Mr. Yusuf Kiranda autographs the memorial art piece as Mrs. Pamela Kabaasa (2nd Right), her children and members of Hadithi Ya Mzizi witness on 29th August 2025.
Makerere University on 29th August 2025 hosted the 3rd edition of Hadithi Ya Mzizi, an event held under the theme “Shaded Economy” at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium. The gathering was marked by an exhibition and panel discussion, serving two main purposes: to celebrate the resilience and innovation of the informal sector through the Hadithi Ya Mzizi exhibition and to memorialize its founder, the late Nshuti Balaam Kabaasa. Balaam a final year student awaiting graduation in January 2026 passed away suddenly on 22nd June 2025.
The platform, conceived by Balaam, was designed to allow Africans to tell their own stories, inspire younger generations, and promote Pan-Africanism by celebrating Black excellence, re-centering the African experience, and encouraging youth engagement in continental and global challenges.
Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta makes his remarks.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, described the event as a befitting gesture by the University. He noted that the exhibition was an important event utilizing art to celebrate Balaam’s life, “an individual who was an economist by profession but deeply loved art.” He pointed to the art pieces displayed outside as a reflection of his passion and thanked all funders and organizers for their support in remembering Balaam’s life. Prof. Ireeta expressed hope that the exhibition will become an annual event to ensure that Balaam’s life “is continuously remembered, as he was a nice gentleman.”
Mr. Yusuf Kiranda.
Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, the University Secretary, also spoke at the event, sharing the emotional difficulty of the day since it had only been a few months since the University lost Balaam, whom he referred to as his son. He explained the absence of some friends who were still overwhelmed by grief and prayed for strength for all members of the family and friends present. He emphasized that Balaam’s vision was to promote the connection between art and economic development, noting that “art transcends mere beauty, carrying profound messages.” He further highlighted that Balaam created a platform to help those less familiar with art to understand these deeper meanings. Mr. Kiranda, encouraged all to carry forward Balaam’s vision with confidence, emphasizing its importance “beyond a mere memory, as it addresses the necessity of a functional economy.”
Prof. Sarah Ssali.
Prof. Sara Ssali, Director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies—whom Balaam fondly referred to as kaaka (grandmother in Runyakore)—welcomed participants to the event. She explained that Kabaasa conceived the Hadithi Ya Mzizi platform and the themes for the previous exhibitions. Hadithi Ya Mzizi, meaning “Tales of the Roots” in Kiswahili, is a Pan-African social advocacy initiative dedicated to reclaiming African narratives through creative expression. “Founder Balaam Kabaasa believed art was a tool for memory, liberation, and voice for the marginalized,” she said.
H.E. Ssentamu Churchill James (Right) with Mrs. Pamela Kabaasa (4th Right) and her children and part of the audience.
Prof. Ssali outlined the platform’s four objectives: to celebrate Black excellence, unite Pan-Africans across borders, re-center the African experience for youth, and encourage active youth engagement in addressing challenges. She also highlighted the success of the two previous exhibitions. The first, Tales of Black Excellence in the Eyes of Winnie Mandela, celebrated the end of Black History Month in 2023, paying tribute to Winnie Mandela’s life, her role in Africa’s liberation, and her influence on women’s empowerment through art and dialogue. The second exhibition, Hymns of the Nation, was a multidisciplinary showcase of visual art, music, and poetry held in 2024 that addressed themes such as domestic violence, girl-child empowerment, and community relationships.
She explained that this third exhibition, themed The Shaded Economy, celebrates the resilience of those working in the informal economy, particularly young people in the gig economy who thrive despite being excluded from formal economic metrics. Prof. Ssali thanked the event funders, including the Office of the Deputy Speaker, Makerere University’s Advancement Office, Switch Africa, and the Media Challenge Initiative (MCI).
Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu delivers the keynote address.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, Dean of the School of Economics, who expressed delight at speaking about the shaded economy, a subject he extensively covered in his PhD research. He illustrated this economy by highlighting the resilience of young Ugandans engaged in diverse activities such as providing boda-boda rides, food delivery, graphics design, online sales, and coding. He defined it as “the livelihood and creativity existing between informal survival and formal employment,” ranging from mobile money agents and street vendors to musicians, digital freelancers, and artists. Prof. Okumu emphasized that these individuals “constitute the pulse of Uganda’s everyday economy,” and dedicated the discussion to the memory of Balaam Kabaasa.
Mrs. Pamela Mbabazi witnesses as her daughter autographs the memorial art piece.
On behalf of the family his mother, Mrs. Pamela Kabaasa thanked Makerere University, the Guild leadership, Balaam’s friends, and all attendees for honoring her son. She described him as her “sonshine,” as a non-conformist who consistently chose not to follow the crowd, recalling his early passion for fine art alongside mathematics and economics. She shared memories of his entrepreneurial spirit, family devotion, and leadership ambitions. “He was full of ideas, but his strongest passion was for fine art,” she said. She also spoke of his role as a dependable “deputy parent” to his siblings, always looking out for their well-being.
A touching poem was delivered by Nicole Kabaasa in tribute to her late brother, while Steven Kiwanuka Kafeero, a friend of Balaam, also presented a poem in his memory.
Panelists from Left to Right: Akanyihayo Joshua, Eyotaru Beatrice, Amos Desmond Wambi, Victor and Ethan Kaweesi.
The panel discussion, moderated by Ssali Richard a third year Law Student, featured young entrepreneurs who had started informal businesses while still at university. These included Ethan Kaweesi of Mbio Za Mungu Fashion Brand, Beatrice Eyotaru, who runs a laundry business and participates in the student work scheme, Akanyihayo Joshua, who sells mattresses, Victor, who owns a perfume business, and Mr. Amos Desmond Wambi of Switch Africa.
