General
African Universities need to regain Social Change status
Community Based Research and Community University Engagement have been proposed as the most viable strategies for African Universities to salvage their much coveted position as agents of social change in society. This was the overwhelming realization of participants in a half-day workshop organized by the College of Education and External Studies (CEES), Makerere University on 28th October 2014 where the Fifth Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi) Report was also launched. The Fifth GUNi Report, ‘Higher Education in the World Report 5: Knowledge, Engagement and Higher Education: Contributing to Social Change’ is a product of three years’ research, consultations, academic seminars and an international conference, to which 73 authors from 34 countries have contributed.
Welcoming participants to the seminar, Dr. Alex Okot-Dean, School of Distance and Lifelong Learning (SoDLL), CEES noted that the Fifth GUNi Report Launch was preceded by a two-day workshop on Community University Engagement that drew Academics from Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan Public Universities. Dr. Okot emphasized the need for Universities to move from the top-down mode of dissemination to reciprocally being engaged with the community to develop knowledge.
“From the meeting we had, we came up with resolutions to share with different universities and forge a critical community that will pursue avenues of working together with our respective universities and communities to develop modalities to improve Community University Engagement” shared Dr. Okot.
Dr. George Openjuru-former Dean, SoDLL and newly appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor of Gulu University and Dr. Janice Busingye, SoDLL both contributed chapters; “Knowledge, engagement and Higher Education in Africa” and “Knowledge, Engagement and Higher Education in Eastern Africa” respectively to the Fifth GUNi Report. In his presentation Dr. Openjuru noted that Makerere University through SoDLL was at the forefront of producing this report and it was therefore of great relevance that the report was launched at Makerere University. He also emphasized that Community University Engagement which was the gist of the 5th GUNi report was a participatory process that necessitated the involvement of the people on whom research was going to be undertaken in the knowledge creation process.
Dr. Openjuru paid tribute to the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere whose passion and love for the Community University Engagement model enabled it to withstand all the resistance and negative energy that threatened its implementation. He shared that Higher Education in sub-Saharan Africa predates colonialism although the advent and establishment of the male Eurocentric world view dominated and continues to dominate the African Higher Education sector even today.
He shared that Indigenous Education is a philosophy which is continuous in life and does not separate education from implementation but seeks to apply whatever is learnt at a particular stage of life to that very particular point in life. To this end, Dr. Openjuru said “Indigenous education goes on throughout life and is therefore existent as an organic piece and not as separate entities. It goes on throughout the different stages of life and is in tandem with the changing roles and responsibilities that one must fulfill. You do not learn to become an elder while you are still young but only when you attain that age. This goes on until you are dead, which is a concept which has been rebranded as lifelong learning” he explained. He concluded by noting that Community University Engagement entails dialoguing with the community as equal partners in knowledge creation, a very important aspect in ensuring that graduates remain relevant to community needs.
Dr. Budd Hall is a Professor of Community at the University of Victoria, Canada and co-Director of the UNESCO Chair on Community Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education. His first contact with Africa was as an 18 year old and has for the last 50 years been engaged in the development of participatory research along with various stakeholders including the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. He noted that the launch of the 5th GUNi Report was particularly important because this issue was the first of its kind that provided a global picture of Community University Engagement, as previous text books and scholarly works produced focused on particular countries or only one area of research. “This is the first report that has attempted to drawn experiences, voices and studies from as many countries and regions of the world as possible” said Prof Hall.
Commenting on the source of the content, Prof. Hall shared that ironically most of the intellectual roots of the work published came from people like Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, and others from the region today referred to as the Global South although the last twelve years have played witness to its discovery by Universities and policymakers from the United Kingdom, USA and Canada. He noted that Community University Engagement is a movement that ought to have an impact and implications on not just outreach but teaching and research as well, which calls upon Higher Education to be more proactive and not just reactive.
“Our Students, Researchers and Administrative staff need to be on the lookout for what is going on in the community. We need to think about broadening our concept from simply just Knowledge Economy–the contribution of knowledge to a certain type of job creation to Knowledge Democracy which includes not only livelihood but also knowledge from different sources. We also need to continue to provide space for debate. Does the University still provide a public good or is it simply a place where our children go to get a degree and hopefully get a job?” challenged Prof. Hall.
