General
Former Malaysian Prime Minister tips Makerere on the Oil Blessing
“The growth in wealth has been quite fast, but we have also managed to wipe out poverty in Malaysia,” said His Excellency Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia.
On Wednesday 30th October 2012, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, members of management, staff and student representatives assembled in the Main Building Council room to welcome and listen to the words of wisdom from the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, H.E Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. The former Prime Minister is credited with providing the critical leadership that accelerated Malaysia’s transformation from a predominantly agrarian economy into an industrial powerhouse.
“Oil exploration is a venture that brings a lot of added advantage. Because our oil reserves were small, we decided that we must participate and learn every aspect of oil exploration and production. When we started, our oil price was only 20 dollars per barrel. But today, our oil price is 100 dollars per barrel,”said His Excellency Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who served for 22 years as Prime Minister of Malaysia.
The former Prime Minister also stressed the need to focus on education and better infrastructure to spur the development of any country. “We believe in education. The Government of Malaysia commits 25% of the national budget on education. We need knowledge and people skills to develop the country. “I am happy that the desire to acquire knowledge is great among Malaysians,” he said.
Al-Haji Habib Kagimu, the Chairman of Habib Investments (Habib Oil) and also a Trustee of the Makerere University Private Sector Forum described H.E Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad as a transformational leader who stood up to challenge the World Bank model, and instead developed a model to transform a least developed country to one of the best success stories in the world.
At this historic visit to Makerere University, H.E. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad accompanied by his wife, Mama Siti Hasmah, and Chancellor of Multi-Media University of Malaysia led a high powered business delegation from Malaysia’s energy, manufacturing, telecommunication and oil sectors.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu welcomed the former Prime Minister and his delegation to Makerere University. He informed the distinguished guests that at the time of their visit, Makerere University was marking 90 years of existence, and has therefore significantly contributed to human resource development at the national and international levels. Professor Dddumba-Ssentamu thanked the Government of Uganda for supporting the promotion of science and technology in Makerere University. He informed the delegation that Makerere faces a number of challenges.
“Makerere University, however, faces a number of challenges such as inadequate funding and limited resources for research. I am quite positive that these challenges can be overcome especially when we partner with institutions in Malaysia. We are hopeful that the business community in Malaysia can collaborate with Makerere University to overcome some of these challenges,” remarked the Vice Chancellor.
Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Water and Environment and an alumnus of Makerere University noted that at the time of
His Excellency, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad expressed his joy at finally being able to personally visit Makerere University, having previously only read about the 90 year old institution. He was therefore happy to make his maiden trip and address the Management, academia and staff on Wednesday 31st October 2012. independence in 1962, Uganda was at the same level of development with Malaysia. Hon. Kamuntu said that as Uganda celebrates her golden jubilee of independence, the visit of to Uganda very important because Ugandans aspire to move from least developed to first world status. In the same spirit, Hon. Kamuntu also commended H.E Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s visit to Makerere University. “If any transformation is to happen in Uganda, it must be hatched at Makerere University. This is the cradle of the transformation of ideas,” he stressed.
His Excellency, further stressed the significance of his visit to Makerere University as testament of the Government and the people of Malaysia’s belief in education, and their focus on initiating partnerships between Uganda and Makerere University on one hand and the business community in Malaysia on the other.
He then embarked on sharing the success story that saw Malaysia grow into an industrial power base:
“The first objective was to create jobs for Malaysians. When people are jobless, they think about how unfortunate they are, and they become anti-government. In order to create jobs, the Government of Malaysia provided land for farming to the people who were unemployed,” he said.
In addition, the Government of Malaysia embarked on industrialization focusing on labour- intensive industries. The Government also provided subsidies to rice growing in order to reduce the cost of living.
“We need a strong government to develop the country. Stability contributes to development. Attending to the problem of unemployment in Malaysia is responsible for our stability,” he said.
The Government of Malaysia also invited foreign investors to set up industries which would provide jobs to Malaysians. We prioritized the issue of local content and the Malaysians were able to acquire the required skills and knowledge in different sectors.
He was proud to mention that today, Malaysians are not only investing in the country, but also outside the country.
“With our small oil reserves, we decided that we must participate and learn every aspect of oil exploration and production. With the knowledge and skills acquired, the Malaysians decided to take on the oil business. I am pleased to mention that Malaysian oil companies are conducting businesses in other countries.
