The Sub-Saharan African Consortium for Advanced Biostatistical Training (S2ACABT), a consortium of twenty African and northern institutions with the University of the Witwatersrand as the lead; and KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programmes, Universities of KwaZulu-Natal, Warwick and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as co-applicants, has secured funding from the Wellcome Trust/AESA through the Developing Excellence in Leadership, Traning and Science (DELTAS). The full list of participating institutions are listed below. The funding will cover Masters and PhD programmes in Biostatistics in participating training institutions to develop and improve biostatistical skills among researchers, with an ultimate goal of creating research nodes of excellence to grow the discipline and a biostatistical network to nurture researchers with advanced skills and expertise. The consortium is therefore calling for full time scholarship applications for Masters and PhD degrees.
The scholarships are open to candidates with strong background in either Statistics, Mathematics, Demography, any other quantitative fields , including competent candidates from the lab/health field such as biomedical sciences, pharmacy, medicine who may benefit from a postgraduate course in biostatistics.The potential fellows should have applied for a place at one of the postgraduate biostatistics degree programmes being offered by partner institutions.
These degree programmes will be focused on courses relevant to quantitative research in the health-related fields and developing careers in Biostatisticics, which is a growing field particularly in developing countries where the demand is high due to increased biomedical research. Therefore, the goal of this financial support is to enhance Biostatistical graduate training capacity and boost the number of researchers and practitoners in low and middle-income countries.
MASTERS’ SCHOLARSHIPS: APPLICATION DEADLINE – 15th DECEMBER 2015 ELIGIBILITY • The scholarship is open to nationals of low and middle income countries in the Sub-Saharan African Region that are resident in the region. (http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-and-lending-groups#Sub_Saharan_Africa ) and partnering institutions in the consortium. • Applicants should normally be under 35 years for the Master Programme • Applicants should meet each of the separate University’s admission requirements for the level of degree applied for before applying for the scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIP PACKAGE The scheme will provide full scholarships for 18 Masters students fellows in the 2016 academic year and covers the following: • Tuition fees and basic medical and accident insurance • A monthly stipend to cover accommodation and living expenses. • Support for the Masters research project supervision
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For the MSc scholarships, applicants should provide the academic training institution with:
A comprehensive curriculum vitae including relevant research and work experience
Letter of motivation explaining why you want to pursue an MSc in biostatistics
Certified copies of academic transcripts and degree certificates
Evidence of acceptance or application to study Biostatistics at any of the partnering institution for commencement in the 2016 academic year
Two confidential referee reports should be sent directly to the training institution
PHD SCHOLARSHIPS: APPLICATION DEADLINE – 31st MARCH 2016 ELIGIBILITY • The scholarship is open to nationals of low and middle income countries in the Sub-Saharan African Region that are resident in the region. (http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-and-lending-groups#Sub_Saharan_Africa ) and partnering institutions in the consortium. • Applicants should normally be under 40 years for the PhD Programme. Applicants should meet each of the separate University’s admission requirements for the level of degree applied for before applying for the fellowship. SCHOLARSHIP PACKAGE The scheme will provide full scholarships for 5 PhD Fellows in the 2016 academic year and covers the following: • Tuition fees and basic medical and accident insurance • A monthly stipend to cover accommodation and living expenses. • Reasonable support for the PhD research project and supervision • Bench fees to research institution hosting the PhD student • Travel costs to and from academic training institution and the host research institution ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For the PhD scholarships, applications must be either be based research questions on data from a recognised Research Institution, and include a co-supervisor from that institution, or from an academic training institution. Potential PhD scholarship applicants should provide the academic training institution: 1. A comprehensive curriculum vitae including relevant research and work experience 2. Letter of motivation explaining why you want to pursue a PhD in biostatistics 3. Certified copies of academic transcripts and degree certificates 4. A concept note, not exceed 5 pages, outlining the proposed area of research. 5. A sample of written academic work of which the applicant is the primary author e.g. Masters’ thesis/research report, journal article 6. A letter from the proposed research institution supervisor indicating willingness to supervise 7. Evidence of acceptance or application to study Biostatistics at a partner institution 8. Two confidential referee reports should be sent directly to the training institution. Preference for these (MSc and PhD) scholarships will be given to candidates who are likely to strengthen the SSACABT institutions either as academic staff members or affiliation to research institution within the consortium. Further, recipients’ careers will be tracked with the new Wellcome Trust DELTAS S2ACABT alumni that will monitor the impact of the programme, as well as networking and increased visibility opportunities for the Fellows.
