Makerere University has hosted a comprehensive central orientation briefing, attracting thousands of freshers joining the university this academic year. The event, held at the prestigious institution’s Freedom Square, featured a lineup of top officials who shared invaluable insights on academic excellence, financial management, and career development, as the university officially welcomed its 2024/2025 academic year intake.”
Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, Academic Registrar and Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs), congratulated the students on their admission and emphasized the importance of academic excellence, financial management, and career development.
“Welcome to Makerere University, one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in Africa. We are delighted to have you on board,” Prof. Mukadasi said. “We want you to achieve your academic and personal potential, to develop networks of friends, new interests, and life skills. In order to achieve this, we recommend that you work hard, find time to relax, and make use of the support services that are available to you.”
Prof. Mukadasi advised students to prioritize enrollment and timely registration, and avoid distractors such as moving with huge sums of money and moving late at night. “Academic success can only be attained by students when they avoid certain lifestyles and choices. We recommend that you abide by the university policies and guidelines,” he said.
The Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, highlighted the importance of fee payment and financial management. “I want to stress the issue of fees and tuition payment. Please note that it is only after you have fully registered with the University that you will be regarded as a bonafide student of Makerere University,” Prof. Alinaitwe said. “Those of you who are still having tuition and you are pondering on when to pay, after this orientation briefing, please go and bank the tuition. The temptation of diverting that money into other unproductive ventures is so high.”
Prof. Alinaitwe cautioned students against diverting tuition fees into other activities, emphasizing that registration is only complete after payment. “We will not hesitate to cancel all the provisional admissions of those students who will not have registered within the first two weeks of the semester as stipulated by the Freshers’ Joining Instructions,” he said.
The Dean of Students, Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, encouraged students to engage in meaningful practices, including games and sports. “We have a lot of opportunities for you to engage in extracurricular activities. Please take advantage of them to develop your talents and skills,” Dr. Kabumbuli said.
The Guild President, H.E. Lubega Nsamba, urged students to take advantage of the university’s opportunities to realize their potential. “I implore you all to start putting in practice what you intend to become. I personally got elected into the Office of the Guild President just after two semesters of my study. This is because Makerere University provided me with a platform to start practicing what my heart had desired for many years,” H.E. Nsamba said.
Other speakers included representatives from the University Library, University Hospital, and Guidance and Counseling Center, who provided valuable tips on accessing university services.
The central orientation briefing provided a comprehensive introduction to academic life, financial management, and career development, setting students up for success at Makerere University.
