General
Launch of Mak Attendance Management System a Moment of Truth
The launch of Staff and Student Attendance Management System presided over by the Chairperson of Council, Mrs. Lorna Magara on Friday 3rd May 2024 has been heralded as a moment of truth for the Council, Management, Staff, Students and Stakeholders of Makerere University. On Council’s part that includes improved performance management, accountability, and a transparent promotion process, while for Management it signifies a milestone in terms of achieving a professionally governed university and guaranteeing academic freedom. For staff and students it means improved monitoring and evaluation of teaching, learning and research activities, and for the Government and people of Uganda, clear accountability for the over UGX 200 billion annual wage bill.
In her remarks, Mrs. Magara took time off to allay fears that the system has been designed as a policing tool, stating that the University Council had carefully considered the multifaceted roles that staff, especially faculty, engage in both on and off-campus. The Council, she said, had therefore provided clear guidance to Management on allowances and authorisations that must be in place to enable faculty fulfil their functions.
She added that the decentralised collegiate system already caters for the direct supervision of faculty, while a similar devolved architecture applies to administrative and support staff. “So as we embrace this biometric system, I invite you to recognize the collective benefit it brings to Makerere University.”
These benefits, noted the Chairperson of Council, include; improved service delivery for faculty, students and the administration, improved institutional ratings, as well as improved visibility and credibility for the system developers. She further noted that the attendance management system is only a fraction of the more comprehensive and holistic approach that the University Council is undertaking to strengthen performance management.
“In the current and future budgeting and other resource allocation processes, the Council prioritizes the acquisition of tools that enable the staff to perform and the students to learn effectively and in a conducive manner. For example, I am aware that the procurement processes for three buses for transporting students for field practicals has already been completed.
“The renovation of Lumumba Hall is nearing completion and Mary Stuart Hall will follow in line. There is increasing emphasis on research labs, teaching materials and related equipment. As part of our infrastructure development focus, the Council also addresses the need for faculty offices, graduate student centres, IT hardware and software for teaching and research” Mrs. Magara explained, concluding by requesting all staff and students to embrace the system.
In line with embracing the system, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe noted that the advent of the system should be received with happiness by all staff and students. “We must run our university professionally and the best way to do it is by going digital in every way possible.”
He added that Makerere has in addition to attendance management digitalised other activities such as human resources management, data repository, academic records and processes, research management, and prayed all business processes would have been completed by the end of 2024. The Vice Chancellor reiterated that the attendance management system’s implementation framework had been enriched by the input from staff representatives to cater for all teaching modes, including eLearning.
Prof. Nawangwe further emphasised that the system is in no way designed to curtail academic freedom, but rather promote it through proper accountability for time spent at the workplace. “The Council as our employer ought to know whether the person that is employed is doing their job.”
He therefore thanked the Director, Directorate for ICT Support (DICTS), Mr. Samuel Mugabi and his staff for alleviating the need for Makerere to rely on expensive, externally-sourced systems. “Since we realized the resources that we have in-house, the digitalisation of the university has just gone up.”
The Director Human Resources (HR), Mr. Tayari Deus Mujuni on his part thanked the University Council for ensuring that development of the system was funded, Management for ensuring that the system is implemented, and the Director DICTS for ensuring that the system is developed and delivered on time.
One of the deliverables of the system will be human resource analytics. Mr. Mujuni commended this output as a quick way to measure whether staff are delivering according to their mandate. “If we continually generate these analytics, it becomes easy for us to know the teaching load, to follow up on requests for staff appointments in terms of how many staff you have and how many staff you need.”
The Director HR further noted that the system will come in handy in providing accountability to Government in terms of staff and students being taught. “The audit query will not arise again because we will have the evidence of all staff in attendance and account the funds that Government has contributed in terms of wage.”
Presenting the system’s architecture, Mr. Samuel Mugabi said it consists of biometric devices to enable staff clock in/out using their thumb-print or facial-image. For those who may for any reason or impairment not be able to reach the height of the biometric devices, an AI-enabled voice-recognition capability is being explored for future deployment.
He added that for teaching staff, a student attendance management system has been developed and integrated with both Academic Management Information System (ACMIS) and the electronic-Human Resource Management System (e-HRMS). This will enable students to register class attendance by selecting their time-tabled course, lecturer’s name, and submit their attendance register. The system will register GPS coordinates of teaching venues and any registration done using a mobile-based app on a device that is not within range will not be recorded.