HOW TO APPLY The application process is two-fold. 1. Applications for places should be made to the preferred host training institution. Institutions and their contact persons are listed below.
A. University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa: • Institutional lead: Prof Tobias Chirwa (Tobias.Chirwa@wits.ac.za) Contact persons for Masters and PhD enquiries: • Mrs. Busi Mamabolo (Busi.Mamabolo@wits.ac.za) for the MSc Programme Please access the following website for more details: http://www.wits.ac.za/academic/health/publichealth/18699/postgraduateprogrammes.html • Mr. Paul Bohloko (Paul.Bohloko@wits.ac.za) for the PhD Programme. • Please access the following website for more details: http://www.wits.ac.za/academic/health/publichealth/phdgraduateprogrammes/10542/how_do_i_apply.html
B. University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa: • Institutional lead: Prof. Henry Mwambi (MwambiH@ukzn.ac.za) Contacts for Masters and PhD enquiries: • Ms Christel Barnard (BarnardC@ukzn.ac.za) for both MSc and PhD applications • Note: The MSc and PhD programmes at UKZN will be by research and thesis.
C. University of Malawi, Malawi • Institutional lead: Dr Jupiter Simbeye (jsimbeye@cc.ac.mw) Contacts for Masters and PhD enquiries: • Mr. Tsirizani Kaombe (biostat-unima@cc.ac.mw) for the MSc Programme Please access the following website for additional information: http://www.science.chanco.unima.mw/index.php/stu/postgraduate-programmes?layout=edit&id=47 • Dr. Jupiter Simbeye (jsimbeye@cc.ac.mw) for the PhD programme.
D. University of Nairobi, Kenya • Institutional lead: Prof Patrick Weke (pweke@uonbi.ac.ke) Contact for Masters and PhD enquiries: • Dr. Nelson Owuor Onyango (onyango@uonbi.ac.ke) • Please access the following website for more details: http://www.mathematics.uonbi.ac.ke
E. Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tanzania • Institutional lead: Dr Michael Johnson Mahande (jmmahande@gmail.com) Contacts for Masters and PhD enquires: • Mr Victor Selengia: vselengia_2006@yahoo.com Please access the following website for more details: www.kcmuco.ac.tz/index.php/admission
F. Stellenbosch University, South Africa • Institutional lead: Prof Rhoderick Machekano (rhoderick@sun.ac.za) Contact for Masters enquiries: • Maxwell Chirehwa (mtchirehwa@sun.ac.za). • The link to the postgraduate programs and application procedures is http://www0.sun.ac.za/pgstudies/postgraduate-programmes/faculty-of-medicine-and-health-sciences.html 2. Application for the DELTAS S2ACABT scholarship The application for the DELTAS S2ACABT scholarship should be made separately and in writing, as outlined under the MSc and PhD scholarship sections above. Scholarship applications should be sent to: Mrs. Busi Mamabolo (Busi.Mamabolo@wits.ac.za) and copied to Dr. Eustasius Musenge (Eustasius.Musenge@wits.ac.za) PLEASE NOTE: The application deadline for MSc scholarships is 15th December 2015 and 31st March 2016 for PhD scholarships
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on Thursday, July 24, 2025 officially presided over the inauguration of the Advisory Board of Makerere University Technology and Innovation Centre (MUTIC). The move aims to enhance, encourage and nature innovation and research among the young people and the country at large in order to fight poverty and nurture job creators other than job seekers.
The newly-appointed Advisory Board members of MUTIC are; Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta the Chairperson of the Board representing Makerere University Council, Dr. Cathy IIikor Mbidde, Ag. Manager, MUTIC and Board Secretary, Dr. Dorothy K. Okello-Dean School of Engineering, representing Science-based colleges, Dr. Ivan Engoru from the School of Law representing Humanities-based colleges, Ms. Rhinah Akankunda-91st Guild Minister for Information, Research and Computer Technology representing the Students Guild, Dr. David Gonahasa representing the Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. Japheth Kawanguzi-Team Leader at the Innovation Village representing the Private Sector, and Dr. Peter Kimbowa-Board Member Private Sector Foundation of Uganda (PSFU). Each expressed their appreciation for having been given the opportunity to carry the responsibility and play a role in achieving the University’s goals.
