General
Mak-Senior UPDF Officers Agric Induction Training Kicks Off
Over 300 Senior Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) officers have turned up for a two-week Agriculture Induction Training programme at Makerere University. According to the Minister of State for Luwero Triangle, Honorable Sarah Kataike, the training is aimed at equipping the officers with knowledge and skills, so as to help monitor the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) program across the country.
The Minister said that the idea to involve the Officers in this agricultural programme was endorsed by the President of Uganda, H.E, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni after an initial selection of UPDF officers proved very effective in Luwero District last year.
“In that one year the army displayed a high level of efficiency, commitment and education which enabled distribution of inputs in a timely manner. The officers were indiscriminative and ensured effective supervision up to the last person,” said Hon. Kataike. “Secondly, we need to really mobilize our people into commercial agriculture. The challenge has been the lack of inputs, we have been trying to give inputs through the NAADS but it did not work,” the Minister added.
Upon welcoming the guests at the inauguration ceremony, the Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu appreciated the great honor bestowed upon the University by the Government of Uganda, by selecting the institution to host and offer the Agricultural Induction Training.
“Makerere is happy to collaborate with the UPDF, as we together work toward transformation of our nation. We assure you General Katumba Wamala that we shall give you nothing but the best.” The Vice Chancellor assured.
The Principal College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) Prof. Bernard Bashaasha, said that Makerere University through CAES, was tasked with the responsibility of training the Officers in agriculture before they can be entrusted with the program that seeks to alleviate poverty through the promotion of commercial agriculture.
According to Prof. Bashaasha the training which started Wednesday 6th August, will entail both theory and practical sessions and that by 20th August the officers will be equipped to help
“In the two weeks we are going to host the Officers, we have set up a customized training program, which will give them the necessary skills, in a bid to eradicate poverty with agriculture as the main focus,” said the Principal.
While addressing the Senior Officers, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Edward Katumba Wamala asked the Officers to treat the programme like a mission. The CDF appealed to the officers to practice teamwork for the two weeks they are going to spend while training.
“Take this as a military mission where you have to define the enemy which is poverty and fight it. For the two weeks you are going to spend here; learn to define your mission, come up with your execution plan, to ensure that the mission is achieved, work out your time lines such that whatever is done is being done in time and work out your coordinating instructions to ensure that there are no gaps left.” General Katumba Wamala clarified.
“If the Al-shabab who have tried to frustrate our efforts have not succeeded, how can we fail to deliver what is required to the farmer at the right time, in the right place, in the right quantities and then supervise what is being done?” he further quipped.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Honourable Zerubabel Mijumbi Nyiira, observed that the training of UPDF Officers is not an invasion into the work of civilians as has been perceived by some members of the public but rather more about maximizing the utilization of human resources in socioeconomic development.
“The training is meant to give them the basics of agriculture so that when they go to the field, they will be able to integrate and lend their services to the distribution of seeds, monitoring of ongoing programs as well as give support to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and the Local Governments,” clarified Hon. Nyiira.
The officers will reside in both Nsibirwa and Nkrumah Halls during the course of their two-week training.
By Nabatte Prossy, Intern, Public Relations Office
General
Makerere University and Xiangtan University Advance Strategic Partnership in Chemical Engineering
Makerere University and Xiangtan University are set to update their close to 20-year academic partnership, with a new focus on launching a joint Master’s degree program in Chemical Engineering and expanding student and staff exchange initiatives.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a recent visit by a delegation from Xiangtan University to Makerere University headed by Professor Dingyu Ou, in the company of Mr. Tang Fei and Professor Gilbert Gumshabe, the Chinese and Ugandan Directors of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University respectively.
While addressing the delegation, Professor Nawangwe highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to diversify academic offerings and contribute to national development through training in Chemical Engineering. Through this new initiative, the University will better prepare graduates for the petrochemical industry and support the country’s industrial growth.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated that the proposed collaboration aims to address Uganda’s growing need for industrial expertise, particularly as the country develops its petroleum sector. The two universities here are working toward a 1+2 training model, which will enable Makerere students to gain practical experience and access advanced laboratory facilities at Xiangtan University.
Professor Nawangwe further reiterated that “our relationship with the people of China, not just for Makerere but also for a big part of Uganda, has been opened wider by the establishment of the Confucius Institute, considering that many other collaborations like one being discussed now have come through this collaboration.”
The head of the Xiangtan delegation, Professor Dingyu Ou, expressed appreciation for the meeting, and acknowledged the history between the institutions. “As mentioned, we have a very long relationship and a very stable friendship between our two universities.”
Professor Ou extended appreciation for the support provided to the Confucius Institute at Makerere, the care shown to his colleagues, and looked forward to the successful start of the Chemical Engineering collaboration.
Assuring the delegation of Makerere’s readiness for the collaboration, Ms. Hawa Ndagire Kajumba the Lead, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Makerere University Advancement Office, aligned with the Vice Chancellor’s emphasis of University goal to have both theory and practice imparted to the students.
She said “the curriculum of the university and Uganda as a whole is moving towards competence-based education training to ensure students are equipped to demonstrate those skills in the actual field, particularly regarding petroleum exploration.”
Ms. Ndagire Kajumba also emphasised a shift in strategy for the partnership office, saying, “we are moving away from just signing MOUs that collect dust, and moving towards those that are more collaborative to benefit our faculty and students, just like this one.”
Professor Gilbert Kumushabe aligned his remarks with those of the Vice Chancellor and Ms. Ndagire Kajumba, and described the method used at Xiangtan University as “actually competence-based teaching.”
Based on his recent visit, Prof. Gumoshabe shared that students in China are divided into groups with dedicated teachers to perform practical, hands-on work beyond the theoretical lecturers. He expressed gladness that the same was being adopted for the Ugandan context.
Both institutions are now working to finalise the specific agreements for the joint degree and exchange programs. Beyond academic training, the collaboration will advance cultural and professional exchange.
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