By John Tatyamisa
The 400,000-strong Makerere University alumni can finally connect with their alma mater through a quarterly e-newsletter aptly named The Legacy, published under the auspices of the Makerere University Endowment Fund (MakEF).
Launching The Legacy on June 26, 2023 in the Council Room in the University’s Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, said the newsletter would connect “over 400,000 alumni scattered all over the world as leaders in various fields.”
“Makerere is more than just a main campus and the off-campus prime properties we are privileged to own. It is also about the aforementioned men and women who oversaw the establishment and growth of this great institution,” he said. “It is also about our hardworking professors and lecturers who nurture and mentor our students academically, our gallant alumni who have gone through the gates of Makerere, our selfless parents, our development partners, friends, and members of the public, whose respective contributions we sincerely appreciate.”
The Vice Chancellor commended MakEF for continually refining mechanisms of tracking and engaging with alumni.
“We are proud to share profiles and success stories of alumni who are undertaking groundbreaking work and showcasing the impact of the Makerere on their careers,” he said. “We invite our alumni from all over the world to share their personal and professional achievements with our editorial team. Additionally, the News and Updates section will be your window into our new programmes and initiatives, research breakthroughs, university events, or other related news from the hill.”
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe speaking during the launch of The Legacy
In addition to ‘Alumni Profiles and Success Stories’ and ‘News and Updates’, other sections of newsletter are: ‘Class Notes’, ‘Opportunities for Alumni Engagement’, ‘Professional Development Resources’, ‘Advance Office/Convocation Updates’, ‘Communication from the University Top Management’, ‘Souvenir and Gifts Shop’, and ‘Fundraising Appeals’.
Class Notes feature short biographies of alumni from all over the world, highlighting their personal and professional achievements. Under Opportunities for Alumni Engagement, readers will learn about upcoming events, volunteering opportunities, and other ways of supporting the university. Many alumni are interested in continuing their education or advancing their careers, and in the Professional Development Resources section, they will find information about opportunities of professional development.
The Advance Office/Convocation Updates section includes information about the Convocation’s (association of alumni and current staff of Makerere University) activities, upcoming events and other news. Communication from the University Top Management includes updates from the University management on recent activities and initiations at the Ivory Tower, while the Souvenir and Gifts Shop section features the latest arrivals at shop and information about how alumni can access them. Lastly, the Fundraising Appeals section implores alumni to donate to the Makerere University Endowment Fund.
Dr. Margaret J. Kigozi, the MakEF chairperson, said the idea of a newsletter arose from the collective vision and dedication of the current Board of Trustees, who recognized the need for a strong communication tool to connect with Makerere’s alumni.
“Alumni engagement is a key component of the Endowment Fund’s strategic aspirations, and thus remains a vital module on the MakAdvance online portal, designed to address the lack of a systematic and effective mechanism for tracking, mobilizing and coordinating the alumni to participate in and contribute to various aspects of the university,” she said.
She appealed to alumni to register on the MakAdvance portal and join the growing online alumni database that “allows you to communicate with your alma mater in real time”.
Dr. Sara Namusoga-Kaale, The Legacy’s editorial committee chairperson and a lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication, said Makerere University has the largest alumni in Uganda, but numbers only make sense when harnessed for good.
Dr. Sara Namusoga-Kaale, the Chairperson of The Legacy’s editorial committee
“The Legacy, as its name suggests, is meant to shine a bright light on Makerere University’s journey thus far. We hope that by reaching out to the alumni and student community, and documenting their stories about life at Makerere and thereafter, we will inspire them to not only keep in touch, but also give back to their alma mater through avenues such as contributing to the Endowment Fund”.
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