General
Makerere Honors Ms Ruth Morris Keesling
Makerere University has honored Ms. Ruth Morris Keesling, an American Philanthropist in a colorful ceremony, presided over by Prof. John David Kabasa, Principal, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB). The ceremony, attended by University officials, staff, students and partners, was held at the Ruth Keesling Wildlife Health and Research Centre, CoVAB, on 5th October 2013.
Ms. Ruth Keesling, who was accompanied by her husband Tom and other family members, was honored for her commitment to funding and promoting research particularly, on Mountain Gorillas. Since 1983 when Ruth Keesling first saw the gorillas as a tourist, she has shown commitment to their conservation and even promoted research that elevated the level of gorillas in Uganda to Mountain Gorillas. Due to her strong commitment to the conservation of the Mountain Gorillas, Ruth Keesling used to travel to Uganda every year to monitor her initiatives in wildlife veterinary medicine. These initiatives led to among others, the establishment of the Department of Wildlife and Aquatic Animal Resources at CoVAB, which has been instrumental in capacity building in the field of wildlife veterinary medicine in Uganda.
Dr. John Bosco Nizeyi, a wildlife Veterinary Doctor and lecturer at CoVABB who has been working closely with Ms. Keesling for many years appreciated the work she has done not only for Makerere University but for Uganda at large. Dr. Nizeyi noted that Ruth Keesling has for the last 11 years sponsored more than 10 Ugandan students to train in wildlife health and management at Graduate level. Some of the programs that resulted from her efforts to create awareness of and save the Mountain Gorillas include the Msc in Wildlife Health & Management, Msc in Wildlife Tourism & Recreation Management and Bsc in Wildlife Health & Management.
Dr. Nizeyi further stated that what Ms. Keesling started has taken Makerere University a step towards becoming a regional center of excellence in wildlife health, research and surveillance.
Ruth Keesling also established the gorilla veterinary clinic in 1986 and has since then, spent millions of her own money and also held fundraising drives that attracted more partners, who together have put more effort in saving the gorillas from extinction. She said that her love for the Mountain Gorillas started when she met the late primatologist, Dr. Dian Fossey who was committed to the conservation of gorillas.
“After looking into the eyes of a Mountain Gorilla, I became committed to helping her (Dian Fossey) and the gorillas”, said the elderly Ruth Keesling.
She commended all those who have over the years partnered with her for their work. “Each and every partner should be very proud of the tremendous work you do that has protected the Mountain Gorilla,” Ms. Keesling stressed.
Ms. Keesling has continued to carry the late Dian Fossey’s dream to save the Mountain Gorillas to the extent of funding the establishment of the Ruth Keesling Wildlife Health and Research Centre, expected to become a regional center ofexcellence and destination for scientists and researchers in Mountain Gorilla medicine and conservation. The center will also promote wildlife education and gorilla tourism. The center, which is housed by the Wildlife Department, CoVAB, comprises offices, laboratories, a bio-bank and lecture rooms. There is also a “Keesling garden’ that was planted by students from Eckerd College, Florida and Makerere University, which provides an experience of a mock safari for those who have never experienced an actual safari in the jungle.
Under the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund (MGCF) which in 2010 signed an MoU with Makerere University, Ms. Keesling has been at the forefront of raising money to conserve the Mountain Gorilla. As a result of Mrs. Keesling’s efforts, the Mountain Gorilla population has grown from 248 at the time of Dr. Fossey’s death to 880 today, meaning that her efforts have resulted into an additional 632 gorillas having been produced in the last 28 years.
FranK Keesling, Ruth’s son promised his Mother that he would carry on her dream by working hard towards conservation of the Mountain Gorillas.
“I promise you, just like you promised Dr. Diane Fossey 28 years ago, that we will keep your dream alive,” Frank Keesling said.
Partners present at the event were British Airways, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Gorilla doctors, all of whom received awards from the Keesling family for their support towards Mountain Gorilla conservation in Uganda.
Article by Jovia Musubika Kavulu, Communication Office, CoVAB
General
Makerere University and Xiangtan University Advance Strategic Partnership in Chemical Engineering
Makerere University and Xiangtan University are set to update their close to 20-year academic partnership, with a new focus on launching a joint Master’s degree program in Chemical Engineering and expanding student and staff exchange initiatives.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a recent visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University to Makerere University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in the company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively.
While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to diversify academic offerings and contribute to national development through training in Chemical Engineering. Through this new initiative, the University will better prepare graduates for the petrochemical industry and support the country’s industrial growth.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated that the proposed collaboration aims to address Uganda’s growing need for industrial expertise, particularly as the country develops its petroleum sector. The two universities here are working toward a 1+2 training model, which will enable Makerere students to gain practical experience and access advanced laboratory facilities at Xiangtan University.
Professor Nawangwe further reiterated that “our relationship with the people of China, not just for Makerere but also for a big part of Uganda, has been opened wider by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, considering that many other collaborations like one being discussed now have come through this collaboration.”
The head of the Xiangtan delegation, Professor Dingyu Ou, expressed appreciation for the meeting, and acknowledged the history between the institutions. “As mentioned, we have a very long relationship and a very stable friendship between our two universities.”
Professor Ou extended appreciation for the support provided to the Confucius Institute at Makerere, the care shown to his colleagues, and looked forward to the successful start of the Chemical Engineering collaboration.
Assuring the delegation of Makerere’s readiness for the collaboration, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba the Lead, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Makerere University Advancement Office, aligned with the Vice Chancellor’s emphasis of University goal to have both theory and practice imparted to the students.
She said “the curriculum of the university and Uganda as a whole is moving towards competence-based education training to ensure students are equipped to demonstrate those skills in the actual field, particularly regarding petroleum exploration.”
Ms. Ndagire Kajumba also emphasised a shift in strategy for the partnership office, saying, “we are moving away from just signing MOUs that collect dust, and moving towards those that are more collaborative to benefit our faculty and students, just like this one.”
Professor Gilbert Kumushabe aligned his remarks with those of the Vice Chancellor and Ms. Ndagire Kajumba, and described the method used at Xiangtan University as “actually competence-based teaching.”
Based on his recent visit, Prof. Gumoshabe shared that students in China are divided into groups with dedicated teachers to perform practical, hands-on work beyond the theoretical lecturers. He expressed gladness that the same was being adopted for the Ugandan context.
Both institutions are now working to finalise the specific agreements for the joint degree and exchange programs. Beyond academic training, the collaboration will advance cultural and professional exchange.
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