General
Ugandan Students Complete Israel Agrostudies Internship
Thirty-six Ugandan students who left for the 11-months agricultural apprenticeship programme in Israel last year have successfully completed their internship. Thirty-four are from Makerere University while two are from Busitema University. This is the first time Uganda has participated in this life-changing internship with great success.
The students who left in October 2013 have studied advanced agricultural techniques and technologies, combining hands on experience with theoretical studies. This has allowed them to gain valuable experience in large-scale modern farming which they are expected to implement upon their return to Uganda.
This international apprenticeship programme exposes students from countries in South East Asia, Africa and South America to Israel and to the most advanced commercial farming techniques on handpicked farms throughout the country. A total of 1,100 students from 18 countries participated in this year’s programme with 500 students originating from Africa.
The ceremony held at the Tel Aviv University Auditorium was attended by the Vice President of Malawi H.E Saulos Chilima, Head of MASHAV and former Israel Ambassador to East, Central and Southern Africa H.E. Ambassador Gil Haskel as well as several Ambassadors from participating countries. MASHAV is the Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ceremony was also attended by the delegation from Uganda who are on a fact-finding visit before sending their students for this internship. The Vice Chancellor of Bishop Stuart University Mbarara, Prof. Maud Kamatenesi, led this delegation which also included; Prof. Anthony Mugisha, Dean School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (CoVAB), Makerere University, Ms. Jaquiline Kyomuhendo-Dean, Faculty of Applied Science, Bishop Stuart University, Mr. Musita Augustus-Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Busoga University, Mr. David Adengu-Academic Registrar, Bukalasa Agricultural College, Mrs. Beatrice Okinyal-Head, Department of Crop Production, Bukalasa Agricultural College, Eng. Henry Okinyal-Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and Mr. Agaba Issa Mugabo, Agrostudies Coordinator, East, Central & Southern Africa.
In his speech, the Agrostudies Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yaron Tamir hoped that students would use the acquired practical skills and experience to become leading agribusiness entrepreneurs in their respective countries. He noted that since the students had survived the difficulties facing Israel today, they are ready to face and overcome any challenge and achieve whatever they set out to do in life.
Mr. Tamir reminded the students that their choice of Israel as the apprenticeship destination placed a huge responsibility on their shoulders as future agriculture leaders in their countries to guarantee food security for their communities by putting into practice all they had learnt.
“The main reason why Agrostudies started this internship programme is to promote food security by empowering students from developing countries through a creative, dynamic, multicultural program that involves both academic studies and learning by doing, gaining real hands on experience in the field,” said Mr. Tamir.
He challenged the students to share the gained knowledge and practical skills with the students and farmers who did not get the opportunity to come to Israel. He said Israel is ready and will to help the students open their own farms and revealed that Agrostudies is looking at Uganda as their biggest hub in Africa for the internship.
In his remarks, Ambassador Gil Haskel shared that Israel’s philosophy was to freely share any technology developed in Israel with participating countries. He challenged the students to use the knowledge acquired in Israel to transform the agriculture sector in Africa. He challenged the students to open new farms of their own and turn them into financial successes in their countries.
Ambassador Haskel reminded the students that the main objective of this internship programme is to create leaders and entrepreneurs in agriculture so that they can make a positive difference in their countries and communities.
The African countries participating in the internship programme include: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo and Burkina Faso. Other countries are the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Bhutan and Vietnam from Asia and Ecuador, Guatemala and Peru from South America.
All participating students are housed on the farm so that they can experience the life of a farmer. For five days a week they work on farms where they complete their 'on the job' training, and attend theoretical classes once a week in one of Agrostudies campuses across Israel.
In the next intake (2014/2015), Uganda at 200 slots has been allocated highest number of apprenticeship positions while Rwanda has been allocated about 150 slots. The students return home on September 5, 2014.
Article by Agaba Issa Mugabo, Public Relations Office
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. 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.
Prof. James Wokadala, Acting Principal of CoBAMS, emphasized that the collaboration seeks to preserve and expand vital human knowledge while strengthening partnerships between academic institutions and global research networks. He noted that these networks are instrumental in advising legal and policy professionals, as well as aligning research agendas with both national and corporate priorities. He expressed pride in the extensive efforts of the School of Economics that have expanded these activities in recent years. He pointed to significant accomplishments that have been achieved in collaboration with IGC, including hosting a 2025 high-level international conference on mobile money payment systems, which positioned Makerere University as a thought leader on critical African economic issues. He also celebrated the successful bid by the School of Economics to host the ‘Africa Meeting of the Econometric Society’ in 2027, further demonstrating its contribution to impactful scholarship and policy influence.
The Acting Principal further emphasized that the new partnership with LSE will build on these achievements, offering immense benefits such as expanding capacity-building opportunities for faculty and students, especially in research and Public Infrastructure Management (PIM). The collaboration will also provide platforms for knowledge dissemination and policy dialogue, while addressing pressing socio-economic and health challenges. Ultimately, he said, formalisation of the partnership amplifies CoBAMS’ commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
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.
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 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.
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).
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