In two months' time, Daniel Nokrach Odongo will preside over end-of-year exams as the executive secretary of the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb). As MOSES TALEMWA has found, the national examiner will have over one million candidates, for the first time.

The Uneb is in its final preparations to conduct national examinations by the end of the year. Starting at the end of the month, district officials will meet the Uneb over examinations preparations. Security officials are also meeting over invigilation preparations.

According to the Uneb IT manager, Dr Peter Wakabi, the examiner is making last preparations to conduct the finals. Dr Wakabi told us that 1,068,205 candidates had registered for the exams, to be conducted at P7, S4 and S6 levels. It will be the first time that the examiner handles one million candidates in a year.

“The number represents a continuing trend where the Uneb has registered more candidates for the exams than the year before,” Wakabi said.

For instance, at PLE, 640,689 candidates have registered for the November exams, compared to 604,971 in 2014 and 582,085 in 2013. The bulk of the candidates (488,222) are drawn from government schools running the Universal Primary Education programme.

At O-level, 323,204 have registered for this year’s exams compared to 313,171 in 2015 and 310,414 in 2014. However, here government schools (157,507) will play second fiddle to their private counterparts (165,697).

At A-level, some 104,312 candidates will be readied for the exams, whose date should be announced in a month’s time. This compares with 101,268 in 2015 and 108,419 in 2014. Here, government schools are in the minority, accounting for 23,918, compared to 80,394 candidates in the private schools.

E-REGISTRATION

This is the second time that the Uneb is holding e-registration for candidates among schools. According to Dr Wakabi, it is now the standard.

“There will be no returning to manual systems, since this is more convenient … some head teachers have come here to thank us for going towards e-registration since it is easier,” Wakabi said.

Soon after he took office, Odongo also said he would emphasize electronic operations as a way of easing work.   

“This is the way we have been heading … I expect to see more of our operations taking advantage of efficiencies created,” he said early this year.

According to Wakabi, most schools had submitted their details on time, expect for a few, which have elected not to have candidates registered there.

“Most head teachers met our deadlines; they are ready for the exams, except a few who are yet to complete payment of examination fees … but we think all will be fine by the time we get to exam time,” Wakabi said.

Wakabi admitted that some head teachers had challenges filling out the e-forms and posting them on the Uneb portal, last year, but those issues had been addressed.

“There were no issues raised this time, most head teachers are getting more comfortable with the system,” he added.

EARLY EXAM RELEASE

The adoption of IT in the Uneb operations has thrown in a new clincher. The Uneb is yet to determine the actual dates on which exams will be conducted and then marked, but officials in Uneb, who declined to be named, expect that if all goes as planned, there could be an early release of exams.

“We think we can afford to release results by Christmas time, if given authority to do so,” an official at Uneb said. “These days the marking process is so much more efficient and fast.”

It will be interesting to see if the education ministry officials allow Uneb to take full advantage of the efficiencies created and release results before the end of the year, to allow parents and students plan early for the first term. 

mtalemwa@observer.ug

Anansi continues on this mad road. Anansi’s eyes have never seen so many things! Anansi’s ears have never heard so much noise! 

To pass this way requires Anansi to dodge and duck, and cross over and crawl under. But once on the road, Anansi is determined to see where it might lead.  This is part of the fun of travel.  Where does this crazy road go?

It is impossible to answer that question without dodging the vehicles, ducking the shouting people, crossing over and crawling under all those hulking things.
What happens next convinces Anansi that this is not a good road for strolling.

In fact, Anansi learns that it is a bad road to stroll.  A bad, bad road to stroll. Anansi set out on this chaotic road just for fun, hoping to get to the lakeside to sip the tasty water, and to see what might be found along the way.

Well, what Anansi finds is a copper-coloured man tossing waste into a gigantic tipper.  As Anansi looks for a path around this stinking mess, Anansi’s face enters the arc of the man’s toss just in time to catch a snoot full of ashy dust.

Anansi wants to sneeze, but keeps moving along this crazy road.  Anansi trots unaware of this coat of ash. Anansi arrives at a junction with a very familiar road, one that takes Anansi every day to the lake.  Anansi feels good to be off the bustling road, and onto a peaceful road, where everyone and everything is familiar.

Anansi passes the round house, where the old cat lives with her sixteen children and grandchildren.  Not one of this herd looks Anansi’s way. Anansi is puzzled.

Anansi passes the brick wall where dogs gather in afternoons to share laziness.  None of the lazing dogs notices Anansi.  Anansi is confused.

Anansi bypasses Dube, who works every day building the huge storey house on the hill.  Dube looks at Anansi, but not a flicker of recognition lights his face.  Anansi becomes worried.

Why does no one recognize Anansi?  Anansi passes here almost every day.

anansi99@hotmail.com

Learners return to Victoria Nile primary school today, a week after the institution’s main hall and teachers’ houses caught fire.

The school main hall and two teachers’ houses caught fire last week, leaving eight people homeless. No one was injured as the fire broke out, during the day.

The police officer in charge of fire brigade in Jinja, Rodgers Turinawe, established that the fire was a result of poor electric wiring. Turinawe advised all school heads to employ professionals in wiring buildings to stop accidents.

Commenting on the accident, the Victoria Nile PS head teacher, Harriet Gandi, said classes would start today as the fire had not affected the classrooms.

“It is unfortunate that part of our school was burnt, but parents should bring back their children to school because the classrooms were not affected in any way,” Gandi said.

Victoria Nile PS is one of the oldest primary schools in Jinja and today houses over 2,256 pupils.

The principal education officer of Jinja municipal council, Jonathan Kamwana, cautioned all school administrators to buy fire extinguishers to prevent fires from spreading incase of any outbreak. 

“All schools should access fire extinguishers that can help put off fires before they destroy properties in the school,” Kamwana said.

wambuzireacheal@gmail.com

Another set of Ugandan students recently departed for an international agricultural internship programme in Israel. However, with this came the news that Ugandan students are excelling on the modern farms and are in such high demand, two returnees returned to Israel with the new contingent.

According to the regional coordinator of AgroStudies programme, Issa Agaba Mugabo, “Last year, seven out of the nine best-performing students overall were Ugandans. For that feat, two of them are staying in Israel for another year as a bonus of appreciation.” 