Touching on the recommendations of the report, Prof. Hall noted the need for universities to recognize excellence in community-engaged scholarship, so that Scholars can advance their careers through ways that were more practical than publishing journal articles which very few members of the community read. He encouraged staff from other universities in the region who attended the seminar to hold similar forums with their respective leaders so as to bring them on board this discussion that has lately become very much part of our times.
The SPEDA (Skills for Production, Employment, and Development Project) Model under the African Institute of for Strategic Services and Development (AFRISA) in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) is one of Makerere University’s most profound experiences of Community University Engagement. Making a presentation on the model at the Seminar, Prof. John David Kabasa the Principal CoVAB shared that this Makerere alternative education model and community transformation scheme for Africa is an initiative that has been developed over the last seven years to contribute to the National Development Programme. He noted that because of the incapacity of our graduates, our Governments is forced to rely on foreign entities to use the land in Africa to feed and employ the Africans.
“If your children cannot feed themselves and the world, someone else will” lamented Prof. Kabasa before adding that as long as our countries continued producing and exporting raw materials, they were exporting jobs as well. “Our conventional education systems have failed to transform community and we cannot encourage an education system that fuels unemployment and sends supervisors of peasants; who themselves did not benefit from any form of education, onto the streets searching for jobs” he further stressed. He said that ideological barriers and an ineffective educational mould are barriers to societal transformation which had formed a shunt which needed to be operated upon and removed by the surgeons of Makerere.
“Take the University to the community, translate this education, science and technology into livelihood and health in a professional manner. This model actually sets out to create a new generation of Africans that is skilled, productive, entrepreneurial, developmental, accredited and nation transforming” shared Prof. Kabasa about the SPEDA model’s aspirations. He noted that by securing accreditation for this model, Makerere had set into motion a movement to liberate not only Uganda but Africa as a whole. He shared that by taking this model to the community, Makerere was taking cognisance of skills and competence value chains resident at all levels within our communities. “The key concept is to produce value, exchange it and get more value” said Prof. Kabasa as he concluded his presentation.
The days emcee Dr. Twine Bananuka-SoDLL, CEES thanked the presenters for their elaborate and informative presentations and admitted that Community University Engagement was indeed the way to break free from traditional bureaucratic knowledge ownership as fronted by the male Eurocentric model and its specific emphasis on disciplines. During the question and answer session that followed,
Dr. Anthony Mugagga Muwagga-Deputy Principal, CEES indeed admitted that our two biggest challenges in Education were the lack of knowledge and the fear of knowledge. He however noted that the SPEDA Model would be incomplete if it did not factor in the teaching disciplines and therefore encouraged Prof. Kabasa to consider partnering with CEES to impact a wider audience in society.
The Acting Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Administration (DVCFA) Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe welcomed all guests and presenters to the event and admitted that it had been his most educative seminar to date. He however called upon all those that heaped criticism upon today’s African Scholars to consider their working conditions and rigourous academic schedules.
“There is a need to examine our National and International policies on Education. A Professor at Makerere today has very limited time in between teaching, supervising students, marking scripts and looking for additional income to research and deliver public lectures like our compatriots in the former years. And so as we criticize today’s Scholars, we need to ask if we as a Country, Region and continent making higher education our priority” said Prof. Nawangwe.
He commended the Community University Engagement model as shared during the seminar for clearly outlining what Makerere University sought to achieve through the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and Networking pillar of her strategic plan. He thanked the School of Distance and Lifelong Learning particularly Dr. George Openjuru for taking the lead in producing the report, and Prof. Budd Hall for his contribution to spreading the Community University Engagement movement.
Mr. Patrick Muhinda, Assistant Commissioner in charge of Communication and Information Management, Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) who represented the Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. John Chrysostom Muyingo thanked Makerere University and Prof. Budd Hall for the great effort that led to the production of the 5th GUNi World Report. He also commended Prof. Kabasa whose SPEDA model had “deeply moved” him. He noted that the Presidential Initiative for Science and Technology had gone a long way in enabling universities to conduct cutting edge research which is boosting Uganda’s technological advancement as we move towards the attainment of Uganda Vision 2040.
