General
Why Not Uganda? Asks Amb Haskel on Farewell Visit to Mak
The Israel Ambassador to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Seychelles H.E. Gil Haskel paid a farewell visit to Makerere University as part of his end of duty visit to Uganda from 13th to 15th July 2014. Accompanied by his wife Mrs. Dalit Dassa Haskel, the Ambassador Haskel paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu in his office on 14th July 2014, where he also met with the Chancellor, Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera, the Chairperson Council, Eng. Dr. Charles Wana Etyem, Representative to the Minister of Education and Sports and the Principal, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) Prof. John David Kabasa.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ddumba-Ssentamu thanked the Ambassador for including Makerere University on his farewell visit to Uganda noting that this was a true testament to the to the value the Government and people of Israel attach to academia and indeed to Makerere University.
”We sincerely thank H.E. Ambassador Gil Haskel for his personal contribution to the success of the Agrostudies Internship at Makerere University and the Nation. This internship has not only grown but also flourished under your term of office,” said the Vice Chancellor in reference to the Agrostudies International Internship program increasing Uganda’s internship slots from 41 to 192.
Speaking on behalf of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) which was the flagship college for the Agrostudies Internship, Prof. John Muyonga-Dean, School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering on behalf of the Principal Prof. Bernard Bashaasha reiterated the Vice Chancellor’s statement, “We are happy Your Excellency that in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, where we only had two programmes participating last year, we are going to have a total of five programmes participating this year.”
Prof. Muyonga also expressed pleasure that more Colleges like CoVAB as well as other Institutions were also participating in the programme. “This is indeed the way to make the programme actually deliver for the country,” he added. He further appreciated the value that the Internship added to all the theory the students learnt, noting that the College looked forward to interacting with even more institutions to mainstream skilling of its students.
As an outcome of the Makerere University Job Evaluation Task Force’s benchmarking visit to Israel from 17th to 20th July 2012, the University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bar-llan University, Israel on 5th April 2013. The Principal, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) Prof. JYT Mugisha appreciated Bar-Ilan University’s advancement in nano technology, computational sciences, astrophysics, biotechnology and bioengineering and hoped that the partnership would help broaden research cooperation in those disciplines.
“The College of Natural Sciences has written a project through which we can holistically partner with Bar-Ilan University. The project is aimed at bridging the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) gap in the rural and urban High Schools, also incorporating gender aspects,” said Prof. Mugisha. “We hope that this project can be taken up under the Presidential initiative so that together with Bar Ilan University, we can popularize sciences in Uganda with the anticipation of a big boost to the number of science students in the next eight years,” added the Principal CoNAS.
On behalf of the Makerere University Job Evaluation Task Force, Mr. George Piwang Jalobo who served as the Research Fellow on the same body borrowed a leaf from his theological background to illustrate how Israel’s use of modern technology to turn desert and wilderness into Eden was prophesied by Isaiah 51:1-3.
“If Israel could turn desert and wilderness into lush agricultural land, what could their skills and competence do to the fertile well-fed soils that we have in Uganda?” he pondered. “The trick and the key is in the hands of you the students that are going as agricultural evangelists to Israel to be trained to transform Agriculture in Uganda,” Mr. Piwang encouraged, further adding “That is the vision of His Excellency the President to transform agriculture in Uganda as embodied in Vision 2040 and you are the change agents. You are the cadres of agricultural modernization and transformation in Uganda. Don’t waste that opportunity.”
Speaking on behalf of CoVAB, the latest college to join the Agrostudies programme, The Principal Prof. John David Kabasa appreciated the timeliness of the Internship, noting that by 2040, it was envisaged that about 1billion people would be living in Cities of this region and would require safe and healthy animal products.
“Foot and mouth disease is one of those that can paralyze animal production. When this initiative came up, there was an opportunity to write a joint framework with partners from Ben-Gurion University of Negev-Israel, the US and Uganda Virus Research Institute to identify strains of the virus and come up with a vaccine to cordon it off. If we are able to do that, trading with Israel and other countries will be okay, and we hope, Your Excellency, that this programme will help to catalyse this initiative beyond other diseases which are also affecting the business,” stated Prof. Kabasa.
Mr. Agaba Issa Mugabo the Agrostudies Coordinator for East and Southern Africa thanked the Ambassador for his support to the Agrostudies Internship programme at Makerere University and always making personal follow-ups on the Students’ progress. He also prayed that the Ambassador would through his new office consider rounding off the Ugandan Internship slots to 200.