The inauguration event was preceded by a tour of the Makerere University Innovation Pod (Mak UniPod) that highlighted the innovations such as; the new Malaria treatment (Maisha Syrup), new soybean varieties, an Intern Database Management application that tracks internship at the Mak UniPod, a long-range e-bike by Redvers limited, an off-grid irrigation water pump by Matia Ategeka, among other innovations. The board members also toured Mak UniPod’s photo, video and audio studios as well as the Makerere AI and Data Science Research Lab.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe presides over the inauguration event.
Speaking at the inauguration of the MUTIC Advisory Board, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted the marginalization of Africa and the need for the continent to rise again, despite political and other hurdles. “Africa is gradually awakening”, he said.
He also discussed Africa’s low involvement in global research, contributing only 3% to the world’s knowledge despite people’s arguments that Africa is the wealthiest continent.
The Vice Chancellor further emphasized the need for Africa to increase its research and educational investment to improve its development. “Nobody is going to industrialize Africa accept its young people through those innovations, through beginning small and big enterprises”. Said Prof. Nawangwe.
In addition to winning research grants and establishing centres of excellence, the Vice Chancellor emphasized the need to invest in the innovation hubs at the University as a way of encouraging the young minds to be innovators. “We have been establishing centers for research and emphasizing the need for products, not just coming up with research for the sake but moving this to commercial products”, he stated.
“We have made progress in Makerere’s strategy to be a more research intensive and become a research-led University”, said Prof. Nawangwe. He acknowledged the innovative work that is going on in the University’s innovative hubs such as the Food and Technology and Business Incubation Centre at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Mak UnIPod and the Makerere AI and Data Science Research Lab at the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS).
Officials that took part in the inauguration with MUTIC Advisory Board Members in the Vice Chancellor’s Office.
However, Prof. Nawangwe regretted that some members of society still demoralize and discourage the innovations of the young people instead of encouraging them to continue being big thinkers and innovators. He attributed this behavior as a mindset problem among the population which he said that if this continued, the nation will never develop. To this, he said that they are going to introduce a mindset course in the University aimed at nurturing innovative and creative minds.
He also explained the role of universities in producing business managers and administrators, as entrepreneurs need to work through Universities in order to access better resources and support. Prof. Nawangwe noted the importance of government funding for innovation, which has steadily increased at Makerere University and the need for Universities to take ownership of these initiatives. He equally appreciated UNDP Uganda for their support towards establishing the Mak UniPod.
The chairperson of the Advisory Board for MUTIC, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta expressed his appreciation to the University Council and Management for entrusting him with such big responsibility of carrying forward the center to reach greater heights in achieving their goals.
He explained that MUTIC has come at a defining moment in the University’s journey where the demand for research-informed solutions, innovation and meaningful engagement with society has never been greater.
“This center has been designed not just to inspire ideas but to engineer solutions. It will be an engine of innovation, where curiosity is natured, partnerships are cultivated and discoveries are transformed into impact”, said Prof. Ireeta.
He further said, “Through MUTIC, Makerere University will not only respond to societal needs, we will anticipate them. We will shape the future, not merely react to it”.
The Directorate of Graduate Training (DGT), Makerere University has released the admission lists for applicants successfully admitted for postgraduate programs for the 2025/26 Academic Year. The lists include postgraduate diplomas, PhD and Masters programmes.
Please see admission lists for the respective Colleges listed below:
From July 21st to 23rd, 2025, Makerere University College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology proudly hosted two major international gatherings: the 2025 International Conference on the Cooperation and Integration of Industry, Education, Research and Application, and the2025 International Conference on Great Lakes Research.
During the Great Lakes Forum, Professor Moses Musinguzi, Principal of the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), underscored the critical importance of ongoing research into the Great Lakes, especiallyLake Victoria. He emphasized its ecological and socio-economic significance to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi, while voicing concern over mounting threats from climate change and human activities particularly sedimentation and deteriorating water quality.
The forum served as a platform for scientists, policy makers, and regional stakeholders to collaborate on preserving the lake’s health and ensuring sustainable use of its resources for generations to come.