Connect with us

General

NCHE Celebrates 20th Anniversary: Mak Showcases Research & Innovations

Published

on

On Thursday 12th October 2023, H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta  Museveni officiated at the celebrations to mark twenty years of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. The celebrations that started in March 2023 were held under the theme “20 Years of NCHE Transforming Higher Education in Uganda” and climaxed at Kololo with a Mini-Exhibition by various institutions, inspected by H.E. President Museveni and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni.

President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Hon. Janet Museveni listen to Dr. Peter Tumutegyereize (Left) explain how the Mak Solar Cooker works. Photo: Courtesy/NCHE@20, Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. Kampala, Uganda, East Africa.
President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Hon. Janet Museveni listen to Dr. Peter Tumutegyereize (Left) explain how the Mak Solar Cooker works. Photo: Courtesy/NCHE@20

Remarks by H.E. the President and First Lady

Speaking at the celebrations, the President congratulated NCHE upon marking their 20th Anniversary. The Head of State urged NCHE to insist on a well-tailored modern type of education that seeks to understand nature and its laws as well as understanding the society and evolution of man from hunter-gatherer to domestication of crops, livestock, and commercial farming.

President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Hon. Janet Museveni listen to Dr. William Tayeebwa (Back to camera) talk about the Makerere University Press. Photo: PPU. NCHE@20, Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. Kampala, Uganda, East Africa.
President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Hon. Janet Museveni listen to Dr. William Tayeebwa (Back to camera) talk about the Makerere University Press. Photo: PPU.

In her remarks, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni thanked God for the twenty years that NCHE has been in existence as an agency of the Ministry of Education and Sports. She applauded NCHE for the leaps that the higher education sector has made in the last twenty years in the form of quantitative increase of higher education institutions from 67 to 265. The First Lady nevertheless urged NCHE to position itself as a catalyst for the transformation of the higher education system in Uganda so as to make the country a hub for higher education in the East African region.

Recognition of Higher Education Institutions

During the celebrations, the NCHE recognised Makerere University for its contribution to the transformation of the higher education sector through provision of relevant and high quality education. Equally recognized were Uganda Christian University as the first private university in Uganda, the 7th Vice Chancellor and first female Vice Chancellor of Ndejje University Rev. Canon Prof. Olivia Nassaka Banja and the Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute (ECUREI)’s Prof. Micheal Kawooya.

Mak Exhibitors at NCHE@20

Makerere University featured prominently during the Mini Exhibition. Led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the exhibition team showcased research, innovations and services through the following:

  • Mak Solar Cooker by Dr. Peter Tumutegyereize (College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) – an appliance that uses electricity generated by a solar panel system to cook food, requiring no add-ons such as charcoal, rocks, gas, kerosene or even mains electricity.
  • AirQo by Joel Ssematimba and Priscah Adrine Warigo (College of Computing and Information Sciences) – a custom low-cost air quality monitor that measure particulate matter PM₂.₅ and PM10, the most common pollutants that affect human health deployed across a high-resolution air quality monitoring network in target urban areas in Uganda and across eight African countries.
President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Hon. Janet Museveni listen to Dr. Alice Nabatanzi (Left) explain how the three of the innovations she showcased work. Photo: Courtesy/NCHE@20, Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. Kampala, Uganda, East Africa.
President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Hon. Janet Museveni listen to Dr. Alice Nabatanzi (Left) explain how the three of the innovations she showcased work. Photo: Courtesy/NCHE@20
  • Maka Water Purifier – made with a chicken keratin biosorbent,
  • Phyto-Nutra Chicken Feed – from indigenous plant species to address Antibiotic resistance and Environmental pollution, and
  • Value-Added Nutraceuticals – from indigenous plant species in the form of Veggie Cocktails, Porridge cocktails, Nutra Cakes, Cookies, and Bread by Dr. Alice Nabatanzi’s projects (College of Natural Sciences). Produced with funding from the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF)
  • Makerere Regional Centre of Excellence for Crop Improvement (MaRCCI) represented by Dr. Sharon Tusiime Mbabazi (Seed Specialist and Ag. Deputy Director) and Ms. Fiona Nyanzi (8 Technology Limited, Mak-RIF Project Partner) – showcased a variety of value-added products produced from sorghum and cowpea. Demo video of how to grow cowpea and sorghum. Digital applications for growing cowpeas and sorghum.
The MaRCCI Team Right to Left: Dr. Sharon Tusiime Mbabazi-Seed Specialist and Ag. Deputy Director, Ms. Fiona Nyanzi-Eight Tech Consults (Mak-RIF project partner) and Mr. Steven Kaliisa-Driver. NCHE@20, Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. Kampala, Uganda, East Africa.
The MaRCCI Team Right to Left: Dr. Sharon Tusiime Mbabazi-Seed Specialist and Ag. Deputy Director, Ms. Fiona Nyanzi-Eight Tech Consults (Mak-RIF project partner) and Mr. Steven Kaliisa-Driver.
  • Makerere University Press under the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training represented by Dr. William Tayeebwa – showcased the latest books authored by Makerere University scholars/researchers. They included;
    • Contemporary African Philosophy: A Critical Appraisal by Wilfred Lajul
    • The Power of Culture and Identity: Imbalu Initiation Ritual Among the Bamasaaba of Uganda by J. P. Wotsuna Khamalwa
    • Modernisation of Luganda Terminology in the Field of Linguistics by Saudah Namyalo
    • Runyakitara Language Studies: A Guide for Advanced Learners and Teachers of Runyakitara by Oswald K. Ndoleriire (Ed.)
    • Contemporary Issues in Educational Research, Policies, and Practices in the Global South by C. Ssebbunga-Masembe & S.N. Siminyu (Eds.)
    • What I Saw When I Died by Jimmy Spire Ssentongo
    • Moving Back into the Future by Dominica Dipio (Ed.)
    • Countering Violent Extremism in Uganda by Veneranda Mbabazi et al.
    • Lulu ya Bara by Innocent Masengo
    • HIV/AIDS in Uganda: Achievements and Challenges by James Kiwanuka-Tondo
    • Statehood on Trial: Thoughts on the 1966 Uganda Political Crisis by Joseph Bossa
    • (Mis)management of Sub-Nationalism and Diversity in “Nations”: The case of Buganda in Uganda, 1897-1980 by Godfrey Berinde Asiimwe
  • Department of the Academic Registrar represented by Mr. Justus Karegyeya – showcased the Makerere University online application system and programmes that students can apply to from any location as long as they have an internet connection.

