General
In Honor of the Life and Legacy of Mr. Francis Seletze Ngabirano-A Steady Hand through the Storms
When the history of public health training in Uganda is told — honestly, fully, and with the respect it deserves, the name Francis Seletze Ngabirano must stand at the center of that story. For 32 years, he was one of the most consistent figures at Makerere’s Department of Preventive Medicine, now the Institute (and later, School) of Public Health. Through leadership transitions, political upheavals, and moments when the institution teetered on collapse, he carried with him a quiet, steady force, one that helped keep the wheels turning and the vision alive.
Thirteen years after Makerere University was established, a boy was born in the rolling hills of Kigezi on 18 November 1935. His parents named him Francis Seletze Ngabirano. At that time, no one could have imagined that this young boy would one day dedicate his life to Uganda’s premier and oldest university. Guided by his parents’ commitment to discipline and service, Francis began school in 1945 at the age of ten. He completed his primary education in 1950 before proceeding to secondary school from 1951 to 1956.
By the late 1950s, long before the Makerere University Institute of Public Health was conceived, he was already doing the work that would define his life, administration in health settings. From Kilembe Mines Hospital, where he managed medical records and supervised clerical staff from 1957 to 1960, to the Ross Institute of Tropical Hygiene (East Africa Branch) from 1961 to 1963, where he served as Technical Assistant to the Principal Officer and helped set up regional health research operations across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia, his career was expanding beyond borders. Even as a young man, he had already become someone institutions could trust.
During this same period, he also served as Assistant Chief Health Educator with the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), then a fast-growing regional health organization headquartered in Nairobi. His work took him directly into communities, organizing health education courses in schools and villages, gathering and analysing sickness data from local industries, and supervising the support staff who kept these outreach operations running. It was practical, people-focused work that demanded both empathy and discipline, qualities he carried throughout his career.
He strengthened his skills through further training in health education and public health administration at Kenyatta National Hospital, at the Hebrew University–Hadassah Medical School in Israel, and later at the University of Thessaloniki in Greece. These experiences gave him both global exposure and a strong command of public health systems, qualifications few Ugandans had at the time.
So, when he joined Makerere on 1 November 1968 as an Epidemiology Office Assistant, a role created specifically to accommodate his expertise, he arrived not as a beginner, but as a professional already shaped by years of responsibility.
As recorded in handwritten notes by Professor Suleiman Jabir Farsey on May 13, 1974:
“Mr. Ngabirano joined the Department in November 1968, and was appointed ‘Epidemiology Office Assistant.’ The records available in the Department indicate that Mr. Ngabirano was recruited for administrative duties, but because there was no provision in the establishment for such a post at the time, the post of Public Health Nursing Instructor was altered to one of Epidemiology Office Assistant,” wrote Professor Farsey, then Head of the Department of Preventive Medicine (1968–1975).
Becoming the Institutional Backbone
The early Institute of Public Health (IPH) was a small but ambitious unit within the Faculty of Medicine. It was led by Prof. Jabir Farsey as a Department of Preventive Medicine and supported by pioneering Ugandans such as Dr. Josephine Namboze, Dr. V. L. Ongom, Mr. S. K. Lwanga, Dr. M. L. Kakande, and Dr. B. Baitera. Behind this frontline of academics was a steady force, administrators like Mr. Ngabirano, making sure that teaching, research, and community outreach worked without disruption.
It is worth noting that Mr. Ngabirano witnessed the birth and transformation of the Department of Preventive Medicine into the first Institute of Public Health in Sub-Saharan Africa on 1 July 1975. The Institute was still under the Faculty of Medicine, then headed by Professor Joseph Lutwama, with Professor Jabir Farsey as its first head. Ngabirano also saw the construction of the four-story building that now houses MakSPH, completed in January 1971, along with the installation of furniture and essential facilities.
From his personal account, the idea of establishing an Institute had been conceived as early as 1967. However, the rise of Idi Amin delayed these plans and triggered the departure of remaining expatriates, including Dr. George Saxton, an American who had directed Kasangati Health Centre and taught in an honorary capacity in the Department of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Saxton, after a brief visit to Europe, returned with an aid package secured from the governments of Denmark and Norway, the funding that ultimately made the current MakSPH building possible. Saxton understood that creating an Institute required space, as staff and students had been cramped in the Clinical Research Building.
