A delegation from the Wellcome Trust organization, UK paid a visit to the Vice-Chancellor’s office on 8th July 2010 to discuss a partnership on virus research in Makerere University.

A delegation from the Wellcome Trust organization, UK paid a visit to the Vice-Chancellor’s office on 8th July 2010 to discuss a partnership on virus research in Makerere University.

The organization will offer Post Doctoral training in form of academic fellowships to Makerere University staff so as to enhance their research skills, and strengthen health workers’ capacity in Africa.

Wellcome Trust is a global charity organization, which is dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health. In Africa, it has worked in countries like Sudan, DRC, and Rwanda in times of disaster, while in Uganda it has sponsored a number of research programs on HIV/AIDS.

“Makerere University has been chosen for this specific partnership because it is not only one of the leading institutions in Africa, but also because the organization has already been supporting some programs in Virus research at the College of Health Sciences” remarked Sir Mark Walport who headed the delegation.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba welcomed the partnership saying that the University has been lacking enough skilled research personnel to undertake research projects within the University.

“Up to now, we lack specific research staff at the University. We use the same teaching staff to conduct research” said Prof. Baryamureeba. He referred to another problem with researchers who despite being sponsored by the university, do not return after completing their study abroad.

Sir Walport  cited inefficient laboratory equipment as one of the factors that prevent researchers from returning to their Universities. However, he expressed hope that support for the construction and equipping the research labs from Wellcome Trust would help alter this situation.

Article by Aston Mubangizi