Makerere University on February 11, 2016 officially signed a Contract Agreement with Unisplendour Software Systems Corporation Limited (UNIS) – a group of companies belonging to Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Makerere University was recommended by the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports for this project with the aim of establishing an ICT-based education system in higher institutions of learning. The initial work of this Mak-UNIS Project will amount to approximately   USD 19 million.

As beneficiaries of the Project, Makerere University will be able to improve its network connectivity to enable Colleges get reliable connections. The project will also introduce cloud storage infrastructure, multimedia recording and broadcasting stations for teaching use, wireless coverage systems, network devices, environment monitoring systems and electricity back-up systems. It will also improve server, storage and security systems, as well as integration.

The project will supply, install and commission UNIS Cloud System Matrix at a new Network Operations Centre (NOC) to be deployed at Makerere University. The Cloud System Matrix is an on-premise solution that provides Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and this will allow Makerere University to deploy a private cloud. The cloud will bring together a number of existing market-proven technologies into a platform that is deeply integrated from an engineering and service delivery perspective.

According to the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu, the Project will enable the University to restructure Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the institution. “The biggest challenge is streamlining ICT in all our activities. So I’m happy to note that we are having a partner who is going to assist to streamline ICT in our activities,” said Prof. Ddumba-Ssentamu.

The Director of International Projects at UNIS group of companies, Mr. Zhang Suwen who represented the Vice President of the Company gave a description of UNIS group of companies and its relationship with Tsinghua University. “Tsinghua University is the top University in China. UNIS is a component of Tsinghua University that has the authority to undertake educational projects abroad and can secure government funds since it is a government company. It deals in cloud computing and storage, electronics and communication networks and virtually all products in the Information Technology sector.” Mr. Zhang Suwen said.

Mr. Andrew Gatera, the UNIS International Projects Coordinator clarified to the Management of Makerere University, that the USD 19 million will take care of all the items covered by the Contract and the secured funds shall be accessed through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development as a government-to-government cooperation.

Giving a brief background on the Project, Dr. Edith Natukunda-Togboa, the Head of the Department of European and Oriental Languages, (DEOL) where Chinese is based said: “We had the pleasure to meet Mr. Andrew Gatera who interested Tsinghua University through its company UNIS, in working with Makerere University in Uganda after the experience of their project in Ghana University. We were lucky that he met our former Chancellor Prof. Mondo Kagonyera at the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports at the time when UNIS was implementing the Ghana Project. Prof. Kagonyera was able to interest them in working with Makerere University.” Dr. Natukunda supplemented that the College of Humanities and Social Sciences had been very keen on following up the linkage and would benefit most from an ICT based education system to cater for big classes and distance learning.

On behalf of Makerere University, the Contract Agreement was signed by Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu the Vice Chancellor in presence of Mr. Augustine Tamale – University Bursar, Mr. Goddy Muhumuza – Acting Director Legal Affairs, Mr. Frank Kitumba – Director of Information, Communication and Technology Services and Dr. Edith Natukunda-Togboa – Head of DEOL.  Mr. Zhang Suwen the Director International Projects UNIS signed on behalf of UNIS and Tsinghua University in the presence Mr. Andrew Gatera the International Projects Coordinator and Mr. Liang Shang of UNIS.