General
Makerere-Uppsala on Track for Institutional Collaboration
On 29th November 2013, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu hosted a delegation from Uppsala University, Sweden led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Eva Akesson. The two institutions held a dialogue aimed at expanding the existing collaboration to university-wide institutional model that will encompass the undergraduate, master, postgraduate and research programmes.
This dialogue started in December 2012 when the Vice Chancellor, Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu led a delegation that visited Uppsala University. Thus the return visit from Uppsala University symbolised the readiness by both institutions to take this collaboration to a whole new strategic direction.
Professor Ddumba-Ssentamu, welcomed Professor Eva Akesson to Makerere University together with her delegation comprising Professor Stefan Swartling Peterson, Professor of Global Health (Below); Dr Peter Sundin-Analytical Chemist and Head of the International Science Program (Right); and Ulrica Ouline- Regional Manager Africa/Asia at the International Office.
He informed the guests that Makerere University was established in 1922 and has continued to grow with over 30,000 state and privately-sponsored students pursuing a wide range of disciplines at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The Vice Chancellor noted that the University boasts of a highly qualified and dedicated staff focused on the realization of the Makerere University vision-To be the leading institution for academic excellence and innovations in Africa. He applauded the researchers at Makerere University for keeping the Makerere banner up, and as such, Makerere University was ranked the fourth best university in Africa in the July 2013 webometric university ranking. He also saluted the Government and People of Sweden for supporting the Makerere University Research Agenda under the MAK-Sida Phase III Bilateral Research Grant (2010-2014).
Cognizant of the internationalization agenda stipulated in the Makerere University Strategic Plan, Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu informed the meeting comprising Members of Makerere University Management, Principals, Deans and Heads of Administrative Units that he looked forward to a fruitful discussion aimed at cementing the already existing collaborations and staff exchange programmes in the various academic disciplines at both universities.
“I am glad that most of the academicians gathered here have partnered with Uppsala University on different programmes. We have learnt vital lessons to help us strengthen the institutionalized approach we would like to embrace. Today’s discussion will also bring on board other disciplines/fields in this University. We look forward to collaboration between Uppsala University and the College of Business and Management Sciences as well as the School of Law,” said Professor Ddumba-Ssentamu.
The Vice Chancellor Uppsala University, Professor Eva Akesson (Pictured Below Left showing off her gift from VC Prof. J. Ddumba-Ssentamu) said both universities shared a lot- the vision of 
being the best university and the value of academic excellence. Established in 1477, Uppsala University is the First University in Sweden. It is a comprehensive university, one of the top 100 in the world, has a student population of 40,000 and runs an international Science Programme with universities in the world.
“Uppsala and Makerere have a collaboration that goes way back in different disciplines. We can take another step to deepen our relationships. We do hope that today will formalize the steps for a more comprehensive collaboration between Makerere University and Uppsala University that will lead to signing a Memorandum of Understanding. If we ask for partnership with Uppsala University on the different programmes, we hope that Makerere University will partner with us,” she said.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu then opened the floor for discussion:
Mr. Goddy Muhumuza, Senior Legal Officer: I was at Uppsala for a month’s training on property Rights. I loved the visit to your veterinary farm. It was a good experience at Uppsala.
Dr. John Mango, Deputy Principal, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) (Below Left): CoNAS has since the year 2000 been collaborating with Uppsala University in the areas of pesticides, bio-chemistry. This is outside the MAK-Sida collaboration. Our collaboration has yielded successes in the Department of Mathematics and the International Science Programme at Uppsala University.
Professor David Kabasa, Principal, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security (CoVAB) (Above Centre): This collaboration should focus on the transformation of society with a multi-disciplinary approach from universities, fields, community, public and private partners among others. Through this problem solving approach, we can work together to transform society in Uganda and the region.
Dr. Paul Muyinda Birevu, Head, Department of Open and Distance Learning, College of Education and External Studies (CEES) (Above Right) advocated for collaboration between both universities, as a means of strengthening the capacity on e-learning and pedagogy.
Dr. Vincent Ssembatya, Director, Quality Assurance (Left): The collaboration of the Directorate of Quality Assurance with Uppsala University has greatly informed curriculum development. We have received immense technical support from Dr. Asa Kettis, Chief Quality Promotion Officer, Quality and Evaluation Unit, Uppsala University
Ms Mary Tizikara, Director-Human Resources advised that in addition to training academic staff, the collaboration should also cater for other categories of staff. She emphasized the need for capacity building for professional courses, which greatly impact on service delivery.
Mr. David Kahundha-Muhwezi, the University Secretary was optimistic that through this collaboration, both institutions will learn from each other and benchmark good governance practices in higher education.
