The 3-day event is a component of the Summer School program organized by CoVAB and her partners. It takes place every June with students from American and regional universities including Makerere University converging at CoVAB for an exciting program designed to equip them with knowledge and skills in animal production, disease surveillance and public health. The course also exposes the participants to experiential learning with field trips to Eastern and Western Uganda to learn about wildlife and eco-system health management while getting an insight into Ugandan culture and systems.
This year, the 19 participants of the Summer School program are from United States of America, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia involved in veterinary medicine, public health, laboratory diagnosis and related fields. Students undertaking the Masters of Infectious Diseases Management program at CoVAB are also among the Summer School participants.
Speaking at the opening of the ‘Boma’ held under the theme“Enhancing North-South Collaborative opportunities for training, Research and Outreach for Development, Prof. David Owiny, Dean School of Biosecurity, Biotechnical and Laboratory Sciences (CoVAB) said that the idea of a summer school started 8 years ago with the first one attracting 3 students compared to this year’s 19 participaticipants.
The Summer school runs for 3 weeks and usually concludes with an International Cultural ‘Boma’ and a scientific conference.
“The word ‘Boma’ is an African word meaningthe transfer of knowledge from elders to the young ones and it happens in a relaxed environment by a fireplacewhen the moon is bright”, explained Prof. Owiny.
True to its definition, this year’s ‘Boma’ is characterised by several enriching and exciting presentations from accomplished academicians, practitioners, researchers in various fields ranging from gender, business, communication, disease surveillance and investigations, among others.
All the partnering Universities had an opportunity to present on possible areas of collaborations in their respective universities. These included; University of Saskatchewan, University of Missouri, Michigan State University, Mississippi State University, Iowa State University, Washington State and Columbus State University as well as the regional Universities of Nairobi, Rwanda, Sokoine University of Agriculture and Mekelle University.
Prof. John David Kabasa, Principal CoVAB gave an enlightening presentation on opportunities for international collaborations within Africa and Makerere University with particular emphasis on CoVAB.
The participating universities are members of the Africa-United States Integrated Diseases Management (AFRUS-IDM) supported by Higher Education for Development. The AFRUS – IDM network is a strong collaboration of partner Higher Education (HE) institutions both in US and Africa that has been established to advance HED-led Development in Africa.
This network has been built over 4 years of programming and hard work that has borne a successful proposal for planning and now for Higher Education for Development in East and Central Africa funded through USAID.
Prof. Owiny thanked the funders and leading partner of the ‘Boma’; USAID-HED and Mississippi State University respectively for making it possible for the ‘Boma’ to take place at CoVAB. The Summer School will conclude with a 2 day scientific conference aimed at providing an opportunity for dissemination of research outputs in integrated diseases management.
Also present at the ‘Boma’ are local partners such us Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries, Ministry of Health, National Livestock Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Organization, District Local Government officials and the Uganda National Council for Higher Education.
The Office of the Academic Registrar,Makerere University has released lists for the recommended for change of course/ programme for Degree/Diploma Scheme and Direct entry for Private/Government sponsored students for the Academic Year 2025/2026.
The lists released can be accessed by following the respective links below:
Makerere University, through the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), has signed an open Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This MoU is one of several initiatives aimed at strengthening the university’s global collaborations and research partnerships.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s recent centenary celebrations as a testament to its long and influential history in Africa. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to serious, research-driven collaboration, noting Makerere’s aspiration to become a leading student-centered research university that develops solutions to regional challenges.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe makes his remarks ahead of the MoU signing.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that Makerere’s research addresses critical issues such as widespread poverty, high youth unemployment, the devastating effects of climate change on agriculture, rapid population growth, and political interference in production. These challenges, he explained, call for climate-resilient agriculture, stronger health systems to address emerging diseases, and more inclusive governance. He further observed that Africa’s ambitious goal of producing one million PhDs in the next decade remains constrained by inadequate supervision capacity across the continent, stressing that collaborations like this MoU are key to bridging that gap.
EPRC Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Sewanyana, described the signing as particularly significant for EPRC and its Board of Directors as they embark on a new five-year strategic plan (2025/26–2029/30). She explained that the plan strongly emphasizes strategic collaborations, with this partnership serving as a prime example of leveraging collective strengths to deepen impact. She underscored EPRC’s role in advancing evidence-based policymaking for national development, aligning with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
The partners show off the signed MoU.
