General
Mak-Sasakawa symposium ‘Takes it to the Farmer’
The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, CAES, in collaboration with Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) held a one day symposium on Agricultural transformation on 8th July 2014. The symposium, held at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) Conference Hall-Makerere University, attracted a number of local and international delineates from the UK, USA, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Mali, Benin, Switzerland, Ghana and Japan. It was held under the theme, “Take it to the Farmer: The Relevance of Universities in Agricultural Transformation in Uganda.’ The symposium was as part of the events commemorating 100 years of Dr. Norman Borlaug, Nobel Laureate, who together with former US president Jimmy Carter and Japanese philanthropist; Ryoich Sasakawa founded the SAA/Sasakawa Global 2000.
It also attracted a number of dignitaries including the former President of Benin, H.E Nicéphore Soglo, Uganda’s High Commissioner to the UK, Prof. Joyce Kikafunda, MPs and members of staff, Makerere University.
While opening the symposium, theMakerere University Chancellor, Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera, decried the food security question in Africa. “Africa has a big challenge of food security. Taking Uganda as an example, I have seen the population grow from 5m to 35m yet food production has not grown to the same ratio. Food shortage has even reduced the stature of people in Kigezi, my home area,” he lamented.
Chancellor Kagonyera made reference to Uganda’s recently read budget for the financial year 2015/16, which indicated an increment in taxation on farm implements. “I talk in frustration. We do not seem to see things change significantly in agriculture the backbone of our economy. Agricultural projects like the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture and its offspring, NAADs, have all not achieved the desired impact. In the last budget speech, the Minister proposed tax increments on agricultural items. I do not know whether the farming community was consulted, but is not fair,” he asserted.
The Chancellor reminisced the good old days when Makerere University was consulted before such decisions would be taken, he emphasized that high taxation on the agricultural sector will further compound the high levels of malnutrition in Uganda, at a time Government is increasingly advocating for Universal Primary Education, UPE. “How do you expect to educate a malnourished child, whose brain has not fully developed and who is always dosing in class because of hunger?” he wondered.
The Principal, CAES, Prof. Bernard Bashaasha called for more engagements in agriculture. “Governments in Africa need to re-engage in agriculture so that the supply and demand are addressed simultaneously. It is also critical to enhance multi-disciplinarily approach to all initiatives so that agriculture works with other fields. You cannot do it alone,” he said.
High Commissioner H.E Prof. Joyce Kikafunda observed that the time is right for Africa to make her case to the rest of the world. “It is time for Africa to bring out her needs and challenges. The post 2015 development agenda looks at inclusive development. Uganda has the UN Presidency now and we should make the best of this opportunity. In relation to involvement of all stakeholders in such gatherings, especially the farmers, I propose Think-Tanks comprised of a cross sectional representation of farmers, academicians, policy makers and the like,” she advised amidst applause. Many were happy that Prof. Kikafunda, a former member of staff, CAES was back home, at least to attend the symposium.
In an exclusive interview with the Public Relations Office, the Benin former President, who is also a member of the Sasakawa Board- H.E Nicéphore Soglo, pointed out that it is necessary to show that good life can be obtained even in the villages without necessarily coming to town. He referred to a visit he had had to a one acre farm in Entebbe owned by Dr. Nyamutale Natalie – on which she carries out a variety of activities including fish farming, poultry rearing and cultivation. “It is good to show that in each village you can do this. It is not necessary to come to town to have a good life. You can have a good life even in the village. From what I saw on this farm, I want to go back and share the same with the people of Benin,” he said.
CAES has a long history of working with Sasakawa in capacity building, including opportunities extended to students and farmers. According to the CAES Principal, Prof. Bashasha, these engagements are good ground for addressing the rampant youth unemployment through skills enhancement.
In relation to youth unemployment, one of the panelists-Mr. Charles Ocici of Enterprise Uganda pointed out that the biggest deterrent is the mind set, focusing on white-collar jobs. “Agriculture is a low hanging sector for anyone to get into, with numerous opportunities right from production all the way to processing. Attitude is the challenge. The dogma that you go to school and get a job afterwards is so entrenched in our young generation and is a hindrance to entrepreneurship. Many think that agriculture is for those who have failed,” he emphasized. “The private sector will not buy from you because of your age, qualifications, tribe, or gender. We will buy from the best service provider. It is a brutal sector of choice, competition, continuous learning but is certainly very rewarding,” he added.
Sharing his experience on the same, Prof. Jacob Agea, a member of staff, CAES, Makerere University revealed that he is actively engaged in a private business of supplying pigeons to a top hotel in Kampala and that he has every reason to smile when his pay cheque jets in from the proceeds. He encouraged others to follow suit by actively engaging in agriculture.
Sharing about the international experience, Dr. David Norman of Winrock International advised that it is critical to engage all players in the value chain to provide information to and from the farmers as a way of addressing emerging issues.
Other panelists included Dr. Swaibu Mbowa, Br. Deola Naibakelao, Dr. Paul Kibwika, Dr. Tim Chancellor, Dr. Dorothy Masinde, Dr. Florence Lubwama, Prof. Jonny Mugisha and Hon. Prof. Ruth Oniang’o among others.