The programme has existed for nine years, but this is the fourth year Uganda is participating. At Uganda’s first participation in 2013, the best student overall was a Ugandan. Uganda had sent 41 students. Because of that performance, Mugabo said, Uganda’s component the following year was increased tremendously to 198 students. In 2015, the number rose to 220, although only 213 were taken in the current cohort.

At a brief sendoff ceremony at Makerere University, Mugabo added that Uganda has the second largest contingent after the Philippines. Some 19 developing countries are involved.

In her remarks, the education minister, Janet Museveni, commended Hussein Asega, who is returning to Israel as a bonus for his excellent performance in the 2013 intake, before sending off the students. 

ABOUT AGROSTUDIES

Mugabo explained that AgroStudies offers apprenticeship to students in agriculture, seeking advanced academic studies, hands-on learning and income earning (through a modest stipend).

President Museveni had earlier promised to contribute two dollars for every dollar saved by returning students. At the sendoff, speakers asked the education minister to remind the president to fulfill this pledge, since the returnees had saved $900 each on average.

The internships are held at a number of carefully-selected farms across Israel. Each student is given a laptop, which they can take home at the end of their internship.

They are also entitled to full medical insurance.

Acceptance to the programme is processed through participating educational institutions, including Makerere, Busoga, Kyambogo, Busitema and Bishop Stuart and Gulu universities, as well as Bukalasa Agricultural College and Institute of Agriculture, Business and Technology Serere. 

jmusinguzi@observer.ug

The Law Development Centre (LDC) management committee appointed FRANK NIGEL OTHEMBI on May 1, 2012, as its director for a four-year term.

Recently, his contract was renewed for a further four years. He talked to Yudaya Nangonzi about the current reforms at LDC where law graduates study for diplomas in legal practice among others.

Take us through some of the reforms since 2012.

I think the main reforms that I could talk about are two. LDC has been in existence since 1970 and over the years, we have pretty much been teaching the same things. Now, we have come up with a new curriculum.

We have specifically asked the question: what skill does a fresh graduate of LDC, require the first day you appear at your job or law firm? We have now made a drastic change and the new curriculum has been implemented from last academic year 2015/16. For instance, we have introduced things like management skills. We have also brought on elective subjects … previously students were required to do everything.

The other reform is the use of ICT … LDC has to embrace technology in its teaching. We have a WiFi- enabled environment with fast internet accessible from all kinds of devices, procured computers and projectors for each of the eight firm rooms.

Is ICT the reason why all LDC students are required to have laptops?

Yes. Of course, there are financial implications and we cannot chase somebody away because they [don’t have] a laptop. But … have required them. Previously, when students enrolled, we would require them to read all these big books with Acts of parliament.

But when they report this academic year 2016/17, they will only receive a flash disk that will have all the material they need for the entire course. So, LDC is becoming a very modern institution.

What about infrastructural developments?

The main infrastructural development that we are doing is the auditorium. In this teaching facility, we shall [house] about 1,000 students. All that is left with the auditorium is fitting the chairs which they started [last week]. We shall also install a standby generator in case of power shortage.

This facility will not only be used for lectures but also generate revenue … it will be available for hiring functions like conferences mainly and musical events. The main building is quite old and we are going to do a structural integrity test … and after that, we shall do major refurbishment. We have a master plan for the centre but it is eventually all about money, we intend to do a lot more.

What about calls to set up regional centres across the country? 

We have had a discussion with the ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and in particular with the minister, Kahinda Otafiire, who is very supportive of that. As you can see, LDC in terms of space and facilities is quite limited. We can comfortably take on 1,000 students for the bar course.

But if we are to take more than that, we would be constrained. However, the way to go is decentralizing education because our idea is to have regional centres where we can have the bar course training conducted. We have developed a cabinet paper… so we expect that in the near future, our proposal will appear before cabinet.

Do you support liberalization of LDC given the monopoly it enjoys today?

Yes, we enjoy that monopoly on the bar course. But … I don’t support and I’m not against liberalization. My view has always been; what is the best way to deliver quality education and legal training?

As things stand, if LDC or the bar course was de-monopolized without proper regulation, we would have a big problem in terms of quality control. My thinking is that, eventually, liberalization will come and I do not except that [in] 10 years from now, the LDC will be the only institution offering the bar course.

But I would want this to come in an environment where we have the legal framework to ensure quality, maybe LDC or the law council as the board that enforces standards and a common curriculum at all the training institutions. We could even have a common examination the way Uneb does its work. LDC then maybe comes in to set the exams and become the regulator. All this has to be done in an organised manner in order to have a quality bar course.

Is the high failure rate on the pre-bar exams related to limited facilities – there are concerns by some lawyers are left out.

That is not correct because we are not the ones who do the pre-entry exams. If it was LDC administering the exam, then you can say LDC does everything and controls the numbers. But it all goes back to the law council.

Actually, we also complain that the people passing are too few. But we want people to pass the exam because they deserve to pass. Of course I also get concerned if, say, 1,200 students sit the exams and only 300 pass. Then, there is a big problem. Are the universities taking on the right people? Are they training the students sufficiently to become lawyers?

But the same students sit for university pre-entry exams and pass.

But the other problem comes that after that sieving and later joining LDC, you still find quite a number of them fail some subjects. So, if these students are the cream at LDC, I would expect them to pass without any problems at all.

Anyway, pre-entry in principle is a very wonderful idea to ensure quality because we need people who have the skills to refine issues and intellectual capacity to undertake this very demanding course.

So, since inception in 2012, has the pre-entry exam improved the quality of graduates at LDC?

It has really improved quality to some extent. But, perhaps, I think it is time for us to discuss the pre-entry and evaluate it most especially with the issue of handling appeals just in case someone fails the exam. Pre-entry has not done enough but in terms of identifying quality, I think pre-entry can be improved.

Are universities not feeding LDC with the right students?

I think we need to have a discussion with the universities on legal education ... it has never been followed up. We need a serious discussion because some of the students come from the universities without the basic knowledge of the law.

Talk to us about the harmonisation of qualifications across East Africa? Is it still feasible?

Yes, in the long run it has to work because we are moving towards regional integration. I’m aware that the law council recently approved a memorandum of understanding which was signed by the different law societies of the different countries and how they can recognise each other’s qualifications.

