General
Dr. Onoria, Members of Staff Appeals Tribunal Sworn In
The New Chairperson, Dr. Henry Onoria and Members of the Makerere University Staff Appeals Tribunal were on Thursday 16th November 2023 sworn in to commence their four-year term by Her Worship Evelyn Najjuuko, Senior Grade One Magistrate, Wakiso Court. On hand to witness the swearing-in ceremony were the Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara, Chairperson Appointments Board, Mr. Edwin Karugire, Chairperson Legal, Rules, Privileges and Estates Committee, Mr. George Bamugemereire and Members of Council; Dr. Diana Ahumuza Ateenyi, Dr. Deus Kamnyu Muhwezi and Mr. Jackson Byamukama.
Members of University Management present included the Acting (Ag.) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Umar Kakumba, Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, Dean of Students, Mrs. Winifred Kabumbuli, University Bursar, Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha, Ag. Director Human Resources, Mr. Deus Tayari Mujuni, Ag. Director Estates and Works, Eng. Darius Muwanguzi, Ag. Director Internal Audit, Mr. Patrick Akonyet, and Ag. Director Legal Affairs, Mr. Hudson Musoke. Staff Associations were equally well represented by their executives and leaders namely; Chairperson Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA), Dr. Robert Kakuru, Chairperson Makerere University Administrative Staff Association (MASA), Mr. Bennet Magara and Ag. Chairperson National Union of Educational Institutions (NUEI), Mr. Isaac Okello. The Ag. Head, Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC), Dr. Busingye Kabumba was in attendance.
Vice Chancellor Welcomes Tribunal Members
Welcoming all present Prof. Kakumba appreciated God for the wonderful opportunity to witness the swearing in of the Staff Appeals Tribunal, one of the important organs of the University. He noted that systems, structures and processes enable institutions such as Makerere to not only exist but thrive. This, in the case of the Staff Appeals Tribunal, is achieved by inculcating a harmonious level of co-existence when contradictions emerge.
“The tribunal is such an important organ to handle issues related to grievances, reconciliation and foster the strategic vision of the institution” said the Ag. Vice Chancellor. He therefore congratulated and thanked Dr. Onoria for accepting to come back to his alma mater and head this important organ.
“We are looking forward to your contribution towards fostering the strategic vision of Makerere University as a thought leader in knowledge generation for societal transformation and development” he added.
Chairperson Appointments Board pledges Cordiality
In his brief remarks, Mr. Karugire couldn’t help but share with the audience how he constantly reminds fellow Council Members how he is more Makererean that they are, having been born, raised, educated and now actively serving on the Governing body. “And so it is an honour and a privilege to serve at this great institution.”
He pledged on behalf of the Appointments Board to ensure that in the exercise of its mandate, his Council Committee would strive to make the Tribunal’s workload is lighter. This, he noted, would be achieved by placing Makerere’s mission to provide transformative teaching and learning as well as research environment responsive to national and global needs at the core of all activities.
Mr. Karugire added that the achievement of this mission requires highly motivated, disciplined and committed staff, which makes keeping them (staff) accountable very important. “In this regard, the Appointments Board as well as the Tribunal have different but complimentary roles.”
He concluded by saying that he was looking forward to working with the distinguished members of the tribunal to serve the great Makerere and renewed his pledge to foster a cordial working relationship between the Appointments Board and Tribunal.
New Tribunal Members Sworn In
The University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, who moderated the event shared that Makerere University Staff Appeals Tribunal is by law made up of eight members including a Chairperson; appointed by the Chancellor, and representatives from the University Council (1), University Senate (1), MUASA (2), MASA (2) and the Ministry of Public Service (1). At the time of the swearing-in, the Ministry of Public Service was yet to nominate its representative. As such, the members present were sworn in as listed below;
- Dr. Henry Onoria – Chairperson
- Rt. Hon. Daniel Fred Kidega – Council Representative
- Assoc. Prof. Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala – Senate Representative
- Ms. Rhoda Nalubega – MUASA Female Representative
- Dr. Fred Maniragaba – MUASA Male Representative
- Ms. Sarah Wegosasa – MASA Female Representative
- Mr. Joseph Kalema – MASA Male Representative
HW Najjuuko Calls for Confidentiality
Following the administration of oaths, Her Worship Najjuuko congratulated Members of the Staff Appeals Tribunal upon being sworn in and reminded them that “with great power comes great responsibility.