Dr. Hisali Eria, Ag. Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) (Pictured Right): Reiterated the Vice Chancellor’s earlier call that in the new phase of collaboration should also include business, economics and management academic fields.
Professor Bernard Bashaaha, Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) (Pictured Left): Appreciating the fact that Uppsala has a passion for physical sciences, he sought further information on the Uppsala’s partnership with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
In her response, Prof. Akesson noted that the two institutions have a longstanding close-knit working relationship and would look forward to incorporating agricultural sciences in the upcoming collaboration with Makerere.
Professor Celestino Obua: Deputy Principal, College of Health Sciences (CHS) (Pictured Right): In September 2013, I led a delegation from Makerere University to Uppsala on a staff and student exchange programme. Every year, we have two students and two staff members respectively . It has been a very rich experience. The students are incorporated into the programme, they are graded and marks are fed into the students’ performance. We have thus observed the need for multidisciplinarity research in universities to solve the problems that affect humanity as well as development. I belive this visit will further cement the existing collaboration between both instititions.
Dr. Damalie Naggita-Musoke, Dean, School of Law (Pictured Above Left): We need a strong collaboration with Uppsala. I would like to know how the School of Law through her outreach programmes in the Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC) can further champion human rights, democratization and property rights.
In her response, the Vice Chancellor, Uppsala University said: We have a Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University and we shall explore this potential.
The two Vice Chancellors then exchanged Souvenirs as a token of rekindling the collaboration spirit.
Story by: Ritah Namisango, Public Relations Office
Photos by: Makerere Public Relations Office
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General
Strengthening South-South Academic Partnerships: Makerere University and Binary University Chart a Strategic Path for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Women’s Leadership
A New Chapter in Uganda–Malaysia Higher Education Collaboration
Makerere University has started preliminary discussions with Binary University of Management and Entrepreneurship (Malaysia) to deepen its global partnerships through high-level engagements, aimed at fostering innovation-driven education, entrepreneurship, and women’s leadership. Chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Sarah Ssali, the meeting explored a structured framework for collaboration that responds to Uganda’s urgent need for skills development, job creation, and industry-aligned learning.
This emerging partnership reflects a shared vision: to move beyond traditional academic models towards a practical, industry-integrated, and entrepreneurship-focused education system that equips graduates with real-world skills and global competitiveness.
Responding to Uganda’s Employment Challenge Through Entrepreneurship
“While chairing the meeting, Prof. Sarah Ssali noted that Makerere University and other Universities, together, currently graduate over 35,000 students annually, yet the private sector creates only about 700 new jobs per year. With an expanding population and intense job competition, where a single vacancy can attract over 4,000 applicants, the urgency for alternative employment pathways is clear.
Makerere’s Innovation Hub and Centre for Entrepreneurship have become critical pillars in addressing this challenge. Through platforms such as the Innovation Expo, now in its third edition and featuring over 600 student exhibitions, the university continues to nurture problem-solvers, innovators, and job creators. This ecosystem aligns strongly with Binary University’s entrepreneurial philosophy, making the Centre for Entrepreneurship a natural anchor point for collaboration.
Binary University’s Industry Specialist Professional (ISP) Model
Binary University brings a unique global model that directly integrates industry practitioners into the classroom. Its Industry Specialist Professional (ISP) programme, operational since 1999, ensures students graduate with skills tailored to specific industry needs. Industry experts with decades of practical experience teach across disciplines such as: Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, Oil and Gas, Renewable Energy, Engineering, Film and Media Production to mention but a few.
“ With over 10,500 practising entrepreneurs in its ecosystem in Malaysia, Binary offers students direct mentorship and exposure to active business environments, ensuring graduates are not only employable but also entrepreneurial.” Tan Sri Dato Professor Joseph Adaikalam, the Executive Chairman and Founder, Binary University of Management and Entrepreneurship, noted.
Key Areas of Proposed Collaboration
The discussions outlined a structured and scalable partnership model anchored on the following areas:
1. Dual and Joint Degree Programmes
- 2+2 Joint Bachelor’s Degrees in specialised fields through an International Department structure.
- 1+1 Joint Master’s Programmes including: MBA for Engineers, Renewable Energy MBA and Semiconductor MBA
- Dual award systems to ensure international recognition and student mobility.
2. PhD and Staff Development Programmes
- Winter/Summer PhD models in Renewable Energy and Waste Management
- Nominated students to benefit from 50% tuition waivers
- PhD pathways tailored for academic staff development
3. Executive Development Programmes (EDPs)
High-impact, short-term programmes targeting senior leaders, featuring joint certification with a focus on AI for CEOs, Global Issues & Entrepreneurship. These EDPs are designed to empower leaders with strategic insight into global trends, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Placing Women’s Leadership at the Centre
A key pillar of the proposed collaboration is engagement with Malaysia’s Centre for Women’s Leadership (CWL), which focuses on empowering women through entrepreneurship and gender compliance mechanisms.