At an East African Community level, there have been discussions on harmonising on mutual recognition. This will imply that if you qualify from Kenya, you can come and practise from Uganda. But this is just being discussed and we have not come up with concrete legislative reforms. As LDC, we are happy to support this.

Following last year’s report from the Law Council, what measures have been set up to stop examination malpractice?

By the way, that report was done by LDC. We conducted our investigation and have since taken action. We have cancelled diplomas, recalled them and taken disciplinary action against our own staff.

Two of them were retired in public interest and other two got various disciplinary actions. We have come up with an examination management policy which is yet to be approved but aspects of it have been implemented.

Tell us about the evening bar course.

This is a proposal that we came up with because of the increasing demand for legal education and working people who demand to join the course. We gave the proposal to the law council which has no objection but wanted us to make some changes.

They wanted to know how the programme will run, the lecturers, same number of hours as the day programme, among others. And, we are working on answering those logistical issues. In terms of when it will start, it will optimistically begin in the next academic year 2017/18, subject to approval by the law council.

nangonzi@observer.ug

On August 17, the ministry of education and sports ordered that Bridge International Academies (BIA) close their schools ahead of the start of the third term. However, as YUDAYA NANGONZI and SIRAJE LUBWAMA report, the schools have obtained a temporary reprieve from the High court.

The controversial Bridge International schools can now open their doors for the third term after Justice Patricia Basaza made a ruling in their favour last Thursday. The ministry of education and sports had ordered the 63 schools to close shop at the end of the second term on grounds that they do not meet established standards.

Following the inspection of BIA facilities in various places, the ministry noted the poor infrastructure, hygiene and sanitation, which the inspectors said “put the life and safety of the school children in danger.”

The schools were also found to follow a curriculum that hasn’t been approved by the ministry. Acting on this information, minister of education Janet Museveni called for the suspension of the schools’ activities in Uganda until they meet the required standards.

Bridge International ran to court, seeking to block the ministry’s decision on September 2, a move that paid dividends last week. In her ruling on Thursday, Justice Basaza said:

“I’m allowing the schools to open as we resolve this issue of the wanted document. We must also allow the respondent (AG) a constitutional right to be heard. The applicant needs to file a rejoinder by September 30 and the case is adjourned to October 3.”

Earlier, the ministry had issued a statement targeting parents with children in Bridge International schools ahead of the new term, which starts today. In the statement dated September 21, assistant commissioner for primary education Dr Tonny Mukasa-Lusambu advised parents to take their children to the nearest public schools.

“I call upon all parents to take their children to the nearby government schools because, where Bridge [International] opened their schools, some of the government schools are just next door,” Dr Lusambu told The Observer.

“There is no need for alarm ... government deploys teachers in these government schools and they are ready to attend to the children,” he added.

NEW TERM GUIDELINES

Commenting on the new term, Dr Mukasa-Lusambu called on head teachers and teaching staff to hit the ground running. Lusambu said schools should desist from the bad practice of making children who report on the first day to clean up the school premises.

“There is this habit of making children clean, slash and sweep the entire school yet their lessons are supposed to start at exactly 8am on the first day,” Dr Lusambu said.

“Even those who are at home also keep on waiting until the cleaning is done.”

The term, which ends on December 9, is the busiest in the schools calendar with national examinations to be held at all three levels – PLE, O-level and A-level. O-level exams are scheduled to start on October 17 and end on November 23, while P7 candidates will sit between November 2 and 3. A-level exams, on the other hand, start on November 14 and end on December 6.

Acknowledging that some learning days in the term could be disrupted by the examinations, Lusambu asked teachers to stick to the curriculum.

“All subjects must be taught as indicated in the curriculum. Subjects like MDD, physical education and sports, art and entrepreneurship should not be ignored because they are all important in raising a holistic child,” Lusambu said.

Commenting on capitation grants, Lusambu expressed optimism that the schools will receive their grants on time now that the ministry of finance has restructured the payments in keeping with the school calendar.

He also encouraged parents to provide their children with all the necessary school requirements, including lunch.

nangonzi@observer.ug
slubwama@observer.ug

“We must move forward like Africans. We must make the best of a terrible situation, like Africans.  We must solve our problem, like Africans.” Justinian states proudly.

Dingo Pingo agrees.  “However, we know where pineapples grow. We know where to seek a pineapple.  But where do we seek a blanket?” Dingo Pingo is confused.

“We shall allow our mind to work on this problem. Right now we must run to school. You have been causing me to lose my good reputation for keeping time, Dingo! These days, Mrs Nnakku expects me to arrive late. Let’s go!”

“Let’s go!” Dingo Pingo is sorry to have this bad influence on his companion.
“Let’s go go go!”cries Isabella. Her appearance is different without her blanket. But she is still as cheerful as ever.

The boys run down the road to school. Little Isabella, without blanket, trots behind. She cannot keep up with them. Anansi keeps up with them. Anansi escorts them to the classroom building. Once they are safely inside, Anansi is satisfied. Anansi then turns and heads home. Anansi waits for them at home.

The boys allow their minds to work on this problem at school.  While they participate in the mathematics lessons, their minds work.  While they read Nigerian literature, their minds work. While they perform scientific experiments, their minds work. While they observe the behaviour of the maize seedlings, their minds work.

Finally, time for the social studies discussion arrives.  This session full of questions and wondering is the boys’ favourite time of the school day.

“Mrs Nnakku, Mrs Nnakku, I have an odd question for you,” begins Justinian.
“I shall turn your question to your fellow students.  Your colleagues will all consider your question,” the teacher answers.
“Good, I need their advice also,” Justinian appreciates his age-mates.

“If we were interested in blankets, how would we go about learning about them?”
 “Blankets? What type of blanket?”
 “All types. Any type. Whichever type,” Justinian does not know how to answer that question. “Do you need a blanket?”

anansi99@hotmail.com

A report by Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (Iser) has recommended that public-private partnership (PPP) schools in the country that provide poor-quality education services be closed.

Introduced in 2007 under the Universal Secondary Education (USE) scheme, PPP schools were meant to effectively absorb the increasing number of students completing primary education.

This was due to an explosion of P7 graduates, as a result of the country’s Universal Primary Education policy (UPE) started in 1997. However, the 44-page report, unveiled at Makerere University recently, found that a significant number of PPP schools were below par.