“I pray that you are able to run this office for the term that you are appointed. Please serve it with integrity, professionalism, and I need to emphasize, with confidentiality…and may God bless and keep you,” remarked Her Worship. She concluded by observing that there was no Muslim member of the Tribunal and prayed that there would be one at the next opportunity.
Acceptance Remarks by Dr. Onoria
Delivering his acceptance remarks, the Chairperson of the Staff Appeals Tribunal thanked all present for sparing time to come and witness the swearing-in ceremony. However, he was quick to add that he looked forward to receiving the eighth and final member, the nominee from the Ministry of Public Service. He went on to share that as one who completed his Bachelor of Laws in 1992 and returned to teach for fourteen years from 1998 to 2011, it gave him great pleasure to come back and serve Makerere University, where he spent a significant part of his adult life.
“From where I stand, this is a great opportunity to do one final round in terms of service to the University because I’m not getting any younger…what I can pledge as we start after this tribunal inauguration and swearing-in is that we begin to look at how to fast track resolving some of the matters that have been pending for over six months” said the Chairperson.
The pending cases notwithstanding, Dr. Onoria was particularly happy that the Staff Appeals Tribunal is guided by rules of procedure, and thanked the Legal, Rules, Privileges and Estates Committee of Council for drafting them. He was also pleased that the Tribunal’s membership was largely made up of staff, who will offer a deeper understanding of the cases presented by aggrieved colleagues. “The constituency brings a lot to work out how best to resolve disputes and I am hoping that with the team that is continuing their tenure, my tasks will be much easier as Chair.”
He thanked the Chairperson Appointments Board for his commitment to a culture of collaboration, which will help map out the best ways of resolving disputes as they arise. “I want to thank everybody for coming and I look forward to executing this role…may God bless everybody on the tribunal and give us wisdom and understanding,” he prayed.
Concluding Remarks by Chairperson of Council
Concluding the day’s remarks, the Chairperson of Council expressed pleasure at participating in the inauguration of the Staff Appeals Tribunal and thanked Her Worship for presiding over the swearing-in of the new team. She congratulated Dr. Onoria, the new, as well as continuing members upon being appointed to serve in the critical role.
“The University Council looks forward to your team as a strong pillar of the university’s grievance handling mechanism, which should promote good governance, foster staff confidence and motivation and at the end of the day, improve service delivery” remarked Mrs. Magara. She equally thanked the outgoing Chairperson Justice John Patrick Mashongo Tabaro and his team for their service to the university.
The Chairperson of Council reiterated that the overarching goal of the Makerere University Strategic Plan to position the institution as “a sustainable research-led and responsive university with a highly productive workforce churning out versatile graduates” ought to remind staff of the shared responsibility to deliver on the national development agenda and to push collectively to achieve the plan’s targets.
Turning to the Staff Appeals Tribunal, Mrs. Magara was pleased to note that Dr. Onoria not only has the legal experience and knowledge but also an emotional attachment to the university as a former staff and student. She nevertheless cautioned that the rule of law ought to be the cornerstone of service, “whether in Council, whether in Management or the Staff Tribunal.”
The swearing-in ceremony was followed on 16th and 17th November 2023 by inauguration and orientation activities for members of the Staff Appeals Tribunal as well as relevant Council Committees. The University Secretary also used the occasion to recognise Dr. Josephine Ndagire and Mr. Peter Eneru, the Secretary and Clerk of Staff Appeals Tribunal respectively as well as Mrs. Naome Kiconco Ocheing and Ms. Annet Nakayovu as staff who contribute to its smooth running.
Today 8th October 2026, Makerere University has hosted the EU Uganda Research and Study Fair 2026, bringing together government officials, European Union representatives, researchers, academics, students, and young professionals to explore opportunities in education, research, innovation, and international collaboration.
The fair also marked 50 years of partnership between Uganda and the European Union, providing a platform for participants to learn about scholarships, research funding, exchange programmes, fellowships and opportunities for collaboration with European institutions.
Officially opening the fair, Acting Minister of Education and Sports Hon. Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo commended the European Union, its member states, Makerere University and other partners for organising the event, describing international cooperation as important to Uganda’s education and research agenda.