Prof. James Wokadala, Acting Principal of CoBAMS, noted that the collaboration aims to preserve and expand knowledge, enhance capacity-building for faculty and students, and strengthen global research networks. He added that it will also provide platforms for knowledge dissemination, support policy reform, and address pressing social and economic challenges.
Speaking on behalf of LSE’s International Growth Centre (IGC), Executive Director Dr. Jonathan Leape expressed delight at formalizing the long-standing collaboration with Makerere and EPRC. He highlighted current joint projects, including research on the impact of the 2020 gender-based vaccine program on women’s skills and learning, studies on reforms in STEM education, and investigations into barriers limiting business growth for entrepreneurs. He stressed that the core mission is to bring researchers and policymakers together to address pressing policy challenges with robust, reliable evidence and innovative solutions.
Prof. Nawangwe presents a souvenir Mak Necktie to Dr. Jonathan Leape.
The event, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by several dignitaries including Dr. Richard Newfarmer, Country Director for Uganda and Rwanda (IGC); Dr. Nhial Kuch, Senior Country Economist (IGC); and Mary Teddy Nakyejwe, IGC Programme Officer. Also present were the Director of Research, Dr. Ibrahim Kasirye and other members of EPRC leadership.
Makerere University has hosted a delegation from the Ghent University Association, led by Prof. Mieke Van Herreweghe, Vice Rector of Ghent University. The delegation included representatives from Howest University and Hogent University of Applied Sciences.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe welcomed the team and highlighted Makerere University’s commitment to addressing the pressing challenges in the region. These include climate change, which continues to hinder investment, and Uganda’s rapidly growing population that has surged from 5 million in the late 1940s to nearly 50 million currently, creating socio-economic challenges such as high youth unemployment.
He emphasized that Makerere’s research agenda focuses on understanding the fast-growing population, tackling health challenges, advancing governance and human rights, and fostering peace through initiatives such as the Rotary Peace Center—the only one of its kind on the African continent. Research at Makerere also seeks to provide solutions to youth unemployment in one of the world’s youngest nations.
The meeting of Members of Management and the visiting delegation in session in the Vice Chancellor’s Boardroom.
The Vice Chancellor further noted that Makerere University teaches and conducts research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, organized into colleges including Agriculture, Business and Management, Computing, Education and External Studies, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. The university also hosts over 60 specialized research centers, among them Centers of Excellence such as the Regional Centre for Crop Improvement, which works to enhance food security, manage pests and diseases, and improve agricultural productivity. Another key institution is the Infectious Diseases Institute, which leads research on HIV/AIDS. With these initiatives, he added, Makerere continues to expand its research footprint while strengthening global partnerships.
Prof. Van Herreweghe provided an overview of Ghent University, founded in 1817 and ranked among the top 100 universities globally for decades. With its motto “Dare to think,” Ghent University has built a strong international reputation. It also holds the distinction of being the only Belgian, and currently the only European, university with a campus in South Korea. Established in 2014, the campus offers bachelor’s programs in applied biotechnology.
She highlighted Ghent’s joint PhD programs, which are structured as sandwich programs to support African universities. Under this arrangement, PhD candidates spend two years funded at Ghent University and another two years at their home university (such as Makerere), with joint supervision from both institutions. These programs, she noted, are a strategic way of fostering international collaboration.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Prof. Mieke Van Herreweghe pose for a group photo with members of their respective teams at the Main Building entrance.
During the visit, Ghent University signed a Student Exchange Agreement with Makerere University to complement the existing Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement will pave the way for more joint initiatives and strengthen collaboration in the years ahead.
The delegation also included Mr. Lieven Theys, International Coordinator for Business Management at Howest University, who explained that Howest clusters its programs into three key domains: Design and Technology, Human Well-being and Health, and Business and Organization. Dr. Robin Stevens represented Hogent University of Applied Sciences, which runs programs across nine schools including Business and Management, Computer Sciences, Biosciences, Industrial Technology, Teacher Training, and Healthcare.
The visit, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by Makerere University officials and members of various colleges, among them Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) and Principal of the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Prof. Tonny Oyana-Principal College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Prof. Moses Musinguzi-Principal College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Prof. Julius Kikooma-Director Graduate Training, Assoc. Prof. Yazidhi Bamutaze-Deputy Principal College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Assoc. Prof. James Wokadala-Deputy Principal College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS), Assoc. Prof. Richard Idro-Deputy Principal College of Health Sciences, and Dr. Cathy Mbidde, Manager of the Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak UniPod).