasizes Research as Key to Africa’s Global Integration
Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has urged universities across Africa to invest in research, publication, and innovation as a pathway to greater participation in the global knowledge economy.
Speaking at the launch of From Records to Publication: A Guide to Academic Authorship, edited by Prof. Elisam Magara of the East African School of Library and Information Sciences, Prof. Nawangwe highlighted Africa’s low contribution to global scholarship. “Although Africa accounts for 15 percent of the world’s population, it produces only 3 percent of global research publications,” he said.
“There are historical reasons for this,” the Vice Chancellor continued, referencing centuries of slavery and colonialism. “You cannot brush away 600 years of subjugation. And we Africans have not even written enough about that. If we want to move Africa back into the global community, we must invest in research, publication, and innovation.”
He cited China as an example, noting how the country’s investment in research and education has translated into economic and global influence. “When we say China is the factor of the world, it is not that people just wake up and begin making things. They invest in education, in publication, in research. If we want to transform Africa, we must do the same.”
Prof. Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s progress, revealing that annual peer-reviewed publications have grown from about 500 a decade ago, to 700, and now exceed 2,000. He acknowledged that the university still trails South African institutions, partly because they operate numerous local journals that absorb significant volumes of research. “We are not fully utilising the brand of Makerere University Press,” he said, pledging support to strengthen the press and scale up journal production.
He also reaffirmed the university’s strategy to reduce excessive undergraduate enrolment and expand graduate training to boost research output. “Let us create time for professors to do research and supervise more graduate students,” he said.
Commending Professor Magara and his team for producing the authorship guide, Prof. Nawangwe described the book as an essential handbook for Master’s and PhD students, early-career researchers, and universities across the region striving to become research-led. “This is at the heart of the university. If we invest in research and publication, we secure our future,” he said.
Book Recommended as Mandatory Guide by College Principal
Makerere University’s Principal of the College of Computing and Information Sciences, Prof. Tonny Oyana, called for the newly launched volume to be adopted as a mandatory guide for graduate students and newly appointed lecturers. “This is not a bad book for our first-year PhD students to start with,” he said. “Even those who are hired as junior lecturers still need mentorship. If I were the Vice Chancellor, I would put this book as required reading for every new hire.”
Prof. Oyana reflected on his personal contribution to the book, revealing that administrative responsibilities nearly forced him to withdraw. “Because of the work that I do, I was about to give up,” he admitted. “But Professor Magara was persistent. He came back to me and gave me more time.”
He credited a PhD student, Caroline Ilako, for assisting with library research and literature reviews, saying, “She did a wonderful job. We went back and forth through revisions, but finally we produced the work.”
On the quality of the book, Prof. Oyana said, “When you pick up a book, look at how it is laid out. The quick judgment tells you about the quality. This is well put together. We are beginning to show quality comparable to Western presses.”
He also challenged traditional notions of “publish or perish,” noting, “As scholarship evolves, those who evaluate scholarship must also adjust. Impact, innovation, and tangible products are increasingly valued alongside journal articles.”
Editor Highlights Research-Based Approach
Prof. Elisam Magara, the book’s editor, explained that the guide is designed to support scholars from the moment they conceive a research idea to the point their work is published and read. “I looked at the books we were using and asked myself: which kind of book can truly guide students? We needed a clear guide from the time a scholar thinks of writing up to the time the book is read,” he said.
He detailed the rigorous editorial process that began in 2022, including international calls for contributions, peer review of abstracts, writeshops for feedback, and multiple rounds of chapter reviews. “Don’t write and keep,” he advised. “Your book must have impact. It must reach the public and be used.”
Prof. Magara also acknowledged the sabbatical granted by the Vice-Chancellor, which enabled him to balance teaching and editorial responsibilities. “This book is meant not just for Makerere but for scholars across the region and beyond,” he said.
Mak Press Outlines Rigorous Publishing Process
Dr. Isaac Tibasima, representing the Managing Director of Makerere University Press, explained the publication pathway. “Once you bring your manuscript to the press, we take it through evaluation, external peer review, revisions, copy-editing, typesetting, and pre-press review before printing,” he said.
He also highlighted the press’s efforts to strengthen college-based journals. “We will not run the journals, but they will be published under the imprint of Makerere University. If we produce consistent issues, we can then move toward global indexing,” Dr. Tibasima said.
All new journals and articles now carry Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to enhance discoverability, while past publications are being retroactively assigned DOIs. “We are not there yet, but we are moving there, and we are intentional about getting there,” he added.
School Leaders Celebrate Scholarship and Mentorship
In welcome remarks, Dr. Sarah Kaddu, Dean of the School, said, “This event is a celebration of scholarship, intellectual discipline, and the journey of knowledge creation. This book speaks directly to one of the most critical challenges facing scholars—transforming research records into publishable work.”
Dr. Sylvia Namujuzi, Head of the Department of Records and Archives Management, added, “This book is timely. It responds to real challenges faced by early-career researchers, postgraduate students, and even seasoned academics—questions of structure, authorship ethics, citation, collaboration, and navigating the publication ecosystem.”
She concluded: “Well-managed records are not endpoints; they are the beginning of inquiry, reflection, and publication. This guide demonstrates that pathway.”
Book Outline
- Introduction: Publication Journey. (Prof. Elisam Magara)
PART I: Foundations of Academic Authorship.
- Conceptual Foundations of Academic Authorship
Elisam Magara and Joseph Kiplangat.
- Archives as a Source of Information for Academic Writing
David Luyombya, Sylivia Namujuzi and Francis Ekwaro
- The place of Oral History in Contemporary Writing
Elisam Magara, James Nkanshah-Obrempong and Nthan Nzyoka Joshua
- Managing Ethical Dilemmas in Academic Writing
Maria Tsvere, Tsitsi Kanonge and Joselin Chigwada
- The Role of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights in Protecting Works of Authors and Publishers in Uganda
Ronald Kakungulu Mayambala
PART II: Managing the Publication Process
- A Manuscript: From Inception to Publication
Sarah Mirembe Kyankya
- Managing Co-Authorship in Academic Writing
Gankhanani Moffat Moyo
- Managing Illustrations and Visual Artworks in Academic Writing
Bob Magara Rutatugirwa
- Tapping into Open Access Platforms for Gainful Authorship
George Muganga
- Managing the Costs in Academic Authorship
Aloysius Rukundo
- The Important Translation in Publication
Monica Mweseli
- Citations and Referencing in Academic Writing
Clement Lutaaya Nabutto, Namujuzi Sylivia, and Daviv Luyombya, Makerere University
- Referencing Management Software In Academic Writing
Odeke Moses Osamai and Constant Okello-Obura
- Compliance with International Bibliographic Control Standards in Academic Authorship
Elisam Magara and Dniel Osinde
PART III: Secondary Services in Academic Writing
- Journal Impact Factor and its Role when Submitting a Publication Article
Tonny J. Oyana and Caroline Ilako
- Managing Mentorship Programmes for Scholarly Writing
Diyoshak Rhoda Danladi and Elisam Magara
Report by
Jane Anyango, Principal Communication Officer CoCIS
Ritah Atukwatse, Journalism and Communication Student (2nd Year)
Fred Kanwagi, Journalism and Communication Student (3rd Year)
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