Compiled by Mak Public Relations Office


MaRCCI Sorghum GROWING Training Video – Developed with funding from Mak-RIF

MaRCCI Cowpea Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) Demo Video – Developed with funding from Mak-RIF

Mak Editor

General

Special Exam Results -Diploma in Performing Arts 2025/26

Published

on

The results for the 2025/2026 special entry examination for the Diploma in Performing Arts held on Saturday 17th May, 2025. Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the Examination and have been recommended to the university’s Admissions Committee for consideration.

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

General

Mature Age Scheme Exam Results for 2025/2026

Published

on

The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released full results for the Mature Age Entry Scheme Examinations for the Academic Year 2025/2026 held on Saturday 14th December, 2024.

The Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the examination and have been recommended by the Pre-Entry & Mature Age Committee to the University’s Admissions Board for Consideration.

The Aptitude Exam  Results for 2025/2026 Academic Year released in February 2025 can be found here.

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

General

Directorate of Graduate Training Completes Training of First Cohort Training of Supervisors

Published

on

By Moses Lutaaya

The Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) has in collaboration with Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors.

Participants were academic staff from two colleges namely, College of Engineering, Art and Design (CEDAT) and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).

The three-day training that took place at the Telepresence Centre, Senate Building ended on Friday 20thJune 2025.

In his closing remarks to the participants, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma said, “This is the first cohort we are working together with the Center for Teaching and Learning to put together continuous professional development Program so that we are able to enforce the new teaching and learning policy.”

He said that before lecturers are allocated students for supervision, they must first go through this form of formal teaching and learning training to equip them thoroughly with certification required of supervision of graduate students.

“We are coming up with process to ensure that the certificates earned by participants allow you to supervise graduate students. This is the direction of the university and we must ensure that such trainings are concluded and completed successfully by all participants”, Prof. Kikooma.

Prof. Julius Kikooma – Director of Graduate Training

“We can only have you certified upon completing all the exercises in the training process. This is when you will be eligible to receive the work load for supervision”, He added.

“This training of Supervisors is going to be continuous so that all academic staff in colleges and schools are equipped. This first cohort is going to be our building block to the future trainings in the colleges.”

With such capacity building trainings, Prof. Kikooma said that the university is on the right path to achieving its targets in the new strategic plan of increasing the number of graduate students while progressively reducing the under graduate students.

He further hinted that, “We are in the process of writing a curriculum on this, which will be presented for approval before it is rolled out.”

He echoed all participants to share the knowledge they have acquired adding, “Share all you have learnt, do not keep it. Be open minded, have proper communication channels and the sky will be the limit for you.” 

Dr. Robinah N. Kulabako, The Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at CEDAT welcomed the training adding, “This training is very pertinent. I have had the opportunity to supervise Masters and PhD students for over 15 years and I must say that the need to be subjected to this training cannot be over emphasized because there is need to learn, unlearn and relearn many aspects involved in the supervision process.”

She added, “We are moving towards knowledge-based supervision rather than experience-based supervision. This means we must be informed and equipped to be able to advise, guide and mentor to be able to lead a successful supervision journey for both supervisor and supervisee.”

Dr. Andrew Gilbert Were – a lecturer at CEDAT and a participant said, “It is important that all supervisors of graduate students receive this certification from Makerere University through a systematic training process that enables them to attain diverse skills to facilitate learning of graduate students from diverse cultures and with unique set of circumstances.”

“This training is long overdue. In fact, it was an oversight that we could be allowed to supervise students without undergoing supervisors’ training.”

Dr. Dorothy Ssebowa, The Director Centre for Teaching and Learning support- CEES said, “The training this time round has had a mix of early career professionals including Lecturers, Supervisors and Professors share experiences. We have learnt a lot more from experienced supervisors who have shared practices on how they have done supervision over the years.”

“The knowledge and experience-based approaches have made this collaboration very active, interactive and learner centered which has resulted into a collaborative learning from the interdisciplinarity of staff from CEDAT and CAES. The issue now is to continue with professional development across all levels.” She added.

The Makerere University Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT) in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching and Learning completed the training of the first cohort of Graduate Supervisors. This activity was supported by the iCARTA – Institutionalization of Advanced Research Training in Africa, a NORHED II Project at Makerere University.

Mak Editor

Continue Reading

Trending