![[L-R] Mama Siti Hasmah, H.E. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu in the Council Room, Main Building on 30th September 2012.](https://news.mak.ac.ug/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Makererere-Fmr-Malaysian-PM-HE-Tun-Dr-Mahathir-Mohamad-Visit-30thOct2012-Group.jpg)
The Government of Malaysia also focused on increasing wealth through prioritising the education sector and entered into partnership with the private sector to provide state-of-the art infrastructure. The Government owns a part of the privatized telecommunication companies, and a lot of infrastructure is privatized.
“Many people think that privatization is a capitalist evil, but we turned to privatization because nationalization had been repeatedly proven to be a socialist mistake. The big privatization project, however, is not for everybody-it must go to people who have the capacity and proven record of success,” states a powerful quote extracted from his Memoirs, page 500-504.
Concluding his message on economic development, wealth and oil exploration, His Excellency, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad informed the congregation in Council Room that everyone has a role to play in building the Uganda they would like to be associated with. He advised that the academia and every Ugandan should ask the question- What do we want to do for our country?
His Excellency then presented to a book titled “A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE: The Memoirs of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.” The book has 843 pages, and the preface states, “This is the story of Malaysia as I see it. This is also my story.” 
In the same book, from page 500-504, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia provides a working formula for nationalization and privatization highlighting where each model works best.
Also impressed by the Vehicle design Project –Kiira Electric Vehicle by the students from Makerere University‘s College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), His Excellency pledged to initiate strong linkages between the Makerere University students and their counterparts in Malaysia working on similar projects.
The former Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Professor Livingstone Luboobi and the Chairperson of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA), Dr. Tanga Odoi , Principals and Deans were part of the congregation that listened to the message on development, wealth, oil exploration and a good will invitation for partnership with Malaysian institutions and business community.
In moving a vote of thanks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Professor Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza expressed Makerere‘s gratitude to H.E. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s for presenting the institution with a golden opportunity link up with the Malaysian universities and business community.
Article by
Ritah Namisango
Senior Public Relations Officer.
General
Mak and University of the West of England Sign MoU to Advance Research, Innovation and Skills Development
Makerere University and the University of the West of England (UWE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening collaboration in research, innovation, and enterprise development. The signing ceremony took place on Friday, 17th October 2025, in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom, Main Administration Building, Makerere University.
The partnership will focus on joint research initiatives in climate science, early childhood development and elderly care, wildlife ecology and conservation management, technology, and sustainable agriculture.
The Uganda High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E. Nimisha Madhvani, who witnessed the signing, congratulated both institutions and reaffirmed the Government of Uganda’s commitment to strengthening international collaborations that enhance education, innovation, and investment.
“We are not only promoting education, but also tourism, business, and investment. This partnership is a great bridge between Uganda and the United Kingdom,” said H.E. Madhvani. “With the full support of His Excellency the President and the First Lady, we look forward to building on this momentum to establish impactful initiatives, including a proposed teaching hospital.”
Speaking during the event, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, reaffirmed the University’s commitment to producing graduates who are not only employable but also capable of creating jobs and transforming their communities.
“Our goal is to train students who go out to create their own jobs and employ others who have not had the opportunity to attend university,” said Prof. Nawangwe. “We are working seriously on issues of food security, health, and conflict management — particularly in the Great Lakes region, which has one of the highest numbers of conflicts per capita. Through research and collaboration, we aim to address these challenges while ensuring Africa is not left behind in the digital economy.”
Prof. Nawangwe also highlighted Makerere’s initiatives in the digital and peace sectors, including the work of the Rotary Peace Center, which plays a vital role in promoting peace across the world by equipping fellows with academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities through a year-long, blended-learning professional certificate program.
Representing the University of the West of England, the Vice Chancellor Ms. Jo Midgley commended Makerere University for its strong research focus and expressed enthusiasm for the partnership.
“Like Makerere, we are a comprehensive university. We want this partnership to go beyond conversations and translate into action,” she said. “Our areas of strength include sustainability, climate change, future technology, health, and community placemaking. We believe this collaboration offers a unique opportunity to co-create programmes that prepare students for the evolving global workforce.”
She further emphasized the need for universities to work closely with industry partners to co-design programs that meet current skill demands while promoting innovation and enterprise among students.
The Deputy High Commissioner, Ambassador Miriam Otengo, commended Makerere for its leadership in higher education and shared ongoing efforts to mobilize the Makerere alumni in the United Kingdom. She also revealed plans to host a Makerere Alumni Symposium in London, aimed at showcasing the University’s excellence and strengthening ties with its diaspora community.
