General
President Museveni advises Great Lakes youth to shun pseudo ideology
The President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has encouraged the youth to fight against pseudo ideology as a way of propelling unity, stability, and prosperity in the country. The President emphasized that the spreading of pseudo ideology has not only led to political insecurities among African countries but also resulted to economic backwardness due its negativities of sectarianism in tribe, religion and gender.
“The biggest problem that African countries are now and have been facing is pseudo ideology. Many African countries have relied on false information for their own interests and selfish motives and this has greatly affected Africa’s economy,” said the President.
Addressing the delegates at the Second Convention of the Great Lakes Students’ Union held on Saturday 7th June 2014, at Makerere University Main Hall under the theme: Towards a bright future: the role of the youth in propelling unity, peace and prosperity in the Great Lakes region, His Excellency, the President encouraged the youth to involve themselves in the struggle to cure Africa from the weakness of pseudo ideology as a way of curbing down other problems affecting Africa. President Museveni also advised the youth to engage and invest more in the agricultural sector because it is the major way of alleviating poverty in Uganda.
“Ugandans are agriculturalists, therefore our economic activity is farming. Let us invest in farming because it is the way we are going to gain and develop our nation. We should consider inter connections as a serious issue to create and widen the market for commodities. That is why more efforts have been made to create regional integrations such as the East African Community,” advised President Museveni to the keenly attentive audience. “My advice to you is to keep this integration of the Great Lakes region moving as the way of uplifting the leadership capabilities of the youth,” added the President.
President Museveni thanked the Patron of the Great Lakes Students Union, Gen. Elly Tumwine for helping the youth to take an upper hand in the matters concerning the region and Africa at large. His Excellency further encouraged the youth to consider symbiosis as a great factor in fighting the problem of parasitism.
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu, Mrs. Elizabeth K. Gabona, Director Higher Education in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura among other dignitaries attended the Second Convention. At the same occasion, the Great Lakes Students’ Union (GLSU) presented the Lake Victoria Award to President Museveni, recognizing him for promoting peace, security and economic development in Africa.
The Chairperson of the Great Lakes Students’ Union, Mr. David Lewis thanked President Museveni, who launched the Union on Friday 12th July 2013 for accepting to officiate at the 2nd Convention on Saturday 7th June 2014. The Great Lakes Students’ Union comprises over 5000 past and present Student leaders from the Great Lakes region, and as such, the Second Convention consisted of participants from Universities in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Kampala International University, Cavendish University, Islamic University in Uganda, and Kampala University were some of the Uganda institutions that sent delegates to the Second GLSU Convention.
Mr. David Lewis emphasized that the Great Lakes Students’ Union was formed to purposely spread the gospel of regional integration, based on the objective of grooming the youth into responsible leaders. He then commended the sister associations namely the Somali Students Association in Uganda and the Nigerian Students Association in Uganda for participating in the Second Convention. He further explained that the choice of the day’s theme was in line with pressing needs of the region such as peace, prosperity and self-reliance. The GLSU Chairperson further expressed concern that the youth had become prey to illegal activities.
“It is lamentable that terrorism acts are on the rise in the region and at the centre of such acts are the youth. It is very easy to find youths active in such acts and yet when put to task, they cannot give the reasons why they are doing so.” Lewis said.
The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Professor John Ddumba-Ssentamu applauded the President for being passionate about empowering the youth and always giving them advice and counsel on issues critical to their social wellbeing as well as to national development. Professor Ddumba-Ssentamu pointed out the Students Loan Scheme launched on 24th April 2014 and the Uganda Youth innovation Centre and Export market launched on 2nd June 2014 as some of the initiatives that showed the President’s commitment to empowering the youth. The Vice Chancellor also thanked the President for supporting Makerere University through the Presidential Science Initiative as well as the assistance for infrastructural development through the African Development Bank.
“Through the Presidential Initiative, we have been able to produce cutting edge innovations in the fields of Technology, Design and Development, Academic Records Management, Low-cost Irrigation, Community Wireless Resource Centre, Internet Laboratories, as well as Food Technology, Nutrition, Animal Resources and Veterinary Medicine. I must point out, Mr. President, that this support is directly benefitting the youth at Makerere University to develop innovative technologies, undertake applied research and create knowledge for the transformation of society in line with the national vision 2040.”
