Mak’s 30 years of journalism in the eyes of former students

The evolution story of the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University from a course unit in the Department of Literature in the early 1990s is better told through the lenses of those who have been part of this journey over the years.
Dr Ernest Okello Ogwang, the former deputy vice chancellor in-charge of academic affairs, joined Makerere University in 1983 as a student. Upon graduation in 1986, he was retained to teach Paper 705: Art of Communication in the Department of Literature.
Dr Ogwang says at the time, there was need for professional journalism and the Department of Literature started designing a programme that would train journalists and communication experts.
“As a department, we said let us guide the nation. The department started offering staff scholarships to study the Master’s Degree in Arts programme. Dr Robby Muhumuza, was sent to Ohio State University in USA to study a master’s degree. I secured a scholarship to study Masters Degree in Journalism at the American University of Cairo but I turned it down because I did have not money for maintenance,” he says.
At that time, he says the Department of Literature had staff such as Prof Timothy Wangusa, Austin Ejiet (RIP), Prof Abasi Kiyimba and Prof Arthur Gakwandi. Dr Okello says in 1988, he left for his PhD studies in US.
Prof Dominica Dipio, who joined as a student in 1984, says the Department of Journalism and Communication was started in academic year 1988/1989 when she had just graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Literature and also enrolled for her Master’s degree programme in 1988.

Move to separate
“When the late Dr Francis Kidubuka returned from his PhD Studies in UK, he came with a plan of equipping the mass communication department with staff. He identified Prof Monica Chibita, then a Literature student, and sent her to study mass communication in Iowa State University in USA so that she could form a key resource person for the department,” she says.
Prof Dipio says when staff from the Department of Literature started playing the role of media professionals, the management deemed it wise to start the Mass Communication department.
Prof Chibita says she returned from her US studies in 1992 but did not start work immediately. But in 1991, she says the first cohort of students was enrolled and the numbers were restricted to between 20 and 25 because they did not have lecturers, equipment and books.
Between 1991 and 1998, Prof Chibita says all the students, who were admitted for the Bachelor of Mass Communication degree programme, attended their lectures from the Literature department until 1998 when the Mass Communication department broke away.
Prof Chibita adds that mass communication, being a course that required use of technology, they had challenges since the department was not well equipped.
To train television broadcast students, Prof Chibita says they had to draw specific types of pictures on paper, which they would take to film using a video camera borrowed from a friend. She says they would go to the person’s home near the Law Development Centre to record and view the students’ work.
For radio broadcast students, Prof Chibita says the department had only two Marantz radio recorders and two computers, which were provided by Prof John Mary Sebuwufu, the then vice chancellor. It was around 1998 that the department acquired 10 computers, which formed the department’s first computer laboratory.
Dr Ivan Lukanda, who joined the department in 2002 as a student, says he found type writers being used as teaching aids. Dr Lukanda says students and lecturers used floppy diskettes to store notes and important documents after which they would find where to print out the work. He says they would use camera films to take pictures, which they would develop in photo studios and dark rooms in town before submitting their work.
Dr Adolf Mbaine, the acting head of department, says the liberalisation of the media in 1993 created demand for mass communication graduates for media houses and corporate communications. Dr Mbaine says over the years, the department has tried to respond to society needs, especially in regard to the changing technology. This he says is the reason the department is set to build a Shs420 million multimedia lab for students to acquire skills required for them to prosper in the job market.
Today, the department staff, alumni and well-wishers meet at Hotel Africana in Kampala to reflect on the 30-year journey during a symposium that runs from 9am to midday. In the evening, there will be gala dinner intended to raise money for constructing the multimedia lab.

Alumni speak

“It was an interesting course because the department had a fairly average age of lecturers they were younger and relatable. Many had studies outside the country, they were liberal and open which made the learning exciting. It professionalised the course,” Julian Mwine, 1998/2001, Weekend Editor, NTV-Uganda.

“It was an interesting time; I made many friends and it was time well spent. It made me appreciate the role theory plays in informing practicing in the media. Media ethics teach you how to behave, same as media law,” Robert Madoi, 2001/2004 - Sports Editor, NTV-Uganda

“We got a good foundation and all the things I have attained in life are because of this good foundation. There is no journalism school that can compete with Makerere University,” Charles Bwogi, 2000-2003 - Content Producer, NTV Uganda

“I had never experienced Makerere University properly and as a working student, it was mixed with a lot of surprises. I already knew a lot of the things that were taught. Being taught by colleagues we met in the field was quite fulfilling,” Jude Etyang, 2004-2007 - Adverting Executive, NMG

“I found mass communication interesting because initially, I did not know how to write. I also learnt how to communicate and write to masses; I learnt that you write for a reader in a bid to answer all their questions,” Mary Karugaba, Senior Reporter, New Vision

“We were the pioneers of the four years and it is good that we were introduced to the practical aspects of multimedia training. We were taught video and photo editing and in the final year, we did not do research but a project on MDGs, which won me an award,” Pascal Kwesiga, 2010-2014, New Vision

“I specialised in public relations and the fourth year particularly was very interesting because of the presentations. We had only two lectures in a week, which also enabled me to get a job at the Red Pepper,” Sharon Katusiime, 2013-2017- Sub Editor, MPL

“The department nurtured me into what I am today and I am thankful to the great lecturers from whose experience I tapped the skills that I am using. However, the department should introduce more multi-media courses and leave theory-based courses,” Amos Ngwomoya, 2012-2016 - Journalist, MPL