“PPP schools are not providing the high quality of education that was promised through the programme and agreed upon through each school’s MoU with the government,” the report reads in part. “PPP schools lack basic infrastructure, instructional materials and laboratory inputs to facilitate learning, which has had an adverse effect on the quality of education students receive.”

Presenting the report, Iser executive director, Salima Namusobya, explained that according to her research in nine districts, 28 schools were not compliant with the human rights standards applicable to the right to education.

“Data collected illustrates that despite the overall increase in enrollment, equitable geographical access to education has not yet been achieved under the PPP programme,” she said.

“The evidence further suggests that the PPP initiative has not succeeded in effectively reducing the significant obstacles impeding vulnerable and/or marginalised groups of students from accessing quality education.”

The report recommends that the government provide community schools with more support to meet the minimum standards, while regulating fees (tuition and non-tuition) and any other financial charges by PPP schools.

“There is need for a comprehensive policy on PPP in education that ensures adherence to human rights standards by both the government and private actors at all stages of PPP relation,” Namusobya added.

The state was also faulted for maintaining the capitation grant for private secondary schools at Shs 47,000 per student per year, yet this was economically-unsustainable. They called for the grant to be increased in tune with inflation.

Although he was speaking before the release of this report, president Museveni, speaking at the recent cabinet retreat in Munyonyo, appeared to be aware of the problem and pledged to plug the gaps in school performance.

tusiime.chris20@gmail.com

MTN Uganda Foundation and the Forum for African Women Educationalists Uganda Chapter (FAWE-U) recently launched the second round of university education scholarships for girls.

The scheme is designed for female students pursuing programmes in information and communication technologies (ICT) fields.

According to MTN Uganda’s chief executive officer, Wim Vanhelleputte, the firm will support 10 girls with tuition and related fees, scholastic materials, meals, accommodation, basic personal requirements, career guidance and mentorship support.

Vanhelleputte acknowledged that the scheme had grown from sponsoring two female students, who recently completed their degrees earlier this year.

“At MTN, one of our key priority areas is education and we recognize the value in empowering women in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT),” Vanhelleputte said. “ICT is a tool through which gender equality and women empowerment can be advanced to create communities where both women and men can substantively contribute to socio-economic growth.”

FAWE executive director, Christine Semambo Sempebwa, invited other corporate organizations and entities to join MTN in a cause to promote post- primary education.

Maria Kiwanuka, trustee, MTN Foundation, said this is coming at a time when girl-child education continues to struggle, and she is confident that this initiative will go a long way to help boost the mothers of the nation in key areas like ICT.

“This is because educated girls become educated women who have the knowledge, skills and opportunity to play a role in governance and democratic processes and to influence the direction of their societies,” she said.

“This scholarship was established to sponsor young, talented girls undertaking ICT courses, but may not be able to meet their university fees; they will also be taken through mentorship sessions to further guide them on their career paths.”


justuslyatuu08@gmail.com

Ndejje University has pledged to become a bridge between entrepreneurs seeking to provide solid waste solutions, and researchers who have developed prototypes to end the garbage disposal problem.

University Vice Chancellor Prof Eriabu Lugujjo said they were already working with the Kampala Capital City Authority and a Nigerian firm to help sort garbage through the provision of different dustbins, in homesteads to improve waste disposal.

“Our researchers have found some workable solutions, but would like to work with partners within the business community to solve the garbage problem,” he said.

Prof Lugujjo was speaking at the end of a three-day conference that the university held from September 26 to 28, 2016 at Hotel Africana. Premised on the theme, Sowing seeds of sustainable development for grassroots communities, the conference was intended to promote sustainable development of bio-waste recycling in the country.

The conference presenters showcased several examples of opportunities, where researchers had converted garbage into various products, including fuel like bio gas and briquettes from banana peelings, to stem the high reliance on firewood.

Others also showed methods of speeding the recycling process; for instance, with improved methods of digging pits that enable wastes to decompose in less than a year. Some of these methods have been practiced in the rural areas, in a pilot phase.

Prof Lugujjo said the university was ready to be a bridge between the researchers, who had developed the solutions and the entrepreneurs who had the capacity to spread this technology across the country.

“We generate over 5,000 tonnes of garbage every month. It is important that we work out means to limit this garbage generation through science, while also cutting back on the generated rubbish,” Lugujjo said.

Closing the conference, Energy Minister Irene Muloni pledged government support in working to manage bio-wastes in the country.

Students and tutors at Uganda Institute of Allied Health and Management Sciences (UIAHMS) in Mulago can now access at least 10,000 textbooks, reading resources, and other curriculum materials, using an electronic library.

The library, the first of its kind at the institute, was recently launched by the director of ICT at the ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and National Guidance, Dr David Turahi.

Representing the ICT minister Frank Tumwebaze, Dr Turahi said health training is very dynamic and requires updated systems of training as well as competent trainers.

“Without ICT applications, the training process remains slow or even absolete and yet, the world around us is growing in knowledge each day,” Turahi said. “We must provide trainees with the full content they need so that they can perform to their professional expectation.”

The e-library was developed with support from UIAHMS and Intra-health, a health NGO with resources from USAID under their nationwide Strengthening Human Resource for Health (SHRH) project. Turahi said the project comes at a time when the ministry of Health's draft e-health policy and strategic plan calls for adoption of ICT use to develop and provide continuous education to its health professionals.

UIAHMS principal Alfred Otim said they have been strengthening the institute's human resource in order to make the project a reality.

“The burden of buying costly big textbooks has now been lifted from us. Our challenge now is to add more computers since we still have more space in the library,” Otim said, urging the students to use the e-library for academic matters instead of surfing ponography which will attract much serious administrative actions.

With a sitting capacity of 100 students and only 35 computers, Otim asked the ICT ministry to assist them with about 100 more computers. According to Johnson Kaboggoza, the tutor in charge of the e-library, students and staff can also access the library from their mobile phones.

“At the moment, you only need an IP [Internet protocol] address of the institution and then you can see the interface for the e-library. Internet access will also not be a challenge because we currently have about four WiFi spots and students are given the passwords,” Kaboggoza said.

He added that students will be able to access e-books for all the 22 programmes offered at the UIAHMS. At the launch of the e-library, the Strengthening Human Resource for Health (SHRH) project also supported UIAHMS with a water bath for use in pharmacy training and a bench top sterilizer.