The Patron of the Great Lakes Students’ Union, Gen. Elly Tumwine, said that the issue of the young people of the Great Lakes Region coming together is an energizer for the rest of the regional populations. He therefore called on the delegates to focus on prosperity of Africa. He saluted the President for supporting the youth and the Great Lakes Students’ Union.
Writer: Prossy Nabatte, Student Intern, MAK Public Relations Office
Editor: Ritah Namisango, Head, MAK Public Relations Office
Photos: Joseph Buwule, Associate Photographer, Landmark Media Consultancy
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Business & Management
PIM Centre Holds 9th Steering Committee Meeting, Set to Benefit from World Bank Support
The Public Investment Management (PIM) Centre of Excellence at Makerere University today, October 10th, 2025, held its 9th Steering Committee Meeting to review progress made in the first quarter of the financial year and plan for the months ahead.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Getrude Basiima, who represented Mr. Hannington Ashaba, Director Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Ms. Basiima commended the Centre for its continued commitment to strengthening public investment management capacity across government institutions.
In her remarks, Ms. Basiima applauded the Centre for successfully hosting the Public Investment Management Conference held in August at Makerere University. The conference attracted key policymakers, development partners, and academics who deliberated on how to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and impact of public investments in Uganda.
She further shared exciting news that the Government of Uganda has secured funding from the World Bank to support the public investment management function. The PIM Centre, she announced, will be among the key beneficiaries of these funds — receiving support for the construction and acquisition of a permanent home to enhance its institutional sustainability and training capacity.
Reviewing the Centre’s quarterly performance, Ms. Basiima congratulated the team for successfully conducting three specialized trainings in the first quarter, reaching officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. These trainings continue to strengthen the technical competencies required for effective project preparation, appraisal, and implementation in line with Uganda’s National Development Plan.
She encouraged the Centre to integrate climate change considerations into its future training programmes, noting that sustainable public investment must now account for environmental resilience and climate adaptation.
The centre team presented the proposed structure/ organogram, the financial performance of 2024/2025, research areas for 2025/2026 and the strategic plan for 2025 – 2030.
The Steering Committee reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the PIM Centre’s vision of becoming a regional leader in building capacity for efficient, transparent, and sustainable public investment management.
A significant development unfolded at Makerere University during a strategic, hour-long meeting in the vice chancellor’s boardroom on 7th October 2025, marking a deepening bond with the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. The primary goal was to move beyond existing collaborations and formalize a new Double Doctorate (PhD) program. Prof. Sarah Saali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, set the tone by emphasizing that institutional partnerships are crucial to Makerere University, which she proudly called the leading research and most collaborative university in the world.
The discussion promptly formed the core structure of the program: a four-year PhD (or three if the master’s was research-based), with supervision duties split 50-50% between the two institutions. A key feature is the mobility requirement, stipulating that PhD candidates would spend a total of six months in the Netherlands, potentially divided into two three-month periods. Crucially, the University of Groningen confirmed there would be no teaching requirement during this stay, allowing students full access to focus on their research. A major financial hurdle was overcome with the adoption of a fee-waiver policy; Makerere would waive tuition for incoming Groningen candidates, and Groningen would reciprocate for Makerere‘s students, significantly boosting the program’s financial viability.
However, the critical issue of the stipend remained. Dr. Anita Veltmaat explained that to meet the required living standard of approximately €1,875 per month in Groningen, the incoming candidate must secure a partial external scholarship of around €250 per month. The positive news is that if the candidate secures this minimum scholarship, the University of Groningen is prepared to top up the amount to the full living standard for the six months the student spends in the Netherlands. It was noted that this initial financial hurdle might be simplified for Makerere students, as many are already staff members receiving a salary, which could help cover the required €250.
The path forward was clear: it was to complete the agreement template guided by the setup committee from both institutions. The plan culminated in scheduling an online follow-up meeting for Tuesday, November 11th, to review the first revision of the agreement, capping a highly constructive discussion that solidified the two universities’ shared future in graduate education.