All these years, Ngabirano managed everything: financial records, planning epidemiological field tours, supervising personnel, coordinating WHO projects, handling stores and vehicles, and doing so with a thoroughness colleagues would later describe as his trademark.
Over the years, five heads of the Institute came and went: Prof. Jabir Farsey (1968-1975), Prof. Capt. Dr. Virginio Lachora Ongom (1975-1979), Prof. Josephine Namboze (1979-1988), Prof. John Tuhe Kakitahi (1988-1991), and Prof. Gilbert Bukenya (1991-1994), later replaced by Prof. Frederick Wabwire-Mangen (1995-2003). Directors changed, structures shifted, crises erupted… but Ngabirano remained.
His desk was where continuity lived.
A Witness and Chronicler of Turbulent Decades
Many people who lived through Uganda’s chaotic 1970s chose silence. But Mr. Ngabirano documented. His unpublished 1995 manuscript, The Institute of Public Health Through Idi Amin’s Rule, is one of the most significant historical accounts of Makerere’s public health training during a time when institutional memory was at risk of disappearing.
His writing describes:
The early Amin years saw a mass departure of academic staff. Prof. Farsey resigned in 1975, and Prof. Ongom died suddenly in 1979. Tragic losses of colleagues, Dr. Baitera, Dr. Kakande, and Mr. Asaba, further strained morale. Low salaries and dwindling staff eventually led to the discontinuation of the Diploma in Public Health in 1988.
These were not just institutional events; they shaped people’s lives. They tested loyalty, purpose, and endurance. Through all this, the Institute survived because of administrators who refused to let the vision fade. Few stood more firmly in that resolve than Mr. Ngabirano.
The Administrator Who Kept People First
His influence is most vividly remembered in the 1990s with the introduction of the two-year Master of Public Health (MPH) Degree Full-time Programme based on the concept of a Public Health Schools Without Walls (PHSWOW).
With support from the Rockefeller Foundation, this innovative model took training into district health systems; Rakai, Hoima, Fort Portal, Arua, Karamoja, Mukono, immersing students in real public health challenges. Administration for such a programme required: diplomacy, logistical mastery, pastoral care, financial stewardship, and calm leadership across diverse teams. Mr. Ngabirano excelled in every one.
Prof. Fred Wabwire-Mangen, then Director of IPH, remembers him as:
“A focused and organised administrator… the typical administrator of the olden days. He documented every detail clearly and ensured medical student fieldwork ran smoothly.”
Prof. Nazarius Mbona Tumwesigye, who joined when Ngabirano was already a pillar of the Institute, offers this reflection:
“He served the School diligently. The administrator was the engine of the Institute. Directors often travelled, but he ensured day-to-day affairs continued uninterrupted. He sustained this place when salaries were meagre and conditions extremely difficult.”
To young staff, he was not just a supervisor; he was guidance, stability, and care.
In 1993, a new graduate student, Professor Christopher Garimoi Orach, joined Makerere, encouraged by Prof. Gilbert Bukenya to pursue the Master of Medicine in Public Health (MMED PH). That programme would later evolve into the modern two-year MPH. One of the first people he encountered was Mr. Ngabirano.
Prof. Orach remembers him vividly and eulogises him:
“Francis Ngabirano worked with great dedication, commitment, and distinction at the Institute of Public Health. He was passionate about his work as an Administrator, humorous, smart, and ever-present. He interacted easily with faculty and students, always supportive. Rest thee well, Francis. You rendered your service admirably, with great love, passion, and honor. Rest now with the Creator, the giver and taker, in tranquility, in a place well prepared for you eternally.”
These words reflect the admiration of countless others whose paths he helped establish. To others, Ngabirano was a fatherly guide to future leaders. When Dr. Lynn Atuyambe arrived at the Institute in 1994, he was not yet the senior academic we know today but just a young researcher seeking footing.
He found in Ngabirano a mentor who understood people, not only processes.
“He participated in student welfare, was very kind and approachable. He allocated field vehicles, ensured our welfare, organised workshops, and kept strong links with our training centres. He had an art of storytelling with clarity and great detail, I will miss that.”
Dr. Atuyambe particularly remembers a life-changing personal moment:
“The first laptop in my life, he delivered it to me in the field and showed me how to use it. It was 1996. He was friendly and fatherly. May his soul rest in peace.”
These are not merely memories; they are bridges between generations. They tell the truth: the foundations of public health capacity building in Uganda were built not only by professors publishing papers but also by administrators who made classrooms, vehicles, housing, and field learning possible.