The Minister said Uganda’s young population presents a significant opportunity for national development if supported with the right investments in education, skills, creativity, research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
He encouraged universities and research institutions to strengthen links between education, research, innovation and the world of work, noting that research should not only generate academic knowledge but also contribute to policies, technologies and practical solutions to national challenges.
Dr. Muyingo also encouraged students and young professionals to engage with the European Union, its member states and alumni to understand the opportunities available and prepare themselves for future applications.
Makerere highlights value of partnership
Prof. Sarah Ssali, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Makerere University, who represented the University at the event, said the fair provided an important platform for bringing education, research, innovation and international cooperation together.
She noted that the event was particularly significant as Uganda and the European Union celebrate five decades of partnership, with Makerere’s relationships with some European institutions extending even beyond 50 years.
Prof. Ssali said the partnerships have supported education, research, skills development, innovation, institutional strengthening and human capital development, creating opportunities for Ugandans to acquire knowledge and skills, conduct research and establish international networks.
She called for the next chapter of the partnership to place knowledge, research, innovation, technology and young people at the centre.
“Research needs to move beyond publication of research, to influence policy, improve practice, create products and services, strengthen communities and contribute to the economic development of our country,” she said.
Prof. Ssali also encouraged participants to explore opportunities for scholarships, research, exchange programmes, doctoral studies, joint research and fellowships available through European partnerships.
She said the ultimate value of international education and research partnerships lies in how knowledge, skills, networks and technologies acquired through such opportunities contribute to Uganda’s development.
Human Response programme strengthens partnerships
The fair also showcased Makerere’s partnerships through programmes such as the Human Response, Health and Displacement Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Programme.
Dr. Justus Twesigye, Dean of Students, School of Social Sciences, Makerere University and Co Principal of the Human Response Programme, explained that the programme has created partnerships between Makerere and universities in Europe and Africa.
These include the University Institute of Lisbon in Portugal, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University of Athens in Greece, University of Cape Verde and University of Rovuma in Mozambique, alongside associate partners including the Uganda Red Cross Society, Allied Uganda, Refugee Led Organisation Network and the Ministry of Water and Environment.
Twesigye said the partnerships have introduced new approaches to teaching and learning by involving practitioners directly in training and giving students opportunities for concurrent field practice.
He noted that organisations such as the Uganda Red Cross Society have participated in delivering classes, while students also gain practical experience in the field before returning to class for reflective learning.
The programme is also promoting joint research between academics and practitioners, moving away from approaches where researchers and practitioners work separately.
CEES project supports competence based education
The College of Education and External Studies (CEES) also presented an EU supported project aimed at helping higher education institutions and regulators transition to competence based education.
Assoc. Prof. Josephine Esaete, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Science, Technology and Vocational Education, said the project brings together nine partners from Uganda, West Africa and Europe.
She explained that the project seeks to strengthen the capacity of universities and higher education regulators in designing competence based curricula, teaching, assessment, monitoring and evaluation.
Makerere University is coordinating the four year project, with Mountains of the Moon University among the Ugandan partners.
Assoc. Prof. Esaete said the project is timely as universities work towards transitioning their programmes and curricula to competence-based education.
The project also seeks to strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions and industry so that students can acquire skills relevant to the world of work.
Fair creates opportunities for students and researchers
The exhibition brought together different EU supported research projects, academic programmes and institutional partnerships, allowing students, researchers and other participants to interact directly with project teams and representatives of European institutions.
The fair also provided opportunities for participants to learn from Makerere alumni who have benefited from international study and research opportunities.
Prof. Ssali urged participants to use the opportunity to “engage, explore, connect, and discover” new possibilities while encouraging young people to dream boldly, seek knowledge, build networks and use what they learn to contribute to Uganda’s transformation.
The fair reaffirmed Makerere University’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships that support research, innovation, human capital development and national transformation.
Before becoming an optometrist, researcher, programmer, and eye health entrepreneur, Timothy Khabusi walked barefoot to school along rough roads in Manafwa District, Eastern Uganda. For most of his primary school years, Timothy walked more than nine kilometres each day from his home to Bubulo Mixed Primary School in Manafwa District.
He would leave home at about 6:00 a.m., walk to the highway, and join other children on their way to school. On the murram road, sharp stones pressed into his feet. When the rains came, he sometimes arrived at school completely drenched. Occasionally, a truck carrying market vendors would stop and offer them a lift. “Those were few lucky days,” Timothy recalls.
