The Uganda Military Academy (UMA), Kabamba, has conducted an academic orientation at Makerere University Library to equip cadets with research skills and knowledge of library resources to support their studies in defence and security.
The orientation brought together 143 cadets, instructors from the military academy, Makerere University library staff and academic leaders from the School of Social Sciences. The group included 25 female cadets and students from sister countries, including Rwanda and Tanzania, according to Chief Instructor Colonel Mark Ben Mugarura.
The training focused on introducing the cadets to the library’s physical and electronic resources, academic databases, research strategies, information literacy and the ethical use of scholarly materials. The programme is part of the academic support provided to the academy through its affiliation with Makerere University.
Speaking during the opening session, the Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Dr Justus Twesigye, welcomed the cadets and thanked the university library for accommodating the delegation despite the short notice.
“We are very honoured that you were able to allow us at the School of Social Sciences to bring these visitors to you,” Twesigye said.
He emphasised the importance of the library in the cadets’ academic journey, describing it as a central source of knowledge for both students and lecturers.
“Our academic life is within the library. We search for knowledge, we find it in the library. We use that knowledge to teach and learn,” he said.
Twesigye further encouraged the cadets to make use of the library’s resources, including its remote-access services, and to cooperate with their lecturers as they begin their Bachelor of Defence Studies programme.
“Remember the master teacher will be the library here,” he said, urging the cadets to take responsibility for their learning and research.
He added that knowledge produced through academic work should be preserved in the library so that future generations can benefit from it.
“We may eventually pass away, but the knowledge we create and leave around will always be available and will be shared with the generations to come,” Twesigye said.
Military academy appreciates continued library support
Colonel Mark Ben Mugarura, the Chief Instructor at Uganda Military Academy, expressed appreciation to Makerere University Library for its continued support in training future officers of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
Speaking on behalf of the academy’s commandant, General Saad Katemba, Mugarura said the library had supported the academy’s academic activities since it became affiliated with Makerere University.
“This is the eighth cohort since we started, and we have been facilitated by this library since the academy is an affiliate of the university,” Mugarura said.
He noted that the library’s services were essential to the academy’s efforts to prepare cadets for their future responsibilities as military officers.
“We appreciate your continued support in ensuring that we impart knowledge to our students,” he said.
Mugarura, who said he had been visiting the library for academic purposes for years, urged the cadets to take the orientation seriously because the skills acquired would support them throughout their studies.
“It is where you are going to eat your bread and butter for the three years you will be in the academy,” he told the cadets.
He added that the orientation would help them conduct research and access the information required during their training.
The delegation included instructors and cadets from partner countries, reflecting the academy’s regional academic cooperation. Mugarura also introduced a Kenyan exchange instructor who participates in teaching at the academy as part of an instructor-exchange programme.
Library unveils research resources and services
The University Librarian, Professor Ruth Nalumaga, welcomed the delegation and congratulated the cadets on joining a programme jointly run with Makerere University.
She explained that orientation was intended to familiarise new students with the library’s sections, facilities and services so they could make informed use of its resources throughout their academic programmes.
“Makerere University Library is the oldest academic library in Uganda, having started in 1941,” Nalumaga said.
She explained that the library provides both printed and electronic resources, with access to its collections supported through the library website and online catalogue.
The library also houses special collections, including materials, archives, photographs and historical newspapers, in the Africana section which can support research into Uganda’s history, government and society.
Prof. Nalumaga highlighted the importance of the Africana section, explaining that it holds publications from Uganda, about Uganda and by Ugandan authors, alongside older archival materials.
She also revealed that the library had acquired a new electronic resource specifically relevant to military academies, covering military affairs, government and political science.
“This year, the library acquired the resource to support access to relevant academic literature,” she said.
Nalumaga encouraged the cadets to use the library responsibly, reminding them to acknowledge authors whose ideas they use and to avoid plagiarism.
She explained that the university’s institutional repository allows academic work to be preserved and accessed, while students must respect copyright and the conditions governing electronic databases.
The university librarian further noted that students could access eligible electronic resources remotely once their identities and registrations had been verified.
Cadets trained in effective research strategies
Library staff member Justin Namuddu led a practical session on search strategies, showing the cadets how to identify keywords, use synonyms, combine search terms and locate relevant scholarly literature.
Namuddu said the growing volume of information available online makes it necessary for students to develop effective ways of identifying credible and relevant material.
“We are in an information era where almost everyone is creating information, and we are experiencing what we call information explosion,” she said, explaining the need to filter information carefully.
She taught the cadets to break research topics into keywords and use Boolean operators such as “AND” and “OR” to narrow or broaden search results. The session also introduced them to quotation marks for exact phrases and truncation techniques for finding variations of words.
Namuddu demonstrated how students can use MyLoft (My Library on Finger tips), Makerere University Library’s platform for accessing subscribed scholarly databases, including JSTOR and Google Scholar.
“MyLoft is an application that enables us to access all these scholarly databases,” she explained.
She encouraged the cadets to read abstracts before downloading articles, evaluate the relevance of sources and cite the materials they use in their academic writing.
“Please never rely on one database or one source in research,” Namuddu advised, stressing that a topic may have relevant literature across several academic platforms.
She further cautioned the students against copying and pasting published material without acknowledging its source, urging them to understand what they read and present ideas in their own words while citing the original authors.
Strengthening academic preparation
The orientation underscored the role of Makerere University Library in supporting the academic development of cadets undertaking defence studies. By familiarising the students with research tools, electronic databases and information ethics, the training aimed to strengthen their capacity to undertake independent academic work.
The partnership between Makerere University and Uganda Military Academy, Kabamba, continues to provide cadets with access to academic resources and guidance needed for their studies.
The library staff encouraged the cadets to take advantage of both its physical facilities and remote services as they progress through their programme, while observing academic integrity and responsible use of information.
The orientation concluded with an emphasis on the importance of research, credible sources and lifelong learning in preparing future military officers for professional service.
Dr. Twesigye urges military cadets to embrace discipline and academic excellence
Dr. Justus Twesigy urged the cadets to remain disciplined, work hard and make the most of the educational opportunities offered through their Bachelor of Defence Studies programme.
Speaking during the closing remarks of the orientation, Twesigye reminded the cadets that they were among a select group given an opportunity to pursue the programme with support from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.
“When you do well, the sky is the limit. You do a bachelor’s, you’re fully sponsored. You do a master’s, fully sponsored. You do a PhD, fully sponsored,” he said, encouraging the cadets to view the sponsorship as an opportunity to advance their education through hard work.
Twesigye, who said he joined Makerere as a fresher in 1997, cited his own academic journey as an example of how determination and good performance can open doors to further education and professional growth.
He urged the cadets to take their studies seriously, warning that failure to complete the programme would affect not only the students but also their families and the institutions that selected them.
“Kindly be well disciplined, work very hard,” he said, adding that the cadets should learn from previous students who had successfully completed the programme.
Twesigye also emphasised the importance of continuous learning, noting that even senior officers and professors continue to read and acquire knowledge to improve their service to the country.
“Take as much knowledge as you can; knowledge is never enough,” he said.
He further praised Makerere University Library staff for supporting the programme, describing librarians as essential partners in the cadets’ academic journey.
“The library people are very special people and, as I’ve mentioned, all that we share with you we pick it from them,” Twesigye said.
He encouraged the cadets to make full use of the library’s resources as they prepare to begin their three-year academic journey, saying the institution’s investment in them should motivate them to become responsible and resourceful leaders.
Story and photos by Peninah Nalubega