During the “MPH at 25” celebration on Oct. 16, 2019, he received a certificate from Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe recognizing his role in shaping 25 years of MPH training at Makerere University, an honour that followed his earlier Long Service Award from the University Council in 1995.
In 2024, Makerere University School of Public Health marked 70 years of existence. For almost half that history, 32 years, the institution was shaped, steadied, and propelled forward by Mr. Francis Ngabirano’s resolve.
Ngabirano’s legacy is woven into the School’s Story. He lived the mission before it became slogans; taking health training to communities, nurturing the next generation of public health leaders, staying when others left, building systems where none existed, documenting history so no one would forget. He is the man who didn’t seek applause. But his contribution is visible in every graduate who navigated the Schools without walls programme, in every field team he deployed safely, in every archived record that tells us where we started and how far we have come.
His retirement in the late 1990s closed an amazing chapter, yet he left behind structures still functioning, and people still carrying his values forward.
In institutions, some people shine in celebration. Others shine in crisis. Mr. Ngabirano shone in both and in his demise, the School of Public Health revere him as a gentleman who kept the School alive when it was hardest to stay.
He stood for diligence when resources were scarce, for continuity when the institution trembled, for service not as a role, but as a calling. We remember him not simply for what he did, but for who we became because he was here. He was the history-keeper, the stabiliser and the quiet guardian of a mission that outlived the hardest years.
And today, as we honor him, we also honor the courage it took to stay when leaving was easier.
To his family, his wife, Jane Ngabirano, and the children, Nina, Victoria, Justus, and Kenneth, thank you for sharing him with us. To his colleagues, thank you for walking the journey with him. To the generations he supported, your success is part of his legacy.
Mr. Francis Seletze Ngabirano’s life reminds us that greatness is not always loud. Sometimes, it is found in punctual footsteps, a carefully kept file, a well-organised field trip, a story told at just the right moment, and the choice, every morning, to keep serving.
May he rest in peace, knowing that his work mattered.
And may the institution he helped carry forward always carry his name in its story.
After 14 years of dedicated service, Claire Nakayizi, a familiar face and trusted custodian at the School of Public Health (SPH), has retired, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, commitment, kindness and service to the School community.
For many people at the School of Public Health, the sight of Claire arriving early in the morning, opening up the building and ensuring that everything was in order was simply part of the daily rhythm of life at the School.
For 14 years, Claire has been a constant presence at SPH. She has witnessed generations of staff, students, researchers and visitors walk through the School’s doors. She has seen colleagues join, grow and eventually move on, while she remained a dependable presence, quietly carrying out her responsibilities and ensuring that the School was ready to welcome everyone each day.
Her retirement was therefore more than a routine farewell. It was an opportunity for colleagues to celebrate a woman whose contribution, though often carried out behind the scenes, touched many lives and contributed significantly to the smooth running of the School.
At a farewell brunch organised by the Dean, School of Public Health, Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze, colleagues and friends described Claire in glowing terms. Words such as hardworking, kind, patient, resilient, dependable and caring repeatedly featured in the tributes.
For many, Claire was much more than a custodian. She was described as a mother figure, a counsellor and someone people could approach whenever they needed a listening ear, encouragement or simply a warm smile.
A commitment that went beyond the call of duty
One of the strongest themes to emerge during the farewell was Claire’s extraordinary commitment to her work.
Colleagues recalled how she would routinely open the School building as early as 6:00 a.m., ensuring that staff and students arriving for the day found the premises ready. Her working day could stretch well into the evening, with some days requiring her to remain at the School until 8:00 p.m. or even 10:00 p.m.
Despite the long hours and demanding nature of her responsibilities, colleagues said Claire rarely complained. Instead, she approached her work with patience and resilience, always focused on ensuring that the School was secure and that its operations could continue smoothly.
Her dedication was particularly evident in her contribution to improving the security of the School building. Over the years, Claire became a trusted custodian of the premises, helping to ensure that the building was opened and closed responsibly and that the environment remained secure for those who worked and studied there.
Speaking at the farewell, Prof. Wanyenze described Claire as someone who consistently worked beyond the call of duty.
The Dean acknowledged that saying goodbye to Claire was an emotional moment, given the many years she had spent serving the School and the relationships she had built along the way.
However, Prof. Wanyenze said she had spoken to Claire and was assured that she was ready to embrace the next phase of her life.
