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
On the evening of Friday, 13th February 2026, the Scholars of Mastercard Foundation embraced the new semester with enthusiasm and celebration, showcasing their rich cultural diversity at the annual cultural dinner. This event not only fostered a sense of community but also highlighted the importance of cultural exchange and understanding among the scholars. The purpose of the cultural dinner is to foster unity in diversity within the Scholars community and to enable young people to appreciate and respect each other’s cultural differences.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars community at Makerere University is a vibrant tapestry of countries, cultures, and backgrounds. In recognition of this richness, the Program team has proposed organising an annual cultural dinner to kick off each new semester. This event aims to achieve several important objectives:
- Promote mutual understanding and cross-cultural appreciation among Scholars.
- Celebrate and highlight the unique cultural identities within our community.
- Encourage confidence and creativity through a dynamic talent showcase.
- Foster a sense of unity and excitement as we embark on the new academic semester together.
During the event, the Scholars proudly showcased their diverse cultures through a vibrant display of traditional attire, engaging dances, delectable dishes, and meaningful expressions in their native languages. The event showcased a rich tapestry of cultures, including the Baganda from Central Uganda; the Banyankore, Bakiga, Batooro, and Banyoro from Western Uganda; the Acholi from the North; the Karamojong from the Northeast; and the Basoga and Bagisu from the Eastern region, among many other indigenous tribes in Uganda. Additionally, attendees enjoyed cultural performances from South Sudan, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, celebrating the unique heritage of each community.
The event also featured a vibrant showcase of cultural attire, accompanied by traditional songs and dances. Attendees enjoyed cultural dress modelling, engaging performances, art displays, and interactive quizzes, culminating in exciting prizes awarded to outstanding performers. This diverse array of activities contributed to a rich celebration of creativity and cultural exchange.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University is committed to fostering holistic development, community building, and leadership among Scholars. At the start of each semester, the Program Team hosts a cultural dinner to reconnect the Scholars community, share key Program updates, and create an inclusive space to strengthen belonging and engagement. The cultural dinner is a critical platform for raising awareness of the need to appreciate and respect cultural diversity.
Bernard Buteera is the Principal Communications Officer for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Makerere University.
More Photos from the Dinner
The degree of attentiveness was at its peak in the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility (CTF) Auditorium as Ms. Janet Nabukeera addressed support staff during a Safeguarding and Inclusion training. Her words were firm, direct and reflective. Ms. Nabukeera, the Deputy Human Resource Officer in charge of Performance and Payroll, emphasized that a negative attitude in the workplace creates a toxic environment where colleagues feel hesitant to collaborate or share ideas.
“Avoid unnecessary confrontations with colleagues because jealousy and anger destroy more than they build. When you hold grudges at work, you slowly burden your own heart and mind. Stress can take a toll on your health and productivity. Safeguard yourself by choosing peace, love yourself first and extend that same grace and respect to others.” Ms Nabukeera, cautioned.
The training attracted over 300 Support Staff Members, including Security Personnel, Cleaners, Hall Attendants, Administrative Assistants, Librarians, and Laboratory Support Teams from across the University.
In his remarks, Dr. Rodney Rugyema, the Acting Principal Warden, urged staff to have a positive attitude towards their jobs and encouraged them to ensure that students, fellow staff and visitor’s feel safe, respected and protected.
“You are the eyes and ears of the University, while you may not deliver lectures, you are often the first to notice when something is wrong. So you have to promote an environment free from bullying, discrimination, neglect and intimidation. You have to ensure secure hostels, well-lit walkways, functioning locks and safe laboratory environments,” Dr Rugyema, said.
Makerere University has a duty of care to do no harm and promote the wellbeing of all students, staff, and other University community stakeholders. It seeks to enhance the learning environment to make it more secure, inclusive, and ethically sound for all stakeholders.
The Makerere University Safeguarding Policy lays out the University’s framework for embedding viable safeguarding measures into its ethos and all institutional activities and processes to: Identify, detect, and swiftly act on safeguarding risks; prevent the occurrence of harm; provide mechanisms for reporting all allegations or incidents that have occurred; respond appropriately to all reported incidences; and, continuously monitor, evaluate and learn from practices and experiences of managing safeguarding concerns.
“Safeguarding is not only for lecturers or University Management, it is everyone’s responsibility, If you have someone mistreating you, or you come across any risk, do not suffer in silence report through the MakSafeSpace,” Dr Rugyema, said.
The MakSafeSpace is the e-reporting platform complimenting the other University traditional reporting channels. It is an inclusive platform that provides for confidential modes of reporting safeguarding risks and incidences.
As the session concluded, there was a renewed understanding among participants that safeguarding is a collective duty. From the security guard at the gate to the cleaner in the Hall of Residence, it was clear that every staff member contributes to creating a safe and respectful learning environment.
To involve and create opportunities for students and staff members with disabilities, Light for the World Uganda trained the support staff to become inclusion champions.
Mr. Musa Mwambu, the Disability Inclusion Advisor at Light for the World Uganda, called upon staff to remove barriers limiting the full participation of students and colleagues with disabilities, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“Just like any other person, people with disabilities have the right to education, health, and protection. Society has the duty to remove barriers that block participation. When barriers are removed, disability no longer limits opportunity,” Mr. Mwambu noted.
Drawing from his own lived experience as a person with a disability, he shared how access to the right support systems enables him to communicate effectively and perform daily tasks.
“It is about putting the right conditions in place to participate fully in society. We need multi-stakeholder collaboration to remove barriers and achieve an inclusive society,” he said.
Justine Namuddu, the Support Staff representative on the Makerere University Council, thanked the organizers for the insightful workshop. She reminded fellow staff that Makerere University is a home for everyone and urged them to take care of it.
“Fellow members, as you carry out your duties, ensure that you observe both emotional and intellectual safety. Before sharing information, first verify whether it is true. Safety is being at peace with yourself and with others,” Namuddu emphasized.
She also encouraged younger staff members to take advantage of educational opportunities provided by the University, noting that those who wish to continue with their studies may apply for tuition waivers.
The training concluded with reminders on professionalism and accountability. Staff were encouraged to consistently use the Biometric Attendance Management System to capture attendance accurately. With biometric clock-in devices installed at reception areas across the Main and Satellite campuses, the Directorate of Human Resources can monitor attendance in real time, while staff can keep track of hours worked.
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