“Your Excellency, out of the 192 slots, we have interviewed close to 300 students from the five Institutions; Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Bishop Stuart University-Mbarara, Busoga University and Bukalasa Agricultural College, and we have shortlisted about 230 with only 8 slots for girls. Uganda is a gender-sensitive country and our prayer is that in your new capacity as Head of MASHAV, you will not only increase our total slots to 200 but also increase the slots for females,” advocated Mr. Mugabo.
Out of the 192 slots confirmed by Agrostudies, 25 have gone to CAES, 40 to CoVAB, 20 to Kyambogo University, 32 to Busoga University, 15 to Bishop Stuart University and 60 to Bukalasa Agricultural College.
In his remarks, the Chairperson University Council, Eng. Dr. Charles Wana Etyem commended Ambassador Haskel for his keen interest in Makerere as demonstrated by his record-holding visits. “In the long and distinguished history of Makerere University, H.E. Gil Haskel indeed holds his own record not only as the first Israeli Ambassador but also the first foreign envoy ever to have visited Makerere University three times within a space of less than one and a half years. We pray that you may continue to break many more records here at Makerere University, especially as you take on your new assignment back home in Israel,” said the Chairperson Council.
Eng. Dr. Wana Etyem further appreciated the Agrostudies Programme, as an opportunity for Ugandans to not only receive practical skills in the sciences but also change the mindset and attitude of students towards agricultural work and productivity. He prayed that any issues emanating from the programme which was approved by the Senate and endorsed by the Council would be appropriately handled without creating any anxiety on the part of any party.
In Reading the Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Jessica Alupo’s remarks, the Minister’s representative expressed her appreciation to Ambassador Haskel on the progress of the partnership thus far “Your Excellency, the Government of Uganda is pleased that the Memorandum of Understanding between Makerere University and Bar Ilan University and the Agrostudies Agricultural Internship towards modernization of agriculture in Uganda and future collaborations with other Israeli Universities and Institutions are all geared towards promoting and scaling up the Presidential Initiative for Science, Technology and Innovations,” read the representative.
“The Honourable Minster of Education and Sports also recommended to the Chancellor Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera to inaugurate H.E. President Yoweri Museveni as the Patron of the Presidential Initiative for Science, Technology and Innovation in Makerere University, as a Ugandan homegrown centre of excellence in Science Technology and Innovation in Africa,” he added. This has been proposed to take place in October 2014, as part of Uganda’s 52nd Independence Celebrations, in recognition of President Museveni being the first African Head of State to set up the Presidential Initiative in 2010/11 as a National Science, Technology and Innovation fund at Makerere in the context of the African Science, Technology and Innovations Consolidated Action Plan as approved by the African Union Heads of State in 2006.
In appreciation of the warm welcome that had been extended to His Embassy and all Israeli Nationals that had visited Makerere University, H.E. Ambassador Gil Haskel remarked that it was a huge honour for him to break the record by being the first foreign envoy to visit Makerere University three times in a space of less than one and a half years “But I think in return Uganda also broke a record in being the first Country to elevate the number of students to almost 200 in the second year. So we are now equal in terms of record breaking,” remarked Ambassador Haskel amidst applause from the audience.
The Ambassador expressed his pleasure at being invited to address a distinguished audience which included the largest batch of students ever to be sent on Internship from Uganda to Israel. He however challenged the students to ask themselves one simple question ‘Why Not?’ in reference to why agro-technology and agricultural farming should not elevate itself in Uganda to the exact same level as it is in Israel.
“That question ‘Why not?’ should lead you in your future endeavours after you come back, because the whole idea of this programme is to allow our good friends in Uganda to adopt and adapt the technologies exercised in Israel. We are 66years old while Uganda is 52years old. We are not very much apart in age and so what we achieved in Israel can be achieved in Uganda,” challenged Ambassador Haskel.
Addressing the gathering at the Chief Guest-Executive Director, Uganda Industrial Research Institute and Senior Presidential Advisor on Science and Technology, Prof. Charles Kwesiga noted that Uganda has a lot to learn from Israel which has debunked all theories, notions and even excuses that we give for our own slow pace of development. “Talk about political strife, they are never at peace; Israel is faced with intermittent wars and an implacable enemy that seeks its destruction and the economy is continuously strained by having to spend more per capita on its own protection than any other country in the world,” he noted.
Prof. Kwesiga further challenged Africa not to use brain drain as an excuse because Israel, despite having many people of Jewish origin living outside her borders has still managed to produce many award winning innovations including Nobel Laureates “But how do they do it?” pondered The Chief Guest, before hastening to answer, “Israel manages to inspire its citizens and all the people of the Jewish faith to always think about and contribute to the betterment of their homeland.” In the same vein, The Chief Guest decried the mockery made by Ugandans in the Diaspora of their own country, noting that such tendencies would only serve to hold us back.
