The Department of Journalism and Communication (DJC) at Makerere University held an in-house orientation for first year students last Friday in Lecture Room 4 (LR4), Arts Building.

During the two-hour event, the DJC Chair, Dr. William Tayeebwa encouraged students to embrace all their course units and start working hard right from the start, since all scores add to the cumulative mark.

  "The moment you get to this Department, think about a first class degree and second class upper. You have to be smart outside and inside because you can't be the best in your cohort and you come here to get a second lower. That one we shall not allow," he guided.

He added that all the lecturers at the Department had excellent degrees at both bachelors and postgraduate levels, and that there is therefore no reason why students should get less while at Makerere University.

Mr. Adolf Mbaine, the Patron of Makerere University Journalism and Communication Association (MUJCA) a body that brings together all the students on the programme, asked the students to always make sure that they are known for excellence and aggressiveness by their lecturers.

 "The problem we get at times is that some students are good in class but we hardly get to know them. They sit behind and start hiding and as a result, when a media house calls you to recommend two or three students in your class, you end up leaving them behind because they do not bring themselves to the fore. So please make sure we get to you and your abilities," he advised.

In attendance were alumni of the Department including Clare Muhindo currently working with the Daily Monitor, Allan Kyobe Ssempebwa the Manager Media Relations at Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). The other was Mildred Tuhaise, a Presenter/News anchor at NBS television.

 These guest were in attendance to mainly share their experiences from University to the industry and consequently inspire students.

Ssembebwa gave several success tips to students including maintaining good relations with everyone around them. "The first thing is interest. It cuts through all the time you will be here. If you fail to pick interest in the course at this time, you will leave the way you came, after the four years. Make friends starting with your class mates because you will be colleagues in the field," he said.

In support of Ssempebwa was Muhindo, a former Editor of the students' website, journalism.mak.ac ug, for two years. She added that students should start practicing writing as early as possible because the skill is an essential in the discipline, and they should also pick interest in using online media platforms which include social media, blogs, and others.

Tuhaise was keen on the prestigious nature of journalism. "You should know that the journalism profession is the best because many people rely on you for information that they did not have. Be responsibe for your life and concentrate because you came here to study," she said. "Go to the field and do something practically; this is not Ngoni migration that you will cram and pass,” she added.

The students were allowed a question and answer session during which they sought guidance on the nature of the programme content, how to make best choices on areas of specialization and where to seek guidance as the years roll. Other lecturers in attendance included the Undergraduate Programme Coordinator Harriet Ssebaana, Dr. Aisha Nakiwala, Florence Namasinga, Wilson Kaija, John Baptist Imokola, Davies Rwabu and Marion Alina.