Mak-CoNAS Staff Enlighten Mengo Senior School Students on University Programmes & their Respective Career Paths  

As part of the ongoing outreach efforts to demystify the myths surrounding the Bachelor of Science programme and to prepare prospective University students to make informed decisions, the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) continues to offer career guidance to science students from secondary schools across the country. On Tuesday, 26^th August 2025, academic staff and administrators from the College offered career guidance to over 700 Senior Six Science students from Mengo Senior School. Held in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility (CTF2) Auditorium, Makerere University, the activity aimed to expose students to academic programmes and career prospects in the natural sciences and other science fields.

The event featured a series of informative presentations by the Deans and departmental representatives from the School of Physical Sciences and the School of Biosciences.

Insight into academic programmes and career opportunities

Prof. Michael Owor, Dean of the School of Physical Sciences, together with Dr. Job Kasule (Department of Chemistry) and Dr Tusiime Swaleh (Department of Physics), highlighted the critical role of disciplines like Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Geology in addressing real-world challenges – from climate change modeling and renewable energy innovations to seismic exploration and industrial chemistry. They explained how these fields open up pathways to careers in research, teaching, engineering, data science, and technology.

On the biological sciences front, Prof. Arthur Tugume, Dean of the School of Biosciences, along with Dr. Godfrey Kubiriza Kawooya, Dr. Jamilu Edrisa Ssenku, Dr. Joel Isanga, and Mr. Oola Stephen Kidega presented programmes in Botany, Zoology, Fisheries Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, and Sports Science, highlighting their respective career prospects.

Beyond the two schools under CoNAS, the students received guidance on programmes offered by other science-related colleges within Makerere University. These include the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), the College of Health Sciences (CHS), the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity (CoVAB), the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), and the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS). The presentations emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of science and the vast spectrum of career possibilities available to students.

Briefing on admission criteria and requirements

The CoNAS Registrar, Ms. Joyce Nyiramahoro provided a detailed overview of the university’s admission criteria. She outlined the subject combinations required for various science programmes, explained the weighting system used during admissions, clarified the distinction between private and government sponsorship, and addressed the question PUJAB admissions. She further explained how cut-off points vary from year to year based on national performance and reiterated the importance of consistent academic excellence.

Addressing students inquiries and tour of labs at CoNAS

The students seized the opportunity to engage with the presenters on issues related to programmes of their interest, and affirmative action for girls and athletes.

Following the auditorium session, the students were taken on guided tours of the laboratories and facilities at CoNAS. They visited teaching and research labs in Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Geology and Petroleum Studies, Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, and Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology. Demonstrations by lab technicians and student researchers offered a glimpse into the hands-on learning environment that Makerere University offers.  

Appreciation from Mengo Senior School

Speaking at the end of the programme, the Dean, Career Development Affairs at Mengo Senior School, Mr. Ssettuba William Edward expressed gratitude for the warm reception and invaluable guidance offered to the students. “This visit has opened the eyes of our learners. They now understand the various pathways they can take with a science background and what it takes to be admitted to various programmes,” he said.