She joined colleagues in wishing Claire good health, happiness and prosperity as she begins her retirement journey.
More than a custodian
Claire’s impact at SPH was not limited to the physical responsibilities associated with her job. To those who interacted with her regularly, her greatest contribution was perhaps the warmth and humanity she brought to the workplace.
Amos Ddembe, the Internal Auditor, described Claire as a joy to watch as she went about her work.
He particularly remembered her interactions with people when she was stationed at the reception area. Claire, he noted, was almost always smiling and welcoming to staff and visitors.
Her ability to make people feel comfortable, regardless of their position or role at the School, earned her the affection and respect of many colleagues.
Claire’s colleagues also remembered her as someone who was willing to listen and offer guidance. Her patience and calm demeanour meant that people could approach her with their concerns, knowing they would receive a sympathetic ear.
Over the years, these seemingly small interactions accumulated into meaningful relationships, helping to make Claire one of the most recognisable and trusted members of the SPH community.
A legacy of service
Fourteen years is a significant period in the life of any institution. During that time, Claire witnessed changes in leadership, staff, students, programmes and the physical environment of the School.
She remained a constant through these transitions.
Her service represents the important contribution made by members of the support staff whose work often happens quietly but is essential to the functioning of an institution.
From opening the building before sunrise to securing it late in the evening, welcoming people at reception, supporting the day-to-day operations of the School and contributing to the security of the premises, Claire’s work helped create an environment in which others could perform their own responsibilities.
Her story is a reminder that the success of an institution is built not only through high-profile academic and research achievements, but also through the dedication of people who ensure that the institution functions every day.
A gesture of appreciation
As part of the farewell, the Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences also expressed its appreciation for Claire’s years of service.
Representing the Department, Dr. Christine Nalwadda presented Claire with a cash envelope on behalf of the staff as a token of appreciation for her commitment and contribution to the School.
A new chapter begins
As Claire leaves the School of Public Health, she takes with her the memories of 14 years of service and the goodwill of the many people she encountered along the way.
For the colleagues who gathered to celebrate her, the farewell was not simply about marking the end of employment. It was about celebrating a colleague who had become part of the fabric of the School.
As she begins this new chapter, the School of Public Health joins together in saying:
“Thank you, Claire, for 14 years of dedicated service. Thank you for the early mornings, the long evenings, the smiles, the patience and the unwavering commitment.
May retirement bring you the good health, peace, happiness and prosperity you so richly deserve.”
General
50 Master’s Students Awarded Scholarships Under the Africa Climate Collaborative at Makerere University
By Damali Mukhaye
The Africa Climate Collaborative at Makerere University, an initiative supported by the Mastercard Foundation, has awarded scholarships to 50 young people to pursue master’s studies as part of its continued investment in developing the next generation of African climate leaders, researchers, and innovators.
After a competitive process that attracted 483 applications, 50 scholars who make up the second cohort of master’s scholars under the Africa Climate Collaborative were formally presented with their scholarship award letters by the Vice chancellor at a joint scholarships award ceremony for Mastercard Foundation initiatives at Makerere University held on 20th August, 2026, at the School of Public Health Auditorium.
Of the 483 applicants received, 182 were female and 301 were male, while 64 were international applicants.
Prof. Claire Mack Mugasa, the Chairperson of the Africa Climate Collaborative Selection Sub-Committee, said that the selection process was undertaken by an 11-member committee mandated to identify 50 master’s scholars and 12 PhD scholars for the academic year 2026/2027.
Following the initial assessment, 307 applicants were admitted to Makerere University, including 119 females, 188 males, and 14 of those admitted were international students. The selection process then proceeded to further shortlisting, with 150 candidates identified for interviews and 100 subjected to status validation before the final 50 scholars were selected.
Prof. Mugasa said the final selection reflected the program’s commitment to inclusion and equitable access to educational opportunities. She commended the Selection Sub-Committee for its commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent process.
“Today, I present to you the 50 scholars, Cohort Two of the Africa Climate Collaborative,” she said while presenting the scholars to Prof. Ibrahim Okumu, the Dean, School of Economics, who represented the Vice Chancellor.
Of the 50 successful scholars, 34, representing 68 per cent, are female and 16, representing 32 per cent, are male. The cohort also includes four international students, five persons with disabilities, four refugees and internally displaced persons, and four young people from refugee-hosting communities and minority tribes of Uganda, while the remaining 33 scholars are from other categories of Ugandan nationals.
