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Mak now home to World Bank’s Public Information Center

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The Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba officially launched the Uganda Development Information Center (UDIC) at the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC), Makerere University. The launching of the center heralds a new avenue to researchers and readers because it is an open access reference library that serves a one-stop for persons seeking World Bank documents and information on the Bank’s operations.

The Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba officially launched the Uganda Development Information Center (UDIC) at the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC), Makerere University. The launching of the center heralds a new avenue to researchers and readers because it is an open access reference library that serves a one-stop for persons seeking World Bank documents and information on the Bank’s operations.

This array of resources includes; Project and Operational Documents, Data and Statistics Publications, Current World Bank published documents, Audio-Visual Materials, Ugandan Government Publications, Statistical Abstracts, Budget Estimates, Economic Survey, and the Online Treasure Store.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Sarah Ssewanyana , Executive Director, EPRC said that, the launching of the Center came as a result of the partnership between the World Bank and the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC). The World Bank decided to entrust EPRC with its Public Information Dr. Sarah Ssewanyana, Executive Director, EPRCCenter (PIC) which is now UDIC and its benefits include; Enhancement of capacity of the EPRC researchers, improvement in quality of research output from University students and academia, enhancement of quality of university teaching and instant access to information.

The EPRC conducts; high quality and policy oriented research which is guided by a medium term strategic plan research agenda; core research initiated by in-house researchers; and commissioned research which is demand driven but always in line with research thematic areas. Additionally, collaborative research with Makerere has yielded an internship program targeting undergraduate students. She paid tribute to the World Bank for deciding to host its PIC at the EPRC noting that “The launching of the UDIC at EPRC will therefore increase the Center’s visibility and interaction with a large number of researchers, scholars and the general public.”

Mr. Keith Muhakanizi, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic DevelopmentThe Acting Chairperson of the EPRC Board and Commissioner for Economic Development Policy and Research, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Mr Keith Muhakanizi noted that the center has both physical and online library facilities and its addition to the EPRC will go along way in enhancing its online information resources. He encouraged EPRC to embark on initiatives aimed at transforming itself into a knowledge based institution. Some of the initiatives include; Developing a corporate taxonomy, standards and practices, enhance external partnership and networking with other libraries and information centers. He urged for collaboration between UDIC and other institutions like; the Uganda Management Institute (UMI), Uganda Christian University, Mukono (UCU), The Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Gulu University to enable them access and profit from this important information resource.

Ms Kadiresan, WB Country Manager exchanges the MoA with Dr. Ssewanyana (R)World Bank Country Manager, Uganda Ms. Kundhavi Kadiresan lauded the Management and Staff of EPRC for putting in place the necessary infrastructure to house the World Bank’s PIC in Uganda. Citing her own experience as a student in New York, she extolled the role played by the PIC then in inspiring her to pursue her studies diligently and scale the academic and corporate ladders. She therefore trusted that the UDIC would be of similar influence to hundreds upon thousands of aspiring students. The Country Manager then proceeded to sign a Memorandum of Association (MoA) with the Executive Director, EPRC .

The Chief Guest Prof. Baryamureeba congratulated the EPRC upon signing MoA, noting that “as researchers, academicians and development partners often need to come up with a common agenda Prof. Baryamureeba, Chief guest, UDIC launchon how to tackle development problems, the EPRC a well-known independent and internationally recognized “think tank” through UDIC will provide a favourable atmosphere to make this a reality.” He added that the fountain of knowledge, facts, figures and opinions as wells as theories on development was now strategically located at the Makerere Community’s doorstep.

Prof. Baryamereeba emphasized that no one can dispute the fact that knowledge is power. “Knowledge from books, journals, reference books, the mass media and institutions of learning play a big role in empowering our people, enlightening them, liberating them, motivating them and even developing them materially and intellectually.” He shared his quest to witness thirteen thousand students leave Makerere with good research skills and he pledged the University’s support to the EPRC, noting that the Center’s success would also positively impact on Makerere.

 

The presentation of a paper on “Managing expectations of Oil discovery in Uganda ” by Dr. Lawrence Bategeka, EPRC and subsequent discussions by the panelists constituted the next session. Panelists were Mr. Godber Tumushabe Executive Director, Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba Consultant, REEV Consult International and Mr. Angelo Izama, Senior Reporter, Daily Monitor. The lively session was chaired by Mr. Ernest Rubondo, Commissioner for Petroleum Exploration and Production , Ministry of Energy.

L-R. Panelists Mr. Tumushabe-ACODE, Mr. Rubondo-Min of Energy, Prof. Nuwagaba-REEV Consult and Mr. Izama-Daily Monitor

 
The UDIC was officially launched on 2nd March 2010 at the EPRC and is open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:45pm and closed on weekends and public holidays.

 

Guests at the EPRC after the UDIC launch

 

Click here for Dr. Ssewanyana's full opening remarks

Click here for Prof. Baryamureeba's full speech

Click here for Dr. Bategeka's presentation and here for the full paper

Mr. Godber Tumushabe's Reactions to the paper can be found here as well as Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba's presentation

 

Denis Wamala

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Special Exam Results -Diploma in Performing Arts 2025/26

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The results for the 2025/2026 special entry examination for the Diploma in Performing Arts held on Saturday 17th May, 2025. Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the Examination and have been recommended to the university’s Admissions Committee for consideration.

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Mature Age Scheme Exam Results for 2025/2026

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The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released full results for the Mature Age Entry Scheme Examinations for the Academic Year 2025/2026 held on Saturday 14th December, 2024.