Government-owned Soroti Pharmaceutical Training college and St Elizabeth Institute of Health professionals, a private institution in Mukono, also received equipment for pharmacy technicians.

nangonzi@observer.ug

The department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University last week erupted with joy as news filtered in of the promotion of DR GORETTI NASSANGA to full professor of journalism. Marion Alina spoke to the new professor.

Makerere University’s senate sat on July 29, 2016, to approve applications for staff promotion. Nassanga appointment makes her the first full professor of journalism and communication in Uganda.

Her promotion is the latest of several firsts, as she was also the first PhD graduate from the department.

“This qualification means a lot to me. I look back at all the years of hard work, right from primary one. Through all those stages, I have been able to reach the peak and I am satisfied,” she said. “I have reached what Abraham Maslow calls self-actualization, a point in life when you are able to realize your full potential.”

Prof Nassanga says she has been on the road to self-actualization for 37 years, starting off as a journalist in 1979, at what is today Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (then Radio Uganda).

From here, she moved into training journalists, training them at Uganda Management Institute from 1989, before moving to Makerere. She started her education at Naggalama and Namilyango primary schools, before joining Mt St Mary’s College Namagunga for her Ordinary and Advanced level education.

“At A-level, my subject combination was Literature, Economics, Geography, Sub-Mathematics and General Paper. I particularly liked the economics because most of the decisions we make either in our professional work or as individuals are largely based on economic considerations.”

From here, she joined Makerere University, graduating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work and Social Administration.

JOURNALISM WORLD

As an information officer/news reporter under the ministry of Information, she embraced a complete new world.

“It was by accident. I never really thought about being a journalist at first. During our time, the arrangement was that officials from Public Service interviewed graduates and the best-performing ones got employed,” she reminisces. “I got several openings but did not want to keep moving from one upcountry job to another.

So, I opted for an opening at the Ministry of Information. I was required to file stories to the Uganda News Agency to air on Radio Uganda and Uganda Television”.

Although her training was outside the journalism world, she had a natural appetite for news.

“Before joining journalism, my idea of Uganda was the 15-km radius from home [Naggalama] to my former schools; which is 10km from Mukono - my home, Namagunga which is 8km from Mukono, and Makerere, about 18km,” she said. “As a journalist, I have been able to move all over Uganda… and many other countries all because of the nature of my job either as a journalist or as an academic.”

But she acknowledges that the profession is rife with several pitfalls. “The pay is not much in journalism but you get wide exposure and get to learn a lot of things, which you would not have learnt staying on one desk job,” she asserts. “Here, we are not looking at only financial rewards but the social capital in terms of wide knowledge gained with local and international networks.”

From the Information ministry, Nassanga moved to Parliament, where she was in charge of covering the House sessions and the Office of the Speaker. It was not long before Nassanga became head of the Presidential Press Unit. However, the pressure of the job proved too hectic and in 1989, she opted out, securing a position at the Uganda Management Institute.

JOURNALISM VIEWS

Prof Nassanga is concerned about the current trends in the media both at national and regional level. She is particularly concerned at the trends of media ownership concentration, where two strong conglomerates have been allowed to emerge, with minimum regulation, and is also concerned about the misuse of social media.

“At the regional level, we are getting this trend of media concentration. Businesswise, it makes very good sense because now things are becoming cheaper and production costs are lower; although the cover price still continues to rise,” she says, in reference to a media landscape dominated by the Nation Media Group and the Vision Group.

She thinks the two groups should be allowed to grow, but not at the expense of other players. “In some countries, you cannot own radio, television and print media houses in the same geographical area. You can only have a certain percentage to avoid such media concentration and allow for fair play,” she argues. “This is still a problem that developing countries have not yet foreseen, in relation to regulating the airwaves.”

However, Prof Nassanga believes that the increase in the number of journalism and media training institutions in the country has improved the standard of journalism practice.

“We have citizen journalism now; so, information collection and dissemination [are] no longer a monopoly of journalists. This comes with a cost since regulation is now a big issue both nationally and internationally.”
 
LIFE IN ACADEMIA

Prof Nassanga was once the head of what is today the department of Journalism and Communication, following the acquisition of a PhD in 2003. At the time, she had worked with Dr Monica Chibita (now an associate professor at Uganda Christian University) since 1998 to establish the department.

The current head, Dr William Tayeebwa, is happy for the foundation laid by Nassanga and others.

“As a scholar, Prof Nassanga has led by example and published widely in addition to supervising several graduate students to completion. She continues to provide leadership to all staff in her capacity as coordinator for research and publications,” he said.

“We are counting on her to see the department grow into a school, as our first dean.”

Apart from lecturing and supervision of students, Prof Nassanga has carried out research in several areas relating to the media, and participated in the drafting of the national population policy and the national ICT policy. She has published 30 articles in local and international journals, and has been a consultant to national, regional and international projects. She is also a former chairperson of the Media Council.
 
MESSAGE TO WOMEN

A September 2016 analysis by Makerere’s directorate for Quality Assurance puts the number of female full professors at eight, compared to 68 male professors.

“We have continued to see an improvement in the number of female professors, although more efforts are needed,” explains Dr. Vincent Ssembatya, the director for Quality Assurance, who is also equally-excited about Prof Goretti Nassanga’s appointment.

Prof Nassanga acknowledges this finding and thinks it should be reversed as a matter of urgency.

“Women need to put extra effort in reconciling time for their office work, studies and the home responsibilities. This is because if anything goes wrong … the educated woman takes the blame.”

As part of her routine, Prof Nassanga listens to radio news regularly and will not miss out on television prime time news. You will find a copy of one of the dailies in her possession, or she will read the online papers.

The tech-savvy professor diligently responds to all emails on time and is an active participant on the department’s WhatsApp group. Prof Nassanga was previously married to Charles Mugoya, who passed on in 1996. She has a son, Kenneth Mugoya.

Some journalists with PhDs

1. Dr Peter G Mwesige
2. Dr George William Lugalambi
3. Dr Monica Chibita
4. Dr Annette Kezaabu
5. Dr William Tayeebwa
6. Dr Simwogerere Kyazze

Doctors at South Africa-based Milpark hospital today October 10 make a final decision on whether to carry out a surgery or liver transplant on Makerere’s literature Professor Abas Kiyimba.