“The Government of Uganda is cognizant of the relevance of community based research to enhance academia. It envisions promoting collaborations through joint projects and programmes of mutual interest to research and development centres, SMEs and large farms to spark innovation and entrepreneurship” read Mr. Muhinda from the Minister’s speech. The speech further noted that the Government plans to support innovation financing by introducing special grants, loans and guarantees for startups and new firms as well as subsidies and tax incentives to stimulate development of research in the public and private sectors. Mr. Muhinda thereafter declared the report launched and officially signed a few copies of the report.
Before moving a vote of thanks Prof. Fred Masagazi Masaazi the Principal, CEES announced that his college would in October 2015 host a regional conference on Community University Engagement which would bring together key stakeholders in Government, Academia and Civil Society to discuss their lessons and experiences. He particularly thanked Dr. Openjuru and Dr. Busingye for the respective contributions to the production of the report and noted that the College’s contribution to the 6th GUNi Report would be even more detailed. He stressed the need for all Higher Education Institutions’ involvement in identifying and coming up with solutions to community problems, noting that “Universities have all the capacity to influence and interact with the communities to find solutions to problems affecting them” he added.
Article by Public Relations Office
When a delegation from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) visited Makerere University on 23rd July 2026, one of the biggest discussions was how universities can effectively manage research grants.
The MUST delegation, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Pauline Byakika Kibwika, visited Makerere to learn from the University’s experience in managing externally funded research projects. During the meeting, Makerere Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe revealed that while MUST managed research grants worth about UGX 13 billion in the last financial year, Makerere’s research portfolio now stands at approximately USD 250 million.
The discussion focused on the systems, policies and accountability measures that have enabled Makerere to manage one of the largest research portfolios in Africa.
Research Funding Built on Trust.
Prof. Nawangwe explained that Makerere’s research funding comes from different colleges and research units.
He noted that the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) alone attracts about USD 70 million annually, while the School of Public Health receives approximately USD 30 million each year. Together, the two units account for nearly USD 100 million in research funding.
He said these grants are made possible because development partners trust the University to manage public resources responsibly.
“We must ensure proper accountability so that we don’t lose the trust of our donors and continue benefiting from their support,” Prof. Nawangwe said.
How Makerere Manages Research Grants.
Acting University Secretary Mr. Simon Kizito took the MUST delegation through the key requirements that every grant funded project must meet under Makerere’s Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU).
He explained that every research project must first be included in the University’s approved budget in line with the Public Finance Management Act before any funds can be spent.
He also emphasized that procurement under research grants must comply with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Act, regardless of the donor’s procurement guidelines.
“The Auditor General will pounce on you” if procurement procedures are not followed, he cautioned.
Mr. Kizito further explained that all assets purchased using grant funds, including vehicles and equipment, must be recorded in the University’s central assets register unless the funding agreement states otherwise.
He added that separate project bank accounts can only be opened with approval from the Accountant General, while all projects must submit both financial and narrative reports to funders and government and undergo regular audits.
University Bursar Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha noted that although grant funds do not appear directly in the University’s main financial statements, they are fully disclosed in the notes to the accounts and are audited annually before reports are submitted to Parliament.
Lessons from the Research and Innovation Fund.
The delegation also learnt about the Makerere Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF).
Representing the Fund, Dr. Roy William Mayega said Mak-RIF has invested about UGX 172 billion in research and innovation over the last seven financial years.
He explained that 70 percent of the funding supports competitive research grants, 10 percent is reserved for projects addressing national priorities, while the remaining funds support monitoring, evaluation and dissemination of research findings.
According to Dr. Mayega, the Fund has so far supported 1,480 research and innovation projects, with 53% completed and 47% still ongoing.
Looking Beyond Research Grants.
Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships Prof. Robert Wamala encouraged the visiting delegation to look beyond simply winning research grants.
He emphasized the importance of investing in strong internal systems, using artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, and ensuring that research leads to publications, patents, commercialization and partnerships with industry.
He noted that universities should not only focus on attracting grants but also on translating research into solutions that benefit society.
Learning from Makerere’s experience.
Prof. Pauline Byakika Kibwika said MUST recently established a Research Institute to coordinate research activities and grant management under one structure. She explained that the University wanted to learn from Makerere’s experience as its own research portfolio continues to grow.
“We have come to learn from your achievements as well as the challenges, so that we can do things better,” she said.
