Makerere University Vice Chancellor Highlights on Staffing Challenges and Key Developments at Uganda’s oldest Academic Tower 

By Sadique Bamwita 

Kampala

The Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, has highlighted on the recently recruited 240 staff saying they are intended to deal with staffing challenges arising from retirements and resignations. He stated that the recruitment was conducted in a transparent manner adding that all qualified applicants were given a fair ground for to compete for the available vacancies and the successful ones went through.  153 out of 240 recruited staff are teaching staff while the rest are non teaching staff.

Addressing the press in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom on July 15,2026, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, reaffirmed that Makerere University continues to make significant strides in building a robust and motivated workforce through strategic recruitment, appointments, and promotions.  He revealed that last year, the Appointments Board collectively approved multiple appointments across academic  leadership, fresh academic hires, and numerous administrative and support staff positions.

” We are dedicated to a merit-based recruitment process to fill critical gaps and to investing in both academic excellence and efficient service delivery. We congratulate all newly appointed and   promoted staff and reaffirm our dedication to creating an enabling environment that attracts, develops, and retains top talent, ” Prof. Nawangwe noted.

“As expected of any such institution, the University deals with staffing challenges arising from retirements, resignations, and other specialised needs. We have always managed these through targeted recruitment, contract appointments, post – retirement contracts for professors, and staff development programmes.’ Prof. Nawangwe strongly believes that the recruitment of qualified and competent staff is a clear demonstration that the University is steadily progressing towards implementing it’s Strategic Plan 2025 – 2030.

Prof. Nawangwe revealed 2026/2027 Academic Year Calendar, will begin with orientation of freshers from August 1-7,2026, and then semester one will officially begin on August 8,2026 to December 5,2026. While semester one holiday break will run from December 5,2026 – January 15,2027. On the other hand, semester two will run from January 16,2027 to May 15,2027. Prof. Nawangwe disclosed that last month, management handed over the CCE (Complex) Hall of Residence to the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) for comprehensive renovation and overhaul works at a cost of Shs. 12 billion, fully funded by the Government of Uganda. 

“This historic female hall, built in the

 1950s, will undergo major structural improvements and a facelift. Works are expected to be completed within 12 months. This renovation will significantly improve living conditions for female students and further enhance the University’s residential infrastructure, ” Prof.Nawangwe expressed optimism.

He added: “We are confident that NEC will deliver quality work that restores this important facility to modern standards for our students. This is the fourth major project undertaken by NEC at Makerere, following the renovations of the perimeter wall, Lumumba Hall, and Mary Stuart Hall.

The Dean of Students Makerere University, Winifred Namuwonge Kabumbuli, announced that this year the University will host the East African Universities Debate Championships (EAUDC) 2026 from 26th July to 1st August 2026. She said hosting this flagship regional event reaffirms the University’s position as an intellectual powerhouse and leader in higher education in East Africa. She added that it also enriches student life and nurtures leadership skills.

“The championships will bring together top debaters from universities across the region for high- level intellectual exchange, fostering cross – cultural dialogue and preparing the next generation of thought  leaders and policymakers, ” She explained.

The Makerere University Academic Registrar, Prof. John Mukadasi Buyinza, revealed that the University has digitized everything right from seeking admission into the University to generating transcripts. He added that effective 2027/2028 academic year, the university will officially roll out the competence-based curriculum and that currently management is retooling its staff towards achieving this.

The Executive Director of the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) at Makerere University, Dr. Andrew Kambugu, said the institute is currently hosting the Joint Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), to support preparedness and response to outbreaks across Member States.

Dr. Kambugu noted that for the last 20days, Uganda has not registered any new cases of Ebola disease, revealing that the infectious institute has deployed a team of medical experts in west Nile which is conducting surveillance on Ebola between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.