General
H.E. Xavier Sticker Visits Mak, Discusses Collaborative Initiatives
By Betty Nabisubi
The Ambassador of France to Uganda, H.E. Xavier Sticker on Friday 19th January 2024 visited Makerere University to familiarize himself with the French Corner, the French Section of the Department of European and Oriental Languages and institution’s Internationalisation function. He was officially received by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda as well as various leaders.
Welcoming the H.E. Sticker, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe emphasised that Internationalisation is prominent on the University’s strategic agenda, and the International Office is in the process of being strengthened so as to better support this function, and ensure an environment conducive to the welfare of international students.
“Therefore, any support rendered to this office in terms of language and feedback will be helpful so as to better serve our international stakeholders. Although we are currently hosts to students from over 40 nationalities, we could have more, because Africa alone has over 50 countries” said Prof. Alinaitwe.
The University Secretary in his remarks reiterated that the International Office is at the heart of coordinating visits by international delegations and supporting the teaching and learning function by providing efficient services to international students and visiting academics.
“The target is to facilitate them through the entire chain from admission to registration to processing entry visas, study permits and making sure that when the international students are here, they are home” remarked Mr. Kiranda.
Additionally, Mr. Moses Rutahumbya, one of two Administrative Assistants at the International Office, the other being Ms. Betty Nabisubi, noted that the unit also facilitates mobility programmes for Makerere University Students visiting partner institutions.
H.E. Xavier Sticker in his remarks noted that his visit was aimed at acquainting himself with the premises and operations of the Campus France Office at Makerere and how it facilitates access by students to French Universities.
“I can say that we are happy with the number of Ugandan students who have gone to study in France and returned. The number of 60 students currently studying in France could be better” remarked the French Ambassador.
H.E. Sticker emphasized the need to enhance the infrastructure and visibility of the International Office. He underscored the importance of effective promotion, particularly among students interested in studying in France, to bolster the office’s standing.
Additionally, the Ambassador noted that it was important to ensure that students who return from French Universities form an association through which experiences can be shared.
The visit not only strengthened ties between Makerere University and the French Embassy but also provided a platform for discussing pivotal strategies to enhance the International Office’s efficacy. The collaborative efforts discussed during the visit are poised to elevate the office’s visibility and infrastructure, contributing to a more enriching experience for students both from France and around the globe.
Higher Powers: Alcohol and After in Uganda’s capital city, a collaborative literary work on alcohol addiction and treatment giving the Ugandan context authored by Ugandan researchers Sarah Namirembe and George Mpanga, together with University of Virginia (UVA)’s Associate Professor China Scherz was officially launched on Friday 26th April 2024. The event was held in the Conference Hall of the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering at Makerere University.
The convener, Henry Nsubuga, the Manager of the Counselling and Guidance Centre at Makerere University thanked the authors of the book for conducting research and bringing to the scholarly and practice world another perspective to treating those with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The book, a result of over four years of dedicated research, discusses therapeutic pathways to alcohol addiction recovery in Uganda, detailing how some victims mainly in Kampala have used these methods to completely recover from the vice.
According to George Mpanga one of the authors, “most of the work took place in Uganda’s capital city Kampala; given the number and variety of options, including the country’s two major rehabilitation programmes. Kampala provided us with an excellent location for exploring a range of treatment modalities available in Uganda.”
Higher Powers mainly focuses on four recovery approaches: Biological, Social, Clinical, and religious approaches. Under the religious approach, the authors write that some addicts find healing in church while others in the traditional shrines or through herbal medicines.
Assoc. Prof. China Scherz says through collaboration, they are bringing insights from Uganda and other parts of Africa about the ethics of interdependence into a rapidly expanding conversation about the need for more collaborative forms and logical practice. She says collaborative writing has helped them come up with a book none would solely produce.
“We are bringing insights from Uganda and elsewhere in Africa, about the ethics of interdependence into a rapidly expanding conversation about the need for more collaborative forms and logical practice. And in the process, hoping to transform a long history of important but often invisible contributions made by assistants and translators, Pan Africanist anthropology, this process of writing together across a wide range of sites has ultimately transformed the project into something that none of us could have created independently of one another,” she said.
The book was launched by Dr. Hafsa Lukwata, the Assistant Commissioner for Health Mental Health and Center of Substance Abuse at the Ministry of Health, who the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine.
Dr. Lukwata thanked the authors of the book and all participants who accepted to be respondents during the research. She said the government of Uganda is tirelessly pushing for the alcohol control bill to mitigate alcohol misuse, and urged everyone to be part of the cause so that the bill is passed.
Prof. Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye, from the School of Public Health, said the book is rich with many educating stories and urged everyone to grab a copy and make good use of it.
“This work is very good and it has so many enriching stories. There are many things you can learn from this book and I wish everyone reads it,” he said.
Dr. David Basangwa, former head at Butabika Hospital Alcohol and Drug Unit said the title of the book was well selected and it contains a lot of meaning, especially in dealing with various challenges in life.
“The title given to this book: Higher Powers, I find it very interesting and well selected with a lot of meaning, especially when it comes to dealing with various challenges in life,” he said.
Basangwa noted that there is a need to deal with stigmatisation among alcohol addicts, pointing out language euphemisms as one of the best approaches. He said alcohol addicts feel more comfortable being called patients with alcoholic use disorders, but not alcohol or drug addicts.
The book launch was attended by policy makers, treatment specialists, people who have recovered from alcohol use disorder, members of Makerere University academic staff, and students.
Through an access contract with the University of California, a PDF version of the book has been availed at no cost.
To obtain a complimentary PDF copy, please click on the link provided below.
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