Early this year, Prof Kiyimba’s veins ruptured, which forced blood to find alternative routes in his body. This led to the shrinking of his liver and excessive vomiting of blood. Doctors at Mulago hospital then referred him abroad for treatment.

He returned to South Africa on September 20 after a short holiday here. Speaking to The Observer by telephone from South Africa last week, Kiyimba said he has slightly improved and awaits his fate today.

“I’m on constant medication every other day,” Kiyimba said, in a very low tone. “I was vomiting blood but it has now not happened for some time because I strictly follow the doctor’s instructions ... I mind a lot what I eat and this has helped me so much.”

In order to avoid rupturing of the veins, doctors advised Kiyimba to avoid foods and drinks with sulphur and acid but take soft food in small quantities, water, passion juice and vegetables.

However, he said he still gets moments of severe pain on the right side of the abdomen, including general body weakness. During his first visit at Milpark hospital, his wife Rahma Kiyimba Nabwanika said Kiyimba would vomit blood endlessly.

“There is a time when Professor vomited blood for almost two hours. When it was time to go to the theatre, he gave me an envelope where he wrote, ‘to be read during the dark moment’.” Nabwanika said.

“I felt so heart-broken but he came out successful. I’m still strong and hopeful that he will be fine.”
Before he asked to hang up and have some rest, Kiyimba said: “A big thank you to all people who have stood with me. I am actually overwhelmed by the contributions.”

Imam Kasozi, the head of Kiyimba’s fundraising drive, encouraged well-wishers to contribute towards his treatment.

“By September 18, we had collected up to Shs 80m. If it is a surgery, we are arranging between Shs 70m and Shs 100m and about Shs 250m for a liver transplant,” Kasozi said.

At least four people have volunteered to donate their liver and various tests are being done to establish their compatibility.

nangonzi@observer.ug

Graduates of Uganda Technology & Management University (Utamu) have been urged to look for employment opportunities beyond Uganda’s borders.

Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, the chancellor at Utamu said the East African Community had opened up opportunities in neighboring countries that they should look at.

Musyoka’s call came as he presided over Utamu’s second graduation last week. He explained that there was increasing demand for business managers and Information Communication and Technology (ICT) expertise in the region.

“You [2016 graduates] are a part of the generation faced with significant global challenges, the world is struggling with unemployment, poverty,” the former Kenyan vice president said, “Don’t just sit and wait to get jobs here, compete with Tanzanians and Kenyans in their own country.”

“We encourage all of you to please recognize the tremendous incredible significance of your achievements in making the transition and go forth and use it to better not only for yourself but your immediate family, but the nation and the world at large.”

Earlier, the vice chancellor, Prof Benon Basheka, reported that the ceremony was called for the 190 students, who had graduated, which is almost double those who completed their studies there last year.

“Of the 190 students graduating, 46 students obtained masters, 111 post graduate diplomas, 31 bachelor’s degrees and two got undergraduate diplomas; these are well trained cadres to work in all types of organizations,” Basheka said.

Representing the Education Ministry, Robert Odok Oceng, commended Utamu’s emphasis on its special niche in ICT and business. 

“In the few years, UTAMU has demonstrated that technology can be useful and important mechanism of delivering education,” he said.

Oceng, who is also the ministry’s acting director, Higher Technical and Vocational Education and Training, urged Utamu to remain relevant to the market.

“You agree with me that the main challenge faced by our institutions to day is their relevance to the needs of the populations, in order to survive in this competitive world, you must demonstrate relevance in skills imparted.”

justuslyatuu08@gmail.com

Kyambogo University will have a substantive vice chancellor by January 2017.

According to the re-appointed university council chairperson, Prof John Okedi, the time frame is sufficient for council to come up with the ‘appropriate’ candidate.

“I want to believe that there are many qualified people in Uganda and we want to be open and transparent,” Prof Okedi said, last week. “We are going to re-constitute a new search committee and I believe some old members might be part of it.”

Prof Okedi was speaking a week after he was reappointed for a second term, along with most of his 23 members. Only the vice chairperson, Dr Mary Gorreti Nakabugo is new, replacing The council took oath before the Nakawa division grade one magistrate on September 6.

Before the expiry of the council’s four-year term in July this year, the search committee, led by Prof Patrick Mangheni, had shortlisted two out of the five candidates; the acting vice chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka and Prof Geoffrey Bakunda of Makerere University Business School.

However, Prof Okedi explained, they were compelled to abandon the process after a court injunction by two university staff, and another by former vice chancellor, Isaiah Ndiege.

“It is not true that we failed to deliver on the search for a new VC but those two court injunctions delayed us so much. We had to respect the rule of law…,” he said.

He added that his new council comprises men and women of intergrity who are well positioned to run the university effectively and efficiently. Prof Okedi acknowledged that his council will also recruit a new University Secretary and Dean of Students to beef up top management.

Asked about his re-appointment, Okedi said, “I feel good that government has trusted me once again with this position. I have the requisite capacity and experience to run the university as the council chairperson”.
 
NEW PhD, MASTERS PROGRAMMES

Meanwhile, Kyambogo university has completed a review of all its 97 undergraduate programmes and initiated new graduate programmes, all approved by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

For the first time, Kyambogo has admitted students on the PhD programme. These programmes include the PhD in Physics, PhD in Chemistry, PhD in Biological Sciences, PhD in Sports Science and PhD in Education. Acting vice chancellor Prof Elly Katunguka told The Observer that there are five to eight students on each Science programme and at least 20 students have enrolled for a PhD in Education.

Some of the new 11 masters’ programmes have about 400 enrolled students and include the Master of Special Needs Education, Msc in Human Nutrition, Msc in Structural Engineering and Msc in Early Childhood Education.

Kyambogo has admitted 13,635 first-year students for the academic year 2016/17. Of these, 11,291 are private A-level leavers, 764 are sponsored by government, 193 government sponsored diploma students and 1,387 are private diploma students.

According to Katunguka, this is the second year the university is admitting a high number which continues to impose great pressure on its limited but dilapidated infrastructure with unreliable sanitation.

“I’m glad to say we shall manage the numbers because at least, we have tried to split the large classes into two groups,” Prof Katunguka said.

nangonzi@observer.ug

For years now, the education ministry has been grappling with a school dropout problem. With no immediate solutions in sight, the problem has developed into a vicious cycle as MOSES TALEMWA and PRISCA BAIKE recently found.

