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Turkey Advises Africa on Principle of Equal Partnership and Mutual Benefit

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On 14th September 2015, Makerere University Peace and Conflict Studies Centre in conjunction with Istanbul Policy Centre (IPC), Sabanci University held a lively discussion inspired by Turkey’s positive attitude towards Africa’s development. Convening in the Makerere University Main Hall, Scholars from Istanbul Policy Centre led by The IPC Resolution and Mediation Stream Scholar Prof. Bulent Aras shared knowledge on how Turkey’s principle of “Equal partnership and mutual benefit” can be harnessed as the paramount approach to collaborations between Africa and other countries.

Driven by the captivating theme of the day: “Turkey’s Engagement in Africa’s Development”, Scholars drew the audience’s attention to the Turkey-Africa common values and interests which include; democratic governance, boasting young and promising population, economic potential and independence.

During the discussions Scholars pointed out that, African countries should focus on mutual support and independent development rather than dependency when collaborating with European countries. They also agreed that Africa should always look out for relationships which will develop her economically, socially and culturally.

According to Prof. Onur Sazak-IPC’s Research and Academic Affairs Manager, Turkey’s development perspectives for Africa are central to research and academic affairs. In his discussion on “The shifting Axes of International Aid: Are Traditional Donors from Mars, Emerging Powers from Venus?” Prof. Sazak said that, it is through the equal partnership and mutual benefit principle that Turkey has been able to assist Africa in academics by focusing on capacity building, social infrastructure development, training and constructing vocational schools.

He explained that Turkey’s role in the International Development Cooperation has gone through fundamental changes. To him, new economic dynamics and an increasing sense of responsibility for global peace and sustainable development has enabled Turkey to emerge as a new and dynamic player in the international development cooperation architecture.

“My observation tells me that the traditional donors follow a more aggressive approach. These different approaches are apparent and states have not been very happy about the number of countries coming in for global peace” he said.

He examined the different approaches to donations which among others, mentioned securitization of aid as one of the major global concern. Prof. Onur said that many African countries have fallen victims of the repercussions of the Aid given to them with strings attached.

 Focusing on Medical Humanitarianism of Turkey’s NGOs: the Case of Uganda; The IPC Resolution and Mediation Stream Scholar Prof. Bulent Aras, mentioned that the rapid growth and constructive involvement of Turkey’s Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Africa’s community affairs is heavily felt on the global arena. He believes that, the community outreach approach adopted by Turkish Humanitarian NGOs have led to fundamental changes in Africa’s health, infrastructural, academic and economic sectors.  

“In the research we carried out using Uganda as case study, we discovered that the growth and involvement of NGOs in African affairs is due to their ability to reach out to the community.  African countries have failed to reach their society in terms of needs and information creating a knowledge-information gap between the governments and its people. This has given the NGOs a go ahead and provided a supplementary role in public health, education and capacity building,” he said.

Prof. Bulent further noted that unlike the traditional humanitarian approach that deals with middlemen, Turkey’s Humanitarian Organisations deal directly with people in need.

Speaking about the limelight of Humanitarian NGOs in Turkey’s Peace Building and Africa’s experiences, the IPC Conflict Resolution, Mediation Stream Scholar Ms. Pınar Akpınar said that Turkey has established networks through its humanitarian assistance together with its emphasis on business development, that allow the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)   to follow up with peace building initiatives.

“The engagement of the Turkish NGOs in efforts to mediate among various conflict actors primarily emphasises their respect for local partners in finding home-grown solutions to their problems. These NGOs have been able to develop two models of peace building and these include militarization of aid and Humanitarianism” she explained.

 According to IPC Researcher Ms. Auween Woods, so many activities have been developed to promote peace and security in the war torn countries. In her presentation on “Turkey’s Approach to Peace Building and Africa’s Experience”, Ms .Woods shared that Turkish NGOs have been able to support the military crews during wars, promote capacity building, as well as engage in health, education and construction projects so as to build and maintain peace on the African continent.

“Through Military NGOs, Turkey has extended a service to war affected countries. The country has invested in orphanages like the Child Fund Orphanage in Uganda, awarded scholarships to students to study in Turkey and provided technical skills to African children,” she added.

Ms. Woods stressed that although the Turkish organisations have ensured sustainability, they still face challenges which have negatively impacted their existence. “Most Turkish NGOs face challenges in monitoring the aid since many of them have just been established. In addition to that, the organisations lack security since most of them are heavily dependent on volunteers when they are in filed,” she said.

Article by: Nabatte Proscovia

Proscovia Nabatte

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NTU Global Summer School – A Unique UK Experience for Students

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NTU Global Summer School 2025

The Nottingham Trent University (NTU) Global Summer School will run from 7 July – 1 August 2025 in the heart of England.

Why join this summer?

A diverse range of credit-bearing courses
The Global Summer School offers a variety of exciting courses, from cybersecurity to creative industries, and space science to entrepreneurship – truly something for everyone! With two distinct blocks of courses, students can either dive deeper into their passions or broaden their horizons by exploring new subjects.

Explore Courses

A truly international experience
Students will join peers from many countries across the world, creating a vibrant and multicultural learning environment that enhances the global student experience.

An exciting cultural and social programme
Beyond the classroom NTU offers a full schedule of activities, including visits to iconic UK cities, sports and evening events ensuring that students make the most of their time in the UK.

A safe and welcoming destination
Nottingham is a city renowned for its safety, having earned the prestigious Purple Flag award for its excellent night-time safety and vibrant atmosphere, ensuring your students feel at home both on and off campus.

Application Deadline: 1 June 2025

Apply Today!

Limited places available – apply soon!

Don’t miss out! This is the perfect chance for students to develop new skills, make new friends and experience the best of British culture. NTU looks forward to welcoming students this summer!

Have questions? Contact NTU here! 

Mak Editor

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End of Semester Memo for Academic Year 2024/2025

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Africa, one of three On-Campus Halls of Residence for ladies, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

All Resident Students

1. Congratulatory Message

On behalf of Makerere University Management, I congratulate and thank you for the successful completion of Semester Two: 2024/2025.

2.End of the Second Semester

The second Semester holiday break will begin on 17th May, 2025 up to Saturday 9th August, 2025.

3. Resident Students

All resident students are expected to vacate the Halls of Residence by mid-day on Saturday, 17th May, 2025.

4. University Property

Please hand over all University property in your possession (such as: room keys, Sports & Games equipment, College property etc) before you leave the Hall of Residence.

5. Security of personal property

Please make sure that you carry with you all your property.

Dean of Students
Makerere University

Mark Wamai

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Inter-college Debate 2025 Seeks to Nurture Confident, Articulate, and Visionary Leaders

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Winners of the Inter-college debates Daphine Kemigisha and Jibiril Ssekandi (School of Law) pose for a photo with debaters and the GRCs of the Debate Union. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.

The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.

One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall.

Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.

On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale.

Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.

After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.

Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL). Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL).

The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.

Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.

Mak Editor

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