Puan Sri Datin, Prof. Dr. Rohini Devi, the co-founder and Vice Chairman, Binary University, highlighted the unique opportunities this partnership presents for a Joint women’s leadership training initiative, feminist academic exchanges, gender-responsive entrepreneurship models and an initiative to strengthen Makerere’s Institute of Gender Studies as a regional hub.
This aligns with Malaysia’s progressive gender compliance policies for public funding and women’s leadership development, a model that holds strong relevance for African institutions.
Learning from Regional and Global Best Practices
The meeting underscored valuable lessons from global contexts, including Nigeria’s model, where every graduate leaves with a practical vocational skill, Zambia’s Winter-Summer academic model with tuition waivers, Malaysia’s government investment in higher education and entrepreneurship
These case studies reinforce the need for practical skills as survival tools while graduates transition into formal employment or entrepreneurship.
A Win-Win Partnership for the Future
This collaboration is envisioned as a mutually beneficial model that complements Makerere’s academic strengths while leveraging Binary’s industry-driven approach. It will enhance student mobility, staff exchange, joint research, innovation transfer, and entrepreneurship development, all while maintaining strong quality assurance mechanisms.
As Makerere University continues to reimagine higher education in a rapidly changing world, this partnership signals a transformative shift towards globally competitive, innovation-led, and socially responsive learning systems.
With optimism and strategic intent, both institutions commit to open dialogue, structured implementation, and long-term impact. The Makerere-Binary partnership stands as a powerful example of how South-South collaboration can redefine education, accelerate entrepreneurship, and empower future leaders, especially women, for Africa’s development trajectory.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.
General
Strengthening the Makerere–Nottingham Trent University Partnership: Building More Legs on a Stable Chair
On 21st November, 2025, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, hosted a delegation from the Nottingham Trent University (NTU). The meeting underscored the need to re-model what purposeful, equitable and future-oriented international collaboration can look like between Universities. What began as a 15 year focused engagement in Public Health is set to evolve into a mature, multi-dimensional partnership guided by a shared commitment to knowledge exchange, cultural sensitivity, innovation and community transformation. With the current Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) running until 2028, now in its third iteration, both institutions are deliberately reimagining the next phase of collaboration, extending its impact over the next 15 years and beyond.
Moving Beyond Public Health: A Broader Vision for Collaboration
While past collaborations have significantly advanced areas such as community health, microbial research, leadership among health managers and non-communicable diseases, the future partnership envisions a more diversified and resilient framework.
Prof. Neil Mansfield, the Executive Dean, Research and International Reputation, NTU, noted that this growth strategy is anchored in building additional “legs” onto the partnership chair; creating stability through cross-disciplinary engagement involving the School of Science and Technology, Department of Engineering, Business School, the Makerere University Gender Institute, and the creative arts at both Universities.
The expanded scope reflects a shared belief that sustainable development and innovation demand integrated approaches that bring together engineers, social scientists, anthropologists, business leaders, climate scientists and creatives among others disciplines.
Equitable Partnership as a Guiding Principle
Both institutions reaffirmed the importance of equitable partnerships that prioritise shared ownership, mutual benefit and contextual relevance.
Prof. Linda Gisbon, Director, Global Public Health, NTU highlighted the importance of the shared ownership model for joint projects. She further noted that this approach has already gained scholarly recognition through published work advocating for afro-centric collaboration models, positioning the partnership as a benchmark for ethical international engagement.
The NTU–Makerere shared ownership model ensures that all projects are jointly created, jointly led and jointly benefitted from. Both institutions participate equally in decision-making, resource management, knowledge generation and dissemination, ensuring the partnership strengthens capacity on both sides rather than reproducing unequal power dynamics.(Gibson et al., 2023)
Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurial Readiness
Dr. Hellen Karditsas, a senior lecturer at NTU, extensively shared about a possible flagship proposal which could be integrated within the expanded collaboration.
“NTU’s Engineering Challenge is an intensive three-week program engaging first- and second-year students in real-world product development. Students, supported by academic staff, conceptualise solutions, develop business models and transform ideas into market-ready products.” She noted.
Dr. Hellen, concluded by sharing that the Challenge engages students and staff from disciplines such as Mechanical, Electrical, Sport, Biomedical and Aerospace Engineering, this initiative exposes participants to the full innovation ecosystem, nurturing a generation of engineering entrepreneurs equipped for both industry and enterprise.
