General
North Korea to partner with Makerere University
The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Korea, Hon. Kung Suk Ung, has expressed willingness to partner with Makerere University in mutual areas of interest. The Minister who was responding to a call from the Chancellor, Prof. George Mondo Kagonyera, on 31st October 2014, observed that North Korea has had bilateral relations with Uganda for a long time and collaborating with Makerere University would be an added advantage.
“Makerere University is a big institution of higher learning in the region. 25% of our students study science courses and the other 75% are in the arts discipline. We have trained many of the world leaders like the late Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Mwai Kibaki of Kenya and continue to be hungry for knowledge. We look forward with excitement to pick knowledge from your country. Many of our students would like t be exposed to the technology in your country and we look forward to opportunities of collaboration,” said Chancellor Kagonyera.
“Seventy years ago we had only one university but as of today we have over 260 universities with thousands of students. President Museveni told us that the first tank force in Uganda was trained by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK. I also know that many of your doctors trained in North Korea. We fully give attention to your opinion on collaborating with North Korea and we will discuss it further when we return home. We will come back and discuss with you,” responded Hon. Kung Suk Ung.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Acting Vice Chancellor observed that “As the leading academic institution in the region, Makerere University is passionate about innovations generated through knowledge transfer partnerships and networking. We are particularly hopeful, that partnerships with universities and research institutions in the DPRK will enable us leverage the rich experience of those institutions, as we search for solutions for our national development. We also believe that such partnerships will help further cement the friendly relations between the people of Uganda and the DPRK. It is therefore my sincere wish that your visit will facilitate these partnerships.”
The delegation informed Makerere University that North Korea has been looking forward to developing further relations with Uganda, which hosts the only Korean Embassy in the whole of the Eastern region.
The fifteen member visiting delegation, was led by Hon. Kang Ha Kuk, Minister of Health of DPRK. They toured the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering, where they saw the production line and other key innovations as explained by Prof. John Muyonga.
Story by Marion Alina
Makerere University has received 700 digital tablets from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), aimed at enhancing statistical research, teaching, and data-driven decision-making across the institution.
The donation was made on June 30, 2025, as part of UBOS’ broader initiative to distribute a total of 3,025 tablets to ten government-funded institutions of higher learning. The handover ceremony was attended by Makerere’s Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi and Mr. Simon Kizito, the Deputy University Secretary among other Vice Chancellors and accounting officers.
Dr. Allen Kabagenyi, a UBOS Board Director, who coordinated the distribution of the tablets to the respective 10 Public universities, underscored the significance of inter-institutional collaboration in fostering a data-literate and innovative generation. “This initiative is a testament to the power of partnerships between public institutions. In a country like Uganda, with one of the youngest populations globally, equipping our future leaders with the right tools is critical to achieving both national and global development goals,” she remarked.
The tablets had initially been procured and deployed during the recently concluded National Population and Housing Census. UBOS Executive Director Dr. Chris Mukiza explained that their redistribution marks the beginning of the Bureau’s post-census utilization strategy.
“We acquired 120,000 tablets to conduct the census, and as we committed earlier, we are ensuring that these resources continue to serve the country even after the census,” said Dr. Mukiza. “Our expectation is that these tablets will strengthen data collection, teaching, and research in universities and higher institutions. We want to see a culture where statistics are not only produced but also actively used to influence development outcomes.”
Dr. Mukiza encouraged academic institutions to take full advantage of the extensive data available at UBOS, emphasizing that greater use of statistical resources will translate into more impactful research and policy interventions.
During the same event – cultural institutions also received tablets.
With this donation, Makerere University is well-positioned to further empower students and researchers in statistical analysis, evidence-based planning, and innovation-driven teaching.
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