Mr. Mugabi nevertheless appreciated that cultural transformation is very important for the system to succeed. “We cannot transform or automate a process until we appreciate why it is important,” adding that the way system users are brought on board is very important for their adoption and use.
The launch event was proudly by the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), which prides itself in conducting high-quality research and educating the next cadre of leaders, entrepreneurs, teachers, skilled labor force, digital innovators, wealth creators, and young scientists. Addressing his audience the Principal Prof. Tonny Oyana noted that CoCIS, by virtue of its mandate, will remain a very important college, especially in the next 20 – 30 years as the digital revolution unfolds. “We are at the forefront of deliberations anywhere in this university.”
He recognised the presence of the Chairperson of Council, Members of Council, Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Members of Management, College Principals, Staff and Students who graced the event.
H.E. Vincent Lubega Nsamba was on 18th March 2024 sworn in as the 90th Guild President of Makerere University and effectively, leader of the Guild Cabinet and student body. Represented by his Minister for Information, Research and Computer Technology, Hon. Emojong Kisaija Harman at the launch, the Guild President welcomed the system, given the necessity of adopting of ICT in the digital era.
“We as the Students Guild are optimistic that this initiative and the system being launched today will improve service delivery to students with regard to teaching” appreciated Hon. Emojong. He reassured the University Leadership of the Students Guild’s readiness to participate in the system rollout and willingness to raise awareness among the student body of its benefits.
Through the Food for Peace initiative, the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport is stepping in to provide meals to over 200 students who struggle to afford meals, especially during the examination period.
According to Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University and President of the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport, hundreds of students drop out of Makerere University every year due to financial constraints. The reality for those who remain is sometimes tougher, for they struggle to survive.
While addressing the media at a press conference held at Makerere University on November 11, 2026, Prof. Nawangwe shared that many of these students skip meals, a situation that is more frequent during examination periods, when the demands on the brain are much greater.
The University is aware of these reports and in his capacity as Vice Chancellor and President of the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport, Prof. Nawangwe lobbied the club to take action.
In preparation for intervention, a comprehensive needs assessment was conducted, inviting students to come forward and share their needs. About 200 students responded to the survey, indicating a pressing need for food support during examinations.
The findings birthed a legacy project code-named “Food for Peace”, targeting, for a start, 206 students at Makerere University, regardless of their sponsorship status, as long as they participated in the survey. The Makerere Rotary Peace Centre spearheaded the survey that helped identify the first cohort of those who will benefit from the initiative and guided that for a dignified experience, the beneficially names will remain in records and not disclosed.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasised that the core mission of this cause is to move a step up with efforts to ensure that economically challenged students at Makerere University do not go a day without a meal. Service providers in halls of residence will serve these students their food following a meal card.
Seeding the Project
The Guest of Honour, Mr. Emmanuel Katongole, the Rotary International Director (RID) for Zone 22, while launching the initiative shared his personal experience of facing challenges that almost barred him from attaining an education. He believes education is an equaliser in life and that everyone should have a chance to access it. He reminded those in the room that they were all there together because of education.
RID Katongole highlighted the importance of supporting people, both as individuals and as a community. He expressed pride in being part of the launch of this project because it is going to create many more “Emmanuel Katongoles” through the provision of a meal.
He therefore personally committed to contribute UGX 5 million annually, starting this year, for as long as he lives or until the project ends. He also pledged to remain part of the initiative.
92nd Guild Commends “Service above Self”
From a student perspective, H.E. Kadondi Gracious, the 92nd Makerere University Guild President, delivered a vote of thanks for the initiative. She noted that students had petitioned Parliament to intervene in the matter and were happy that solutions had started coming from within.
She framed this move not just as charity, but as a way of restoring hope to Makerereans who were unsure of how they were going to maneuver through the examination period without lunch. In appreciation, the Guild President commended Rotary for showing what it actually means to offer service above self.
Sustainability of the “Food for Peace” Project
Although the immediate intervention is directed towards fewer than 300 students who expressed a need for assistance, the vision is bigger and looking beyond the current examination season.
As the Rotary Passport Club President noted, “if this is going to be sustainable, it means we are going to look out for partners to create a fund to sustain this initiative.”
The Club Secretary, Associate Professor Helen Nambalirwa Nkabala, explained that as a legacy project, it is not a one-off. She committed the services of the Passport Club to supporting this legacy project.