Also in attendance was Mr. Hefin Rees KC, Chairman of Spotlight on Africa, a UK-based charitable organization, who expressed interest in partnering with Makerere University to establish a teaching hospital in Mbale focused on women and children’s health. He praised Makerere for producing world-class professionals and reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to supporting health-related initiatives.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Nawangwe thanked the High Commission for facilitating the partnership and welcomed the opportunity to discuss the proposed teaching hospital, describing it as “a timely and vital project for Uganda’s health sector.”
“This collaboration represents a new chapter for Makerere University and the University of the West of England. Together, we will advance research, promote innovation, and equip our students to respond to global challenges,” he said. The ceremony concluded with the formal signing of the MoU, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership built on shared values of excellence, innovation, and community impact.
The Acting (Ag.) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sarah Ssali on Thursday 16th October, 2025 held a press conference to update members of the Media on the 2026 World University Rankings by Times Higher Education (THE).
The event held in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom, Main Building, was attended by the Director Graduate Training-Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director Quality Assurance-Dr. Cyprian Misinde, Dean of Students-Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli, Director Research, Innovations, and Partnerships-Prof. Robert Wamala, Deputy Chief – Public Relations-Ms. Eunice Rukundo, Ag. Manager International Relations-Mr. Matthias Ssemanda, and staff from the Offices of the Vice and Deputy Vice Chancellors.
The proceedings of the Press Conference follow below;
Vice Chancellor’s Press Statement
UNIVERSITY RANKINGS: MAKERERE STILL NUMBER ONE IN THE REGION
It gives me great pleasure to share with our stakeholders and the general public that Makerere University has been ranked Number 1. in the East African region, in the Times Higher Education rankings released this month of October 2025.
In its 2026 World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE) places Makerere University in top position in East Africa, and in the 801-1000 band globally. The ranking considers five performance indicators, namely: Teaching; Research environment; Research quality; International Outlook; and Industry. Makerere’s overall score was 37.2, significantly outperforming peer institutions in the Region that average scores of 18.8.
In particular, Makerere University continues to thrive in Research Quality where we scored 54.2% but even better in International Outlook where we scored highest with 69.7%. See Table 1 for details. On the continent, Makerere University ranked 8th in the 2024 Sub-Saharan African University Rankings.
We would like to reassure all stakeholders and well-wishers that Makerere University continues to hold steadfast as the regional leader in higher education. Our commitment to deliver excellence in our teaching, research, and socioeconomic impact has not wavered.
WE BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.
Thank you.
Fact Sheet
UNIVERSITY RANKINGS
Table 1: East African Universities – 2025 Ranking Comparison
| Rank | Name | Overall | Teaching | Research Env. | Research Quality | Industry | Int. Outlook |
| 801–1000 | Makerere University | 35.5–38.9 | 21.5 | 26.6 | 54.2 | 32.8 | 69.7 |
| 1501+ | Kenyatta University | 10.3–27.2 | 14.3 | 9.1 | 34.2 | 17.4 | 54.6 |
| 1501+ | Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences | 10.3–27.2 | 21.6 | 14.9 | 30.3 | 27.5 | 54.6 |
| 1501+ | University of Dar es Salaam | 10.3–27.2 | 14.5 | 11.1 | 26.5 | 21.9 | 47.2 |
| 1501+ | University of Nairobi | 10.3–27.2 | 15.9 | 16.1 | 39.7 | 22.5 | 49.4 |
| 1501+ | University of Rwanda | 10.3–27.2 | 14.1 | 14.9 | 25.6 | 21.1 | 57.5 |
End
The Board of the Zambia Research and Education Network (ZAMREN) led by the Chairperson, Prof. Mundia Muya on 14th October 2025 paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, Makerere University. The Board which is on a two-day exposure visit to the Research and Education Network of Uganda (RENU) was received by the Acting (Ag.) Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom.
The Chairperson was accompanied by Mr. Ronald Hatoongo and Mr. Stein Mkandawire, the Board Secretary and CEO of ZAMREN respectively, as well as RENU’s CEO-Mr. Nicholas Mbonimpa and RENUMESH Technologies CEO-Mr. Brian Masiga. In attendance were Mr. Samuel Mugabi-Director DICTS, Prof. Robert Wamala-Director Research, Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP), and Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).
Also present were; Prof. Paul Birevu Muyinda-Director Institute of Open, Distance and eLearning (IODeL), Dr. Godfrey Mayende-Deputy Director IODeL, Dr. Michael Walimbwa- College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Dr. Cathy Mbidde- Ag. Manager. Makerere University Innovation Pod, Ms. Eunice Rukundo-Deputy Chief-Public Relations and staff from the Office of the Vice Chancellor.