The new cohort brings the total number of Master’s scholars supported by the Africa Climate Collaborative to 85, out of the 250 Master’s scholarships planned over the eight-year implementation period.
The programme has also awarded scholarships to 18 PhD scholars, out of the 40 PhD scholarships expected to be awarded during the programme period.
Representing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Okumu, Dean of the School of Economics, welcomed the new scholars to Makerere University and congratulated them upon receiving the scholarships.
He described the occasion as a celebration of diversity, inclusion, education, and the strong partnership between Makerere University and the Mastercard Foundation.
Prof. Okumu noted that the scholarships provide academically talented young people with opportunities to pursue their education regardless of their background or circumstances. He encouraged the scholars to view the scholarship not only as an award but also as a responsibility to lead, innovate, and serve their communities.
He urged them to make full use of Makerere’s academic resources, mentorship, and networks while maintaining discipline, integrity, and a clear vision for their future.
He also appreciated the Mastercard Foundation, programme teams, university leadership, and staff for supporting the initiatives and creating opportunities for young people to contribute to Uganda and Africa’s development.
Mr. Adrian Bukenya, Country Director of the Mastercard Foundation in Uganda, challenged scholars to view their opportunity not simply as an academic award but as a platform to become transformative leaders capable of creating solutions for their communities and Africa.
Bukenya encouraged the scholars to take full advantage of their experience at Makerere University, build meaningful relationships, and apply the knowledge and skills they acquire to address challenges around them. He emphasised that the responsibility of a scholar extends beyond personal success to creating positive change for families, communities and society.
He urged the scholars, particularly those joining the Africa Climate Collaborative, to see themselves as part of a wider effort to address Africa’s development challenges through innovation, leadership, and practical solutions. Africa Climate Collaborative seeks to equip young Africans with knowledge, skills, and resources to respond to climate change while promoting sustainable solutions, innovation, entrepreneurship, and green jobs.
“You need to solve problems. Remember, you’re not here to be part of the problem,” Mr. Bukenya told scholars before reminding them that their success carries a responsibility to give back and contribute to transforming their communities and the continent.
The Africa Climate Collaborative Programme Director, Prof. Gorettie Nabanoga, described the scholarship award as more than an opportunity for young people to obtain university education. She said the scholarships represent a strategic investment in Africa’s human capital at a time when communities across the continent are increasingly experiencing the effects of climate change.
“Climate change is no longer a distant challenge. Communities are already experiencing changing rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, floods, declining agricultural productivity, environmental degradation, and other challenges affecting livelihoods, economies, and ecosystems,” Prof. Nabanoga said.
She encouraged the scholars to take full advantage of their time at Makerere University by engaging with lecturers and mentors, participating in research and innovation activities, collaborating across disciplines, and learning from communities before challenging them to go beyond obtaining academic qualifications and develop the ability to identify problems, ask relevant questions, and generate solutions that can contribute to a more resilient and sustainable Africa.
Mercy Malende, one of the scholarship beneficiaries pursuing a Master of Science in Agricultural Engineering, expressed excitement about being among the 50 young people selected for the Africa Climate Collaborative scholarship.
She said the scholarship has given her an opportunity to pursue her academic goals while gaining knowledge and skills that will enable her to contribute to addressing climate change challenges in Uganda. She appreciated the Africa Climate Collaborative and its partners for investing in young people and creating opportunities for them to advance their education. She said she looks forward to making the most of the opportunity and using her knowledge to contribute to sustainable agricultural development.
On 20th August 2026, Makerere University welcomed another cohort of 258 recipients of the prestigious Mastercard Foundation scholarship for the 2026/2027 academic year with pomp and fanfare. The colourful Scholarship Award Ceremony was presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, who was represented by Prof. Ibrahim Mike Okumu, the Dean of the School of Economics and the Chairperson of the Scholars Selection sub-committee of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
While addressing the gathering, Prof. Nawangwe reminded the Scholars that the scholarship was both an honour and a responsibility, and that they ought to make the most of it to improve their lives and communities.
“Now that you have stepped through the gates of Makerere University, remember that a scholarship is both an award and a responsibility. You have been chosen because we believe in your potential to lead, innovate, and serve. Makerere University offers you world-class academic resources, mentorship, and networks—but the impact you make with these resources will depend on your discipline, integrity, and vision,” Prof. Nawangwe remarked.
