{"id":10369,"date":"2026-10-23T08:04:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T05:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/?p=10369"},"modified":"2026-10-23T08:04:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T05:04:19","slug":"uganda-military-academy-orients-143-cadets-at-makerere-university-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chuss.mak.ac.ug\/en\/uganda-military-academy-orients-143-cadets-at-makerere-university-library\/","title":{"rendered":"Uganda Military Academy orients 143 cadets at Makerere University Library"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The training focused on introducing the cadets to the library\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are very honoured that you were able to allow us at the School of Social Sciences to bring these visitors to you,\u201d Twesigye said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr. Justus Twesigye welcoming the cadets to the School<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He emphasised the importance of the library in the cadets\u2019 academic journey, describing it as a central source of knowledge for both students and lecturers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur academic life is within the library. We search for knowledge, we find it in the library. We use that knowledge to teach and learn,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twesigye further encouraged the cadets to make use of the library\u2019s resources, including its remote-access services, and to cooperate with their lecturers as they begin their Bachelor of Defence Studies programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRemember the master teacher will be the library here,\u201d he said, urging the cadets to take responsibility for their learning and research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that knowledge produced through academic work should be preserved in the library so that future generations can benefit from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe 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,\u201d Twesigye said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military academy appreciates continued library support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s Defence Forces (UPDF).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking on behalf of the academy\u2019s commandant, General Saad Katemba, Mugarura said the library had supported the academy\u2019s academic activities since it became affiliated with Makerere University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Colonel Mark Ben Mugarura addressing the cadets during the orientation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is the eighth cohort since we started, and we have been facilitated by this library since the academy is an affiliate of the university,\u201d Mugarura said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that the library\u2019s services were essential to the academy\u2019s efforts to prepare cadets for their future responsibilities as military officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe appreciate your continued support in ensuring that we impart knowledge to our students,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is where you are going to eat your bread and butter for the three years you will be in the academy,\u201d he told the cadets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that the orientation would help them conduct research and access the information required during their training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The delegation included instructors and cadets from partner countries, reflecting the academy\u2019s regional academic cooperation. Mugarura also introduced a Kenyan exchange instructor who participates in teaching at the academy as part of an instructor-exchange programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Library unveils research resources and services<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University Librarian, Professor Ruth Nalumaga, welcomed the delegation and congratulated the cadets on joining a programme jointly run with Makerere University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She explained that orientation was intended to familiarise new students with the library\u2019s sections, facilities and services so they could make informed use of its resources throughout their academic programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Professor Ruth Nalumaga delivering her speech during the orientation<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMakerere University Library is the oldest academic library in Uganda, having started in 1941,\u201d Nalumaga said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She explained that the library provides both printed and electronic resources, with access to its collections supported through the library website and online catalogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The library also houses special collections, including materials, archives, photographs and historical newspapers, in the Africana section which can support research into Uganda\u2019s history, government and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also revealed that the library had acquired a new electronic resource specifically relevant to military academies, covering military affairs, government and political science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis year, the library acquired the resource to support access to relevant academic literature,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nalumaga encouraged the cadets to use the library responsibly, reminding them to acknowledge authors whose ideas they use and to avoid plagiarism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She explained that the university\u2019s institutional repository allows academic work to be preserved and accessed, while students must respect copyright and the conditions governing electronic databases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The university librarian further noted that students could access eligible electronic resources remotely once their identities and registrations had been verified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cadets trained in effective research strategies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Namuddu said the growing volume of information available online makes it necessary for students to develop effective ways of identifying credible and relevant material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ms. Justin Namuddu training cadets on research<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are in an information era where almost everyone is creating information, and we are experiencing what we call information explosion,\u201d she said, explaining the need to filter information carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She taught the cadets to break research topics into keywords and use Boolean operators such as \u201cAND\u201d and \u201cOR\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Namuddu demonstrated how students can use MyLoft (My Library on Finger tips), Makerere University Library\u2019s platform for accessing subscribed scholarly databases, including JSTOR and Google Scholar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMyLoft is an application that enables us to access all these scholarly databases,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease never rely on one database or one source in research,\u201d Namuddu advised, stressing that a topic may have relevant literature across several academic platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strengthening academic preparation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of the cadets during the orientation<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The orientation concluded with an emphasis on the importance of research, credible sources and lifelong learning in preparing future military officers for professional service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Twesigye urges military cadets to embrace discipline and academic excellence<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Library staff pause for a photo with the commandants<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you do well, the sky is the limit. You do a bachelor\u2019s, you\u2019re fully sponsored. You do a master\u2019s, fully sponsored. You do a PhD, fully sponsored,\u201d he said, encouraging the cadets to view the sponsorship as an opportunity to advance their education through hard work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKindly be well disciplined, work very hard,\u201d he said, adding that the cadets should learn from previous students who had successfully completed the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake as much knowledge as you can; knowledge is never enough,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He further praised Makerere University Library staff for supporting the programme, describing librarians as essential partners in the cadets\u2019 academic journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe library people are very special people and, as I\u2019ve mentioned, all that we share with you we pick it from them,\u201d Twesigye said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged the cadets to make full use of the library\u2019s resources as they prepare to begin their three-year academic journey, saying the institution\u2019s investment in them should motivate them to become responsible and resourceful leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Story and photos by Peninah Nalubega<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A section of cadets during the orientation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Col. Mark Ben Mugarura (L) and another commandant during the orientation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Col. Mark Ben Mugarura giving a souvenir to Prof. Ruth Nalumaga<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Col. Mark Ben Mugarura speaking during the orientation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n