Grounding the sustainability move, RID Emmanuel Katongole set the pace by pledging annual cash and in-kind support towards providing consistent assistance to students throughout subsequent academic periods, thereby enhancing student welfare over the long term.
Dr Winfred Kabumbuli, the Makerere University Dean of Students, showed strong support for the initiative since it falls within the core mission of student welfare. She appreciated the collaboration with Makerere University Passport Club, and pledged to rally internal support.
Call to Action and Contributions
The Club President made an appeal to alumni, corporate bodies, development partners, individuals and institutions of goodwill to join this noble cause, intended to ensure that students not only remain at the University but also attain their full potential on a full stomach.
The immediate fundraising goal is UGX 10 million shillings, which is required to implement the initial phase of food support. Excess amounts collected will facilitate an increase in the number of beneficiaries and after the examination period, add to the kitty for subsequent semesters.
Support and assistance can come in the form of financial contributions, food supplies, corporate partnerships, logistical support, and long-term partnerships.
To facilitate support, the club, through its Charter Treasurer (C.T.), Professor Winston Tumps Ireeta, shared the banking details as follows
Bank: NCBA Uganda Limited.
Account Name: Rotary Club of Makerere Passport
Uganda Shillings (UGX) Account Number: 228129200017
United States Dollar (USD) Account Number: 228129200027
SWIFT Code: CBAFUGKA
Bank Code: 36
Students were left with one final promise from the Chief Guest, “you are no longer alone. You have a partner in the Rotary Club of Makerere Passport.”
Prof. Edward Bbaale, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration at Makerere University, on November 10 2026 welcomed a delegation from the International Water Association (IWA), led by Mr. Keith Robertson, the Learning and Events Director at International Water Association (IWA). Mr. Robertson, in his remarks, highlighted their visit to Makerere University as a fact-finding mission regarding the potential establishment of a new regional IWA office in Africa to support the continent in solving challenges relating to water.
The International Water Association is a leading global nonprofit organisation and knowledge hub for the water and sanitation sector. Connecting more than 10,000 individual members and 500 corporate entities across 140 plus countries, the association bridges the gap between scientific research and practical engineering to solve global water crises, improve sanitation, and secure clean water systems. Currently, IWA is evaluating potential host cities in Africa; Makerere University in Kampala is the first they have visited out of their three countries and venues earmarked.
This meeting held at Makerere Main Administrative Building, was attended by university leadership, faculty from College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), and representatives from the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC). Discussions explored possibilities of the yet to be established office bridging the gap between academic research and practical application in the water sector not only in Uganda but also on the continent.
On behalf of University Management, Prof. Edward Bbaale underscored this engagement that focused on possible Water and Sanitation advancement partnership as one that aligns well with the strategic direction of the University.
Projected Impact of a Kampala-Based IWA Office
Dr Philip Nyenje, Head of Department, Civil and Environmental Engineering (DCEE), expressed optimism about the collaboration, saying, “this is a very good opportunity for us to grow our interest in the sector of water and sanitation.”
In addition, Dr Seith Mugume, a Senior Lecturer at DCEE, noted that the regional office would unlock research and innovation opportunities in the real world for our students and also provide incentives for them to pursue projects within local research and innovation angles.
Eng. Zainab Mpakiraba, Acting Senior Manager at NWSC framed Kampala as a very unique venue for the centre and highlighted Makerere as one of the core academic partners for the regional Eastern and Southern Africa hub of the Global Sanitation Graduate School. Eng. Mpakiraba further endorsed Makerere, saying that, as a top-notch university in Uganda and in the region, when it leads on any aspect, it is able to pull most of the other universities.
Makerere’s Strategic Initiatives and Activities so far in the Area of Water
Dr Nyenje noted that his Department has a very strong base in water and sanitation, covering disciplines like water resources, environmental, structural, and highway engineering. Dr. Mugume added that they are conducting research on “modeling of water resource systems, hydrological and hydraulic modeling,” “water quality management,” and “fecal sludge management, sanitation in low-income and peri-urban areas.”
The two also mentioned that the department has introduced a “master’s in sanitation, and also a postgraduate program… a diploma in sanitation” to address growing interest in the sector.
All these strategies have been made possible through good will and funding from the Government of Uganda, strategic partnerships, and International Collaborations that have positioned Makerere as a key player in the region.
Concluding the session, Prof. Edward Bbaale reaffirmed Makerere’s ability to run this Office when established as the University has human resources in multidisciplinary research, global credibility and working relationships with many organisations and institutions on the continent and far.
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