Prof. Sarah Ssali complimented the conversation when she noted, the growing interest in anthropological engineering and vernacular architecture – an interdisciplinary lens that examines how cultural practices and people’s way of life shapes their construction techniques and designs.
She further noted that, by recognising that “development is anti-people” when detached from lived realities, this partnership should seek to integrate cultural sensitivity into infrastructure design, ensuring that modernisation aligns with community needs and values.
Expanding into Arts, Design and Creative Industries
Another strategic leg of the partnership is strengthening ties between NTU and Makerere’s School of Performing Arts and Film. Plans include equipment-sharing initiatives, joint creative labs and collaborative production spaces aimed at enhancing capacity, storytelling and community engagement through visual and performing arts. These collaborations will also support public health communication through creative multimedia approaches and capacity building.
During the meeting, Makerere University Press partnerships and writing summer schools were also proposed to nurture scholarly publishing, academic writing and creative expression, further strengthening intellectual exchange between the two institutions.
Future projects will continue to integrate sociologists, anthropologists and social scientists to shape interventions that are not only technically sound but socially responsive and culturally aware.
Industry Linkages and Global Networks
Recognising the importance of industry engagement, the partnership seeks to connect with British-owned companies operating in Uganda as well as Ugandan enterprises with footprints in the UK. These linkages will enable practical learning opportunities, internships, applied research and joint innovation ventures.
Exchange visits for business students will also be prioritised to foster global exposure, entrepreneurial thinking and cross-cultural competence, equipping students to operate in increasingly interconnected economies.
A Partnership for the Future
The future Makerere–NTU collaboration will be defined by diversity, scalability and shared vision. By pulling together multiple schools and centres from Business and Natural Sciences to Engineering, Gender Studies and the Creative Arts the partnership is positioned to evolve into a holistic, long-term platform for knowledge production, innovation and people-centred development.
As both institutions reaffirm their commitment to constructive dialogue, joint planning and continuous evaluation, this partnership stands as a testament to how international cooperation can move beyond transactional engagement into transformative, sustainable impact.
In building more legs onto the partnership chair, Makerere University and Nottingham Trent University are not only strengthening institutional ties – they are shaping a resilient model for global academic collaboration that is equitable, agile and firmly rooted in shared purpose.
Reference;
Gibson, L., Ikhile, D., Nyashanu, M. & Musoke, D., 2023. Health promotion research in international settings: A shared ownership approach for North-South partnerships. In: L. Potvin & D. Jourdan, eds. Global Handbook of Health Promotion Research. Vol. 3: Doing Health Promotion Research. Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp.263-272.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office, Makerere University.
General
Makerere University Hosts Delegation from Nottingham Trent University to Deepen Collaborative Ties
Makerere University has hosted a delegation from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) for high-level discussions focused on strengthening and expanding the long-standing collaboration between the two institutions. The team that was received by Prof. Sarah Ssali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs was led by Prof. Neil Mansfield, the Executive Dean for Research and International Reputation, accompanied by Dr. Helen Karditsas, a senior lecturer in the Department of Engineering; Prof. Linda Gibson from Global Public Health at NTU; Ms. Mazeda Hossain, Director of the Eastern Africa Centre; and Dr. Damilola Omodara, Senior Lecturer in Public Health.
For over fifteen years, NTU has maintained a strong partnership with the Makerere University School of Public Health, working in areas such as community health, leadership development among health managers, and research on non-communicable diseases. This collaboration has supported student mobility, staff exchanges, and joint research initiatives that have contributed significantly to capacity building on both sides.
During the meeting, the NTU team expressed readiness to broaden this relationship beyond public health, noting that the existing achievements offer a strong foundation for expansion. Their vision is to build an interdisciplinary collaboration that brings together multiple colleges and fields of expertise, including engineering, environmental sciences, business, arts, and digital media. The team emphasized that diverse academic partnerships offer more stability and create wider opportunities for innovation, student training, and impactful research.
NTU is now seeking to establish a broader, university-wide Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will enable the two institutions to explore a wider range of synergies across disciplines. This approach is expected to make future collaborations more flexible, allowing different units to initiate joint projects, exchange programs, and research activities under one institutional framework.
Prof. Ssali welcomed the delegation and affirmed Makerere University’s commitment to deepening partnerships that strengthen teaching, research, and community engagement. She noted that an interdisciplinary model is essential for addressing emerging global challenges, and highlighted opportunities in areas such as climate science, engineering innovation, creative arts, and publishing.
The visit forms part of ongoing efforts to position Makerere University as a hub for impactful global collaborations that advance academic excellence and societal transformation.
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