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
Emmanuel Akandwanaho, a Bachelor of Science in Land Economics (BSLE) graduate from Makerere University’s Class of 2022, has been selected to join the Schwarzman Scholars Class of 2026. He will pursue a fully funded, one-year Master’s degree in Global Affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, in Beijing, China.
Emmanuel makes history as the first undergraduate alumnus from Makerere University and the second Ugandan to be awarded the Schwarzman Scholarship, one of the world’s most competitive and globally renowned graduate fellowships. The Schwarzman Scholars Program was founded in 2015 by Stephen A. Schwarzman, Co-founder and CEO of Blackstone, to equip the next generation of leaders with a deep understanding of China’s role in global trends. Each year, 150 exceptional young leaders from across the world are selected for their academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to building a better future.
About Emmanuel Akandwanaho
Emmanuel studied Land Economics from 2017 to 2022 and graduated with Second Class Upper Honours. Throughout his time at Makerere, he was deeply involved in student leadership and campus initiatives that shaped his personal and professional growth. He served as Class Representative for five consecutive years, Speaker of the Makerere Association of Surveying Students, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT), and Student Representative on the 31st Governing Council of the Institution of Surveyors of Uganda.
Recognizing a gap in communication and personal development on campus, Emmanuel founded the Makerere Gavel Club in 2019, an affiliate of Toastmasters International to improve student’s public speaking skills. The club has since helped students build confidence, become effective communicators, and develop leadership skills. The club continues to thrive as a leading platform for personal and professional development, nurturing confident communicators and emerging leaders. Today, the club is one of the most active student-led platforms on campus, having trained over 200 students since its inception.
Outside leadership, Emmanuel’s curiosity led him into entrepreneurship. He co-founded a startup aimed at improving student access to accommodation by helping them search and book hostels online. The project won Best Student Project at the 2019 International Engineering Students’ Conference at the University of Nairobi, and later received regional recognition, winning Best East African PropTech Startup at the 2021 Africa PropTech Competition.
Reflecting on his journey, Emmanuel shares:
“I saw my time at Makerere as more than just academics—it was an opportunity to grow, lead, and solve real-world problems. From my first year, I threw myself into leadership roles that stretched me and helped me discover what I was capable of. These experiences laid the foundation for my Schwarzman Scholarship journey.”
After graduating, Emmanuel explored a range of professional interests. He worked with a microfinance institution, volunteered with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction on land governance projects, and served as Partnerships and Community Lead at Hindsight Ventures, supporting African tech startups. He also authored a policy paper on the role of public venture funds in financing startups.
“I’ve never seen myself as just one thing. My education in Land Economics was foundational, but I’ve always asked myself: what problems do I want to solve? That question has guided me into new spaces—policy, entrepreneurship, technology—all connected by a deep desire to contribute meaningfully to Africa’s future.”
Now preparing for Schwarzman College, Emmanuel is eager to explore China-Africa policy relations, understand China’s urbanization and infrastructure development, and experience Mandarin language immersion and cultural exchange. He is especially interested in exploring how China has managed its rapid urbanization and lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty—areas that resonate with Uganda’s own developmental challenges.
“What excites me most about Schwarzman is its holistic approach. You don’t just study; you engage. You travel across China, study Mandarin, explore cities, and collaborate with some of the most brilliant minds from over 40 countries. It’s the perfect place for someone like me—curious, ambitious, and eager to make sense of the world.”
He also sees this experience as an opportunity to build a truly global network.
“You live and study with 149 other scholars; engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, diplomats, all passionate about changing the world in different ways. These are the people I’ll learn from, collaborate with, and build lifelong friendships with. That, to me, is priceless.”
Emmanuel encourages other Makerere students to consider applying:
“If you’re a final-year student or recent graduate and you’re curious about the world, the Schwarzman Scholars program is worth exploring. My leadership experience at Makerere played a crucial role in my application. Applications for the next cohort are already open, and I would love to see more Ugandans and Makerereans apply. We need more African voices in global conversations.”
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