General
All set for HE Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library Launch
On Friday 13th February 2015, Makerere University will host the high profile launch of the historic H.E. Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library in honour of one of her most illustrious and outstanding alumnus, 1951-1955, H.E. Mwai Kibaki. This first-ever Presidential Library at Makerere University will house; The H.E. Mwai Kibaki Endowed Chair in Economics and The East African Mwai Kibaki Centre for Leadership, Public Finance and Public Policy.
Speaking at his first official press briefing of the year held on 9th February 2015, the Chancellor Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera announced that the H.E. Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library is estimated to cost US$50million. Of this, $40million will go to the Presidential Library and US$10million to the H.E. Mwai Kibaki endowed Chair in Economics.
“The H.E. Mwai Kibaki Endowed Chair in Economics will be held by an internationally credentialed and globally competitive Professor of Economics while the East African Mwai Kibaki Center for Leadership, Public Finance and Policy will, among other things, provide a unique forum for equipping and re-tooling African Ministers of Finance and Permanent Secretaries including Secretaries to Treasury,” said Prof. Kagonyera.
Explaining to the media and all present why Makerere chose the Third President of Kenya out of all her alumni of the same cohort, the Chancellor noted that H.E. Mwai Kibaki was the first African to graduate with a 1st Class Honours Degree in the Arts in 1955 as well as the first African to graduate with distinction in the BSc Public Finance programme at the London School of Economics (LSE) in 1958. He further noted that H.E. Kibaki’s choice to return and serve his alma mater from 1958 to 1960 as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Economics and Political Science instead of taking up other lucrative offers was commendable and worthy of recognition.
“Through the H.E. Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library, Makerere will tell and re-tell the story of H.E. Mwai Kibaki, which is the story of African Excellence. This is the meaning of immortalizing H.E. Mwai Kibaki on the Main Campus of his alma mater” added The Chancellor. Addressing the media at the same briefing, the Vice Chancellor Prof. John
Ddumba-Ssentamu thanked H.E. Mwai Kibaki for accepting the gesture by his alma mater to establish a Presidential Library in his honour. “The University Management fully supports this initiative as it is in line with our strategy of re-positioning and transforming Makerere University as a world-class Center of Excellence in Africa and beyond” said the Vice Chancellor.
Prof. Ddumba-Ssentamu further shared that the H.E. Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library would go a long way in raising the profile of Makerere University as a Center of Excellence in Economics, and create a springboard for inclusiveness of all alumni. “We are confident that through such initiatives, Makerere University is moving towards its desired position of being No. 1 on the continent” he added.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Prof. Barnarbas Nawangwe accredited the uniqueness of the library when he said that, “the H.E Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library will be the first presidential library built by a former president at his Almer –mater, at a University where he studied. It will also be the first library in Africa to have an endowed chair in economics."
In his remarks the Acting Principal of College of Business and Management Sciences (COBAMS), Prof. Eria Hisali said that they are looking at the project as an opportunity to raise the profile of the School of Economics and the College of Business and Management Sciences as a whole.
“We hope that this project will transform us into a world class economists and compete with other economic disciplines at any other University in the world. The exploits of this event will indeed raise the profile of Makerere University and create a spring board of inclusiveness of all alumni. We are confident that through such initiatives, Makerere University is moving towards its desired position of being number one institution on the continent,” he remarked.
In a statement from the Guild Government, the Guild President H.E Ivan Bwowe thanked H.E. Kibaki who served as a Vice President of the Students Guild during his stay at Makerere for leading by example. “We are proud to be given an opportunity to have an information hub at Makerere. We are in full support of this project and we want to see it succeed” read the statement.
Please see Downloads for full statements by Chancellor, Vice Chancellor and Guild President.
Article by Public Relations Office
Makerere University and the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA (ND) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which opens opportunities for collaboration between the two historic and leading research institutions in the areas of staff and student exchange, joint research and training, joint supervision of graduate students, and others.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe signed on behalf of Makerere University and Rev. Robert A. Dowd, the 18th President signed on behalf of the University of Notre Dame. The ceremony, which was held at the University of Notre Dame campus at South Bend, Indiana was witnessed by Dr. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson of the Council of Makerere University, who led the Mak delegation.
Dr. Magara appreciated the institutionalisation of the collaboration between the two universities and the very warm hospitality accorded to the Mak delegation.
General
Press Release: Government of Uganda and Partners Launch SAY Plus+ to Scale Youth Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) Impact in Underserved Regions
USD 50 million national programme moves into full implementation, strengthening
adolescent and youth rights, empowerment, protection and access to youth-responsive
services in 13 districts across five sub-regions
KAMPALA, 7 MAY 2026: The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Health, today officially launched the SAY Plus+ Programme, a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) initiative designed to strengthen adolescent and youth rights, empowerment, protection and access to quality services in Uganda’s underserved regions.
The launch, held at Makerere University‘s Freedom Square under the theme “My Voice Matters: Youth Voices for SAY Plus+” and the tagline “Nothing for us, without us”, marks the programme’s transition into full implementation.
SAY Plus+, formerly known as Strengthening Adolescents and Youth Rights and Empowerment: Scaling Impact, is led by the Ministry of Health, in coordination with other Ministries, with UNFPA Uganda serving as the Managing and Technical Agency.
Backed by a USD 50 million pooled fund from the Governments of Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, the initiative is scheduled to operate between 2024 and 2030. It is currently being rolled out across thirteen districts within five sub-regions, providing targeted assistance to regional referral hospitals in Jinja, Mbale, Moroto, Yumbe, Arua, and Gulu. Furthermore, the programme supports the Human Capital Development goals established in Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
“SAY Plus+ represents a shift from fragmented interventions to a coordinated national effort that meaningfully places young people at the centre of both design and delivery. Through our partnership with the Government of Uganda, development partners, and implementing partners, we are investing not only in services, but in the systems, communities, and environments that enable adolescents and young people to thrive not only today but also in the future,” said Ms. Kristine Blokhus, Representative – UNFPA Uganda.
Officially launched by the Minister of State for Health Hon. Margaret Muhanga, the SAY Plus+ programme targets adolescents and young people aged 10 to 24 years, with particular focus on adolescent girls and young women, refugees and host-community youth, out-of-school young people, those not in employment, education or training, adolescents with disabilities, and young people in humanitarian and post-conflict settings.
“For many of us, things like this one are designed without listening to what we go through every day, think or even feel. SAY Plus+ feels different because it starts with our voices and gives us a real role in shaping solutions. It is not just about information, it is about being supported to make decisions, access services, and build the future we want.” – Jovia Dranzoa, Young person.
SAY Plus+ operates through three pillars. First, it empowers youth to exercise their rights and make informed choices. Second, it engages families, communities, and leaders to address harmful social norms. Third, it strengthens youth-responsive SRHR, HIV, and gender-based violence services via health facilities and community platforms, aiming to reach over 2.3 million direct and indirect beneficiaries.
The SAY Plus+ initiative stands as a model of international cooperation and multi-sectoral synergy. Through the combined support of the Governments of Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden, and the technical leadership of UNFPA, Uganda is now equipped to scale-up critical interventions in HIV prevention, gender-based violence response, and reproductive health. With implementation now in high gear through 2030, the programme is poised to make a lasting contribution to the nation’s human capital development goals.
— ENDS —
Photos from the event
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