Turning to the Internship-bound students, Prof. Kwesiga challenged “Israel has the highest ratio of University degrees to the population in the world. Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin. My young students, why not cooperate and collaborate with a success story like Israel? On a per capita basis, Israel has the largest number of biotech startups. So as you go for Agrostudies, be on the lookout. You can learn a thing or two,” said Prof. Charles Kwesiga.
The Chief Guest prayed that Ambassador Gil Haskel would continue with the good job of promoting collaboration between Ugandan and Israeli institutions and of enhancing even further the bilateral operations. He also appealed to the audience to take advantage of this goodwill from Israel so that Uganda can leapfrog some of her own problems.
Appreciating the Government of Israel’s contributions to Uganda and Makerere, The Chancellor Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera presented H.E. Ambassador Gil Haskel with a souvenir. “Therefore Your Excellency, in appreciation of your support to the Kiira EV project and furtherance of the Project’s collaboration with the Israel Government, Scholarship and Private Sector, it is our pleasure and privilege to give you this small souvenir so that you can still remember that there is such a thing as the Kiira EV project,” said The Chancellor, thereafter encouraging the audience to visit the Centre for Research in Transportation Technologies (CRTT) Ntinda premises. “We have to learn to love our country especially you the young people. Get genetically engineered so that you can have a change of attitude. Choose to be different,” added the Chancellor.
In moving a vote of thanks to the Chief Guest the Vice Chancellor Bishop Stuart University (BSU) and former Dean, School of Biosciences, CoNAS, Dr. Maud Kamatenesi appreciated Prof. Charles Kwesiga for his stimulating and inspirational address that had rallied students to go out and do their best. She thanked the Makerere University Council and Management for always mentoring and reaching out to BSU; the Agrostudies Internship being one of the avenues. She gave glory to God for the Nation of Israel’s inspirational example to the rest of world in Science, Technology and Innovations.
Article by Public Relations Office
The Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has today, Friday, 26th June 2026 handed over the CCE (Complex) Hall of Residence Site to National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) Managing Director and CEO, Lieutenant General James Mugira for renovation and overhaul works. The UGX 12billion Government of Uganda-funded works, expected to be completed within a year, are the fourth project to be undertaken by NEC. They were preceded by; construction of the University Perimeter Wall, Renovation of Lumumba Hall, and Renovation of Mary Stuart Hall.
NEC’s Record Lauded
Prof. Nawangwe in his remarks at the handover ceremony lauded these projects. “The quality of work done by NEC makes us proud because we can finally say that we have Ugandans who can do the things, which we previously depended on foreigners to do.” He therefore thanked the Government of Uganda for fully funding the projects and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni, whose visit set the renovation projects in motion.
The Vice Chancellor added that as the Alma mater for most members of both the Contractor and Project Management Teams, this was a moment of great pride as their expertise and skills have saved the country billions of taxpayers’ money. “Thank you for being patriotic”, he commended.
Prof. Nawangwe concluded by noting that CCE Hall, by virtue of its location, provides a first impression of Makerere University as a whole. He therefore urged the contractor to ensure that upon renovation, CCE Hall would create a memorable and lasting first impression, exceeding even that of the renovated Mary Stuart Hall.
A Project Fueled by Nostalgia
Speaking of impressions, Lt. Gen. Mugira, with nostalgia recalled that close to 42 years ago, he not only attended his first lectures in Hall 1 of the CCE Complex but also, on a more personal note added, “my wife was a resident, and so I have every motivation to put in a lot of effort and make sure that I deliver more than was done with Mary Stuart and Lumumba.”
He therefore extended heartfelt appreciation to his Alma mater Makerere University for the trust and confidence bestowed in NEC, which underscored their ability to deliver. “Trust is earned through performance, through integrity and consistency, and your decision to engage us motivates us to work even harder to exceed your expectations.”
In his remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe reechoed the need to ensure that the project is executed with adherence to the cost, quality, specifications and safety related issues as earlier shared by the Acting (Ag.) Chief Engineer of Estates and Works, Eng. Ezra Sekadde.
“NEC has already demonstrated this (with previous projects), and that is why we have all the confidence that you can deliver this project within 12 months” remarked Prof. Alinaitwe. He equally lauded the Project Management Team (PMT) led by Arch. Dr. Kenneth Ssemwogerere whose supervision ensures timely project completion.