In Barbara Masikye’s home in Bunambutye village in Mbale, there are no graduates. Senior four graduates that is. Most drop out of school long before that.

Masikye’s uncle, only known as Khaukha, got tired of supporting Barbara’s two older cousins after they completed their senior four. So he went for a drastic solution. Anyone who fails to excel in class, in senior two, gets a motorcycle, obtained from the sale of part of Khaukha’s previously vast tract of land in Sironko.

With the motorcycle, they start off into the boda boda business, earning a living, but also contributing to what is becoming an alarming school dropout problem.

“We are too poor to spend money on higher levels of education, especially, nothing is going to change as far as getting a job is concerned,” Masikye explains. “Our uncle has decided that before he dies, everyone should be able to fend for themselves.”

Masikye’s problem is just one part of a growing crisis among the youth across the country that has attracted the attention of the African Development Bank (ADB).

In a wide ranging report, the ADB is concerned that poverty in families is increasing the rate of school dropout, worsening the unemployment problem. The ADB’s Education for All Global Monitoring report, released earlier this year, showed that 38%of children in sub Saharan Africa, who supposed to be in lower secondary schools, drop out, compared to 26% of children out of primary school.

This tallies with another report by the United Nations Education Scientific Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in 2012, which shows that 42 per cent of all school going children are likely to drop out of school before the end of primary school.

“More than two in five children who start school will not reach ... the end of their primary school. Dropout rates in Africa are highest in Chad (72%), followed by Uganda (68%),” the report reads.

The Education ministry’s inspection reports on the school dropout problem make for miserable reading. The districts of Kalangala and Buvuma have the highest dropout rates in the country at 72 per cent, followed by Busoga sub region and the north east.

Fred Mwesigye, executive director of the Forum for Education NGOs (Fenu), has been looking at the problem and is not surprised.

“Off course poverty is fueling the school dropout problem… it explains why a fisherman’s son finds it more lucrative to drop out of school and join the family trade so they can improve their standing,” Mwesigye says. “It explains why those parts of the country are not generating enough labour to fuel the formal economy.”

By this, Mwesigye is hinting at the core of the ADB’s report. Children, who would have been able to graduate and create jobs in a formal economy, are only able to survive on menial jobs. According to the district inspector of schools in Hoima, Ibrahim Bigabwa, parents are not helping the situation.

“Wherever you go, you will see children washing cars in parking bays, but the parents, who benefit from this labour, should be the ones stopping this vice at all costs,” he says. “These children are supporting their families, but the ruining the futures of their own offspring.”

UNEMPLOYED EDUCATED

Dr Daniel Nkaada, the commissioner for Basic Education at the ministry of Education and Sports acknowledges that something needs to be done. He argues that there is a need to address the unemployment issue in order to make schooling more appealing to students and parents, to increase the secondary school enrolment levels.

In saying so, Dr Nkaada is acknowledging reports in the ministry, which indicate that despite increased access to primary schooling in the past 15 years, absorbing primary school graduates into secondary school remains a challenge, as the transition from primary to secondary school remains low.

According to Dr Nkaada, the low absorption rate of primary school graduates into secondary schools and is potentially caused by poor performance in final examinations.

“When a pupil is in Division U (ungraded), there is no other avenue since we don’t encourage repeating,” said Nkaada.

Apart from the government’s financial constraints and the lack of government secondary schools, Dr Nkaada points out the indirect costs associated with education, such as buying books, pens, uniforms, which can be a major hindering factor to school enrolment.

Dr Nkaada acknowledges that the unemployment of those already out of school is another outstanding cause of low secondary school enrolment.

“Some people have started looking at education as a cost for nothing. You educate a child and you still continue to look after them even after they have graduated simply because they are unemployed,” said Dr Nkaada.

Research indicates that youth unemployment is higher among higher education graduates and wealthy households. Consequently, unemployment is averagely three times higher among those with a secondary education or above compared to those with no education.

It is also twice as high among youth from households in the highest income quintile as compared to those in the lowest income quintile, as indicated in both World Bank, Africa Development Bank indicators released between 2008 and 2014.

DOUBLE SOLUTION

The ADB report shows that African countries are responding to the increasing social demand for higher education, whereas labour markets, particularly in the informal sector, are not ready to absorb these graduates.

Indeed the ADB’s own report shows that, whereas primary and secondary school children are dropping out in droves, the number of university graduates has almost tripled between 1999 and 2009 in Sub-Saharan Africa; increasing from 1.6 million to 4.9 million.

Many of these are still either under-employed, or doing menial jobs to survive. The ADB report has called for the equipping youths with skills relevant for the informal sector to create more jobs in the formal sector to absorb the unemployed youths.

The report indicates that keeping children in school to lower the level of employment. However, for those already out of schools (including the parents) there is a need to re-educate them to become ready for the market, and end their poverty.

Either way, the ADB thinks education is a double panacea. Time will tell if sufficient money to invest in education at all levels can be found, to cure unemployment and poverty, so Masikye’s remaining siblings can stay in school.

mtalemwa@observer.ug
pbaike@yahoo.com

More than 300,000 senior four candidates begin their final examinations this morning from 3,453 exam centres across the country.

Of these, 157,395 students attend schools under the Universal Secondary Education (USE) while the rest are from non-USE schools. The candidates will sit three papers today, starting with Physics practicals in the morning, and Art and Shorthand in the afternoon.

Dan Nokrach Odongo, the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) executive secretary, urged candidates not to panic throughout the examinations.

“The questions are all set from the syllabus from which you have prepared and there is no reason why you should not answer the questions satisfactorily,” Odongo said.

The exams, that are estimated to cost over Shs 2bn, have nearly achieved the gender parity with female candidates making up about half (49.1 per cent) of the total candidature.

Uneb has deployed slightly over 1,600 scouts for the month-long exercise that will last until November 23. With results of about 1,067 candidates cancelled last week, Uneb has warned parents, teachers and even candidates from bribing field officers or paying for fake question papers that unscrupulous persons tend to con people with, around examination time.

For all the three levels of examinations (UCE, PLE and UACE), Uneb will examine a total of 1,068,224 candidates.

Makerere University has honoured the late Dr Festus Bagoora with a series of annual memorial lectures.