At the time, however, Timothy did not see his life as unusual. It was simply how life was for many children in his village. What he did not yet know was that those long walks were helping shape a determination that would eventually take him from rural Manafwa to Makerere University and, later, the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Timothy Khabusi is the sixth of eight children (5 boys and 3 girls). His father, 68, a retired primary school teacher, and his mother, 60, a small retail shop owner, had limited resources but were determined to give their eight children opportunities they had not enjoyed themselves.
The family tried several ways to make ends meet. His mother ran a small local brew joint, selling malwa, a traditional fermented cereal drink. When Timothy was about ten, the family closed the malwa joint and moved on, first trying farming and later, in 2009, opening a small retail kiosk with money earned from selling a small coffee harvest.
The family kiosk changed things. Timothy started taking snacks to school and also began developing an interest in business. He sold sugarcane and later teamed up with his younger brother, Mark, to make mandazi, a popular delicacy among schoolchildren.
Behind these modest ventures were sacrifices his parents made for their children’s education and health. His father took loans to support the family through school, while both parents repeatedly emphasised the importance of education.
Timothy’s own academic journey was far from perfect.
At rural Bubulo Primary School, Timothy performed very well and earned a place at one of the best secondary schools in Eastern Uganda, Mbale Senior Secondary School, in Mbale city.
At Mbale Secondary School, he became a strong academic performer and earned a renewable merit-based bursary that covered most of his school fees. Mr Mabaku, his Mathematics teacher, taught him to connect classroom concepts to real-life problems—a way of thinking that would later shape his interest in technology and programming.
Then came a setback.
Timothy’s A-level results (15 points in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) were far lower than he had expected. For someone who had always seen himself as a top student, the outcome was deeply disappointing, and he missed out on the much-coveted government scholarship. He even wondered whether university was still possible. He considered repeating his A-levels but instead applied to Makerere University on private sponsorship. He was admitted to study Optometry, although he had initially wanted to pursue Medicine and Surgery.
Then came the opportunity that changed everything.
In 2017, Timothy became a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at Makerere University, receiving support that enabled him to continue his university education. The financial uncertainty that had threatened his university education was resolved. What initially felt like failure became an opportunity that redirected him towards a field he had not planned to enter. Through optometry, he discovered a profession that linked clinical care with science, technology, research and public health.
His career journey after graduation.
After graduating from Makerere University in January 2022, Timothy set out to fulfil his ambitious mission to improve eye health in Uganda. His career began far from his village home in Manafwa: he started at a private clinic in Arua town, West Nile, hundreds of kilometres from Manafwa in Eastern Uganda. Asked why he didn’t find a job in Kampala, as most of his peers did, Timothy quickly explained that his mission is to provide the best eye health care to communities with limited access to these services.
After working for one year in Arua, he returned to Kampala. He first worked at Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital from 2023 to 2025, then moved to Med-Optics, another popular eye clinic in Kampala. In February 2026, he opened his own eye clinic, Khabusi Vision Care Centre, a modern optometry centre dedicated to providing eye care services at subsidised rates to individuals and families who may face financial barriers to accessing these services.
His leadership journey
For Timothy, leadership is not about collecting titles. At Mbale Senior Secondary School, he led the Science Club, organising seminars and holiday revision programmes. At Makerere, he served as a minister at the College of Health Sciences and as a leader in the Optometry Students’ Association. Those experiences shaped a simple philosophy: leadership means seeing what needs improvement, taking responsibility, and bringing others along.
That philosophy now drives his ambitions for Khabusi Vision Care. In the coming years, he aims to strengthen the organisation’s clinical, public health, digital and research work. His longer-term vision is to build a major Ugandan eye health organisation with branches across the country, comprehensive services, research programmes and locally developed diagnostic and ophthalmic technologies.
Impact in the community
Asked about his impact in the community, Timothy quickly pointed to the number of patients whose sight he has helped restore at a modest cost they otherwise couldn’t have afforded.
“I am proud to have treated more than 10,000 patients and enabled them to see better since I began my optometry practice in 2022. Among the patients, I vividly remember a police woman who was on the verge of going completely blind due to a misdiagnosis she had received at different facilities she had visited in Kampala, until she came to Khabusi Vision Care Centre in Kyanja, where I was able to help correct the optical issue she was grappling with.” Timothy proudly states.