Relatedly, Arch. Dr. Semwogerere was on 25th June 2026, the eve of the handover, promoted to the rank of Associate Professor, a milestone Prof. Alinaitwe attributed to his track record as Head of PMT. He therefore, on a light note, urged him to keep up the good work as this could equally contribute to his promotion to the rank of full Professor.
Also present at the handover ceremony was the Principal, College of Education and External Studies (CEES) Prof. Anthony Mugagga, whose unit will be greatly affected by the renovations. He nevertheless welcomed and reiterated his full support for the project, noting that just as renovation of Lumumba and Mary Stuart Halls had resulted in many alumni revisiting, the CCE Complex would upon renovation attract former residents and teaching professionals to give back or forge new partnerships.
Student Welfare at the Forefront
On her part, the Dean of Students Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli lauded the renovations of Halls of Residence as a clear demonstration of Government’s dedication to the improvement of student welfare, and creating an environment conducive for nurturing responsible citizens who can contribute to national development. She pledged her Office’s and the Student Leadership’s readiness to ensure that the renovated facilities used responsibly for the benefit of future generations.
As a resident of the recently renovated Mary Stuart Hall, 92nd Guild President H.E. Kadondi Gracious could not help but appreciate how impactful the renovation of CCE Hall would be to student welfare. “The female students will be very excited (to occupy CCE Hall) but the male students will be left complaining – so we shall be expecting more renovations, not just for the female but also the male students,” she amiably concluded.
General
Makerere University Leads EU-Funded MAGNETISE Project to Strengthen Gender Equality in Higher Education Across Sub-Saharan Africa
A consortium of African and European universities has intensified efforts to mainstream gender equality in higher education through the MAGNETISE project, with Makerere University taking a leading role in hosting a high-level workshop that brought together policymakers, researchers, and gender experts to reflect on institutional progress, persistent gaps, and future strategies.
The initiative, focused on Mainstreaming Gender in Higher Education Institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa (MAGNETISE), is supported by the European Union and implemented through a multi-country partnership involving institutions in Uganda, South Africa, and Europe. It aims to move beyond policy formulation to practical implementation, monitoring, and institutional accountability in gender equality.
At the heart of the discussions was a shared concern: while universities across the region have developed gender policies over the past decades, translating these frameworks into measurable, lived institutional change remains uneven.
A Consortium Approach to Gender Mainstreaming in Academia
Opening the workshop, held at Makerere University recently, the project lead, Professor James Acai Okwee who is also deputy Principal CoVAB, described MAGNETISE as a collaborative effort designed to strengthen institutional capacity for gender equality planning across higher education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He explained that the consortium includes Ugandan partners such as Makerere University and Muni University, alongside South African institutions including University of KwaZulu-Natal, Rhodes University, and Nelson Mandela University. European partners include Katholieke Hoge school VIVES Zuid (VIVES) and KMOP Policy Centre from Belgium, as well as Research Innovation and Development Lab (ReadLab) and University of Peloponnese. The consortium also includes additional European academic collaboration through the University of Applied Sciences and related policy and research networks.
According to Acai, the core objective is not simply to produce policies, but to ensure universities develop functional gender equality plans supported by implementation tools, monitoring frameworks, and institutional accountability systems.
“We have had policies since the early 2000s, but the real question is: where is the implementation plan, and how do we track progress?” he noted. “If a policy says 40 percent representation for women in leadership, we must be able to measure whether that is being achieved.”
He emphasized that MAGNETISE would support training, capacity-building exchanges with European institutions, student engagement programmes, and the development of a digital knowledge hub for gender equality.
Makerere University’s Institutional Position on Gender Equality
Representing university leadership, Dr. Suzan Mbabazi of Makerere University’s Gender Mainstreaming Directorate reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to advancing gender equality across its academic, research, and community engagement mandate. She highlighted significant progress made over more than two decades, citing policies such as the Gender Equality Policy and the Regulations Against Sexual Harassment, alongside governance frameworks that have institutionalized gender equity. Makerere has also established key structures, including the Institute of Gender and Development Studies and the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate, to coordinate initiatives across faculties. Yet, Dr. Mbabazi cautioned that structural achievements do not erase systemic challenges. “Despite progress globally and locally, we must acknowledge persistent gaps, biases, and inequalities within higher education institutions,” she said, stressing the need to bridge policy and practice. She urged participants to prioritize awareness creation, institutional analysis of existing gaps, and deliberate action to dismantle structural barriers. Reaffirming management’s support, she called for continued collaboration among institutions and stakeholders to sustain momentum in gender mainstreaming.
