KAMPALA, 4 November 2026. The Principal of Makerere University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Prof. Helen N. Nkabala, has promised that equipment for the Department of Performing Arts and Film will be included in the University’s 2027/28 financial year budget.
She made the announcements while closing the department’s Christmas choral and carol performance, Christmas Bells Kling Klang, at the Makerere University Main Hall at 2:00 PM today. “I’ve taken this opportunity to listen in on whatever issues may be affecting you,” she told the students and staff, adding that University management greatly appreciates the work of the department.
She also picked what she called low-hanging fruits and raised them with the Head of Department. Chief among them were the multi-coloured files in which choir members held their musical notes during the concert. She said the files should be uniform and that they qualify as teaching materials, and promised that the department would have uniform files by next semester.
Praising the department for always making the best of limited resources, she said the department has earned the Principal’s handshake this month in appreciation of the work of staff and students. “You have proved that you are the kind of people who make lemonade when given lemons,” she said.
“Let’s not focus on what we don’t have but instead focus on what we have and use it to make a statement so that what we don’t have can come,” she said.
The concert gave audiences a varied programme of choral and solo music which featured African-American spirituals, Italian madrigals, classical arias and Christmas classics. It brought together students pursuing the Bachelor of Music programme as well as the Diploma in Performing Arts programme, who were assessed for oral singing according to their programme requirements. Entry was free, keeping the event open to students, staff and the wider community.
The students of the Department of Performing Arts and Film wowed the audience with their voices. The show put both the department’s students and staff’s comprehensive skill sets, talent and training on public display, with both solo and group vocal and instrumental performances.
The show was coordinated by Dr. Milton Wabyona, an esteemed composer, performance artist, researcher, and lecturer at the department. Balancing precision with expression, he masterfully conducted the various performances with intense but economical movements, keeping the audience entranced whilst guiding students. Opening the programme, he told the audience, “These are students of the Bachelor of Music, years one through three, and they will be assessed on oral singing.”
Also present were the Dean of the School of Liberal and Performing Arts, Dr. Pamela Khanakwa, the Acting Head of the Department of Performing Arts and Film, Dr. Alfadaniels Mabingo, and other lecturers from the department. The final performance particularly touched the Principal, who asked the students to perform it again and joined them in song and dance.
Calling back to her own roots as an artist, she said she had led her colleagues at cultural galas as the lead soloist for all three years of her degree. “I was born a musician,” she said. The room filled with thunderous applause.
She recognised and congratulated all staff and students from the department for an excellent job. “Dear students, today you have made a very clear statement in what you know how to do best,” she said, adding that she had not come only to enjoy the performance. “I would like you to know that each and every one of you has passed, so celebrate yourselves.” The room again filled with thunderous applause.
She first asked the staff to clap for the students. She then asked all staff members to stand for recognition. “Dear students, can we clap for our mentors?” she said.
The Acting Head of the Department of Performing Arts and Film, Dr. Alfadaniels Mabingo, thanked everyone in attendance for coming. “As a department, we are committed to building our products, including ourselves and our works,” he said in his closing remarks, thanking the team for being at the core of this vision. He also thanked the Principal for being present from the start of the concert despite her very busy schedule, which he said showed her commitment to, and belief in, the department, its staff and its students.
Reflecting on why the department does what it does, he said, “We make art because life is not enough.” He remarked that the event was indicative of that statement. “We create work especially now that the world is experiencing so many challenges,” he said.
Students’ views
Among the outstanding soloists was Kibalama Frederick, a first year student pursuing a Diploma in Performing Arts who wowed the crowd with soulful and resonant vocals. He said his love of music goes back to childhood. “I played music all throughout,” he said, adding that studying it formally was something he had long looked forward to. The diploma is a two-year programme. Afterwards, he plans to carry his special talent and skill set to a teaching career, grooming the next generation of musicians.
Speaking about how the field of performing arts and film is perceived, he said that some parents hesitate to let their children enter the industry because of the poor examples they see, which can overshadow the artists who are doing well. He urged parents to back talented children. “Right now our world is in talent,” he said, and parents can support both a child’s gift and their academics.
Amanda Arijuka, a student pursuing a Bachelor of Music, said there was a class specifically for choir from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM every Thursday in preparation for the show. “We prepared the entire semester, from the beginning of the semester,” she said, adding that the concert is staged every semester. She also added that students were continually assessed during practice prior to the event.
Photo credits: Peninah Nalubega, 4th year Journalism student.