In recognition of his distinguished contribution to serving humanity, transformation of Turkey and nation states across the globe, peace keeping and state building programmes at national and international levels and his partnership in the development of Uganda, Makerere University will on Wednesday 1st June 2016 award the Honorary Doctorate of Laws (Honoris Causa) to His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey.
H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the 12th President of the Republic of Turkey and the first to be elected by popular vote. H.E. Erdogan has previously served as the Prime Minister of Turkey, Mayor of Metropolitan Istanbul and is the founder of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
The decision to award H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan an honorary Doctor of Laws of Makerere University follows his successful nomination by the Department of Religion and Peace Studies, School of Liberal and Performing Arts, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHUSS) to the Honorary Awards Committee and subsequent consideration by the University Senate.
Makerere University has greatly benefited from H.E. Erdogan’s pro-development leadership style. Through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) the Makerere University’s Peace and Conflict Studies Centre (PCSC) received ICT equipment worth UGX 100M to enhance the smooth running of the Peace and Conflict Studies program. Negotiations between Makerere and TIKA are still ongoing for further support towards the construction of a state-of-the-art home for the PCSC which will include lecture theatres, office space for staff, conference facilities, visiting lecturers' research facilities, an e-Learning centre and baby care facilities.
At a National level H.E. Erdogan’s government annually offers a minimum of 60 scholarships under various disciplines to eligible Ugandans, to study in Turkey. Additionally, the Turkish Government has contributed towards the renovation and oftentimes expansion of schools. Furthermore, His Excellency is spearheading poverty eradication in Uganda by encouraging Turkish investment in agriculture value addition and infrastructure development. Annually, 30 journalists are taken to Turkey for training in Media for Peace and sustainable development, not to mention capacity building of the Ugandan armed forces through training and provision of equipment.
On the African continent, H.E. Erdogan took a bold step by establishing an Embassy in Somalia and has significantly contributed to democratic state building efforts, as well as humanitarian interventions in the face of drought and famine. The President has also championed efforts to make education systems in Africa more relevant and rewarding to the recipients so as to promote meaningful development. To help achieve this, an Academic and Scientific Cooperation protocol was signed between the Turkish Government and 40 Vice Chancellors from African countries, including Makerere University’s Prof. John Ddumba-Ssentamu.
Furthermore, on the world scene, under H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership, Turkey has been ranked the number one (1) country in terms Overseas Development Aid and is ranked number two (2) in terms of Development Assistance especially to the Balkans, Central Asia & Caucasus, and African countries. H.E. Erdogan has also championed the wellbeing of the multitude of migrants that have either found themselves in Turkey or have been returned to Turkey from mainly European countries. Turkey currently hosts more than three million refugees.
72 undergraduate students of Makerere University have successfully been admitted to the Millennium Fellowship Class of 2026, an initiative of the Millennium Campus Network (MCN) and United Nations Academic Impact. Makerere’s Fellows were selected from a record-breaking 76,000 applicants from over 6,000 campuses across 174 countries to participate in the ambitious programme.
According to the Fellowship website, the programme aims to make the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN Academic Impact Principles a reality on campuses, in classrooms and throughout communities. Millennium Fellows are university undergraduates selected for their leadership on sustainable development projects in their communities. As Fellows, they complete a semester-long leadership development programme that strengthens their student organizing, partnership-building and community-impact skills.
In his congratulatory message to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Sam Vaghar the Executive Director, MCN shared that Over 330 campuses across 60 nations have been selected to host 2026 Millenium Fellows. “Congratulations to you and Makerere University for having a cohort of Millennium Fellows from your student body again this year!”
Below is a sample of the work of the Class of 2026.
At Harvard University, a UN Academic Impact member institution in the United States of America, Millennium Fellows are expanding OpenDoor, an AI-powered platform that helps people navigate retraining, job opportunities and pathways into high-demand careers. The project grew from their work with people experiencing homelessness and from seeing how difficult workforce programmes can be to navigate even when support exists. Advancing SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, it expects to reach about 7,500 people during the Fellowship.
At the University of Ilorin, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Nigeria, Millennium Fellows are building what they describe as Africa’s first green AI policy framework, helping policymakers and developers understand how artificial intelligence can advance while reducing energy use, pollution and material waste. Aligned with SDG 13: Climate Action, it expects to reach about 75 people during the Fellowship.
At BRAC University, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Bangladesh, a Millennium Fellow is advancing SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production through a start-up replacing single-use products with environmentally friendly alternatives. Its current focus is a paper pen that uses roughly 90 per cent less plastic than a conventional pen, with a seed built in so it can grow into a plant when properly disposed of. The project expects to reach about 450 people.
At Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, a UN Academic Impact member institution in Moldova, a Millennium Fellow is advancing SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being by studying how environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity may affect recovery after brain surgery. By bringing simple digital monitoring tools into postoperative care, the project aims to help doctors make timelier decisions.
We wish our Millennium Fellows an impactful fellowship.
The Office of Academic Registrar, Makerere University has released admission lists of candidates admitted under the Talented Sports Men & Women, Disability and District Quota Schemes with Government sponsorship 2026/27 Academic Year including appeals and remarked cases.
Other admission lists released include A-Level Applicants with Ugandan and those with Foreign Qualifications, Diploma in Performing Arts, Mature-Age Entry and Bachelor of Education (EXTERNAL Batch 2) for the Academic Year 2026/2027 under self sponsorship.
Makerere University‘s position in the July 2026 edition of the Webometrics Rankings has improved from 925th to 776th globally and from 13th to 11th on the Continent, compared to the January 2026 edition. Makerere remains the top-ranked University in Uganda and East Africa.
The new rankings are as a result of improved performance in the Impact Rank, which measures the number of external domains referring/linking to Makerere (from 1,593 to 1,185) and the Excellence Rank, which measures Research papers in the top 10% most cited between 2019 and 2023 (from 1,095 to 715).
Please see the attached screenshots for details or view Makerere‘s rankings online using the link below:
The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities aims to recognize and promote the digital transformation of higher education institutions by evaluating how effectively they reflect their academic, research, and societal contributions online.
We remain committed to ensuring that all our good work in teaching and learning, research, knowledge transfer, and partnerships continues to be reflected online through various journals and other platforms.
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