Makerere University was represented by Prof. Sarah Ssali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics Affairs; Dr. Ruth Nsibirano, Head of the Department of Gender Studies; Dr. Patricia Ndugga, School of Statistics; Dr. Stella Achen and Dr. Joseph Watuleke, School of Distance and Lifelong Learning; Agatha Ainemukama, School of Engineering; Racheal Nuwagaba, School of Psychology; Awel Uwihanganye, Martine Rugamba, and Hawa Ndagire from the Advancement Office; and Muhammad Kiggundu from the Institute of Gender and Development Studies.
The University of Groningen was represented by Dr. Dinie Bouwman, Senior Policy Advisor, Internationalization and Quality Assurance; Dr. Anita Veltmaat, Faculty of Social Behavior and Social Sciences, Department of International Studies, involved in mentorship programs for women; and Dr. Alette Arendshorst, Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences, working on graduation/collaboration for students/staff.
Makerere University on Tuesday, 7th October 2025 hosted a delegation from Nelson Mandela University (NMU), South Africa in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom in a bid to strengthen academic partnerships and operationalize their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The delegation, led by Prof. Azwinndini Muronga, Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Internationalisation, NMU, aimed to turn earlier agreements into actionable collaborations and build sustainable partnerships with various colleges.
The Acting (Ag.) Deputy Vice Chancellor; Finance and Administration, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, provided an overview of the institution’s structure—nine colleges, two schools, and two institutes—while acknowledging the challenges of maintaining excellence amid resource limitations and post-pandemic recovery. He emphasized that collaboration must serve the broader goal of research-driven development, calling for teamwork and resilience among African universities. “We have to work together to sustain high academic standards and contribute to the continent’s progress,” he noted.
Prof. Muronga spoke passionately about the NMU’s “African footprint agenda.” He urged both institutions to start with small, practical projects that can build confidence and momentum for larger initiatives. “We must grow partnerships within Africa first,” he stated, “before we expand globally. True collaboration begins when both sides contribute equally, share capacity, and build self-reliance.”
Prof. Muronga also expressed interest in joint research projects, doctoral supervision, and shared grant applications, noting that NMU and Makerere are strategically positioned to lead regional academic innovation.
In her remarks, Prof. Judy Peter, Senior Director in the International Office at NMU emphasized the University’s commitment to African-centered collaboration and the importance of internationalizing the curriculum and expanding research capacity.
Prof. Peter underscored the importance of student mobility, joint supervision of postgraduate students, and the recruitment of talented African scholars, noting that such exchanges enrich both institutions’ academic communities. She also emphasized the need to internationalize the curriculum, particularly through virtual learning platforms and co-teaching models, to ensure broader accessibility and shared expertise.
Contributions also came from Prof. James Wokadala, Deputy Principal, College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), further amplified the need to “start small and build on existing collaborations.” He proposed developing a clear roadmap that defines short-term goals and identifies areas for mutual growth.
From the College of Health Sciences, Dr. Richard Idro, the Deputy Principal highlighted opportunities for fellowship, training and collaboration in clinical subjects, emphasizing the need for practical exchanges that benefit students and staff alike. He also addressed logistical challenges such as transportation and coordination, urging for targeted partnerships that can yield tangible results.
The meeting reaffirmed the universities’ commitment to collaboration in areas including faculty exchange for guest lectures, seminars, and sabbaticals; joint research and grant applications for regional and international funding; co-supervision of postgraduate students; virtual classroom exchanges; curriculum internationalization and exchange of academic materials; and capacity development for academic and administrative staff.
The teams also identified “quick-win” projects that could be implemented in the short term and agreed to establish a joint implementation team to monitor progress. Further discussions will explore funding mechanisms, including the possibility of leveraging programs like Erasmus+, to support student exchange and joint research initiatives.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Muronga reaffirmed Nelson Mandela University’s commitment to ensuring that the partnership yields visible outcomes. Both universities agreed that future engagements will be structured around mutual respect, accountability, and measurable results.
The meeting concluded on a note of optimism, with both institutions expressing confidence that their partnership will not only advance academic excellence but also contribute to Africa’s broader vision of educational and research self-reliance.
The meeting was attended by several officials from Makerere including; Prof. Eric Awich Ochen-Deputy Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS), Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze-Deputy Principal, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Prof. Godfrey Akileng-Dean School of Business, Dr. Geoffrey Nuwagaba-CoBAMS, Mr. Martine Rugamba-Ag. Chief Advancement Office, and Ms. Hawa Kajumba-Advancement Office.
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