Timothy further enumerates the number of young people he has mentored and continues to mentor in optometry. He also offers graduate internships at his clinic and employs five young people as permanent staff. He also conducts regular community outreach activities, offering free eye check-ups in the community and subsidised treatment for those who need it.
A word to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Community
Timothy expressed his gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and Makerere University for giving him the opportunity to pursue a quality university education at a time when he had lost hope of attending university after failing to secure a government scholarship.
“I am forever grateful to Mastercard Foundation and Makerere University for giving me a scholarship that changed my whole life; without the scholarship, I would not have been able to afford the university fees; therefore, I wouldn’t have become what I am today,” Timothy points out.
Asked what advice he would give to current Mastercard Foundation Scholars, Timothy urges them to take advantage of the additional skilling and development programmes the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program offers.
“I urge my young brothers and sisters on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program currently to take the capacity-building training the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program offers; it is what will give you an advantage over others in the job market,” Timothy advises.
Looking ahead
Beyond healthcare, Timothy is a writer, programmer, and researcher. He has published “From the Slopes of Mount Elgon”, a novel about a young girl who confronts poverty and betrayal while pursuing education and dignity. Timothy’s story is not a straightforward journey from challenge to success. It is about unexpected turns: the barefoot walks, the disappointing A-level results, the unexpected scholarship, and the career he never originally intended to pursue. His advice to young people comes from that experience: one disappointing result or difficult season need not decide the rest of your life. Sometimes, you have to keep walking.
“Keep learning, keep improving, and when opportunity comes, use it—not only to change your own life, but to create opportunities for others,” Timothy advises.
Timothy is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors at the University of Edinburgh. The programme has reshaped his approach to healthcare. Rather than focusing solely on individual mistakes, he examines the systems that allow failures to occur and how to redesign them to improve patient safety.
On October 5, 2026, Makerere University welcomed Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, the Deputy Inspector General of Government (DIGG) and her delegation for a courtesy visit ahead of the International Ombuds Day 2026 commemoration under the theme “Ombuds: Office of Options”.
The delegation was received by Professor Barnabas Nawangwe the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University in his office where they discussed the Ombuds Day theme, the university’s successful reconciliation-based conflict resolution, ongoing infrastructure projects, and a renewed commitment to institutional partnership.
Mrs. Twinomugisha Muhairwe, who also spoke as the President of the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA), emphasised that her office aims to be a partner in building and strengthening public institutions rather than merely a critic. Therefore, this visit marked a big step in the evolving relationship between public institutions and the Office of the Ombudsman at the Inspectorate of Government, where it is headed by Director Kakooza Savio Ntensibe, who was also part of the delegation.
The DIGG shared that the office provides essential options for resolving grievances such as administrative injustice, where people feel victimised, and unheard.
Reconciliation Underscored
While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe, framed the visit as a turning point in the institution’s relationship with oversight bodies. He welcomed the DIGG, an alumna of Makerere, and commended the Ombuds methodology that prioritizes reconciliation as initiated by neutral persons or bodies to resolve disputes.
“The style of reconciliation has worked very well for us as well, ever since we started talking to the students, it has kept peace in the university,” the Vice Chancellor remarked.
“We started talking to the students and… eventually, they started to understand. Today, if you come and begin talking of strike, fellow students will tell you, ‘We came here to study’”, added the Vice Chancellor.
The engagement also discussed the practical realities of student welfare. Mrs. Twinomugisha Muhairwe, with specific interest, probed the Vice Chancellor on the status of hall renovations. In response, the Vice Chancellor explained the phased approach to renovations, noting that the university is systematically upgrading facilities to improve the living conditions.
The Vice Chancellor thereafter invited Mrs. Twinomugisha Muhairwe and her team to visit the university museum, as a gesture to underscore the spirit of the day where the Ombudsman and the university stand together.
About Ombuds Day
Ombuds Day is an international observance held annually on the second Thursday of October to raise public awareness of the ombuds profession.
According to the International Ombuds Association, an ombuds is an independent, neutral, and confidential professional who helps resolve disputes, investigate complaints, and address systemic issues within an organization, government agency, or institution.
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