The Candidates who scored a final mark of 50% and above passed the examination and have been recommended by the Pre-Entry & Mature Age Committee to the University’s Admissions Board for Consideration.

The Aptitude Exam  Results for 2025/2026 Academic Year released in February 2025 can be found here.

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Call for Application: 2025 SNRM session 4 Summer School

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Participants in focused group discussions. Leiden-Delft-Erasmus East Africa Research Network (LEARN) in collaboration with the Urban Action Lab at Makerere University a workshop to deliberate strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change in urban centres in the East African Region, Theme: “Resilient Urban Futures: Adapting Livelihoods to Climate Change”, 4th-5th September 2024, School of Public Health Auditorium, Kampala Uganda.

Context:
Natural resources in Africa are being depleted at an alarming rate due to several factors, including unsustainable human activities, climate change, and population growth. A primary condition of sustainable development is to ensure that the pressures do not exceed the environmental limits, and that demand for the resources does not exceed levels that can be sustainably provided by nature. Therefore, there is a pressing need for transformative, systems-thinking approaches and tools that can tackle the diverse challenges facing these systems. In Africa, this need is compounded by a lack of data and monitoring, which significantly hinders sustainable decision-making.

Investing in young scientists who are committed to take lead in sustainable management of Africa’s natural resources is very important. Capacity building of young scientists will enhance their knowledge and skill on sustainable natural resources and their involvement for implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in Africa. To this effect, SNRM summer schools have been implemented in three sessions in 2019, 2020, and 2022 with support from Volkswagen Foundation; to build a critical mass of skilled and competent young natural resource scientists in Africa through training, capacity building and mentorship. Session 4 (2025) will target competent young scientists (MSc and PhD students) in Africa and Germany to further develop their knowledge and skills in systems thinking, advanced data collection and analysis, and application of emerging digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), internet of things (IoT), and embracing transdisciplinary approaches. In addition, we include an ideation workshop where students can work on real problems to come up with solutions for sustainable transformations in natural resource use.

Organizers: Leibniz Universität – Hannover (Germany), University of Antananarivo, University of Abomey Calavi (Benin), Makerere University (Uganda), University of Ghana (Ghana), University of Parakou (Benin), The Technical University of Kenya, with financial support from the Volkswagen Foundation (Germany).

Venue and dates: Nairobi, Kenya, 16-28 November 2025

Target: MSc and PhD students, early in the program of less than 35 years of age from any university/research institution in either sub-Saharan Africa or Germany with an interest in natural resources management.

Participants and Scholarships: The course is fully funded and open to 20 MSc and PhD students from Africa, and 5 from Germany. Funding will cover the costs of air ticket, accommodation, meals, visa, and transportation. However, participants will cover the cost of their travel health insurance.

Topics

SNRM Summer School Session 4: Transformative pathways in biodiversity management and conservation.
This summer school is designed to deliver four modules over a two-week period. The modules are designed to enable the students to acquire new ways of designing data collection protocols and analysis for transformative sustainable natural resources management.

Module 4.1: Data collection I
Skills in data collection for a transformative and sustainable management of natural resources (water, wildlife, forest, land, livestock, crops) monitoring and data collection techniques; remote monitoring tools, earth observation system data, e.g. satellite data sources, LIDAR, and UAV aerial images. Collect and analyse In-situ data on biotic and abiotic parameters, map and analyse data using R or Google Earth Engine, field data collection and retrieving data from online databases.

Module 4.2 Data management and processing
Introduction to tools and methods of managing large and diverse data sets of natural resources such as time series, spatial, directional, and multivariate data. Practicals will include data storage, organization and conversion into various formats using databases such as PostgreSQL and statistical programming software such as R and Python; scripts.

Module 4.3 Ecological monitoring, modelling and management
This module aims to teach participants how to anticipate and validate trends that can be observed in various ecosystems. Lectures include ecological monitoring and its design; population monitoring studies; metrics in population monitoring; methods for monitoring and assessing marine ecosystems; human ecology to socio-ecological systems; climate change impact of ecosystems; suitability assessments; overview of the principles underlying wildlife monitoring and prediction systems for climate change adaptation. Practicals will include field data collection (individual and group); ecological data analysis using R or PAST; modelling and experiencing the behaviour of complex systems using Vensim.

Module 4.4 Natural habitat restoration ideation lab
This module is designed to spur students’ innovation and creativity, and to help students comprehensively identify interdependencies across the 17 SDG goals. Participants will be trained on ideation processes for solutions and intervention for transformative natural resource management. They will work collaboratively in small groups on case studies and develop pathways of transformative sustainable natural resource management. Examples of projects include forest (mangrove) ecosystem and habitat restoration, improved technologies for agricultural production, nature-based solutions for improving water quality, and reversing land degradation.

Language: The course will be delivered in English. Participants are expected to be fluent in writing and speaking the English language.

How to apply

Applicants are kindly requested to fill in the application form available from https://snrmafrica.com/ and submit the following documents in English through the system.

  • a curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages)
  • a letter of motivation (maximum 1 page)
  • a confirmation of university enrolment
  • a reference letter from the academic supervisor
  • project summary of MSc/ PhD project (1 page including objectives, methodology
    and key findings or expected outcomes).

Important dates
Application deadline: 30th June 2025.
Announcement of accepted applicants: 15th August 2025.
Confirmation of attendance by selected participants: 12th Sept 2025.
Summer school held: 16 – 28 Nov 2025.

Further information is available from

The secretariat info@snrmafrica.com
Dr Lydia Olaka lydiaolaka@tukenya.ac.ke
Prof. Dr. Hartmut Stuetzel stuetzel@gem.uni-hannover.de

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