She added that the visit marks the beginning of closer collaboration between the two institutions, with a follow up technical engagement planned to allow the MUST team to learn more about Makerere’s grant management systems, including the GAMSU online platform.
General
Makerere, Southwest Minzu University and NARO Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Livestock Research and Innovation
Makerere University has taken a significant step towards strengthening international research collaboration following a high-level meeting with a delegation from Southwest Minzu University, China, to advance a strategic partnership in animal husbandry, veterinary sciences and agricultural innovation.
Held on 23rd July 2026, the meeting brought together representatives from Makerere University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB), the Advancement Office, Southwest Minzu University and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) to discuss a long-term collaboration aimed at enhancing livestock productivity, promoting scientific research and building institutional capacity.
The proposed partnership builds on an earlier study visit by NARO to Southwest Minzu University, where discussions identified opportunities to introduce high-quality goat breeds with superior genetic traits for crossbreeding with indigenous Ugandan breeds. The initiative positions Uganda as the first country in Africa to benefit from the introduction of these specialised breeds, with the goal of improving livestock productivity and supporting farmers’ livelihoods.
While livestock improvement forms the foundation of the collaboration, partners agreed that the five-year initiative will extend far beyond animal husbandry. The partnership is expected to foster joint research in agro-technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, microbiology and laboratory sciences, creating new opportunities for scientific innovation and knowledge exchange. The project will be anchored at NARO’s Kawanda research facilities before expanding to twelve research institutions across Uganda, with Makerere University providing academic leadership, scientific expertise and research support.
Welcoming the delegation, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Sarah Ssali, reaffirmed Makerere University‘s commitment to international collaboration as a driver of research excellence, innovation and capacity development. She noted that the University, through the advancement office, continues to leverage its extensive global partnerships to facilitate knowledge exchange while addressing national development priorities through research.
Prof. Ssali further observed that introducing improved goat breeds presents an opportunity to transform Uganda’s livestock sector by enabling farmers to move beyond subsistence production towards more commercially viable animal husbandry systems. She emphasized that the success of the partnership will depend on effective coordination, well-defined institutional frameworks and sustained communication among all partners.
Speaking on behalf of Southwest Minzu University, the visiting delegation expressed appreciation for Makerere University‘s hospitality and reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a lasting institutional partnership with both Makerere University and NARO. Beyond collaborative research, the delegation highlighted opportunities for staff exchanges, joint scientific projects and postgraduate training, including scholarships for Makerere students pursuing Master’s and PhD programmes. They also extended an invitation to Makerere University‘s leadership to undertake a reciprocal visit to Southwest Minzu University in China.
Discussions also focused on operationalizing the partnership for the benefit of International education through staff and student exchange. Makerere University‘s International Office committed to developing an implementation framework linking Makerere University and Southwest Minzu University, while ensuring that staff and postgraduate students benefit from scholarship opportunities, research collaborations and international mobility programmes. The Office will also coordinate the development of exchange guidelines and work with the Academic Registrar on postgraduate scholarship applications.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to building a sustainable partnership that combines international expertise with Uganda’s research priorities. By bringing together Makerere University‘s academic excellence, Southwest Minzu University’s specialized expertise and NARO’s national agricultural research infrastructure, the collaboration is expected to strengthen livestock research, advance scientific innovation and contribute to Uganda’s agricultural transformation.
Expected Outcomes of the Partnership
The proposed collaboration between Makerere University, Southwest Minzu University and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) is expected to create a strong platform for advancing research, innovation and capacity development in Uganda’s agricultural sector. By combining the complementary strengths of the three institutions, the partnership seeks to promote multidisciplinary research in animal husbandry, biotechnology, agro-technology, artificial intelligence and microbiology, while supporting the development of innovative solutions to address challenges in livestock production and animal health.
A key anticipated outcome is enhanced academic and research capacity through joint research initiatives, staff exchanges and postgraduate training opportunities. The partnership is expected to provide Makerere University students with access to Master’s and PhD scholarships at Southwest Minzu University, while enabling researchers and academic staff to participate in collaborative research, scientific exchange programmes and international knowledge-sharing initiatives. These engagements are expected to strengthen institutional research capacity and foster the development of highly skilled professionals in veterinary and agricultural sciences.