A Call for Responsible Living
The Vice Chancellor further urged the new recruits to embrace university life responsibly and form lasting bonds that will support future networks.
“I encourage you to engage fully and responsibly in University life, build lasting bonds with your peers, and, equally important, keep your home communities close to your heart. Let the knowledge and skills you gain here become the seed for innovative solutions to the challenges facing your communities, our country, Uganda, and the African continent.” Prof Nawangwe emphasised.
Prof. Nawangwe further expressed his gratitude to the Mastercard Foundation for recognising Makerere University as a worthy partner and pledged to continue supporting all the Mastercard Foundation’s initiatives at Makerere University.
Leadership starts with self
Mr. Adrian Bukenya, the Senior Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program globally and the Country Director for Uganda, urged Scholars to embrace leadership, particularly through self-leadership. He emphasised that the Scholars Program is fundamentally a leadership development program.
“The Scholars Program offers more than just a scholarship; it is a leadership development Program. I encourage you, Scholars, to embrace leadership, and leadership starts with leading yourself, then your community, your country and the continent,” Mr. Bukenya emphasised.
Mr. Bukenya expressed his gratitude to the Management of Makerere University for partnering with the Mastercard Foundation on various initiatives. He emphasised that the Foundation is committed to continuing this partnership to educate young people and nurture the next generation of leaders on the African continent.
Selection Process Highlights
On his part, the Chairperson of the Scholars Selection Committee, represented by Mr Charles Ssentongo, the Deputy Academic Registrar responsible for Undergraduate admissions, congratulated all the Scholars who had made it through a very competitive and watertight selection process. To illustrate how tight the selection process had been, he shared compelling statistics that clearly demonstrated its competitiveness.
“We received 3,664 Applications for the Scholarship; 2,904 Undergraduates and 760 master’s students. Of these scholarship applicants, 1,440 Undergraduates and 280 Master’s students were admitted to Makerere University on private sponsorship, and they were all eligible for the Scholarship,” Mr Ssentongo pointed out.
Mr Ssentongo informed the attentive audience that one of the biggest challenges the Committee faced was the very high number of applicants, while the number of scholarships available was always very small. Mr Ssentongo then highlighted further statistics that characterised the tedious selection process.
“For the Undergraduates, 650 applicants were shortlisted for interviews, while 58 Master’s applicants were also shortlisted. Of these, 245 undergraduates and 13 Master’s students were selected for the final award,” Mr Ssentongo highlighted.
Celebrating A Diverse Cohort
The Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere, Prof. Justine Namaalwa, used the occasion to highlight achievements made in the years gone by.
“Today, we are overjoyed to have successfully recruited 258 Cohort 9 Scholars—bringing us to the mark of 546 Scholars, 54.6% of the target recruitment of 1,000 Scholars under Phase II of the Program. To date, a total of 1,596 Scholars have been recruited since 2013, when the Scholars Program started at Makerere University,” Prof. Namaalwa announced.
Prof. Namaalwa showcased the diversity created by the Scholars Program, highlighting the arrival of international students from across the African continent at Makerere University through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
“For Cohort 9 Scholars, it’s time to celebrate our diversity in the Program. Let me call out the nationalities represented in the room: Lesotho (1 Scholar), Malawi (1 Scholar), Ghana (1 Scholar), D.R. Congo (13 Scholars), Cameroon (7 Scholars), Burundi (3 Scholars), Rwanda (10 Scholars), South Sudan (40 Scholars) and Tanzania (1 Scholar).” Prof. Namaalwa revealed.
Scholars Speak Out
Nathan Tamba, an international student from Cameroon, conveyed his enthusiasm regarding the opportunities afforded by the scholarship, particularly the prospect of pursuing his studies at Makerere University, recognised as one of the leading institutions on the continent.
“On behalf of my fellow scholars, I would like to express our gratitude to Makerere University and the Mastercard Foundation for awarding us this scholarship. It has given me the opportunity to study at this prestigious university and to experience Uganda for the first time.” Tamba remarked.
Tamba, clearly delighted like his fellow scholars, committed to using the scholarship opportunity to gain knowledge and skills he will use to benefit himself and his community.
The function was punctuated by entertainment from the Makerere University Choir, networking, and plenty of joyous celebration.
Bernard Buteera is Principal Communications Officer for the Scholars Program at Makerere University.
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