General
Live from India! Pan-African e-network Project launched
As a result of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Governments of Uganda and India to implement the Pan-African E-network Project, Makerere University students are now able to comfortably receive live lectures from India at the Faculty of Computing and Informatics Technology (FCIT).
As a result of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Governments of Uganda and India to implement the Pan-African E-network Project, Makerere University students are now able to comfortably receive live lectures from India at the Faculty of Computing and Informatics Technology (FCIT).
The hot afternoon sunshine of 13th May 2010 contrasts sharply with the cool air-conditioned lab on level two of FCIT Block A, where MBA in International Business students are receiving their lecture on Cross-Cultural Management. Just like in any other class, the lecturer periodically stops to ask if any of her students have any questions pertaining to the subject and the Technical team in India has to switch between simultaneous classes in Uganda, Rwanda and Malawi, lending true credence to the “Pan-Africanism” of the project.
As confirmed by Mr. Joseph M. Ssemwogerere, E-learning Coordinator, FCIT in his address, the video conferencing facility allows for free interaction between Lecturer and students “During these lectures, the students get to see the lecturer on the screen in front of the classroom and the lecturer sees all the students through an overhead camera.” “Every lecture is backed up and students can re-play any lecture at their own pace from any place as long as they have good internet connections” he further added.
“The implementation of this project in Uganda is being coordinated by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) together with Telecommunication Consults of India Limited (TCIL)” informed Mr. Ambrose Ruyooka from ICT. Other current project sites apart from Makerere Learning Center 
include; The Makerere University Regional Center, where VSAT System Connectivity for the Uganda – Senegal – India Route was tested and commissioned; Mulago Hospital, where telemedicine software has been installed; and the VVIP Site at State House Entebbe, where peer to peer video calls can be made among Pan-African member countries.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Jude Lubega, the Acting Dean, FCIT informed the gathering that so far, two hundred and forty two students regularly attend lectures from Amity University India via this facility. Courses offered include; a two year MBA in International Business; a two year Masters in Financial Control; a one year Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology; a three year Bachelor of Science in Information Technology; and a 6 months Diploma in Information Technology.
Mr. Patrick Mwesigwa, Acting Executive Director, Uganda Communications Commission, who represented Hon. Aggrey Awori, Minister of ICT, commended Makerere University for submitting a winning proposal to host the regional center. On a guided tour of the facilities Mr. Mwesigwa could not help but be impressed at the strides made since 16th July 2009, when the Governments of Uganda and India signed the MoU. Citing Makerere’s venture to open upcountry campuses he noted “This facility will indeed provide an efficient platform for simultaneous delivery of lectures from Makerere to students all around Uganda.”
Amity University, Uttar Pradesh (AUUP), India is a private University is the largest private university in India and Southern Asia offering a wide range of courses through E-learning.
Downloads
Pan-African E-learning Project FCIT brief
Pan-African E-network Project address from ICT
mwamai@admin.mak.ac.ug, Public Relations Office
Makerere University has received 700 digital tablets from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), aimed at enhancing statistical research, teaching, and data-driven decision-making across the institution.
The donation was made on June 30, 2025, as part of UBOS’ broader initiative to distribute a total of 3,025 tablets to ten government-funded institutions of higher learning. The handover ceremony was attended by Makerere’s Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi and Mr. Simon Kizito, the Deputy University Secretary among other Vice Chancellors and accounting officers.
Dr. Allen Kabagenyi, a UBOS Board Director, who coordinated the distribution of the tablets to the respective 10 Public universities, underscored the significance of inter-institutional collaboration in fostering a data-literate and innovative generation. “This initiative is a testament to the power of partnerships between public institutions. In a country like Uganda, with one of the youngest populations globally, equipping our future leaders with the right tools is critical to achieving both national and global development goals,” she remarked.
The tablets had initially been procured and deployed during the recently concluded National Population and Housing Census. UBOS Executive Director Dr. Chris Mukiza explained that their redistribution marks the beginning of the Bureau’s post-census utilization strategy.
“We acquired 120,000 tablets to conduct the census, and as we committed earlier, we are ensuring that these resources continue to serve the country even after the census,” said Dr. Mukiza. “Our expectation is that these tablets will strengthen data collection, teaching, and research in universities and higher institutions. We want to see a culture where statistics are not only produced but also actively used to influence development outcomes.”
Dr. Mukiza encouraged academic institutions to take full advantage of the extensive data available at UBOS, emphasizing that greater use of statistical resources will translate into more impactful research and policy interventions.
During the same event – cultural institutions also received tablets.
With this donation, Makerere University is well-positioned to further empower students and researchers in statistical analysis, evidence-based planning, and innovation-driven teaching.
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