The collaboration is also expected to strengthen the link between research and practice. With NARO serving as the implementation anchor for field-based activities and Makerere providing academic and scientific leadership, the partnership aims to facilitate the translation of research into practical innovations that improve livestock productivity, enhance food security and contribute to sustainable agricultural development in Uganda.
At the institutional level, the partnership is expected to expand Makerere University‘s international research networks, attract collaborative research opportunities and reinforce its position as a leading research-intensive university. By fostering long-term collaboration across academia, research institutions and international partners, the initiative has the potential to contribute to Uganda’s agricultural transformation while advancing knowledge generation, technology transfer and evidence-based innovation.
Caroline Kainomugisha is the Communications Officer, Advancement Office.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe and Members of Management on 23rd July 2026 hosted a delegation from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) led by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Pauline Byakika-Kibwika. The visit follows the formation of the Grants Office under the newly opened MUST Research Institute. This delegation was therefore keen to benchmark Makerere University’s Grants Administration and Management Support Unit (GAMSU)’s experience as the office responsible for managing all MUST’s research and innovation funding takes shape.
Welcoming the delegation, most of whom are alumni of Makerere University, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe commended MUST on strides made in human capacity development throughout the 37 years of existence, particularly in the health sciences.
“We have collaborated in various areas, particularly in medicine – I see many of our researchers publishing together, and we have joint programmes, especially in HIV/AIDS research” the Vice Chancellor remarked, before adding “Our collaboration in medicine is very strong, and it would be good to expand this collaboration to other disciplines.”
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that although this was a benchmarking visit, the learning process is two-way and as such, the team from Makerere is equally keen to learn from their MUST counterparts. “As a slightly smaller university, you may have more time to reflect on issues than we do,” he explained.
In her remarks, Prof. Byakika-Kibwika thanked the Vice Chancellor and University Management for accepting to host the benchmarking delegation, noting that it was a homecoming visit for her and several colleagues. She equally acknowledged that collaborations in Medicine take the lion’s share of existing work between two intuitions.
“Our largest faculty, formerly the Faculty of Medicine, has recently been renamed the Faculty of Health Sciences to better reflect its broader mandate. However, our other faculties include: Faculty of Science, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Faculty of Computing and Informatics, and the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology (Engineering)” she explained.
She added that in 2026, MUST established the Faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Veterinary Sciences, and is restructuring the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies to strengthen its focus as a science and technology university. Away from academia, Prof. Byakika-Kibwika shared that MUST’s hitherto semi-autonomous research centres had been brought under the umbrella of a Research Institute, “to provide a coordinated framework for research.”
They include the Centre of: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine; Innovation and Technology Transfer; Tropical Forest Conservation; Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; Entrepreneurship; and Public Policy and Economic Data.
Turning to the gist of the visit, Prof. Byakika-Kibwika noted that as MUST continues to restructure its units and grow it’s grants portfolio, tapping into Makerere University’s wealth of experience in attracting and managing funding from both the Government and development partners is inevitable.
“Makerere, as the leading university in the country, continues to support other universities, and we would like to benefit from that experience,” Prof. Byakika-Kibwika remarked. “We hope to learn from both your achievements and your challenges so that we can improve our own systems” she concluded.
The meeting was attended by the Acting University Secretary-Mr. Simon Kizito, University Bursar-Mr. Evarist Bainomugisha, Director Research, Innovation and Partnerships-Prof. Robert Wamala, Director Research and Graduate Training-Prof. Julius Kikooma, Head GAMSU- Prof. Sylvia Antonia Nakimera Nannyonga-Tamusuza, Member of Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) Coordinator-Dr. Roy William Mayega and Advancement Office’s Mr. Vincent Lubega Nsamba.
The MUST delegation included; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)-Prof. Joseph Ngonzi, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration)-Prof. Robert Bitariho, University Secretary-Mr. Vincent Kansiime Kwatampora, and Chief Human Resources Officer-Mr. Prinari Behangana. Others included Finance Manager-CPA Annah Atuhaire, MUST Research Institute Chief Research Officer-Assoc. Prof. Angella Musiimenta, Principal Legal Officer-Mr. Timothy Mugumya, Deputy Secretary (Planning)-Ms. Robinah Nakakeeto and Dean Faculty of Business and Management Sciences-Dr. John Baguma Kule.
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