Bagoora was an academician, environmental activist and civil servant. At the launch of the series on October 7, chief guest Mary Kitutu, the minister of state for environment, said there is such a huge crisis in the country’s forestry sector that necessitates someone of the caliber of the late Dr Festus Bagoora to tackle.

She lamented that after the destruction of local government, community and private forests, now the victim is central government forests. Kitutu said the forest cover has shrunk to a third of what it was in 1990 and almost everyone seems overwhelmed as to what to do.

Having been an employee of the National Environment Authority for more than 10 years, Kitutu said they (Nema staff) had repeatedly warned about the looming crisis and although the institution put up a solid legal and regulatory framework, the goodwill and implementation have been wanting.

At the inaugural lecture about the late Bagoora (1952-2015) at Makerere University main hall, Dr Yazidhi Bamutaze, head of the department of Geography, Geo-informatics and Climatic Sciences, said the department decided to set up the lecture series in recognition of an intellectual giant in geomorphology, a selfless teacher, environmental advocate and civil servant of high integrity.

“He was a no-nonsense man; very few people today can stand to that level. He was very dependable; a very rare trait today. He preferred a simple life to material things and lived a life of great sacrifices,” Kitutu said of Bagoora.

Former Nema executive director Henry Aryamanya Mugisha, the keynote speaker, said Bagoora was a man who often declined promotions into administrative positions and preferred doing field research, advocacy, teaching and mentoring others.

“Bagoora worked tirelessly on regulations on lake shores, mountains, hill slopes and wetlands. He was instrumental in developing environmental standards, ordinances and bylaws. The term ‘ecosystem services’ was coined by him and his colleagues,” Mugisha said.

Bagoora was described as an encyclopedia in environmental geomorphology and hydrology, land and soil management, environmental measurements of meteorological and boundary- layer climatological parameters, and hydrology of surface and sub-surface waters.

Mugisha called for networking, political commitment and patriotism and creativity as more important than the cry for funding if the forests, mountains, wetlands, soils and general environment are to be restored to sustainability.

“Our society requires ordinary people with extraordinary determination, those who believe the impossible can be broken into possibilities and are willing to learn, relearn and unlearn, the likes of Bagoora,” he concluded.

jmusinguzi@observer.ug

The Partnership for Africa’s Next Generation of Academics (PANGeA) has launched a new training and skills development programme, PANGeA-Ed, after a four-day meeting of the partnership’s board in Kampala.

At the launch at Makerere University recently, Prof Edward Kirumira, principal of Makerere’s college of Humanities and Social Sciences and chairman of PANGeA, hailed PANGeA-Ed as high-quality short courses and workshops in research and skills development, intended to train trainers, that will cover the eight partnering universities, and at no cost to the individual.

The three-day intensive courses will cover principles of research design, research ethics, understanding social research, mixed research methods, scientific writing skills and research methodology, among others.

The partnership was formed in 2010 to strengthen higher education in Africa through collaborative research and exchange, and doctoral training and scholarship in the arts, humanities and social sciences in Africa.

Kirumira said the eight partner universities – Makerere, Dar es Salaam, Stellenbosch, Nairobi, Ghana, Malawi, Yaounde I and Botswana – are just front-desk institutions that influence other universities because of their own networks on the continent. The doctorate programme is housed by Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Kirumira revealed that although their doctoral scholarship has since 2010 nominated 66 doctoral candidates, 36 of whom have already completed and resumed their academic positions at their home universities and 81 per cent completed in three or less years, the board last year decided to explore other ways of producing more high-grade human capital and improving skills and careers of staff.

Hence the training and skills programme will be conducted at partner universities and be based on the institution’s needs. Observing that oftentimes fresh PhD graduates are instantly put in administrative positions without training in administration, Kirumira said their doctoral programme includes training in leadership and administration.

“Twenty per cent of the 36 PhD graduates have already been placed in administrative positions. See, we give our donor partners the confidence that we will deliver to their expectations.

“Despite the several achievements so far, we will continue with our fundraising trips to governments, corporations and foundations,” he said.

Prof Enos Njeru, principal of college of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Nairobi, said the consortium will assist Africa by replenishing the professoriates, raising the academic quality of staff at all higher education levels and promoting knowledge-based economic growth through increased and more meticulous research.

Michael Hanssler, chairman of Gerda Henkel foundation, disclosed that his foundation and Robert Bosch foundation will fund 50 short courses and workshops of PANGeA-Ed over the next five years.

Doctors at South Africa-based Milpark hospital will tomorrow October 18 make a final decision on whether to carry out a surgery or liver transplant on Makerere’s literature professor, Abas Kiyimba.

Early this year, Prof Kiyimba’s veins ruptured, which forced blood to find alternative routes in his body. This led to the shrinking of his liver and excessive vomiting of blood. Doctors at Mulago hospital then referred him abroad for treatment.

He returned to South Africa on September 20 after a short stay here. Speaking to The Observer by telephone from South Africa recently, Kiyimba said he has slightly improved and awaits his fate.

“I’m on constant medication every other day,” Kiyimba said, in a very low tone. “I was vomiting blood but it has now not happened for some time because I strictly follow the doctor’s instructions ... I mind a lot what I eat and this has helped me so much.”

In order to avoid rupturing of the veins, doctors advised Kiyimba to avoid foods and drinks with sulphur and acid but take soft food in small quantities, water, passion juice and vegetables.

On Tuesday last week, Kiyimba said he left the theatre but still gets moments of severe pain on the right side of the abdomen, including general body weakness. During his first visit at Milpark hospital, his wife Rahma Kiyimba Nabwanika said Kiyimba would vomit blood endlessly.

“There is a time when Professor vomited blood for almost two hours. When it was time to go to the theatre, he gave me an envelope where he wrote, ‘to be read during the dark moment’.” Nabwanika said. “I felt so heart-broken but he came out successful. I’m still strong and hopeful that he will be fine.”

Before he asked to hang up and have some rest, Kiyimba said:

“A big thank you to all people who have stood with me. I am actually overwhelmed by the contributions.”

Imam Kasozi, the head of Kiyimba’s fundraising drive, encouraged well-wishers to contribute towards his treatment.

“By September 18, we had collected up to Shs 80m. If it is a surgery, we are arranging between Shs 70m and Shs 100m and about Shs 250m for a liver transplant,” Kasozi said.

At least four people have volunteered to donate their liver and various tests are being done to establish their compatibility.

nangonzi@observer.ug