In her welcome remarks, Prof. Ssali thanked the ZAMREN Board for including the courtesy call on their Kampala itinerary and extended warm greetings from the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. She noted that Makerere as a founding member of RENU has enjoyed a mutually beneficial collaboration, that has benefited both staff and students in the form of supporting growing connectivity needs, as well as training, mentorship, and development of technical skills for both continuing students and graduates.
Turning to the gist of the courtesy call, the Acting Vice Chancellor noted that the Makerere University through the Centre for Artificial Intelligence (MAK-AI) seeks to harness the transformative power of AI to address society’s most pressing challenges. “Projects undertaken by our Centre tackle real-world challenges in health, agriculture, languages, and beyond.”
Prof. Ssali nevertheless underscored the importance of upholding ethics in all AI undertakings “Mindful of global trends elsewhere, the work of the Makerere AI Centre is guided by the principles of Responsible AI, ensuring that systems are transparent, accountable, fair, and designed to benefit society.”
She therefore called upon the delegation to thoughtfully engage with the ideas presented during their visit with the aim of collectively exploring both institution can better equip staff and students to meaningfully make the most of this fast-evolving trend.
On behalf of the Board, Prof. Muya who is substantively the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zambia thanked Prof. Ssali and Members of Management present for according his delegation a warm reception to Makerere University, “one of Africa’s most distinguished centres of higher learning.
“Makerere University is not only a symbol of academic excellence but also a beacon of leadership in higher education on the African continent”, remarked Prof. Muya.
The Chairperson equally expressed the delegation’s keenness to understand how AI is being adopted, and how the academia is embracing the technology as an enabler of teaching and research. “At ZAMREN, we view digital transformation and AI integration as critical enablers of academic excellence, efficiency, and competitiveness across higher education institutions,” he remarked, adding that “We therefore look to Makerere University’s experience to draw practical lessons that can inform and inspire our efforts back home.”
Turning to the lessons from Makerere in line with digital transformation and ICT, the Director DICTS shared that owing to the partnership with RENU, internet bandwidth, a vital enabler of AI transformation currently stands at 5 Gbps of monthly consumption, with plans to scale-up to 8 Gbps. He added that RENU has also facilitated Makerere’s access to Open Libraries, and Eduroam – a secure, encrypted Wi-Fi network across to staff and students freely access the internet across partner institutions in Uganda using their University emails.
Furthermore on the enablers of AI integration, Mr. Mugabi noted that in line with digitalization of institutional business process, the University Council took a bold step to develop all information systems in-house, a move that has reduced costs spent on offshore solutions, and hemorrhage of skills. He pointed to the introduction of open source solutions, and AI policy and global collaborations with corporations such as Google as additional enablers.
Addressing AI readiness, Prof. Tonny Oyana pointed out the need for the University of Zambia to start early, citing Makerere efforts which began as far back as 2007, when Dr. John Quinn joined the institution after his PhD. He added that Dr. Quinn together with other former staff from Makerere formed Sunbird AI, a thriving initiative creating practical systems for the benefit of community.
Prof. Oyana also pointed to AI initiatives that have attracted up to USD 5million from Google Awards, staff with specialized skills in the creation and development of sensor technologies, top notch students that win continental and global awards from companies such as Huawei, and active engagements with partners to produce solutions to enhance diagnosis of malaria, tuberculosis and cancer as some of areas that demonstrate Makerere’s AI readiness.
Addressing academic and research innovation, Prof. Robert Wamala pointed out that Makerere, in recognition that the institution cannot achieve its vision alone is intentional about seeking and nurturing mutually beneficial partnerships. Furthermore, he shared that Vice Chancellor’s Annual Research Excellence Awards reward and recognize the efforts of staff who have excelled in publication, teaching and winning grants.
The Director DRIP equally underscored the need for dissemination of research produced by staff and students, pointing out the annual research and innovation week as a flagship event for not only showcasing research but also forging meaningful partnerships with stakeholders. In line with technology transfer, Prof. Wamala said that the University through the Intellectual Property Management Office ensures that innovations developed by staff and students packaged for adoption by other individuals or organisations.
Addressing the use of technologies in academic work, Prof. Birevu noted that IODeL conducts capacity building in instructional design, online facilitation, use of AI in teaching and digital assessments. “We have also advised the University on ODeL and Distance Education strategies, for instance, we have developed a ten-year masterplan for distance education with support from the Korean Government to outline how Makerere University is going to integrate distance education within its offering” he added.
At the close of the deliberations the ZAMREN expressed sincere appreciation to the Ag. Vice Chancellor and Members of Management for the free sharing that pointed out a number of priorities.
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