Joy Eve Serunjogi (Right) and Namboku Emma (Left).
Joy Eve Serunjogi who spoke on behalf of Hadithi Ya Mzizi (Tales of the roots) explained that the initiative name symbolizes that the strength of a tree comes from its roots rather than its branches. She emphasized that the movement, founded at Makerere by Balaam, is one of art, identity, and storytelling, with a vision to reclaim African narratives and a mission to empower youth through art, dialogue, and innovation.
H.E. Ssentamu Churchill James.
In his remarks, H.E. Ssentamu Churchill James, the Guild President, described the gathering as “a unique intersection of beauty and burden, reflection and resilience.” He observed that it not only celebrated artistry but also confronted pressing economic realities. “The event also honors the memory of a departed soul whose light continues to shine through the displayed works,” he noted. He further emphasized that “art speaks where statistics fail, effectively telling human stories, reflecting inflation, embodying struggle, and inspiring hope in ways that reports or policies rarely do.” The exhibition was dedicated to the memory of Nshuti Balaam Kabaasa, a non-conformist lover of art, brother, friend, and student whose passing left a significant void.
Left to Right: Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, Prof. Robert Wamala and Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu.
The event was attended by several Makerere University officials and friends of the late, including Prof. Wamala of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnerships, Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, Dean of Students, and H.E. Rose Nabwire, Guild President of Makerere University Business School among others.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released the admission list of candidates admitted under the Disability and District Quota Schemes with Government sponsorship 2025/26 Academic Year.
Kindly follow the links below to access the lists:-
The Office of the Academic Registrar,Makerere University has released lists for the recommended for change of course/ programme for Degree/Diploma Scheme and Direct entry for Private/Government sponsored students for the Academic Year 2025/2026.
The lists released can be accessed by following the respective links below:
Kampala, Uganda – Makerere University Convocation (MUC) is set to host the CEOs/Investors’ Round Table Summit on Tuesday, 2nd September 2025, bringing together a distinguished assembly of leaders and stakeholders.
The half-day summit will convene CEOs, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and development partners to engage in meaningful dialogue, foster collaboration, and explore investment opportunities that can unlock the potential of Uganda’s next generation of talent. Running under the theme: “Exploring the Opportunities for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Value Creation for Accelerated Socio-Economic Integration and Development of Sub-Saharan Africa,” the event reflects Makerere University’s ambition to position itself as a hub of knowledge, innovation, and transformation.
The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja will officiate as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Peter Kimbowa, CEO of the CEO Summit Uganda, will deliver the keynote address. Their participation underscores the importance of the summit in strengthening linkages between academia, industry, and government, and in advancing Uganda’s broader socio-economic transformation agenda.
Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, will welcome the invited participants and highlighted the university’s determination to work collaboratively with partners to shape impactful solutions for Uganda and the region.
“We want to work with you to see how, together, we can move our country and continent forward. I invited all of you CEOs to Makerere so that we can brainstorm on what we can do to transform our nation and Africa at large,” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.
According to Ms. Grace Cherotich Ruto, Chief Convener of the summit and Vice Chairperson of the Makerere University Convocation, this will be the first event of its kind. She noted that the summit seeks to foster mentorship, internships, and employment linkages as a means of bridging the gap between industry and academia, while positioning Convocation as a driver of socio-economic transformation.
A key highlight of the summit will be the unveiling of the Makerere University Convocation’s Massive Transformation Purpose, a bold framework that converts five critical takeaways into independent working teams with clear Terms of Reference, objectives, data-driven activities, and measurable outcomes. The plan institutionalizes vision, distributes ownership, and ensures sustainability through quarterly reporting, evidence-based impact, and global benchmarking. The five teams—From Ivory Tower to Impact Tower, Diaspora Dividend vs. Brain Drain, Intergenerational Knowledge Bridges, AI & Future of Learning, and From Convocation to Covenant—are designed to commercialize research, harness diaspora capital, institutionalize mentorship, drive digital transformation, and sustain alumni–faculty–student engagement through a covenant model. Collectively, they transform Convocation from a ceremonial event into a movement of accountability, innovation, and sustainable socio-economic impact for Uganda and Africa.
The summit has already attracted wide endorsement from leading companies and agencies, demonstrating its timeliness and relevance.
Mr. Eugene Too, General Manager at Haco Industries, affirmed the company’s support, stating:
“Haco Industries endorses the Makerere University CEOs Forum. We believe the Summit’s objectives align with our broader goals of creating impact in education, supporting internships, job placement, and mentorship programs in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are proud to be associated with the Summit at Makerere University Convocation.”
Eng. Shaft Mukwaya, Secretary to the Equal Opportunities Commission of Uganda, commended the Convocation’s role in promoting inclusivity:
“Makerere University Convocation has proven to be a steadfast ally in achieving our mission of pursuing an inclusive society in which no one is left behind. We are honoured to be associated with this summit.”
Roofings Uganda has equally expressed strong endorsement, noting that the event aligns closely with their corporate vision:
“At Roofings, we are privileged to endorse the Makerere University Convocation CEOs/Investors’ Summit and call upon all invited guests to be part of this noble cause. Makerere University is a valued partner in nurturing talent and fostering innovation, which aligns closely with our vision of being an accelerator for a sustainable Africa. As sponsors, we are honoured to be associated with this summit that brings together leaders, investors, and visionaries to shape inclusive growth and development.”
With its broad stakeholder support, clear strategic framework, and focus on outcomes, the Makerere University Convocation’s CEOs/Investors’ Round Table Summit is positioned as a landmark event. It will provide a unique platform for academia, industry, and government to converge in pursuit of sustainable growth, innovation, and socio-economic development, not only for Uganda but for the entire Sub-Saharan African region.