The first two symposiums of its kind were held in Mali to mark the 20th and the 25th anniversaries of Dr. Norman Borlaug. The next symposium will be agreed upon after a decision of the Sasakawa Board. After the engagement at Makerere University, the symposium delegates are set to travel to Jinja and share these deliberations with selected farmers.
By Marion Alina, Public Relations Office
The Senior Program Director, Higher Education and Research in Africa, International Program, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Prof. Omotade Akin Aina on 23rd May 2025 visited Makerere University during his short trip to Kampala. Prof. Aina was received on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe by Prof. Tony Oyana, Principal of the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).
During his visit, Prof. Aina met with the Project Implementation Committee, representatives from the Consolidating Early Career Academics Programme (CECAP) phase I Fellowship Cohort, and current Fellows of phase II. The meeting discussed the progress of CECAP II, which focuses on fostering academic development and research among early-career academics.
CECAP II is being implemented by Makerere University in collaboration with four other Ugandan public universities, including; Busitema University, Gulu University, Kyambogo University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, the Project Principal Investigator was represented at the meeting by the Director of Graduate Training, Prof. Julius Kikooma.
By Moses Lutaaya
The Directorate of Graduate Training at Makerere University has equipped several Senior ranking lecturers with expert knowledge in a Training of Trainers’ workshop on “Philosophy of Methods”.
In his remarks at the opening of a 3-day training workshop at Level4 Conference Hall – Senate Building, the Director of Graduate Training Prof. Julius Kikooma said, “The teaching of Philosophy of Methods gives all participants the fundamentals to extend knowledge to other learners, hence its importance in upholding the Makerere University values.”
Kikooma urged and challenged the participants to also attend and actively participate in the follow up of learners’ training of students, stating that the PhD students need support as the directorate continues to coordinate the curriculum of PhD by-research that was approved by the senate recently.
“To holistically implement the senate approved PhD curriculum, we are coordinating capacity building trainings of all stake holders in a structured approach with the different units of the University. Many more trainings including Training of Trainers in advanced research methods course are on the way.”
He further urged the participants to be intentional in their teaching profession and in whatever they were doing, adding “Apart from focusing on practices as teachers and researchers, we can engage in wider philosophical debates in our research areas so that we are relevant in the society and in the empowerment of PhD research students.”
The participants for the Philosophy of Methods training were from College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University Business School among others.
During the same training, Dr. Dickson Kanakulya stressed the need to train senior lecturers in the Philosophy of Methods, saying, “The biggest connection is that societal problems require concrete research to find solutions. Our challenge in Africa is that we employ a short barrow approach to find solutions to problems. This cannot work. We need consistent researchers to solve problems. Lasting solutions to societal issues can only be got through training such as Philosophy of Methods, where researchers come up with new models for societal solutions.”
Dr. Kanakulya said that Makerere University remains the biggest research University in Africa and philosophy of Methods helps to come up with good research tools that produce good research outputs. “Research has shown that the higher the number of PhD researchers in any given country, the higher the levels of development of that country e.g. the USA, China etc., adding that research is not limited to only medicinal or agricultural related issues.”
He said philosophy of methods, encourages philosophical creativity in research, “It is meant to bring out philosophical generation of concepts, theories and ideas. It is meant to encourage students to question the existing philosophical assumptions and status quo in a given field of knowledge such that new philosophical concepts are created.”
For successful rollout of government programs like the National Development Plan 4, Dr. Kanakulya said that Philosophy of Methods training needs to be integrated into such systems. “Philosophy of Methods focuses on ethical thinking aspects. For example, for a better rollout of the Parish Development Model, we need implementers to be ethical.” He added.
Prof. Sulait Tumwiine, the associate Dean of Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at MUBS said, “This is a discussion where new ideas are shared to guide and gauge applicability in the current knowledge diversity coupled with lots of technological development including Artificial Intelligence and Chat GPT.”
He added, “As professors of Universities, we need to understand how we leverage on what comes up so that it does not take our space, but also appreciate how we can support growth of knowledge. The Philosophy of Methods training is the answer.”
Dr. Jim Spire Ssentongo highlighted that Philosophy uses more of the critical mind than Science. He added that philosophy is more of speculation of the mind.
“Sustainability of philosophy Education encourages us to continue training. Philosophy being the oldest discipline retained special status in the academia as a pinnacle of pursuit of knowledge. All disciplines have major elements of philosophy citing examples in the philosophy of Mathematics and Physics.
Dr. Spire added, “If you do not understand philosophy, you cannot deeply investigate anything because philosophy is the reality of understanding everything. Philosophy is the basis of understanding what knowledge is and how it is arrived at.”
Also participating in the workshop was Prof. Joseph Ntaayi from MUBS, in his remarks he said PhD students need the philosophy of methods training to understand how to best to create knowledge. He added that ontological and epistemological questions that lead to good research design methods can only be answered by this training.
Dr. Robert Kakuru, a Lecturer in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences said that the Philosophy of Methods training is needed by every graduate student as well as supervisors to critically determine the choice of methods to use in academic research. For example, “If one wants to use a questionnaire as an interview approach, one should understand, why that approach and yet without this training, the why cannot be answered.” He added.
The Philosophy of Methods training was organized by Directorate of Graduate Training with funding support from the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA).
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