Preliminary Survey Findings Reveal Mixed Progress
Presenting the initial findings of a university-wide survey, Dr. Peace Musiimenta of the School of Women and Gender Studies at Makerere University revealed that responses from 82 participants across various units highlight both progress and persistent challenges in advancing gender equality. While many acknowledged strides in gender mainstreaming, structural and cultural barriers remain entrenched. The study found that although gender policies exist, their implementation is often inconsistent, and initiatives risk being treated as isolated projects rather than integrated institutional practices. Dr. Musiimenta noted that some staff perceive gender programs as overly focused on women, fueling resistance and ideological tensions within academic spaces. She emphasized that the challenge is no longer the absence of policy but the need to ensure visibility, ownership, and effective application of existing frameworks to embed gender equality across the institution.
Gender Audit Highlights Structural Gaps and Progress
Expanding on the institutional audit, Dr. Florence Ebila outlined the methodology and preliminary findings of the gender audit conducted between May and June 2026.She explained that the audit examined institutional policies, governance systems, practices, organizational culture, and perceptions of gender equality.
The study drew data from multiple administrative units including human resources, academic registrars, estates and works departments, and student leadership structures. Ebila reported that Makerere University has made significant institutional progress, including the establishment of gender-focused units and integration of gender considerations into teaching, research, and governance. However, she identified persistent disparities in representation, particularly in science-related disciplines where male staff and students remain dominant.
She also highlighted infrastructural gaps, noting that while newer buildings are increasingly accessible, several older facilities lack adequate support for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Another concern raised was limited gender-responsive budgeting, with insufficient allocation of resources to sustain gender mainstreaming activities across all units. “The challenge is not just policy design, but operationalization at all levels of the institution,” she said.
Gender, Identity, and Institutional Culture: A Critical Reflection
A keynote reflection by Dr Josephine Ahikire introduced a deeper theoretical lens to the discussion, situating gender mainstreaming within broader questions of institutional power, identity, and cultural norms.
Ahikire emphasized that gender mainstreaming is not a technical exercise but a structural transformation process that challenges entrenched systems of privilege.
She used the example of Makerere University’s centenary monument, where a male graduate is prominently positioned in front view while a female graduate is placed at the rear, to illustrate how symbolic representations can reflect deeper institutional biases.
“What appears natural often hides embedded inequality,” she argued. “Even symbolic structures matter because they reflect how institutions imagine gender.”
Ahikire acknowledged Makerere University’s progress in policy development and institutional frameworks but cautioned that deeper cultural transformation is still required.
She emphasized the need to interrogate curriculum design, research systems, and informal institutional practices that may perpetuate inequality despite formal commitments to inclusion.
She further argued that gender discourse must retain its political dimension, noting that terms such as feminism should not be avoided but engaged critically in order to address structural inequality.
“Gender equality work is not about comfort,” she said. “It is about questioning established norms and rethinking how power is distributed.”
Institutional Achievements and Remaining Challenges
Across presentations, several common themes emerged.
Participants acknowledged that Makerere University has developed one of the most advanced gender mainstreaming frameworks in the region, including:
- A dedicated gender equality policy framework
- Sexual harassment regulations and safeguarding policies
- Institutional gender mainstreaming structures
- Student engagement programmes and gender clubs
- Scholarships supporting women in science and disadvantaged backgrounds
- Increasing integration of gender into teaching and research
However, speakers consistently highlighted persistent challenges, including:
- Limited implementation of gender policies at departmental level
- Uneven representation of women in senior academic ranks
- Infrastructure gaps affecting accessibility and inclusion
- Weak gender-responsive budgeting mechanisms
- Resistance and misunderstanding of gender equality concepts
- Fragmentation of gender work across isolated units
Towards a Comprehensive Gender Equality Plan
A key outcome of the MAGNETISE project is the development of a comprehensive institutional gender equality plan for Makerere University, supported by monitoring tools and a sustainability framework.
The plan is expected to consolidate existing policies into a coherent implementation strategy, linking institutional commitments to measurable outcomes.
It will also include a handbook for monitoring gender equality initiatives and a digital platform for knowledge sharing among students and staff.
Project leaders emphasized that sustainability will depend on institutional ownership beyond donor funding, particularly through integration into university governance systems.
A Continuing Institutional Journey
The workshop concluded with a shared recognition that gender equality in higher education remains a work in progress, requiring sustained institutional commitment, cultural transformation, and accountability mechanisms.
While Makerere University has made notable progress over the past decades, speakers agreed that the next phase of gender mainstreaming must focus on implementation, visibility, and structural change.
As the MAGNETISE project continues across partner institutions in Africa and Europe, it positions itself not only as a research initiative, but as a long-term institutional reform effort aimed at reshaping how universities understand and operationalize gender equality in higher education.
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