Students at Makerere University’s College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) have initiated the formation of a WordPress Student Club to strengthen practical digital skills, promote peer learning and prepare students for employment opportunities in the technology industry.

The initiative follows a WordPress learning session held on November 6, 2026, under the theme “Building a Portfolio for Job Success,” during which students explored website development using WordPress and elected Sseremba Terence as the club’s president.

The proposed club is expected to provide a platform for students to acquire practical website development skills, collaborate on projects, interact with experienced developers and participate in activities within the wider WordPress community.

Students should develop practical skills before graduation

Speaking about his election, Sseremba said he was grateful for the confidence entrusted in him and looked forward to leading an initiative that would enable students to translate classroom knowledge into practical skills.

“I am grateful to my fellow students for entrusting me with this responsibility. I believe the WordPress Student Club will create an opportunity for us to learn from one another, work on practical projects and develop skills that can help us beyond university,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of building professional portfolios while still at university, noting that students need practical evidence of their abilities to complement their academic qualifications when seeking employment.

“We should not wait until we graduate to start building our portfolios. University is the right time to experiment, develop our skills and work on projects that demonstrate what we can do. Through this club, we hope to encourage students to start building and showcasing their work early,” Sseremba said.

He added that the club intends to organise practical WordPress workshops, website development projects and student learning sessions while exploring opportunities for members to participate in WordPress community events.

 Practical experience strengthens graduates’ employability

The learning session featured Mukalele Rodgers, who shared his professional journey and highlighted the importance of practical experience in securing and advancing employment opportunities.

Drawing from his experience, Rodgers explained that despite having strong academic results, he encountered challenges in the job market. He noted that acquiring practical skills, undertaking real-world projects and developing a professional portfolio had contributed significantly to his career growth.

His presentation encouraged students to complement their academic qualifications with demonstrable technical competencies and begin building professional portfolios before completing their studies.

Students introduced to website development using WordPress

The practical component of the session introduced participants to Content Management Systems (CMS), with particular emphasis on WordPress as a platform for developing and managing websites.

Students explored how to set up and manage websites, create pages, organise content, select suitable themes and use plugins to extend website functionality.

The session also highlighted opportunities available within the WordPress ecosystem, including website development for organisations, contributing to open-source projects, and creating themes and plugins.

Club to promote collaboration and community engagement

Following the election of student representatives, the next step is to work with the College administration towards the formal establishment and registration of the club.

The proposed activities include identifying a faculty patron, developing an activity plan, organising regular training sessions and undertaking website development projects.

The initiative also seeks to encourage students to apply their technical knowledge to address community needs by supporting organisations that require websites and improved online visibility.

The organisers expressed appreciation to Rodgers for sharing his professional experience and practical knowledge, as well as to the WordPress community organisers and CoCIS leadership for supporting the initiative.

The November 6 session marks the beginning of efforts to establish a student-led WordPress community at Makerere University, with the broader objective of equipping students with practical digital competencies, fostering innovation and improving their readiness for the job market.

By Jane Anyango

Principal Communication Officer