Makerere Has Remained a Lifetime Symbol for Us, Say Alumni in Kenya

The Makerere University alumni in neighboring Kenya have described Makerere, not just as an institution, but rather a “symbol of a lifetime.”

The alumni last week held an event in Nairobi to mark Makerere’s 100 years of building a transformed society.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Joseph Aluoch, the Patron, Kenya Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases who graduated with Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Makerere University in 1968, described his memory at Makerere as a “place to behold.”

“It wasn’t just an institution, it was merger than life. When you made it to Makerere, you became somebody to behold,” he said.

Dr. Aluoch noted that Makerere University, to him and his colleagues is not just an institution, but rather a “symbol of a lifetime.”

“So, for us, Makerere was not just an institution. It has remained a symbol of a lifetime of those who liked medicine and the many influential and good politicians it has produced.”

“For us who were trained at Makerere, when we went to the UK for postgraduate studies, they would ask where you trained from. If you were from Makerere, you are not asked to take on any other trainings, you were at fatigue away asked to work on patients,” Dr. Aluoch said.

Makerere was famous for its breakthrough research, especially in the medical research where breakthrough research was achieved on kwashiorkor and other epidemics.

The University’s contribution to human development is not only in politics. Makerere is very much known for medicine with various innovations that have come out of its medical school.

The first person who isolated cancer cells in the way they are known today, was at Makerere’s School of Medicine in the early 1960s.

Makerere has been making contributions for the development of the East African region, the African continent, and for the world in various ways.

In the political world, Makerere has produced world leaders, especially in East Africa, informed educators, teachers, diplomats, revolutionaries, academicians, writers, poets, scientists, feminists, law scholars, economists to mention but a few.

Evans Aryaba, the Minister Counsellor and Acting High Commissioner of Uganda to Kenya, representing the High Commissioner, Dr. Hassan Galiwango attributed all his post graduate studies to the “firm academic foundation” received at Makerere University where he did his undergraduate.

“Makerere University has built the future of Humanity for 100 Years, and still counting. I joined Makerere University in August 1992 and graduated on top of my class in January 1996. I enrolled for a Masters in Contemporary Diplomacy in 2009 at the University of Malta, I graduated on top of my MA Class with Summa Cum Laude in 2010. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD in Diplomacy and International Affairs. Thanks to the firm academic foundation I received from Makerere University,” he said.

Scholar, and political science professor who doubles as Kisumu County Governor, Prof Anyang Nyongo said that Makerere Motto, “We Build for the Future,” means working to leave the world better than we found.

“Whatever field you are in, you just work towards leaving this world better than you found it. That’s why that motto, “Build for the future,” so that after us, the next generation will find a world much better than the one we found. I think as we celebrate 100 years of our great Makerere, we have to ask ourselves as alumni of Makerere, what contribution are we committing ourselves to, so that the next 100 years are better than the century passed,” he said.

Prof Helen Nambalirwa who represented the University Council, said Makerere University knows no borders.

She also said that the University’s contribution to not only the East African Community and Africa’s Human Resource Development, but also to the Liberation of Africa, and the world at large cannot be overestimated.

She said Makerere is repositioning itself to become a research-led University.

“As we embark on the next century, with an agenda of positioning Makerere as a more research-led University, we are guided by four over-arching goals. These include; A research-led university responding to national, regional, and global development challenges; innovations in teaching and learning that respond to the changing environment; an engaged university with enhanced partnerships with industry, the community, and international institutions, and a professionally governed, equitable, inclusive and gender mainstreamed institution,” she said.

She added that Makerere takes pride in the various cutting-edge research, and innovations produced by its esteemed students and faculty in both the humanities and Sciences over the years.

As the University faces new challenges of the Century, the Alma Mater, Nambalirwa said, is ready and well positioned to carry on this legacy of engaging in impactful research and innovations for the benefit of all people.